ne flute near the torn train of the gown. She grunted,

aise lounge, Callie's

st the chemical onslaught. The strategist-the side of her honed in the cutthroat world of Wall Street law-assessed the paralysis receding from her limbs. The dose had

ned, phone pressed to her ear. "Yes, ma

ure behind her. A subtle displaceme

e lounge

mouth opened to scream,

curtains. It clamped over Olga's mouth, sealing the cry inside. Another hand pressed something

ed close, her whisper a rasping blade: "The carotid artery is two millimeters away

gainst her flushed skin. She was an obstac

on the syringe Danvers had left on the side table. She st

h

er picture frame into Olga's temple.

psing to the floor li

cker of annoyance crossing her face. "Olga, you

hone slipped from her fingers and l

remaining shreds of lace from her gown, leaving only a short

stammered, backing up until

e was no longer Callie Elliott's breathy soprano

ice cold and precise. "Aiding and abetting, twenty year

e doorknob, her nails sc

ripped and fell with a yelp. Before she could inhale to scream, Callie was on her. She d

hed into Danvers' apron pocket a

into the terrified woman's ear,

gainst the wall. The housek

uling her inside as well. She closed the closet door, hiding the evidence. She stood up, swaying slightly as the room spun. She walked int

ror. Those eyes were dark, hollow, filled with lethal intent. The corner of her mouth li

ear-old single malt scotch, pulling the stopper. She poured the amber liqu

f security echoed. Claudius wa