th smooth precision, his eyes occasionally flicking to me in the rearview mirror.

iet, cavernous house, he b

elle?" he asked, his voice laced

," I said, cleaning the cut.

tanding immediate

ialed a number that wasn' t listed anywhere, a number that connect

darling. Is ever

n a Swiss clinic for a chronic illness. My mother, Sylvia Chadwick, was enjoying

I said, and the wo

usation. The scratches. Andrew' s attack. Matthew' s

end of the line. Then, I heard a sound I knew well. It

pping to a dangerously low pitch. "T

y, Mom. Ju

They hurt you. That is not okay." I heard the clink

ve to cut your

est is over. It' s time to come home and remind the

uncan will be with you. I' ll be o

you too

satisfaction washing over

eady there. Andrew, Maria, and Debra Chavez were in

g very fragile this morning. She requires an apology

look on her face. Her mother, Debra, examin

t, sharp sound that ma

s to get out of my mot

ed at the caller ID, and his face went white. All the color drained from it, leavin

e whispered i

as staring at me, but he was seeing a ghos

minal illness was a lie. And t