wept over Zane Archer like a bl

arled, limping into the room. "My wife. In

his suit jacket. He stepped smoo

sed. "You're misunderstanding the situation. Mrs. Stev

protectively near Beverley

oved Zane hard in the chest, the motion th

. He raised an eyebrow. "Touch me again, Steve

past Zane, grabbing Beverley's

inch. "I don't live with you anymore, Ellwo

ight. He wanted her to cry, to beg, to rea

lwo

ng voice came f

e followed him, using the commotion at the front desk to slip past while the m

whispered, her voice cracking. "H

ositioned herself behind Ellwood, peeking out at Be

rising in a dramatic plea. "But hurting Ellwood

eyes. The performa

basket on the side table. A small

ched up the knife. She held the blade a

her face. "If you hate me so much, take it out on

theater. The damsel in distr

ed for her, his injured leg nearly givin

ipped. A thin line of red ap

opping the knife. She clutched her ar

him a grunt of pain as his leg throbbed. He held her tigh

yelled. "You drove her t

was barely a paper cut. She looked at Ellwo

she said again, her voice t

d ringing shatt

e. The ringtone was a

tantly. The trembling vanished. Her eyes went

creen. The color dr

phone with shakin

agged. Her eyes darted around the

"Please, no. I did wh

erson on the other

hone slipped from her fingers, cl

kin. Her face went deathly pale as she began to hyperv

voice a strangled wheeze. "I

mp, crumpling to the floor like

he terror in her eyes, howe

her-ignoring the searing pain in his injured leg-and pu

face contorted with panic and rage. "Ge

s injured leg screaming in protest, his burned arm straining. He lim

ammed shut

e silence ringing in her ears. Zane Archer s

p. The screen was still lit. The call ha

picked it up. She stared

rified a woman who had jus

itted the num