burned Jeannette's palms

e eighty-five-inch television mounted on the wall. The screen was split in two. On the left, the

a statue, the dark circles under her eyes deepening into bruised shadows. Eleanor watch

th night, i

sound of a key turning in the lock crackled through the

down on the record button on her laptop. Eleanor dropp

drunken sound. His arm was wrapped tightly around Zara's waist. Zara giggled, kicking the door shut w

hat bitch?" Zara whined, her voice

oon as the final payout from the Beaumont family trust clears int

w pillow and hurled it violently at the television screen. "That paras

letely devoid of emotion as she watched the man she was supposed to marry drag another woman onto

conservative clothing. They laughed about how they hooked up in D

room. The pinhole lens captured every disg

er, the recor

sive video file. She uploaded it to three separate, secure cloud servers based in

drive inside, and turned to Eleanor. A slow,

over," Jeanne

you going to do with it? T

envelope resting there. It was the invitation to the Langley family's annual charity

aid, her voice smooth as glass. "In front of

. She immediately grabbed her phone. "

haute couture into the apartment. Jeannette walked past

s a vintage, deep-V halter gown made of heavy red velvet.

dress clung to her curves like a second skin. The severe, sharp makeup the artist appl

iercing whistle. "Boston

velvet gloves. She slipped her phone-loaded wit

to leave, her phone bu

ope is treating you well. Don't forg

ave of pure disgust rolled through

leanor had arranged. The rain was falling in a steady, cold drizzle over Boston. Jeannette lean

za Hotel. Jeannette pushed the door open herself. Her stiletto he

ed alone toward the private elevator leading to the mai

l vision. A wall of massive men in identical black suits was moving t

e, pressed the UP button, and stepped insi