kup truck shattered

ing the roses. It was a punishment task

d out of his truck. He was

, grinning like a

t. She looked up at th

f the awning, motionless. He was holding a letter

oor. She looked at Arthur, th

ne asked. Her tone suggested

"Hi. I brought these for Aud

back of her skull. If she accepted them,

to kill

on Arthur, refusing to even look at him. She

.. I just wanted to see if y

truck and wrinkled her nose, then looked down at her own dirt-stained hands as if they

he box of donuts

ed back toward the roses,

all, approving hum.

ck with hurt confusion, then threw the box

e said. "

ck and peeled awa

ched. He was a good man. And she

houlder. "Good girl

went

at the balcony

security, walked up to her. He han

n," Mercer sa

open

. The garage where Arthur worked had been abruptly shut down by the co

ispered. "I did

re not for public dis

in her gut. She marched toward the house. She was go

outside the

. "Sterling Industries. They're going to miss their earnings repo

e fr

ne. Perfectly, t

hing out. He was a sha

the games-wasn't illness. It was choice. Her mission parameters shifted in an instant. This

bar, the tears streaming down her face mixing with the sugar glaze. The sweetness tasted like ash. Sh