Because we were on a deserted factory island at the edge of the world, Meche's brain spat out automatically. That must be another part of the "delusion." But there was more to it than that, even in the Eighth Underworld--the angelitos. And Hector. What could she say, how could she frame that honestly?

"To me, Victor was the hierarchy," she replied, thinking fast and catching herself before she could call him "Domino." "I couldn't go to his boss, and I didn't know anyone else I could turn to for help. And I had those two little children to try to take care of--what would happen to them if I quit?"

That was another thought. Were Pugsy and Bibi supposed to exist in "real life" too, and if so, where were they supposed to be? Were they delusions? Whatever the line was, she couldn't believe it, but she had to know. María would ask. "Does it say in there what happened to them?" Meche asked, leaning forward. "No one's been able to tell me. Are they all right?"

She watched Dr. Wilson carefully; the question of the children wasn't the only thing making her anxious. Meche wasn't sure how convincing all that sane honesty had been. What if she said she was illegal, that he'd get her deported if--but that was too easy to check, and Meche was a terrible liar. She'd better stick as closely as possible to the real story. María Morales was a saint gone astray, but she was also going to be well on the road to recovery. She just had to be here long enough to reconnect with Manny.