: Stranger

t know wh

new she w

ra

air wrapped around her like a slap, sharp, bitter, real. She stumbled over the uneven pavement of the alley

amed to keep moving. Don't

f how the world worked. But instinct

mpster as headlights s

flashlight. Elara! he called, voice clipped. Come o

r fingers dug into the brick wall behind her, nails scrap

seconds, then bolted

se and gasoline. But she kept her head down and moved with the current of

he only knew she had to get as far awa

somethin

na

vo

cking down from claims that Elara Sinclair's

ewhere. A headline. A man with sharp eyes and louder questions. A

on

e wore. She didn't know why, but she felt

own diner across the avenue. The windows

g coffee, a waitress with heavy eyes, and an old p

f paper from the pocket of her hoodie. The nurse had slipped i

on

-555

. She picked up the receiver, slipped in the

ri

re

ic

ice, cauti

I think... I think

le

p inhale. W

menu board. Broadway Diner.

minutes. Don't talk t

ne wen

fingers still clutching the pho

in the window, trying to recognize the girl beh

e the door fi

face and a camera bag slung over one shoulder

t hesitation and slid into

, he

, she whispered. But

t unkindly. You look di

l of thos

in. How'd

I wasn't safe. That the man cla

hing him for over a year. He's not your husband. He

ach flipped.

air Enterprises. Died in a car crash six months before you d

im, she admitted.

it across to her. The screen showed an article. Her face, slightly younger, smiled

e night before your father's memorial. You vanished fro

, as if it might give her

meone erase

ied, your uncle Harrison took over Sinclair Enter

remember that. I don't eve

not without losing the legal claim you represented. So they

ple. A sharp pain bloomed there.

mitted. But I know whe

s jacket and pulle

month ago. No return address. Jus

n it? sh

d it yet. I was

I don't know what

es. Then let's f