I pick up the knife. It’ll have to go in my handbag. There’s nowhere I can attach it to me. Or is there?
I see something else she’s left out for me. A garter, also in red. The blade will fit behind it. There’s even a hook on the handle. She’s set this whole thing up perfectly.
I walk out a minute later and she claps her hands when she sees me. “I’ve done it again,” she says. “You look perfect. Come sit here and I’ll sort your hair out.”
I think about asking her why she left me the knife but decide against it. If there are cameras, maybe there are microphones too.
“Is it just the two of us at the meal?” I ask.
She starts running a brush through my hair, tugging it hard enough to make me wince. “For now,” she replies. “You don’t get to meet his family until he’s sure he can trust you.”
I think of the knife on my thigh, digging into my leg. “I see.” I look behind me at her but I get nothing from her expression.
“You got any family?” she asks.
“Not anymore,” I say. “Well, I’ve got a cousin but I’ve no idea where she is.”
“How come?”
“My father sent her to Italy.”
“What for?”
“To punish me.”
“I don’t get it. How does that punish you?”
“I was helping her get ready to go to college.”
“What’s wrong with that?” She lifts my hair above my head, looking at me from several angles. “I think that’ll work.”
“In our family, women don’t go to college.”
“Why not?”
“We’re just supposed to pump out babies and stay at home forever.”
“So your father was pissed that she wanted to go?”
“More pissed at me for trying to help her. She got sent to work on a farm somewhere and I’ve no way of getting in touch with her.”
“Maybe Nico can help. He’s good at finding people.”
I think of the knife again. I think of six months in hiding, waiting for my chance. Giving the police time to investigate only to be shut down and shut out.
He won’t live long enough to help me do anything. I’m going to stab him first chance I get. I will get my revenge.
“You miss her, don’t you?” Katie asks.
“Who? Cara? More than anything.”
“Tell Nico.”
“Like he’d give a shit.”
“You’d be surprised.”
“I doubt it.”