YOUR SISTER TOLD YOU TO HIDE IN THE ATTIC AND NOT TELL YOUR HUSBAND—THEN YOU FOUND THE PASSPORTS UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS

you were a cover.”

The words don’t feel real.

“A cover?”

“A normal life stabilizes an alias. Wife. Child. House. Records. Photos. It makes everything harder to trace.”

Your breathing turns thin. “So he married me for paperwork.”

Mara’s eyes fill with tears.

“At first, maybe.”

“Don’t soften it.”

“I don’t know, Elise.”

And that is worse.

Because neither of you continue reading …