a P

g his collar. I sat on the edge of the mattress, watching him with the quiet, docile stillness he expected. Hi

olors, the geometry of how things fit together.

ver, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss to my forehead. "I'll see yo

ectronic keypad on the heavy mahogany front door b

, subservient wife waiting to greet her provider. It made my skin crawl, b

ed inside, bringing a rush of dam

My eyes locked onto his chest. My lungs se

ing the navy b

covered in cheap white polka dots. The fabric looked thin, almost synthetic. It was a vio

of my palms threatened to tear. I forced the muscles in my face to hold my p

is heavy wool overcoat. "You changed your tie," I sa

coat sleeves. It was a micro-second of

chuckled, shaking his head. "Spilled half a cup of black coffee do

distaste. "I had my assistant run down to the lobby kiosk

he was trying to align himself with

didn't ask if the assistant was a man or a woma

ing my back to him to hang his coat in the

g moment, searching my face for the paranoia he was so used to seeing. Finding nothing but empty

udson was flat on his back, his chest rising and fa

k into the plush carpet, making absolutely no sound. My body had

k hallway, and pushed open the door to t

moonlight cutting through the high transom window,

dirty clothes. The smell of his cologne mixed with sweat made me want to gag, but I kept digging. I pushed pa

ked i

eam of moonlight. It was the na

s scanning every square inch of the expe

a single drop of brown liquid.

omething stiff. Right on the back, near the tip, was a large, crusty whit

he rough edge of the stain. My b

silk right u

cof