CHAPTER TWELVE
Lauren paced the motel room. Her anger burned at Charles’ dismissal. It nearly enticed her to abandon self-restraint and burn down their house and revel in Charles’ screams for rescue. Yet she’d managed to stay free, so far, by keeping a cool head. Regaining her pragmatic composure, she reminded herself that Steve would go first, as she had planned. She would succeed because his love for his family would destroy him.
She made a practice run to the shack in the arroyo, the location of his demise. She revised a detail or two in her stratagem. Then, she ate a nice supper at a cafeteria and relaxed.
On Monday morning, she parked near Megan’s house to watch the familiar morning routine. Each day, Mitch paused in the doorway for Megan to kiss him good-bye. Then, he left for wor
