ra

sleepy town an hour before dawn, and I stepped of

City. I had no way of knowing where he would look first, but I knew what he would remember: my

ion. From there, I paid cash for a spot on a grimy cargo barge making its way up the Blackw

rent person. I had tucked the heavy SIG Sauer into a hidden compartment in my suitcase lin

s brushed out and left to hang loose, making me look younger, more innocent. I wore no makeup, and

ows a stark contrast to the gritty surroundings. A man in a crisp sui

polite but devoid of warmth. "I am Wal

ide, slightly intimidated eyes and offered a shy, gratef

ce-over. I saw the flicker of disdain in his expression. I was eve

my lap, a picture of nervous anxiety. I asked naive questions a

t the window. "I've never see

ryside, miss," Walter replied, his eyes staying on

s?" I asked, pointing at the g

s in the financial district." His tone made it clea

his condescension softening into a kind of sm

rought-iron gates. Hayes Manor was an imposing brick house, all sharp angles and manic

ife. After she died, Arthur had wasted little time before marrying Catherine, a woman polished enough for his name and cruel enough to

stepmother. She was elegant in a silk dress, her blonde ha

deliberately making my steps hesitant. "Mrs.

ok both my hands in hers. Her grip was firm, her nails perfectly manicured. He

s, my lack of any jewelry. The moment she decided I was no threat at all. The tension i

easy to get rid o

roprietary and suffocating. "Come, let m

I let my eyes dart around, appearing overwhelmed. In reality, I was mapping the layout.

tucked away in the attic. It was clean but sparse, wit

herine said sweetly. "It's so quiet, a

of my status in this house. I was

ated gratitude. "Oh, thank you, Cath

my stepsisters, Paige and Zoe, would be home from their shopping trip soon an

e on my face vanished. My posture

. No listening devices. No hidden cameras

one thing. It was a perfect observation point, overlook

family crest. I had lifted it from Walter's jacket pocket when he was helping with my bag. A s

e nightstand. Later, I would "find" it and return it

th practiced ease, dismantling the weapon, checking the magazine, cleaning the barrel, and reass

only real

inine laughter echoed from the

the suitcase under the bed. I took a deep breath, and i