elled of leather

way toward the National Cathedral. Elise was stuck in

to herself. Cristine was fixing her hair in a compact mir

bottle of water.

ng the black silk of her dress. It looked l

dn't look sorry. Her eyes gle

ead. "Cover it with your pur

d dabbed at the water. She wouldn't let them

pped. The d

all of white light. The noise was deafen

hing her purse over the stain. She walked up the

ense. The elite of D.C. were there. Senator

g. She didn't know if Jarret was actually inside, or if

a silver-haired man with a face li

Joyce," he said. He nodded

tting Elise off. She placed

batting her eyelashes. She was

r. It started in her toes

stine. She extended he

er voice firm. "My husba

lled him an old fool. But t

med. He took Elise's hand. "Yo

at Elise. Her

e service began. The organ mu

istine leaned over. Her breath

now him, really

es on the altar.

all, sharp breath. "I

wn Elise's spine. It felt

. They moved to t

. Too many bodie

lt to the left. She grabbed the back of a chair to st

water. She

large potted fern. She sipped a glass of w

across the

the exit. He was wearing a d

heart

he posture. The

. She rubbe

ace was empty. Just a waiter

ise whispered to hers

aking so bad the wate

ve. She needed to

s automated line. She needed to check her person

ss D

ried

. Please conta

hrough the fog of grief. They ha

oom. Nina was holding a tray of

d her arm as

spered. "Get me a copy of th

e saw the fear. She nodded once

erful people in the country, and realized she