mall, and knowing they would hear about it on the news. And then their friends. Then Jamie and Taylorâs friends. Soon it would be chatter on Facebook. After that, maybe local reporters. Theyâd want to hear their story.
And maybe hers tooâthe one who saved the kids!
Next it would be the police.
In her room, Lauritzia lay on her bed. She was growing more sad than she was afraid. Sad that it had come to this. That she had never been completely truthful with them. Or told them anything of her past. Except a made-up story, about how her father was a cook in the village where she came from. That had once been true. And how she had come here to visit her sister. That was partially true as well.
Before the nightmare began.
Now she knew she could no longer stay. They knew. They knew where she was. She could not put the family in any more danger than she already had. She could not do that to them. People she had grown to love. Anyway, once the truth came out, they would lose all trust in her. They would ask her to leave.
A drug thing. Thatâs what Mr. B claimed that it was . . .
It is always a drug thing, Lauritzia knew.
La cuota . That which is owed. To the familia , the cartel. A tax to the grave.
For her, what she owed was clear.
She had seen them. Through the maze of people. Before dragging Jamie and Taylor to the ground and burying her face in their trembling bodies. She had seen the shooterâs face and the dull, businesslike indifference in his eyes. The tattoo that ran down his neck. There was no attempt to hide it. The skeletonâs head that brought back all the terror and fear she had prayed she had forever left behind.
She knew who they were and where they were from.
And worse, Lauritzia thought, pressing the photo of her dead brothers and sisters to her pained heart, she knew exactly why they were here.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
L auritzia knew she had to leave. Leave now. She could not put them in danger another time.
There was just nowhere in the world for her to go.
Only back home, she realized, though that would be a fate of certain death for her. The day she left, she knew she could never return. She no longer had a home. Except here, while it had lasted. The Bachmans had given so much to her. She would miss Taylor and Jamie as if they were her own. But she could not put them at risk. She had lived two years in the fantasy that she had somehow escaped her fate. Part of a new family. Going to school. Pretending there was an outcome for her except that which she knew would ultimately find her.
Maybe that was someone elseâs dream. Like the one of her own store. And surrounding herself with happy things. She perfectly understood this, as she took her bags from the closet.
La cuota.
It had found her. And it would have to be paid.
Two mornings later she made breakfast for the kids, as she did most every weekday. She had waited for them to feel fit and ready to go back to school. Mrs. B had met with the principal the day before and decided it was okay for them to return. The two were strangely quiet and withdrawn on their ride there, as if they somehow suspected something. Maybe they were just nervous to face the many questions about what had happened and have to recount their frightening tale. Maybe it was something deeperâthe violence always did that to children. Why would they understand? As she drove up to the school and they were about to run out, Lauritzia reached over and held them.
âWait a minute,â she said. âI want a hug. An extra-special hug this morning. For friends forever.â
They looked at her as if it seemed a bit peculiar.
âI think Iâve earned it,â Lauritzia said, flashing them her happiest smile, trying not to show her sadness, which was killing her inside.
âOkay,â Jamie mumbled, and tilted his head against her arm. Taylor gave her a real hug, which Lauritzia put her whole soul into in return.
âIâll see
And maybe hers tooâthe one who saved the kids!
Next it would be the police.
In her room, Lauritzia lay on her bed. She was growing more sad than she was afraid. Sad that it had come to this. That she had never been completely truthful with them. Or told them anything of her past. Except a made-up story, about how her father was a cook in the village where she came from. That had once been true. And how she had come here to visit her sister. That was partially true as well.
Before the nightmare began.
Now she knew she could no longer stay. They knew. They knew where she was. She could not put the family in any more danger than she already had. She could not do that to them. People she had grown to love. Anyway, once the truth came out, they would lose all trust in her. They would ask her to leave.
A drug thing. Thatâs what Mr. B claimed that it was . . .
It is always a drug thing, Lauritzia knew.
La cuota . That which is owed. To the familia , the cartel. A tax to the grave.
For her, what she owed was clear.
She had seen them. Through the maze of people. Before dragging Jamie and Taylor to the ground and burying her face in their trembling bodies. She had seen the shooterâs face and the dull, businesslike indifference in his eyes. The tattoo that ran down his neck. There was no attempt to hide it. The skeletonâs head that brought back all the terror and fear she had prayed she had forever left behind.
She knew who they were and where they were from.
And worse, Lauritzia thought, pressing the photo of her dead brothers and sisters to her pained heart, she knew exactly why they were here.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
L auritzia knew she had to leave. Leave now. She could not put them in danger another time.
There was just nowhere in the world for her to go.
Only back home, she realized, though that would be a fate of certain death for her. The day she left, she knew she could never return. She no longer had a home. Except here, while it had lasted. The Bachmans had given so much to her. She would miss Taylor and Jamie as if they were her own. But she could not put them at risk. She had lived two years in the fantasy that she had somehow escaped her fate. Part of a new family. Going to school. Pretending there was an outcome for her except that which she knew would ultimately find her.
Maybe that was someone elseâs dream. Like the one of her own store. And surrounding herself with happy things. She perfectly understood this, as she took her bags from the closet.
La cuota.
It had found her. And it would have to be paid.
Two mornings later she made breakfast for the kids, as she did most every weekday. She had waited for them to feel fit and ready to go back to school. Mrs. B had met with the principal the day before and decided it was okay for them to return. The two were strangely quiet and withdrawn on their ride there, as if they somehow suspected something. Maybe they were just nervous to face the many questions about what had happened and have to recount their frightening tale. Maybe it was something deeperâthe violence always did that to children. Why would they understand? As she drove up to the school and they were about to run out, Lauritzia reached over and held them.
âWait a minute,â she said. âI want a hug. An extra-special hug this morning. For friends forever.â
They looked at her as if it seemed a bit peculiar.
âI think Iâve earned it,â Lauritzia said, flashing them her happiest smile, trying not to show her sadness, which was killing her inside.
âOkay,â Jamie mumbled, and tilted his head against her arm. Taylor gave her a real hug, which Lauritzia put her whole soul into in return.
âIâll see
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