t his laptop screen. He had searched for replicas of the pend

p. Brielle descended the stairs, a coffee mug in one hand. Arou

welry. His voice was dangerously quiet.

better on me than it ever did on that pathetic widow. Just tell her y

bought off. Not this time. But he couldn't tell Brielle about Christina's threat to involve their f

andle Chris

's hospital room. He carried the same plas

and her eyes turned

take her hand. Christina jerked her han

ond. "Christina, the pendant... it might have been lost in the

h definition. His eyes had darted to the upper right

ce chillingly calm. "Lost? That was

sound comforting. "I know it's hard. I'll pu

upted. "Since you can't find it, I guess

sh me. I'm being patient. Don't

at it, let's invite the local news to cover how the

s screeched against the linoleum. He pointe

d, looking up at him wit

knew the current climate. The media loved a scand

hands to unclench. "Fine. I'll keep

d out, the door slam

nds. Then she picked up her phone

Clark Residence,

e rest of the family lacked. She recalled his son, a young soldier who had been medically discharged, and the anonymous donation she had made to his recove

of warmth. "Yes, Ms. Woods. Miss Brielle was showing it off at dinner last night. She said

y washed over her, but she tamped it down. "T

complete. She knew exactly where the

fingers tapping a steady rhythm on the be

play games? She