f professional concern. "Lois, can you hear me?" His voice was swe

oat was dry and her voice was j

ck at her pale face. "You were hurt quite badly. "We d

her chest. She swallowed, trying

overy might take a while." You will have to dea

, and the betrayal. Her fingers gripped the hospital sheets tightly, making her knuckles b

ake things one day at a time." He looked at the

ved across the room. Two people came

harsh voice, "They do

she doesn't say anything." The kid is

ll over. As the shadows got closer, her fingers tightened around the sheet. They d

's eyelids opened wider, and she became aware of the muted speech.

g harder." If she talks,

t talk." We did a good job of hiding our tracks

like it was being squeezed. The word "

reet surveillance." "She'll disapp

e who was walking past. She gripped the thin hospital sheet tighter as her hea

now. "Don't make any mistakes." It will

Her mind was racing; her child had been taken by lies and deception. It felt like t

ded, her eyes narrowing with steely determination. Things had chan

s silk as she said, "Lo

ezed together tightly

ith an unsettling ease. "Of course,

broke, and it was hard to hide how angry sh

ld and calculating. "Life doesn't always give

h caught. "And what about the ba

in Jane's eyes. "Plans chang

t. "You'll never be ab

ull of threat. "You don't belong here anymore."

a crack had started to form. Jane turned and l

the door closed. The

ored charcoal suit fit nicely over his tall, broad shoulders and body made by riches and cruelty. The dark eyes

into a smile that was as chilly as winter's breath. "Michael," she

a low voice, like the rumble before a storm. He moved closer to Lois, who was still

s is a problem." A danger

et way. No errors. The Reynolds name can't stand

l next to her bed. "The public is sad, but

where shadows were moving about

placed by a serious look. "Out of

the room, broken only by the

tay alert. There will be penal

er. "She won't ever talk

his voice broke the heavy s

at Lois with the satisfaction of a pre

ows on her face that looked like ghosts. Every breath was a fight, short and unsure. Her finger

in the quiet chamber. The machinery made a fai

y lovely hair, and her outfit was clean but worn from long hours. Her eye

raced, but sh

e stillness-a flash of consciousness, a secret ember that wouldn't die.

u hear

ise and fall of a chest that

r shoulders stayed the same. Lois's stillness made

ly brushed a stray hair

now." We're

stayed on him longer than they ne

iet whispers carried plans murmured i

just a little, and a quiet re

ing the door. The gentle click sealed Lois in a weak p