here

ot get in th

er than she wanted it to be. "You can't say someth

d a plain white card into her hand. "Of course

hoved the card into her coat pocket and wal

r. Lookin

er, who had never once looked

for what was waiti

lding. Beside it sat a black trash bag, and a car

ra's stomach dropp

ps with his arms folded. "Rent

have it on payday

even look ashamed. "I've got a family

o years. I've never

red?" He shrugged.

anager had pinned the missing client money on her, the newest junior on the team, because she had no one to d

nally said yes. Three months of canned soup and skipped meals. And

said. "Just giv

nt inside and

tower, dragging her suitcase behind her. The night guard knew her by si

It was the only place in the building where nobody would find her. She sat down on

. Tomorrow I'll

hovering over the number. No. Not yet. What if it's a

urvived alone her whole life. She wo

rwell doo

in his shirtsleeves, tie loosened, a coat over his arm. For a

o the suitcase.

u doing here,

got som

ing flickered underneath. "Security flagge

efore she locked it. "It'

building is my business." He ste

The hum of

pered, and hated

tting remark about people who

is eyes briefly, as thoug

up yo

Si

der, not an offer. "There's a guest room. You'll leav

t him. "Why wou

he mask sliding back into place. "A homeless analyst sleeping in my

t's

also felt like the only door t

fting her chin. "But

have been a ghost of a smile crossed his f

'll

ath her like a spilled jewelry box. The guest room had a real bed, a lo

study," Adrian said

ders

nk onto the edge of the bed, exhausted past

nightstand drawer,

was a th

asn't hers. But the name on

A HAR

rl with dark curls in a yellow dress, laughing on a stone staircase.

as a date. Ei

fore she'd ever appli

house creaked in the h

ry quietly, on the other side. "Please