Macapá, Brazil

Brazil was just a polite word replacement for welcome to Hades.

Katrina Landon dabbed a white, lace handkerchief at her moist neck for the umpteenth time, uncomfortable with the smoldering heat in this country. Why people lived in temperatures that were so blasted hot, she certainly didn't know.

In the two days she'd been here, she'd seen women wearing light weight clothes. At first, she thought it scandalous, but now she wished she could trade places with them just long enough to cool down. Even the shoes she wore seemed too stuffy for her feet.

She and her mother had been walking for at least ten minutes after leaving the inn where they were staying. Walking in this heat nearly suffocated her. She'd already had enough of this country and she wanted to return home to London. If not for her frail mother who grasped Katrina's elbow tightly as they moved down the cobblestone road, she would have insisted they return home and forget about this place.

Unfortunately, Katrina couldn't do that. There were two reasons she was here. One, to meet her father, and two...to try and stop the terrible tragedy that would happen soon.

"Where did the innkeeper say that building was?" she asked her mother. Katrina scanned both sides of the busy street, but she couldn't see any building that was fancy enough to be a solicitor's office.

Her mother paused, and placed a hand on the bodice of her baby blue day dress, and took a deep breath. Fatigue from the walk was evident on her pale face and the way she struggled for her next breath. If the innkeeper would have told them the solicitor's office was this far away, Katrina would have hailed down a hackney for them to travel in.

She gently patted her mother's hand. "Are you going to be able to make it?"

A weary smile tugged on the corners of her mother's mouth. "Allow me to catch my breath first."

Katrina took another quick glance at the nearby buildings. One was a milliner's shop. "Look." She pointed to the store. "Let me take you there. I'm certain they will have a place for you to sit. I can look for the solicitor's office—"

"I won't hear of it." Her mother's voice was strong considering how ill she appeared. "We shall go together. All I need is another minute or so to collect my strength before we move on."

Leaning her slender body against the nearest tree, her mother patted a shaky hand to the coiled bun her hair had been tightly pulled into. A few strands of light brown hair, lightly streaked with gray, had fallen loose from their walk. In the past ten years, their lowly situation had taken its toll on her mother, which caused more wrinkles on the mid forty-year-old woman's face. She had been a very handsome woman in her youth.

Katrina wished she could convince her mother to hire a hackney, but they were very low on funds. She didn't dare argue with her mother for fear it would take too much of the older woman's energy. Once more, Katrina took in their surroundings. The buildings were not as close together as what she was used to in London. Some were even slightly nicer here in this small town.

It surprised Katrina that more of the Brazilian people didn't gape at them as if they'd accidentally walked into the wrong country, especially since they wore more fashionable gowns in London than in this country. She dabbed the handkerchief at her neck again. For certain, the material of her day dress was too thick. She shouldn't be wearing this in such scorching temperatures.

Laughter from children pulled Katrina's attention to across the street. Three little girls, who she suspected were between six and eight years of age, were kicking a beige leather ball back and forth to each other near the main road. It appeared they were trying to keep it in their circle as they moved slowly up the street.

Katrina's first urge was to smile, but then memories from her lonely childhood resurfaced, reminding her that she didn't have many friends, and the acquaintances she had were adults. None of them took the time to play kick ball. Then again, they were too weary for childish games after a long day of serving ale.

In an instant, her mind opened up, taking her away for a moment, and she saw the three girls again. The older one with pigtails kicked the ball hard, making it roll into the street. The younger girl darted after it. Not far up the street, an out-of-control wagon surged toward the girl. The young girl looked up to see the vehicle, but froze...

A loud commotion shook Katrina from her premonition as a wagon raced down the street. People who'd been crossing the road scampered to get out of the man's way. Immediately, she looked toward the girls. For now, they were safe, but her forewarning let her know that might not be the end result.

Holding her breath, she switched her gaze between the girls and the speeding horses pulling the wagon. Suddenly, the older girl kicked the ball into the road. The youngest girl scampered out, chasing the toy. With arms outstretched in front of her, the girl's attention was only focused on the ball as her long, black locks of hair bounced around her shoulders.

"No!" Katrina shouted as her heartbeat quickened. She rushed out after the girl. Katrina's mother's voice pierced the air, but she ignored the older woman. Although it placed Katrina in danger, she must try to save the little girl.

Not worrying about the toy ball, Katrina hurried after the child. The wagon came closer, and the girl finally noticed. Just as what happened in Katrina's forewarning, the girl's body froze as she watched the approaching wagon. Quickly, Katrina scooped her up in her arms. Her speedy footsteps didn't falter, and she was able to deliver the girl on the other side of the road before the wild horses could run them over.

Katrina expelled a gush of air as she set the child down. The girl's big brown eyes were wide with fright. She looked at Katrina, and then toward the wagon moving along down the road. The girl muttered something in her native language as a smile of gratitude touched her mouth. Katrina couldn't understand the words, but the child's expression said it all.

"I'm glad you're safe." Katrina nodded to the girl. "Just stay away from the road and you won't get hurt." She pointed to where the girl's friends stood, both with wide eyes and mouths agape.

Sighing again with relief, Katrina moved back across the street toward her mother. More color had evaded the frail woman's already pale cheeks. Inwardly, Katrina groaned. She didn't mean to worry her, but the child had to be saved.

"Thank the Lord you are all right," her mother said in a rush, grasping Katrina's hands.

"I am, and thankfully, so is the little girl." She shook her head. "Mere minutes before it happened, I received one of my...sights. That's why I knew I had to act quickly."

Her mother patted her cheek. "You have such a caring heart."

Katrina stared at her mother for a few seconds longer. She still didn't know if her mother truly believed she had these strange sights of what was about to happen, only because after she had them, her mother patted her cheeks and told her what a caring heart she had. Or, her mother told her what a precious girl she was. Katrina was rather tired of hearing this phrase from her parent.

Wiping off the moisture from her forehead, Katrina moved her attention back to the child who was now walking with her friends up the street. Out of the corner of her eyes, a sign caught her attention, and the solicitor's name stood out in bold letters—FRANK JAMISON, LAWYER.

"There's the building we're looking for." Katrina wrapped her mother's hands around her elbow before leading them across the street.

"Oh, finally." Her mother sighed. "I just want to get this over and done with. If it were up to me, we wouldn't be here at all." She aimed a blaming gaze toward Katrina. "Have you forgotten that your father has never contacted you this whole time?"

Inwardly, Katrina groaned. "Honestly, Mother. We have been over this several times already. I haven't forgiven that man for not wanting to be my father, however, because of the premonition I received after getting his letter, I felt that coming here was urgent." She tapped her mother's fingers. "Besides that, I'll be receiving an inheritance. Do you not think we should be able to finally get some of his money?"

"I suppose."

Her mother's stone expression let Katrina know she didn't want to talk anymore on this subject. To be quite honest, neither did Katrina.