immediately stepped in, her face etched with worry. "Crista, please," Audrey be

ir, Audrey," Crista commanded, her voice weak but fi

ure the IV line wasn't tangled. Audrey pushed the chair out into the hallway, which was brightly lit, the smell of disinfectant stinging her nose. With every bump of the wheel

door at the end of the hall. It was slight

l arrangements. And there, sitting on the edge of the bed, was Conrad. H

the cold, empty room she had just left. Crista felt a hand cl

ed past Crista and shoved the door open. I

, the knife hovering over the apple. He turned his

rank back into the pillows, puttin

block Else from view. He glared at Crist

ed against the doorframe, straightening her spine. Sh

she could speak, Else suddenly clutched her chest, breaking into a viole

ld it to Else's lips, his movements incredibly gentle. He completely ignored his w

a wad of cotton was stuffed down her throat. T

replaced by the familiar icy glare. He reached into his pocket a

like gravel. "If you don't sign this today

ding in front of her suddenly felt like a stranger. T

e full of mockery. "Tell me, Conrad. If I sign

d shooting out to grip her chin, his fingers diggin

nd away with all her strength. "You blind i

ok a step toward Audrey, but Crista g

never sign it," she said, enunciating every word. "I w

away. Her back was straight, her steps deliberate, but

wood until she hit the floor, and the dam broke. She buried he

y didn't you tell him?" she demanded. "Why

oked up, her eyes were clear and hard. "Because he

. It was a private investigator she had met during her brief stint in t

estigate Else Cherry. I want every move she's made in the last fi

ierce, protective fire burned in her eyes. She would tear off