tel phone jolted April from a restless slee

esent, ever-efficient assistant. "Mr. Madden's lawyer has scheduled the final divorce proce

id, her voice clearing.

. She wanted to sever every last

sharp, navy-blue pantsuit she had bought f

sing courthouse. As she paid the driver, a sle

stepp

in the short, defiant blonde hair, the professional suit, the determined set of her j

not tha

was a loss of control, and Eligah Madden hated losing control

nce. They were two strangers, walking in parallel line

and human desperation. They took a number and sat on

He walked a few fee

to a low, gentle murmur she had never hea

. Of c

a cold, still stone in her chest. The

bored voice cal

d eyes and a name tag that read 'Maria', took their paperwork. She typed metho

ia looked up, an apologe

oice weary. "Our system is down for emergency maint

d. "Emergency maintenance?" he demanded, his vo

ssness. "Could be a day or two. Could be a week.

nto a fist at his side. A plan d

tration. Freedom, so close, was

Give me your address. I'll have the papers sent to y

ustration hardening into defiance. "That won't b

in the air between the

d in his blue eyes. "Ap

e low but sharp. "I'm not the one in a rush to

imed dart, and they hit

starting to stare, their curiosity

his voice to a hiss. "I

ith ice. "But the last thing I need right n

ght. She didn't run. She walked with the deliberate pace of s

away, so confident, so utterly out of his reach, ignited a hot, unfamiliar

s thumb jabbing at the scre

paused, his eyes still fixed on the doorway where she had disappeared. "And one more thing. Yo