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Back Strangers She Knows Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover
  2. Back Cover Text
  3. Praise
  4. Booklist
  5. Dedication
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. 54
  60. BPA
  61. Author Bio

Miranda’s bright blue eyes narrowed and got a hot spark that made Rae draw back.

Then Miranda smiled, that warm, interested, sympathetic smile. “Aren’t you a smarty? The Di Lucas only allow one scientist on the island every year, so it has to be someone who knows a little bit about all the ’ologies.” She twinkled her fingers. “Botany, marine biology, zoology, ornithology… I even know a little archeology in case I come on the ruins of a prehistoric human settlement.”

“Oh. That makes sense. Except—why do we only allow one scientist a year?”

“You know how it is with rich people.”

“I’ll talk to my father, explain we need to allow more scientists to—”

“No! No, it’s okay. The island is so pristine, we don’t want a bunch of people tramping around ruining the, um, grasses.”

“But if we allowed people who specialized in one science, isn’t there a better chance they’ll discover something wonderful?” That made sense to Rae.

“Yes, and there’s a chance they’ll accidently stomp on something else they don’t recognize. Really, don’t ask your father. This job is important to me. Promise you won’t tell.”

“I promise.” But Rae was disappointed—and for the first time, she had second thoughts. As paranoid as her mom was, Rae knew it was because she loved her. Maybe she shouldn’t have promised not to tell about Miranda.

Before she could ask if she could cancel her promise, Miranda teased, “Besides, we’re not really seeing each other, are we?” and smiled so brightly her teeth glinted.

“I said I wouldn’t say anything.” Rae glanced at her watch and gasped. “I have to get home.”

“Sure, you’d better hurry. What are you doing tonight?”

“Mama and I are reading more of Ruby Morgade’s diary. I’ll see you tomorrow!”

Mara watched Rae ride away, peddling hard up the hill, and smiled. She’d been hoping to catch the kid and have a little talk, gather some information and sow some dissension. That couldn’t have gone any better.

Now if only sweet little Rae could keep her mouth shut…

Probably not, so Mara had to work quickly.

21

That evening, Rae was affectionate and Kellen was apologetic. The breach was healed and, except for the F-100, all was once again right with the world.

Then, after breakfast the next morning, Olympia followed Max out of the dining room and into his office.

Max was cheerful when he asked, “What’s up?”

“I’m leaving.”