Page 42 of Traces of Kara

“I had to get verification first, APB on his vehicle—report just came in. Mitch, it’s been years. The guy hasn’t farted in the wrong direction. I had to be sure. His truck’s in West Virginia, right over the line.”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You were next on my list, Mitch. Big guys first, get them in gear, then you. It’s FBI territory now.”

Grant rubbed the ache that had settled in his neck and let out a frustrated sigh. “FBI, my ass.”

Chapter Thirty-Five

Roland watched Marissa writhing in pain. He fingered the bottle of alcohol, contemplating its use.

“How can you sit here and watch her die?” Mimi cried.

Marissa’s glassy eyes silently pleaded. Roland looked away.

“Please, I’ll do anything. You can be with Marissa night and day, just don’t take her away from me.” Mimi noticed the sweat beading on Kara’s forehead as she held her head in her lap. “Please, Roland. Please don’t take her from me.”

Roland stood, the bottle of alcohol pressed against his palm. “I have to think,” he said, and leaned his back against the wall.

Marissa coughed and dry heaved, then let out a pained cry.

Roland covered his ears. “Stop it, please stop it!”

“You can save her!” Mimi yelled. “Get her help. Let us go.”

Roland shook his head. “No. You took her from me. I’m not letting you take her again.” He walked across the floor then back again, smacking his burned and red palm against the wall. He sucked in air between his teeth and turned to Mimi. “You sent me away. All I wanted to do was love her.”

“You weren’t right, Roland.”

Kara squeezed her mother’s hand, her eyes darting between Mimi and Roland.

“I loved her. I just wanted to be near her. You! You were selfish. You wanted her all to yourself.” He paced frenetically, throwing his hands up into the air, then grabbing his sweat soaked hair. He let out a loud, frustrated groan. “This is your fault!”

“No, Roland. You hurt her. Don’t you remember? You wouldn’t let her be. You were forever in her bed. We worried—”

“Worried?” He laughed. “You worried because I loved my sister? My twin sister? Then, as if that wasn’t enough, you sent him after me.”

“I didn’t do that.” Mimi held his gaze.

“Mom?” Marissa’s tiny voice shattered the space between them. Both Mimi and Roland grew quiet, watching Marissa’s eyes roll up into her head, then back to center again.

Mimi pulled her to her chest. “No! Damn it! Please, please get help. Don’t let her die. She never hurt you!”

“We have to die. It’s the only way we can be together. Our birthday—” Roland took two steps closer to Mimi. She put her arms around Kara and turned her back to Roland to shelter her from Roland’s reach. “Don’t touch her.”

“Time. What time is it?”

“Almost eight. Why? What are you waiting for?” Mimi sobbed.

“She’s on the cusp. Soon her vision will fail, her heart will race.” Roland began to shake. He walked toward the bottle of antifreeze.

“What are you doing? Where are you going?” Mimi cried. “Roland!”

Roland mumbled, “Born together, die together.”

“No. Roland, no!” Mimi cried. “Please. I’m sorry, for everything.”

Roland picked up the bottle of antifreeze and walked over to where Mimi sat against the wall with Marissa. He set the bottle down between them.