air of the coffee shop. All the strength h

ile. He reached into the inner pocket of his suit

tent-across the table toward her. He tapped his long inde

could barely grip the metal. She quickly scribbled her name

natched the

Social Security card. Meet me at City Hall in two hours

d walked out. He slid into the back of the Maybach, and

f hot, helpless rage boiled in her stomach. She grabbed a napkin off

ght lungs. She grabbed her canvas tote bag and practically ran

essively, shoving her way thr

rm, she bit down hard on the side

to keep him from suing my parents, and then I'll immediate

ezed into the crowded car, gripping the met

d. She walked down the quiet, oak-lined street toward t

her cheeks hard with both hands, forcing the blood to

rknob and stepped

out, trying to inject fake

wearing a floral apron, her hands covered in flour,

ay morning?" Eleanor asked, wiping her hands

the thick lump of g

e lied, her voice pitching slightly too high. "It's a top-secret initiative based

. I have to go to the federal building for an in-person identity verific

es narrowed slightly, catching the way C

elf to look her mother dead in the eye. She started rambling about the strict security

d. Eleanor's suspicion melted into a beaming, proud

you!" Eleanor gushed, turnin

very step she took, the crushing weight of her lie press

pen the bottom drawer of the green metal filing ca

lowed documents and ha

zing things, sweetheart

took the papers. She couldn't eve

om of her tote bag and yanked the zipper sh

e pie is almost don

Caroline blurted out, pa

shoved her feet into her sneakers at the doo

bag tightly to her chest. She promised herself she w