phere in the master b

tray. On it was a bag of y

nsford said, his voice dripping with fa

sterility. He wanted to keep her docile and barren. A cold, triumphant fury settled in her heart. He was so predictable. She had anticipated this move weeks ago, in another lifetime, and just yesterday had

" she whispered, shrinking

at on the edge of the bed. "Don't ma

eat was

arm. "Okay. Just

ion. The nurse he had hired-a silent woman

id. He watched the drip

tes, reading a file, wait

elaxed her facial muscles. She l

ansford w

wer. She let h

tched, and walked toward the bathroom. "I'm going to sho

athroom door closed.

yes snap

attach a micro-catheter, a tube as fine as a fishing line. She fed the other end of the tube into a slit in the plush velvet headboard, where Vesper had earlier

r sleeve to hid

room from the balco

Vesper whispered. "You

She was dressed in black

ordered. "If he comes

erst

et silent on the carpet. She knew the hallway cameras h

the study

ssed her thumb against the biometric scanner beside the keypad. It

econd gre

The room smelled of

oil painting of Hansford's gr

was th

ic decoder Brandon had given he

raced across

ulat