quiet, tree-lined street in Midtown Manhattan, id

door, and scooped Leo into her arms, pla

before turning and pulling Dulce into a bone-crushing hug. "Almost seven year

the familiar scent of expensive amber perfume and cigarette sm

empire to run," Alanis said, winkin

od floors covered in thick Moroccan rugs. The kitchen was already stocked wi

Ray calmly found an outlet near the desk, plugged in his laptop,

rble island, handing one to Dulce. She leaned against

a sheet when I picked you up a

er knuckles tightening until they turned w

lce, that's impossible. We both saw him fall. The autopsy was sealed by

voice raw with grief. "But the side profile, the

rief plays cruel tricks, honey. Manhattan is full of tall, skinny guys with

led out a heavy cream envelope embossed with a r

l invitation to the final-round interview for the Executive Administrative Assistant position s

gold eagle crest. The blo

to the final

Alanis replied bluntly. "Don't look at me like I forged your resume. You asked me to m

our application directly in front of their HR director. Your credentials did the rest. The position pays three hundred

en years swearing you would find out why Kai died. Justice Enterprise swallowed Vanguard Architectural Group-and

the air lea

her innocence. The man who had ri

master of t

s. He fires people for wearing the wrong shade of tie. Last month, he dismissed three gor

flection in the glass

eyes, framed by long lashes, carried an innate, melancholic bea

face, her natural voice, or even the clean scent he had associated with the woman

here as myself,"

ing calmly on the keyboard. "Mommy, didn't you bring that he

ned. She turned t

ce, flatten my voice, and replace every familiar scent... Bren

laugh. "A masterclass in camouflage. I love it. Let's show

the city lights reflecting

wooden vanity table and unlatched the heavy

, flesh-toned pigments, liquid latex, stippling

bottle of aggressively floral drugstore perfume, and the notes from the voc

on brush and stared at her fa

tics, exchange her natural cadence for a dull, nasa

tly to her reflection, "Du