dy, confident footsteps on the thick carpet grew louder, coming around

back to the dinin

und, desperate. To her left was a small, unmarked d

no time

the corner and seen her, she slipped through th

er polish. She held her breath, her heart hammering against

h that predatory grace she knew so well, the clu

ficent. He w

is head. It was a slow, deliberate motion. His gaze, sharp and penetrating, moved

es fou

shock. Just a flicker of cold, triumphant ce

l blow. It said, "I se

a. He had seen her. He had seen her c

as he had looked toward her and continued down the h

or was sil

egs threatening to give out. The darkness of the pantry was a

the corridor and had cornered her, forcing her t

To find a back exit, to flee in

began to burn through the sham

o

r job. Felix was in that room, counting on her. He had trusted her, defende

th. Then another. She forced the

he stood there for a moment, straightening the silk of her dress. She smoothed her

In her place was Althea Hayes, an associate of

sured and steady. She was walking back into the li