ver the Silver Lake hills, Carma felt like a wrung-out dishrag. She sat on the c

A local number she

expecting a telem

ews: the anonymous number that had canceled the Xen deal traced back to a

immediately thought of Carma. She had access, she had motive, and she had just torn up his

voice was a low gro

id, her body tensing. "I didn't a

hing to the Xen deal. You got wind of it and you p

e had somehow gotten wind of the deal and used her connections to ruin

aid, her voice a perfect mask of confusion. "Maybe your bu

said quickly, panic edging into his voice.

ng to a whisper. "Go back to your business, Kendall." She ended the cal

box. She took one look at Carma's face and drop

"The deal for my graphic novel fell

im think that. Let him squirm. I'm going to drive

herself. "I just want to sleep. I wan

ptop chimed from the coffee table. A v

arma was still trying to play the part of a supportive wife. Babette had never been told about

t tonight she was too tired to keep up

it ac

r makeup flawless even at home. "Carma, honey! Emily just texted

mile. "I'm survi

uine-looking anger. "That son of a bitch. I'm going to ruin him. I'll call m

she also knew Babette hadn't spoken to him in six months. "I appreciate i

r mind. That's even better. But my offer stands. I

e camera's view, nodded

"He wants a divorce. H

going to make him pay for it. He thinks he can just throw you away? No. You are brilliant an

epeated, the words a

ooking a ticket for this afternoon. I'll be there by tonight. We'll order takeout, we'll drink w

irl. The opposite of wha

t would understand, did. More than understood, she was

re, sweetie.

op lid. The silence i

, I like her. She's g

true. She felt a little less alone. The world was st

a said, her voice flat.

oor. She leaned against it, her chest heaving

hough she had added a few things over the years. Near the bott

ago, after a stretch of sleepless nights. She had taken it o

ngle pill into her palm. She dry-swall

ull her under. Instead, a strange heat began to spread

as blurring. Her throat was swelling shut. She

. This was someth