ked toward a large, glass-fronted liquor cabinet in the corner of the dining room

e of bourbon and three heavy crystal tumblers. He

generous amount for himself and Ford, then paused, looking at Caryn

tically. "Dammit. An urgent email from the Hong Kong offi

om, heading toward the study at the far end of the hall. It was all t

y relaxed, slumping back in his chair. He picked up his glass, a smug, triumphant

d for the heavy bourbon bottle, her

rd, pouring a significant amount of the amber liquid into his gla

er eyes wide with what looked like adoration. "And to your new

as just as easily inflated. He loved being praised,

the glass in one go. He coughed, the high-

ce, about his grand plans. He was going to flip the house, gut the kitchen

it off, a solicitous, doting fiancée. She knew from her EMT training exactly how quickly alcohol could incapacitate someone,

The alcohol loosened his tongue

able. "My dad... he's got connections. Money everywhere. You wouldn't even bel

didn't change. She filed the information away. A crit

d was a wreck. His words were thick, his eyes unfocused. He re

.. pretty,"

e, and his hand missed, landing on the table with a wet smack. It knocke

dy had other ideas. His head swayed once, twice, then dro

was

She listened to the rhythm of his breathing as it deepened into the heavy, we

nd the table and placed a hand on h

ad weight, his head

rd the study. The door was still closed. A

bed all sound as she moved, a silent predator in her own

r to the heavy woo

rison. The old fox had celebrated his victory with a

led up inside her. It was a gif

ed it with excruciating slowness. There was a soft, metal

hrough, then gently closed it behind her

ng shadows across rows of leather-bound books. Harrison was slumped in

hadow in his sanctuary. Her gaze f

re. Somewhere in, or o

s no one to stop