ng when Joseph heard a

le turne

s a glass of bourbon. He didn't remember pouring it. The air sme

opened the doo

r was neat, like she had planned this visit. "Oh,"

ked," Jos

u've been tense." Her eyes moved to the gl

have one,"

didn't look real. "

ish. He stood there, listening. After a few

ifted it, and smelled it. There was

oured it down the sink. He let the

houting. Just

-

rn

g room. She kept her shoulde

Sarah was spreading butter on toast like nothing co

ning," Se

second his eyes softened, th

s she did, she gave a tiny nod, the

said, hiding a smirk. "P

fine," Jo

f breakfas

, Joseph stood.

rows, but Joseph igno

-

od near the window. The

last night," he said. "Wi

" Selen

r, but his look

drink it

wave of relief. "Why

voice was calm, but she could feel the danger under it

odded. "

Brian yesterd

one," s

or a moment. "You weren'

-

oom - sam

all vial. The drink should have worked. It always wor

d details. Brian could be made restless with a few words. And

-

ern

taff walked quietly like they

rary with a book she

ed, "Brian has been in the winter

he music room i

ded. "Where y

ght," Sel

key in an envelope. "It's for the side door near the old conservatory. It's not o

It was heavy and cold. She

Brian's voice followed. "Car

"Sister-in-law. Thought

t looking hard en

d what I want

He didn't move, making her brush a

-

nn

d he was "indisposed" in a tone

slowly, calm as ever. When Sel

by the conserva

there," Se

house," Anita said, smiling

ft withou

-

i

, too quiet. Alexandra wasn't there. T

a small white envelope on her bed. No name

ear enough: she and Mark in the hospital garden, sitting

, in neat h

nd this goes

. She looked around, and the room was

ll, a slow whistle st

der the false bottom

a knock at

ce said from the hall.

heard another knock from farther down the hall, at Joseph's own door. Some

far end of the corridor, Anita was walking away wit

lena closely. "What

ld speak, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it. It was

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