Chapter 7

Mara startled and turned.

A man in a suit stood in the gateway. He was looking at her. The moment he saw her, his eyes went red and his chest moved hard.

"Mara."

She stepped back.

"Who are you?"

The word hit him like water thrown in his face. He stood there for a moment before he found his voice.

"You — you don't know who I am?"

She shook her head. Her eyes were cautious.

"Do we know each other?"

He steadied himself.

"When we were kids, you stuffed me into a sack and threw me in a ditch. Almost drowned me."