Betrayal by Those You Trust

The novel explores how betrayal by those you trust is the worst kind. Red is betrayed by three people she trusted. Catherine, the former best friend of Red's deceased mother (Grace), betrays Red in the worst way when she manipulates Red using Red's mother’s death. Arthur betrays Red when she learns that he is working with the sniper. Maddy betrays Red when Red learns Maddy suspected all along that Maddy's mother, Catherine, had killed Red’s mother.

Catherine betrays Red both when she manipulates Red’s guilt about Red's mother’s death and when she identifies Red as the anonymous witness to the mafia. Catherine is thinking entirely of reaching her own goals in life when she sacrifices Red to the mafia. By giving Red’s name as the anonymous witness, Catherine takes the chance that Red will either be intimidated...