r heels kicking at the rug. "She's a lee

into a sneer. "You're so stupid, Kimball. You're giving

ossed his arms over his chest, looking at Kim

"He can barely stand up. He's a walking corpse trying to play the hero.

n the roo

s wrist, went rigid. The soft warmth that had briefly en

go of

y. Her eyes lock

tall glass of water, abandoned hours ag

d around the cold glass. In one fluid, exp

Crockett squarely in th

ndpipe. He let out a strangled, pathetic squawk, his hands flying up to his fac

ver her own feet, scrambling away not from the water, but from

ll into a stunned,

ous, violent red. His chest heaved. He took a st

ack away. She f

r just inches from Crockett's expensive leather shoes. It shattered with a

d in the air, right above a mas

the broken glass underfoot. The physical pre

wasn't a yell. It was a low, vibrating hum that seemed to rattle the wind

looking at prey. The blood drained from his face. He swallowed hard,

onizing seconds, ensuring the fear w

ck on him. The lethal a

e was staring at her, his che

f his pajama pocket. She slipped the worn bank card back inside,

s hand coming up to grab h

fingers over his

y, and absolutely certain. "I can take care of myself

r eyes darting briefly t

," she whispered. "They o

e bank card in his pocket, then back up at her. He slow

ona. She didn't look at Connie. She didn't loo

spine snapping perfectly straight. She looke

ctively pressed his back flat again

andle of the heavy oak fro

ving room, bringing the smell of exhaust fumes and free

the threshold. Sh

l her strength. The heavy wood slammed into the frame with

e through the shock. "Don't you ev

The freezing wind whipped her dark hair across her face. She

d out her phone. The screen lit up, showin

mile touched the c

ning her weight against the biting wind, and waite