Kellen knew then. She knew for sure.

Mara is back. Mara is here. Mara has tried to kill my child.

Kellen left her bike in the middle of the waving grasses and the ever increasing wind. She coaxed Rae up and with her arm around her, helped her walk toward the mansion.

Luna limped along beside them, whining softly, her eyes wide with doggy fear.

Desperately Kellen prayed, Come on, Max. Come and find us.

As if he’d heard her call, he arrived when they reached the lawn. He took one look at his daughter and swept her into his arms. He carried her toward the house…and suddenly switched directions and ran toward the helicopter.

Kellen followed on his heels, so desperately afraid they would be too late to save her baby—and when Max stopped, she stopped, too. Stopped and gaped at the helicopter.

The windshield had been shot out, the door had been sabotaged, one of the propellers had been riddled with bullets. The radio was destroyed.

The helicopter, their lifeline to the mainland, was useless.

36

Kellen stepped up next to Max. “I will find Mara, I swear, kill her and save Rae.”

She turned away.

But Rae grabbed a lock of Kellen’s hair with abnormal strength. “No. Mommy, no! Help me. I need you. Why did she hurt me? I liked her…” Her eyes rolled back, her head fell like a flower on a broken stem.

After that, how could Kellen leave?

Max carried Rae to her bedroom and placed her on the bed.

Luna followed, and curled up beside her child, desperate to offer comfort.

“We have ipecac,” Max said. “Let me find it.”

Kellen caught his sleeve. “It’s been too long. The drugs are in her system. We need to flush them through. Bring a sports drink, something with electrolytes.”

“Have we got that?”

“Your mother sent it ahead in case someone got a stomach bug.”

He nodded and headed downstairs to the pantry.

All the time they spoke, Rae was mumbling, “I liked her. I thought she was nice. I knew I shouldn’t not tell you, but I thought she was nice. Why would she hurt me? I liked her. I thought she was nice.”

Kellen wet a washcloth in warm water and slid it across Rae’s forehead. “Who? Who did you like?”

Kellen’s warm, coaxing voice caught Rae’s attention, yet she stared at her mother as if she didn’t know her. “Miranda. Miranda Phillips.”

“Of course.” Mara had barely bothered to change her name.

Luna curled into the curve formed by Rae’s knees, and whimpered, begging Kellen to make things right.

Kellen passed her fingers over the dog’s forehead.

Rae caught Kellen’s wrist in a small, fierce hand. “I warned her.”

Kellen returned her attention to her daughter. “What did you warn her of?”