Page 51 of Traces of Kara

Roland stumbled toward Mimi. “Wha—no!. You’re lying.”

Mimi shook her head.

Roland reached up and touched his scars. “You sent me away because of slippery fingers.”

Mimi shook her head. “No. No, Roland, I didn’t.” She looked away, her lips trembling, the fear in her eyes replaced with despair. “She burned you, your real mother.” She looked at Kara, whose eyes were glassy. She was lying still.

Roland pointed at Mimi, his arm shaking. “I remember.” Roland’s chest heaved with each breath. He gripped his head. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “It was you. You burned me. You slipped, not her.”

Mimi shook her head.

“You’re just trying to confuse me.” He crouched to the ground, rocking on his heels, holding his hands over his ears as if he could make the words disappear. “You did it, not her!”

Mimi stood. Her legs wobbled as she walked over to Roland’s side and crouched next to him. She had to build on his confusion, get him off track. She had to dispel his belief so that she could save Kara. “Your mother did it, Roland.”

He lifted his eyes, grit his teeth, and leaned toward her. “You’re lying!” he yelled.

Mimi stumbled backward, landing on her butt. “Your mother, she tried to hurt you when you were a baby. Al came home and found—”

“Liar!” Roland paced the room, punching his palm with his fist. “You did this to me!”

“Roland?” Kara’s voice was quiet, tender, and pained.

The room went silent. Kara sat propped against the wall, dark rings beneath her eyes, her sallow skin a harsh contrast to that of the healthy woman Roland had first brought to the dungeon-like room.

“Why kill me?” she asked without tears.

Roland picked up the now half-empty bottle of antifreeze. “It’s the only way,” he mumbled.

Mimi shook her head.

“They’ll never let us be together.” He walked toward Mimi.

Mimi backed away, her body shaking. “No, no Roland. You don’t want to do this.” She looked at Kara. Time was running out. She needed to get help. “We won’t press charges. You can leave—go!” she urged. “I’ll make sure you’re together, I promise!”

He stood in arm’s reach of Mimi, white knuckles around the handle of the antifreeze bottle.

“Roland,” Mimi pleaded.

In one swift movement, he grabbed the back of her head and pulled her hair back, craning her neck toward the ceiling.

“No!” Kara sobbed.

“Roland, please, please, no!” Mimi covered her mouth with her hands.

Roland lifted the antifreeze and poured it over her hands.

The sweet liquid seeped through Mimi’s fingers and onto her tongue. She held her breath, determined not to swallow.

Roland lifted the bottle higher, pouring until her chest and arms were drenched. He held her head back until she had no choice but to swallow or choke. She gagged, the sweet, cold liquid snaking its way down her throat. He thrust her forward. Mimi fell to the floor at Kara’s feet, spitting and wiping her mouth with her arm.

He lifted the bottle to his lips and took a swig. “Born together, die together.”

Chapter Forty-One

Jackson ran through the halls of the sub-basement toward the room that led to the Bilco doors. His chest hurt. His throat was dry and scratchy. Mimi was being held captive. Kara was going to die. He had to get help. The terror in Mimi’s eyes flashed in his mind. He had to do something. He was all turned around. He couldn’t think straight.

The passageway ended in a “T”. Jackson looked from left to right. His shoulders ached from the heft of the fire extinguisher. He set it down and leaned against the wall, breathing hard, willing himself to remember which way to turn. Sweat dripped down his neck and back, despite the brisk basement air.