Hydrangeas spilled onto the gravel, their heav

l, dark and smelling of damp w

he silence of the woods r

g for the beta-blocker to ta

epped out. The gravel crun

OO

hrough the silence. It soun

keys. They landed with a m

pun a

hat separated the property from

s a fortress of concrete and glass, a brutalis

dling in th

o the ground. Aerody

or-lifted up, looking like t

in dark trouse

nst the glare of t

He stretched, roll

as J

crambled for her keys in the

ross the hedge. The distanc

ised. He looked like

e supercar, crossing his arms. A slo

her scramble, his amusement a palpa

e stood up, brushing the dirt from he

called out. His voice carried easily in t

she shouted back, her voice la

ortress. "The cliffside offers an excellent vantage point on the Everet

to the lock of the front door. It

" Julian asked. "I

ll," Anya

She threw the door open an

and threw the deadb

st the wood, sliding down

was hammer

n Vance, the man who held her leash, the man w

indow and peeked thr

erty and was now leaning against the hedge, looking directly at her ho

she was