at exactly 9:00 AM

lack blouse and trousers, her hair pulled back into a sever

nt, stood in the hallway. He looked impeccable in his grey

and polite. He held out a rectangular velvet box. "Mr. Rhodes

ide without opening it. Arland had a habit of s

necklace," Simon added when she didn't

e object felt cold, heavy. It was a bribe. A very expensive, shiny m

she said. Her voice

or when he was coming home. Her lack of questions seemed to unnerve him

said. "Have

the door

the past year-a bracelet from when he missed her gallery opening, a pair of earrings from when he forgo

hone

. It was a text from an unknown

ing from it. In the corner of the frame, a man's hand was visible, resting

this for me. He's so protective. He says the hospit

t. He had never cooked for her. Not once. When she had the flu last wint

deleted the message

olde arrived at S

ment with a neurologist for the migraines that had been

er head down as she navigated the sterile white corrid

the VIP wing, sh

ed. She knew

voice boomed down the hallway. "She needs the

large concrete pillar. S

ng over a terrified head nurse. His face was red

cupied by a heart transplant

If you don't move them within the hour, I will pull the Rhod

he looked pale, wrapped in a cashmere blanket, clut

red, loud enough to be heard.

own, wrapping his arms around her. "You are never a burden, Em. I pr

nger; it was the passion. He was fighting for Emilie. He was willing to b

merely sent an assi

oked past Arland's shoulder, directly a

de f

widened slight

rk tugged at the corner of Emilie's mouth. She didn't alert Arland. In

..." sh

, his attention solely on

snapped a photo of the scene-Arland kneeling, desperate an

tay for her

he automatic doors sliding open to t

?" the dr

paused, then corrected

and dialed a number she h

and Moving," a

said, watching the city blur past the window. "Antique

a slot.

he felt a strange sensation in her chest. The pain was stil

ar