Sam watched Slick and Hawkins until they were out of sight. Back at the Academy she’d thought there was something going on between the two of them. Something that never managed to get off the ground. It wasn’t going to get off the ground on Big Pine either, she thought as she remembered Havapopulas’s cold warning at the orientation. Anyone caught fraternizing would be dropped off the mountain. Even the appearance of fraternizing was reason enough to be cashiered.

The four Rainford wives looked at one another. Sam shrugged. “I guess it’s a nice hot shower, then bed for me. It’s been a long, exhausting day,” she said.

Kayla looked around the compound. “The last time I went to bed at eight o’clock, I was six years old. Did we make a mistake in coming here, Sam?” she asked quietly.

“Off the top of my head, I want to say no. But I really don’t know, Kayla. What I do know is we have to give it our best shot. C’mon, we’re women. We can do anything we set our minds to. I know you all want to talk about Douglas and get even with him. All in good time. This is how I see it. There has to be some very sophisticated computer hardware up here on the mountain. I’d say it’s probably better than what the FBI has because this is all privately funded. We’ll find a way to access it at some point, then we’ll nail old Douglas. We just have to be patient. I’m going to make a promise to you. And it is that I guarantee somehow, some way, I’m going to find that guy, and we’ll all get our revenge. It will happen. Let’s just concentrate on getting our feet wet here, and we’ll get to Douglas in proper order. Remember now, don’t talk indoors about anything you don’t want anyone else to hear.”

“What did you think of Pappy?” Olivia asked.

“He’s hot.” Kayla grinned.

“I’m in lust already,” Zoe said.

“He could put his shoes under my bed anytime,” Olivia added, giggling.

“He’s a son of a bitch,” Sam said as she marched into the house that would be their home for the next year.

“I think that means she thinks he’s hot,” Kayla observed.