“No, I don’t know where Karinne is, Mrs. C,” he’d fibbed, although Karinne and Cory were in his bedroom playing video games. It was Cory’s favorite pastime, although six-year-old Karinne wasn’t as skilled.
“Are you sure?” Margot pressed. “She told me she was coming here.”
The hair on the back of the boy’s neck rose as Margot grabbed his arm.
“She left.” Max pulled his arm away from Margot, who quickly stepped back and hurried off the porch. Max carefully dead-bolted the door before rubbing at his arm. Something about Margot’s strange mood and aggressive behavior unnerved him and came back to haunt him when Margot’s suicide note was discovered.
Later, Max didn’t regret his decision. At least Margot’s death was a single tragedy, not a double one involving Karinne’s death, too. Max had never spoken of it to anyone except Cory. He thanked the gods of chance that he’d answered the door that fateful day, and Karinne had survived her mother’s disappearance.
“I don’t know how you expect to have kids when neither of you wants to quit your job,” Cory said, thumbing his guitar strings. “You won’t be able to raise them together. In fact, you won’t be able to raise them at all.”
Max refused to rise to the bait. “We’re not even married yet, Cory.”
“And you won’t stay married long if you don’t get serious about your situation. You can’t bring infants and baby bottles into white-water rafts, and Karinne can’t bring children to her sporting events. You’ve had the longest engagement on record, and you’re still hiding your heads in the sand. One of you has to quit, Max.”
“She’ll probably stay home with them once they’re born.”
“Have you guys even talked about this? Maybe she doesn’t want to choose children over her career. Your marriage will be off to a rocky start if you don’t get this settled.”
That remark drew Max away from the window. “Thanks a lot. We haven’t even had the wedding, and you’ve already got us divorced.”
“Not me,” said Cory. “You and Karinne. She’s still looking after her father, and you’re still waiting for Karinne’s mother to turn up and ruin everything.”
“They never found her body,” Max slowly said. “And Margot wanted a divorce. She and Jeff were always fighting. That suicide note could’ve been a fake. She could’ve taken the opportunity to run. I remember her well, Cory. She wasn’t interested in being a wife and mother. And there were whispers about her having a gambling problem.”
Cory sighed. “So let’s say Margot does come back. So what? You have nothing to fear.”
“Come on, we were both home with Karinne the day Margot disappeared. I lied and said I didn’t know where she was. If Margot ever returns, what am I going to tell Karinne?”
“Tell her the same thing you told Jeff and the police when they came looking for Margot. That Mom was next door at the neighbors, Dad was at work, you saw Margot, and you did what you thought was right at the time. I don’t know why you didn’t tell her this years ago.”
“Jeff asked me not to because he thought it would be too traumatic. But I may have to after all.”
“Why?” Cory asked.
Max paused, then admitted, “I’ve been getting anonymous phone calls. It’s happened three times. Once the caller actually said she was Margot Cavanaugh and asked me for money to come and see Karinne.”
“Hell!”
“I went to the police, but nothing. I haven’t received any more calls since the last one, so the police weren’t able to trace her.”
“No wonder you’re talking in your sleep.”
Max winced. “Not again.”
“Yes. You talk about that day Margot came to the door, Max. One of these days, Karinne’s gonna hear you.”
Icy chills shivered down Max’s back. “What do I say?”
“The same thing you always used to say. Don’t tell Karinne.”
Chapter Three
Interstate 17,
North of Flagstaff, Arizona
“At least it’s dry for now,” Karinne said behind the steering wheel. The freeway had dried off enough for the high-speed driving no longer possible in more populated areas.
Anita turned off the weather station on the car’s radio. The day before, they’d left Phoenix before sunrise, and driven one hundred and forty-five miles to Flagstaff. Last night they’d checked into a hotel and were up early again this morning to finish the distance between Flagstaff and Grand Canyon Village. They’d meet the Hunter brothers in less than an hour. Although the skies were cloudy and gray, the deluge had ended last night, and the women were making good time.
“The sun should come out this afternoon,” Anita said. She reached for her take-out cup of coffee.
“Fingers crossed,” Karinne said. “Or we’ll have a wet hike all the way down to the river.”
“It’s only a day hike,” Anita said cheerfully. “A mile straight down.”
“Fifteen trail miles, and it’s monsoon season, remember? We’re gonna get wet.”
“I know,” Anita said. “But it can’t rain the whole time. I want to take pictures. I brought along a waterproof digital camera.”
Karinne smiled. “Maybe you can let me pay for copies, then.”
“You didn’t bring a camera?”
“Lord, no. I need a break. I’m tired of looking at view screens and through lenses.”
“It’s driving you crazy?” Anita asked sympathetically.
Karinne thought of her last batch of photos showing the woman who reminded her of her mother.
“You have no idea,” she said wryly. “Besides, this way I can spend more time with Max.” Karinne had always loved him. Her memories of Max went so far back she couldn’t tell when childhood worship and friendship had changed into adult love and passion.
“It’ll be good to see Max again,” Anita said. “He leaves the canyon area about as often as Cory does.”
“Which isn’t often.”
“My family wishes I’d married someone local, but I can’t imagine being with anyone but Cory,” Anita said.
“Well, the upside of losing your job is that now you’ll have plenty of time to spend with him.”
Anita nodded. “I’m tired of us being apart. Maybe I can find new employment up north. Married people shouldn’t be separated for such long periods.”
Karinne said nothing. She’d often thought the same thing, as had Max. But Max couldn’t quit his job, and she didn’t want to quit hers. Besides, Jeff Cavanaugh had heart problems and had no other family around, so she felt obliged to stay close to him. Both Karinne and his doctor knew Jeff didn’t take his medication regularly. Whether it was due to forgetfulness or a deliberate attempt to keep his daughter’s attention, the result was the same.
“Hey, where’s your ring?” Anita asked curiously.
“My diamond? At home. I felt it would be safer.” At the last minute, Karinne had removed it—and packed the pink sweatshirt.
“It seems strange to see you without it. In fact, with