t the other end of the alley o

two-story house before her. The hou

walked up the short path

within. The lock turned

, her face kind but etched with a deep, weary sadness

softer shade of her own, and felt

ter of Theodore Blair. His last wish was for me to search f

eyes flew to the key, and a storm

e pressed a hand to her mo

's daughter?" she whispe

nod, her own thro

grabbed Chloe's hand, her grip surprisingly strong,

ed with a welcoming warmth. A girl about Chloe's ag

then her concerned eyes lande

hloe!" Helen announced, her voic

ss her face. She came forward and took Chloe's small bag. "Hi, Chl

ean clothes, Jane led Chloe to the worn but comfortab

reign, the tension that had been a steel rod

bandage on Chloe's arm. "My goodn

," Chloe said

n, but she didn't press, she just

d, soft sweatshirt, a simple but hot meal w

shing a bowl of soup toward

ry tumbled out. Helen

mmer Sterling, both brilliant scientists,

hit them, the boat sank, and

gone," Helen wept. "How did you survive

ption by a kind old man who was a distant relative, omitting

just been thrown out, He

to you!" Jane's face w

Chloe said,

ow," she said with fierce certainty. "You'll

a place deep inside her that she thought had tur

he took a faded photograph out of an ol

a gaggle of children. Chloe saw a small girl with

six older brothers and sisters. We thought they were al

ers? Sisters? A family? These words

, heavy, and terrifying purpose be

ghtly lit environment of the Aegis priva

of the left turbocharger of Adler's Koenigsegg, w

ads of cold sweat seeped from his for

dler watched the report on the s

ked up a se

ce-blue eyes, long dark brown hair. Use all our