pushed open the heavy, creaking do

d the climb up the dim, narrow stairwell to the third

e stiff from the cold. She unlocked the door and ste

dropped it on the floor. She walked st

he edges of the porcelain sink with both hands, leaning he

look into the cracked mirror. She stared at the r

er ears. Karen White's disgusted eyes flashed behi

her hands under the stream, grabbed a bar

ned, but she couldn't stop. She scrubbed until her fingers ached, desper

el. She walked into her bedroom, collapsed onto the narrow ma

ra moved like a machine. She got out of bed a

ng it to fall over the right side of her face. She swung h

k University archaeological research cent

stopped. The janitorial staff was frant

spotless. Someone had even laid down

ckpack straps and walked down the

n her coworker, Lena Sullivan, slid over.

eyes wide with excitement. "There's a massi

loves from the dispenser. "Which V

rate," Lena said, waving her free hand. "Bill

d her back to Lena and flicked on the bri

she lifted a small, delicate bone fragment from t

stant, sweeping melody of a string quartet playing a Victorian waltz, layered over the frantic rustling of heavy silk skirts. The phantom smell of burning beeswax candl

slipped from her fingers and hit the st

d, her brow furrowing. "Cora? Are you okay

ced the panic down into her stomach. She

he heavy sound of synchronized dress

Dr. Thorne's assistant poked h

istant ordered loudly. "Report to Conferen

m in the trash. She followed a buzzing, excite