h dusty blinds, a headache pressed just behind my eyes, and t

sque", pulled my hair into something that looked respectable, and grabbed t

tter; crime desk for the Herald-Express, which meant he knew every dirty thumbprint in the ci

Musso & Frank's, halfway through

id, not looking up. "Miss Dumas in daylight

id, sliding into the bo

lope I laid on the table. It was e

t na

r. Looks like a woman who charg

"You looking to hir

know who's kee

something, tore the sheet,

rmits, arrest logs, and county marr

d it t

ow. "Are you plann

"I think I'm a

a finger o

think she is... you're chasing smoke. She's a ghost in heels. No

him, and left w

osts don't

ho make

o keep my hands steady, when Loretta walked in like someone had

Not even her usual s

the door

e telling you

probably

couch like her knees

aw h

n't a

I said

Hotel. Y

lo

ook her he

... like money lost its patience. Like s

call him

hesi

, Bi

om wen

besi

you s

But clear. Like it me

nd pulled out a matchbook. Black

this on

ook

was scribb

part of this," L

said gently. "You just didn'

t me then. T

o, don't

r do,"

t was

hat night

up before m

the stage while I tuned with the band, arms folded like he'd b

e. That was

where old menus and broken barstools went

een busy,

t like it's

t. Not t

arms. "Then

to Bishop – inside his

brow. "Le

He's tightening his grip

Spy on someone I've never m

ugh I could smell his cologne.

n spying. You just didn't k

much truth

to me now?

hing you too. And if you're caught between th

e wh

eyes did

rvi

d a weight I

oked

nodde

n't shake

hands with a man who jus

frozen rain, bellboys who never blinked twice. It was the kind o

heels, dark gloves, sunglasses that stayed on even in the dim lobby

the hall. Heavy door. Bras

th

ce. Twice. On the third p

inside.

ned c

," a woman said. The voice

would," re

u

so hard I almost mi

king to t

pa

"She's smarter

expen

Flat.

before I cou

dn't

til I hit the stairwell, heel

te an

li

nged eve

r behind me and didn't bot

ed the

pa

and C

eth

. They were planning. Watching. Controlling. And I was in the c

urse. Room 1104. Proof, but usel

rd still fluttered under th

beside it. On

other:

name

Bishop

inting

pointi

ared at the crumpled napkin where I'd written everything

the point

about blackm

t leverage. L

ching me because

ng because of wh

this, the worst p

that learns