eb

en was scarce and sincerity non-existent. I hated it. I hated how Ignatz preened like a

ated that Genev

h near the choc

asked, dispensing

ho? Oh, Genevieve? She went back to her old apartment. Or maybe sh

y eyes. "She's the most

snapped. "Ignatz is better off

laughing with a

t, stepping into his

he went home, Kaleb. She's fine.

euphemism, not something Genevieve would do. I had a bad fee

o check on h

, turning back to his admir

bed my coat and strod

ndown building in a part of the city Gene

, hanging off one hinge. The hallway smelled of mil

ushed the

ke hit me first-

. The bulb flickered and b

ell more than a home. There was a metal trash can

d, checking the tiny

pt

bare mattress lay on the

something white

d it up. It was a gloss

rumbeat. I picked up the paper underneath it.

Genevie

is: Mis

ere malnutrition an

bile rise i

s drinking champagne whil

everything. The peeling paint. The mattr

oom table. A leather diary sa

it. It was private. But she was

it to the

Mommy loved th

nds s

like a lifeline. I drove back to the venue like a madman, b

om. Ignatz was cutting

ed up t

ath, her smile faltering. "What a

y voice loud enough to

the knife frozen i

"And you have no id

o onto the pristine white fro

voice shaking. "You're celebrating w