, Sarah dressed

dark dress

o a business meeting, not just

ing room, scanning a financi

red. His eyes lingered for

g. Surprise? Annoyanc

rything," Sarah said, her voice calm and ev

his paper, h

y serious about

his tone, as if he still expect

eplied. She picked up her pur

rned t

ara

her at the door.

lmost troubled expression on h

d, turning away. "Do

a strange lightn

singly smooth, handled with cold ef

made no demands beyond the

st eager to get it over with. He proba

e. Her personal belongings, a small

gs, expensive things, but

ternoon in the Hayes

s for Mrs. Peterson,

ian blend, two sugars, a splash of c

cleaning

his shirts need

e preferred o

ferred florist for office arrangements,

cal music he sometimes liked pla

e she' d always been

he stack of neatly handwritte

when she left. It w

r, looking back at th

dness for the love she' d w

der fear for the

e whispered to

, pulling her small

vening, expecting the usua

ething

as still.

d out,

le

ered. She was

off. Good. Le

pursue Jessica wi

chen for his usual

was lukewarm, bitter. No

hing he recognized

ettling for a

his preferred co

keeper, hired quickly b

I' m not sure ab

on explained later, her expression caref

t in the closet, still at the dry-cleaners becau

ings. An

en notes on the kitche

nces, his routines, all laid o

ent through him.

pushing the

y dramatic with the note

ter. He' d have his assistan

. That' s w