Page 61 of The Woman Who Couldn't Scream
As if Kateri owed her a report. Aboutanything. “About?”
“Any word about the box our father sent you?”
“Rainbow is not… not out of her coma yet. No one expects that she will live through this.”
“So you’re going to give up on the possessions our father sent you?”
Sudden irritation scratched at Kateri, like sea salt on an open wound. “Are they important?”
Her snappishness gave Lilith the chance to be calm, logical and patronizing. “The raven is of historical importance. You know that, Katherine.”
“That raven is almost alive. If he wishes to return to me, he will.” Kateri pivoted on her heel and, using her stick, stalked out of the room, past Phoebe with her tray of ice water.
Phoebe must have enjoyed the little scene, for she smiled smugly.
Merida hurried ahead toward the door on the left. She used a key in the lock, tapped in a code on the keypad and used her thumbprint to get inside. She held the door for Kateri and Lacey, then shut the door behind them and locked them in.
Kateri felt she locked Lilith out. “That woman. Lilith. My sister.” She could hardly speak for annoyance. “I’ve set a watch on Rainbow’s house because I believe she is going to try and search it. What does that say about me?”
Merida took the small backpack off her shoulder, put it on the table and pulled out her tablet. She typed, “What does it say abouther?”
“That she’s desperate. And I’m suspicious. Has there ever been anything Lilith wanted she didn’t get?”
“Actually, I think many things. When I look at her, I see a woman eaten up with envy. Of you.”
Kateri laughed a litle. “No. She couldn’t be so patronizing and still envy me.”
Merida sank into one of the dining chairs, and leaned down to offer her hand to Lacey.
Lacey seemed cautious with Merida, sniffing her fingers, allowing her to pet her, but not snuggling as she had with Lilith.
Merida gave Kateri such a look of wisdom, Kateri laughed again.
“I shouldn’t let her irritate me so.”
Merida nodded.
Her calm combination of signing and text soothed Kateri’s ire, made her feel a little less exasperated and more rational, and helped her focus on her errand here. “Let’s talk about this morning. Someone called you and threatened you.”
“Yes,” Merida signed.
“A man?”
Merida nodded again.
“Tell me exactly what he said.”
Merida straightened up, started to pick up her tablet.
Kateri stopped her. “No. Use your hands. Tell me what he said.” She wanted to see the look on Merida’s face, interpret her expressions, her gestures. More and more, she didn’t trust Merida.
Merida signed, “He said, ‘Be careful. They’re hunting you. Remember, you cannot scream.’”
“Did you recognize his voice?”
Merida shook her head, but her eyes held that faraway expression as if she was looking at a time past.
“What happened to your face?” Kateri pulled a line on her own cheek where the bloody scratch marred Merida’s skin.
