ights of the 24-h

was alm

n two hours, across t

n Chicago barely covered the inte

ere my own m

in my lower back, a reminder

good cause, for a rel

vanished fast. The debt

sticky counter. An un

st ign

el

l voice. "Miss

es

. Ethan Nolan. Mrs. Margaret Nolan is g

gar

h my chest, a feeling

A patron of my moth

have money f

en arranged. It leav

ne wen

ork.

mach t

of cheap coffee and the

Port Authority, a duffel bag with my f

as t

n No

rcedes, he looked like he'

ve suit, an i

d, his gaze passing

d towar

th

ned, his eye

g – surprise? Disgust

ll

tching the st

n, my face too thin

society pages years ago, befor

to the car. "Get in

was fla

ew leather and somet

s perfume

I sat in

ence wa

ve chattered, despera

h a cool indifferenc

st tired. I w

welry box sat on t

the window. That

w tha

g to say?" His v

es in the re

s there

Apologies? Explana

fore I could for

. You're here because my grandmother

s felt

ka

pa

Margaret v

wer, but his

e was answ

clenched

hown me genuine kindness, wer

as a cold sto

t me again i

ster star. Bad luck for everyone.

ietly, mostl

ng wheel tightened. I

or a s

ace was a