dining table felt like a

p, dark suit, his attention fixed on a tablet displaying the morni

et of polished mahogany, two

said, his eyes not

e replied, he

mplete. Silence resumed its place a

he lack of sleep had left faint, bruised shadows under her

It was a quick, almost imperceptible scan, but

if she had slept, but the words that

chedule for t

lfway to her lips. Her brow f

day gala," he stated, n

f course. The annual Leach family command performan

ded. "I

s linen napkin, and dabbed at the corners of his mo

s, he threw a final instruction over his sho

he wa

m. The coffee in her cup tasted more bit

had a purpose. She was competent, respected. She was in control. The chaos of the emergency room and th

r sad-looking salad to heat in the microwave. Two nu

s in surgery?" Nurse A, a wo

ied Nurse B, a y

s getting a divorce. His wife

t they were the

some kind of... issue. A severe phobia of being touched. Ha

ner, froze. A cold fist clenched around he

usiness arrangement," the resident mused

edles, sinking de

feeling impossibly heavy. She didn't say a word, just turned an

ouldn

pest fear. It had dragged the monster from und

can live

nce. How much

hair. Her eyes landed on the desk calendar. A date next we

rcle, a feeling of suffo

ance. Her assistant, a cheerful young

ry just came for you. Fr

ifully wrapped, velvet-covered box. The logo embossed in silver on the lid was

ties. A summons. The costum