Suspicion of Rage Read Online Free PDF Page B

lifted out a blue nylon bag. "What's in here?"
    Karen sat up straight. "My emergency supplies. I am definitely taking that."
    "May I?" When Karen only stared back at her, Gail unzipped the bag and removed a compass, a first-aid kit, a mirror, some rope, a small flashlight with extra batteries, a rain poncho, an empty plastic bottle, and a pack of water purification tablets. Gail noticed a glint of aluminum foil at the bottom and took out an object about four inches long. She peeled back the foil and found the Swiss Army knife that Karen's father had given her. Holding it up between thumb and forefinger, she said, "Do you want to explain this?"
    "That's so the X-rays at the airport can't see it."
    "No, I mean how did you think you could get away with carrying a knife on an airplane? Are you trying to get us all arrested?"
    "I just thought we might have to cut the rope or something."
    Gail slid the knife into the pocket of her shorts, then reached out and tugged on Karen's hand. "Come sit here with me. What's going on?"
    "We might need it. You just never know, Mom."
    "Are you afraid something will happen to us?" Gail drew her closer and kissed her forehead. "Silly. Havana is perfectly safe. Maybe more so than here," she added.
    Karen's sun-blond brows pulled together. "They say that if you go out after dark you can get robbed. Tourists are attacked there all the time, especially American tourists, and most especially women."
    "Danny again?"
    "He knows, Mom. He's Cuban."
    "He's about as Cuban as you are. Anthony wouldn't let us go if it wasn't safe."
    Karen gave a little snort. "What a jerk. I hate him."
    "He was just teasing you."
    "Because he's a jerk. Plus he's only sixteen and he drinks. A lot"
    "When? Tonight?"
    "Molly and me saw him in the backyard with some, like, older guys, and they were drinking and smoking."
    "What were you doing out there? Spying on the boys?"
    "I was showing Molly the house! We have a right to take a walk. Mom, don't tell Anthony what I said. I do not want Danny to think I was ratting him out."
    "I won't say anything." She didn't have to; Anthony already knew about his son's misbehavior. A good reason for taking him to Cuba, Anthony had told her. Make the boy appreciate what he had. What Danny really thought about this trip, Gail didn't know. He had chosen to stay at the Pedrosa house pending departure. He and his older sister, Angela, would be in the limo when it arrived downstairs in the morning. They would pick up Gail's mother next, then head for the airport.
    Gail told Karen it was late, to turn off her computer.
    When the screen was dark, and the backpack refilled with everything but contraband items, Gail pulled down the comforter, and Karen got into bed. With the lamp on the nightstand sending a soft glow into the room, Gail scooted her over a little and lay down beside her. She smoothed Karen's hair. The honey-brown color had been brightened by long days in the sun playing soccer for her team at Biscayne Academy and sailing with her father. Karen had Dave's square jaw and strong nose. She would not be a beautiful woman, but she was loyal and good, and people would see that. Karen fought her own battles at school; she was protective of her friends. And her family. It had taken her a while to warm up to Anthony Quintana. She had measured him against her father, and though he'd come out second best, he was, in Karen's view, not so bad that he was bound to make her mother miserable. She liked him well enough, but he was still on probation.
    "I love you, sweetie," Gail said.
    Karen was already asleep, her breath coming softly through parted lips.
    Gail turned off the lamp and quietly closed the door.
    Â 
    The master suite was at the opposite end of the apartment, past the living room with its floor-to-ceiling windows looking out over a marina, some small mangrove islands, and the bay curving toward the horizon. A gorgeous place, but leased for only a year. Soon they would look for a house,