ana

n the house finally settled

full blast to mask my voice. In my trembling hand, I clutched a

he number

ad met during a case in Boston. She h

p," I w

ine c

voice was gro

it's

tretched

Are you

" I

something. Ivan Hughes. K

d found. The account numb

e shifting to professional steel.

said. "Just ge

rd, flushing the pieces down the t

er, clutching the sink as nausea rolled through me.

survive on the protein bars I

assage. The house was built in the 1920s, during pro

in the hallway. It opened with a low gro

space, counting my steps until I ended up behind

ugh a vent. H

ed the grate open

a key; I used a hairpin to pick the lock. I

r binder. I opened it, a

birth cer

Leo

: Ivan

: Kier

But underneath it was a

leanor

van H

: The P

ding night, she will be too weak to protest. You can dispose of her q

o my mouth to

mot

architect. She was discussing my murd

of her

with the burner phone's came

d these yet. I neede

mbed back into the vent, a

omething break inside me. It was the last tether of h

ivestock. And now I was bein

ck doesn't

oked at the woman staring back. She looke

his whole house to the ground. When I opened my eyes, the fe

I was the surgeon. And I was going

ng, I went dow

s slump. I made my hands tremble v

e watched me with

ale, my lov

spered, keeping my gaze lo

," he said. "Once we are married, I will take car

made my skin crawl, but I

van," I said.

thought he had won. He

had come with Kiera, who was supposedly vi

auda

ly. He fell and scraped h

over and

see,"

e with big, te

h a wipe from my pocket

said. "Brav

Thank you, l

a pawn, just like me. But he was also

too

from the terrace.

k. I smiled. A wea

d away. She had no id

out the dress I was supposed to we

ite. Inno

silk. I would wear it

as sharpening my scalpel. An