The Second Trial by Rosemarie Boll Page B

It’d be a thread tying you to your past. We can’t risk it.”
    Catherine pressed her lips together. “That’s not something I’d thought about.”
    â€œI’m afraid there are going to be quite a few things you haven’t thought about.”
    Dr. Sung made notes on her clipboard. “You need to understand you’re not going to get any official papers about these things, like a job history.” She pointed to the questionnaire. “This is just for your family’s use, so when questions come up about your past you have an agreed-upon story. Now, what about locations? Is there any place that you’ve always wanted to live?”
    â€œWell, Paul and I talked about moving to Victoria. We both like the climate.”
    â€œThen that’s one place you can’t go, because he’ll look for you there. So we should be thinking about sending you in the other direction. We can relocate you to a small town, but it’s easier to slip in unnoticed in a bigger community. How about Regina, or Winnipeg?”
    Danny had never been to Regina or Winnipeg, but everyone said they were cold. Windy Winterpeg.
    â€œWell…” said Catherine, looking around for help. “I don’t know…”
    â€œOkay,” said Phil. “Then let’s talk a bit about where you’re going to be from . We usually pick a city similar in size and climate to the one you’re in now. Saskatoon is like Edmonton. It’s on a branch of the same river, and we’ve used it for relocations before. You’ll have enough general information that you can bluff your way through basic questions – what the surroundings look like, and how the seasons are.”
    â€œOkay,” said Catherine uncertainly.
    â€œAll right,” said Phil. “If we agree that you’ll be from Saskatoon we should move you farther away than Regina. Since they’re both in the same province, too many people will know Saskatoon and that could get you into trouble. So, I suggest we relocate you to Winnipeg.”
    â€œWell, if that’s what you think…” said Catherine.
    â€œOkay,” said Phil. “We’ll start organizing our paperwork on the basis that your family is moving from Saskatoon to Winnipeg.”
    â€œI’ve never been to Winnipeg,” Catherine said, massaging the scar on her hand. “How – how will I manage?”
    â€œYou’ll manage fine,” replied Sgt. Sandhu. “You’ll manage just fine because you’ll be alive.”

Chapter 17
    Wednesday
    â€œNow, let’s pick some new birthdays,” the psychologist continued. “Jen, what’s your birthday now?”
    â€œSeptember the first.”
    â€œWell, we don’t want complications with the school year, so you need another birth date around then so you’re still in the right grade.”
    â€œBut I’d like to have it when school’s on, so I can have parties with the class, like the other kids.”
    Dr. Sung smiled. “Sure thing.” She turned to Catherine. “What day of the week was she born?”
    â€œIt was a Wednesday.”
    â€œThen we’ll stick with Wednesday – it’s one less detail to be confused about later.” She consulted a notebook. “June, 1993. The Wednesdays are the 2 nd , 9 th , 16 th , 23 rd , and 30 th .”
    â€œJune 9 th ,” said Jennifer.
    â€œThe 9 th it is,” Dr. Sung replied, writing the date on her clipboard. “Catherine?”
    â€œI was born March 12, 1963. It was a Tuesday,” she said ruefully. “Mom always said I was full of grace.”
    â€œAnother Tuesday nearby would be –” she flipped through her notebook. “How about February 26th?”
    â€œSure.”
    â€œAnd Danny?”
    â€œJune 13, 1989,” replied Catherine. “Also a Tuesday.”
    â€œSo maybe another Tuesday in June?”
    â€œWhat about