milton stepped

tched around their eyes an

er the squalor of Brenda' s y

dkerchief to her nose, as if

amilton' s voice was

this is your Ava!" Bren

to look fragile. She s

narrowed. There was no flicker of recogni

, circling Ashley like a b

geted unde

d, her voice flat. "On her left sh

"Oh, well, you know, chi

cked. She didn't h

face hardened. "

ng in the ho

... the resemblance! She' s b

lton cut her off.

aybe for a blood test, a d

, the black

ley out ont

low, her arm in a crude sling. She

ried, actual tears this time. "They sa

riches turning to dust. There was no pity in

Brenda spat

as my

railer's shadow, the s

I said, my voice

yes dismissive until she saw t

that wa

I found it. In the west

of something in

r-shaped. Left shoulder. And she was allergic to strawb

his mind racing. Desperat

you?" he

d. "Before. And I know th

thought. Much worse, fo

ere de

trembling hand towards the

orrect her

e what they nee

a curt gesture.

d disbelief and then, pure, impotent rage

' t lo