ed eggs. They were perfect-fluffy, buttery, seasoned wi

nk, rinsing a pan. As he mo

shorts, a white bandage was peeling at the c

landing from the pull-up

her awkwardness. She put down her fork and stood up. "Y

hing out. "Let me see. I ne

destepped her hand, t

id, his voice tigh

air. "Earl, I'm a doctor. I stitched th

abbing a kitchen towel and pressing it ag

d. "You mean a private doctor on

aid

beneath the stone, Faith saw a flicker of something else. Shame? He looke

osing its edge. "You don't need to see it i

ecting her help; he was hiding his damage. "Earl," she said softly. "I've s

her back hit the counter. She reached out a

t," she whisp

s jaw worked. Finally, he let out

itted out. "B

gers nimble and professional as she cleaned the wound and applied a fresh butterfly closure. The intimacy of it was suff

up. Earl was watching her, his

tilted her chin u

nd pressed a kis

Dry. But it bur

ed against her sk

r, they were in the

e drawn to the corner. Under a dust sheet, the unmist

that

the passenger door of the truc

e city was grey and busy. Earl drove with o

blocks away from

h asked, unbuckl

be seen getting out of a tank like thi

locker. Resigning. Then I'm out." She touched the pocket of her jeans, ch

Alfred is in the lobby. If you are

y. It was the only leverage she had lef

ka

he door. She p

ea

rip any mo

ut and slamm

ay until her grey coat d

as gone, he pull

ntom around to the all

leyway, a black Rolls-Royce Phan

ook his weight, but he ignored it. H

grey Tom Ford suit, a crisp

shirt right there in the car. He pulled on

-soldier was gone. In his place stood Ear

. "Mr. Sterling is waiting

checked his reflection in the

e climbed into the back of the Phanto