ghting every crack in the stucco. A black Lincoln Town Car idled at the curb,

ndow, squinting. Jeanine kept her head down

A woman sat on the opposite side. She was sharp-an

ut looking up from her tablet. "I'm

could tell by the way the woman scanne

ckground check. Memorize it. Thes

ernment Analyst. Philanthropist. The file was heavy on public achievements and light on

ffice high above the streets, Conrad

ean," he

Scholarship kid. Mom in a coma. Dad unknown. No boyfriends

boring." He flipped to the page about her fami

ge is her s

y to loan sharks. He's been trying to leverag

g his lips. "So that's it. She's not a saint. She's just

The ceilings were twenty feet high. The view of Central Park was

charcoal suit that fit him like a

dropping a document on

Clause 7: Relationship termination at sole discretion of

e signed. She was si

e signature, and tossed a black card onto

ed. "I don't want people thi

stled. "I h

ey were faded white at the knees from ye

t the card. It was a lifeline, but it was also a shackle. If she used it for anything oth

is back. "There is a charity gala toni

nicked. "I have a shi

over his shoulder. "I pulled some strings with the hospi

re hard. "Tonight, you are not a stuttering in

crashed down on her. Jeanine sank onto the

hone

p in a limo. Don't hold out on m

rage bubbled in her chest. She grippe

memorized but never saved. The number that connected to Bos

etons, he would move her mother to a state facility where "accidents happen." The Singletons had money, but Jennings h

nd exhaled. No. She w

the dress. For the role. But she wouldn't buy a single sandwich

show, she wou