deal.'
'So it wasn't malignant,' Sara said.
Carrie wondered why she was persisting with the subject. Hadn't Anne just told them everything was all right? She thought
Sara was being nosy.
'She just said…' Carrie began.
Sara didn't look at Carrie as she nudged her under the table. 'But it wasn't malignant?' She repeated the question.
Anne looked at her soup when she answered. 'Just a little bit.'
Carrie straightened. 'Is that what the doctors said?'
'Oh, you know how doctors are,' Anne said. She waved her hand as she added, 'They're all alarmists. Eric said they only
make money if they can do a lot of procedures… and surgeries… when it isn't at all necessary.'
Carrie glanced at Sara before she asked, 'Did they recommend surgery, then?'
'Of course, but Eric said they would, and of course he was right. They thought they could talk me into having my breast
removed. Can you imagine what that would have done to our insurance premiums?'
'No, what would it have done?' Sara asked.
'The rate would have gone sky high. Besides, the insurance company wouldn't have paid for the little procedure anyway.'
Removing a breast was a little procedure? Carrie was too stunned to speak. She picked up her spoon and pretended to eat.
'Eric had made some wonderful investments with our cash surplus. He's so clever,' she said. 'They were good, sound investments that I, of course, approved when he told me about them.'
'After he made the investments?' Sara asked. 'He told you then?'
'Yes, of course,' she said. 'He has carte blanche. I mean, he is an equal partner in the business.'
Carrie and Sara could see Anne's spine stiffening. She was becoming defensive. Sara took a taste of the soup and then said, 'Good choice for dinner, Anne. I love tomato soup.'
Anne smiled. 'I do too.'
'So why do you think the insurance company wouldn't pay?'
'Preexisting condition,' Anne explained. 'The old insurance policy had lapsed, and the new one Eric found that had a much more reasonable premium didn't begin for thirty days. I had the biopsy during that period where they could say it was preexisting. Eric told me to wait, but I was foolishly anxious. We had the money to pay for the procedure,' she hastily added, 'if we had believed it was necessary. He did a lot of research on the Internet, and we decided to explore alternative methods. Your soup is getting cold, Carrie.'
'About this-' Carrie began. Sara kicked her under the table.
'Yes?' Anne asked. That guarded look was back in her eyes.
'Are there any crackers?'
'No, I'm afraid not.'
'You're very lucky to have Eric,' Sara said.
Carrie choked on her soup. 'Yes, you are,' she lied. 'It's a shame he couldn't go to the spa with you.'
'I tried to talk him into it,' she said. 'He gave me the week's stay as a surprise for my birthday. He wanted me to rest and
relax, and when I got back home, we were going to go back to the doctors and see what needed to be done. I was worried
about what all this would cost, but Eric wouldn't listen. He said that if we had to spend every penny to get me well, then that's what we would do.'
That son of a bitch, Carrie thought to herself. He was getting rid of her, but Anne, perhaps still in shock, couldn't accept the
truth, and so she painted this lovely picture of her adoring husband. Had he left her a letter, or did he want her to die without knowing he was responsible?
'We should be on our way before dawn,' Sara said, interrupting Carrie's thoughts.
'My hands are raw, and so are yours. Getting down that rope…'
'We can manage it.'
'Anne, did you bring any workout clothes?' Carrie asked. 'You can't go tromping down the mountain in high heels or the
slippers you're wearing now.'
'No, I didn't.'
'Between Sara and me, we'll be able to outfit you properly,' Carrie said.
Her whole attitude toward Anne had undergone a radical change. She found herself feeling protective and hoping that Anne stayed in denial until they reached civilization.
'Why don't you pack us some food to take along,' Carrie suggested to Anne. 'And a first-aid kit.'
'You could use my fanny pack,' Sara said. 'It's on my dresser, but I don't have the energy to go upstairs to get it.'
'Oh, I'll get it. I love being useful. Don't touch those dishes,' Anne ordered as she hurried out of the kitchen.
'I'll wash them later.'
The second Anne was out of earshot, Sara whispered, 'That bastard.'
Carrie nodded. 'Now I've got another reason for wanting to get out of this alive. I'm going to kill that son of a bitch.'
Sara nodded. 'You hold the gun, and I'll pull the trigger.'
Chapter 22
Something was growling, and it definitely wasn't human. Avery scooted closer to John Paul. Promising her she could have
twenty minutes to rest, he had found shelter for them under a jutting rock. The ground was dry, and the area was wide and
deep enough for him to stretch his legs.
Avery had lobbied for finding a cave. John Paul had vetoed that idea because he didn't want any unexpected company, like mountain lions or bears, sharing the space.
She suggested a fire, but he vetoed that idea too. The smoke could be seen from miles away.
She heard the growl again. It seemed closer. She nudged John Paul and whispered, 'Do you hear that?'
'Uh-huh.'
He sounded half asleep. He was sitting up with his back against the rock, his long muscular legs stretched in front of him, one ankle crossed over the other. He put his arm around her and told her to relax.
Her head was down on his shoulder, and every now and then his chin would rub against the top of her head. She couldn't decide
if he was being affectionate or if the day's growth of whiskers made his skin itch.
Another rustling noise came from below them. She tensed in reaction. Then she thought she heard something growl again.
What in heaven's name was it? A bear? A mountain lion? What?
John Paul had his gun on the ground next to him, and his hand rested on the handle.
She took a deep breath and tried not to think about how uncomfortable she was. Think positive, she told herself. Keep that cup full. Be an optimist.
Oh, God, we're gonna die out here. She sighed then. So much for being an optimist. He must have felt her shivering because
