s of the guest bedroom, painting

She had spent the entire night staring at the wall, feeling

uldn't let Evelyn keep her son, and she couldn't let

popping in the quiet ro

. Alistair's bedroom

ight where Alistair had been standing last night, sat his private

ked past, the

ification popped o

t sleep,

ehind her ribs. She forced her eyes away from the

an to vibrate violently

text. It was

n. The caller ID r

f the office was calling his private cell t

he phone. She swiped the green

ailable," Eleanor said, kee

as quiet f

t, breathy

ist

blood turn

wood. She had somehow acquired his private cel

oman had answered. "Who is thi

anymore. It was sharp, entitle

htened until her knuckles ached

If you need to leave a message f

laugh echoed thr

omous. "Oh... you're the placeholder

ed her thumb

hone. "He never did. He spent five years waiting for

the glass-walled board

nable to stand the quiet of the bedroom. He was currently leading a high-stakes video con

room doors sudd

otic composure was completely shattered. He rushed to Alista

kwood is in the

heart stopp

he hospital bathroom," Vi

His chair crashed backward onto the floor. He didn't excuse him

through the double doors of the emer

ice, her younger sister, were standing outside t

e lunged at him. She shoved a

her face. "She was fine! Then she made one phone call to your

owed a dialed number. It was his private cell phon

ined from Ali

phone from his pocket and

the phone, staring blankly at the wall. The

Eleanor s

eces snapped together in his mind, forming a horrific, twisted pict

ne. His voice shook the walls of the hospital

e phone away from her ear. "

, the veins in his neck bulging. "Are you not s

tire body. "Kill herself? Alistair, I didn't say anything! S

ibrating blade. "I swear to God, Eleanor, if she doesn't s

ic

ne wen

om. The dial tone buzzed in he

just convicted her of murder and sentenced her to de

leanor's hand, landing s

he edge of the coffee table to stay standing. The injustice