ome suddenly t

rdigan tighter around her small shoulders. Her curls clung to her cheeks. The marble beneath

left her b

Isabella hid too well, Celeste had grown bored. Or cruel. She went back inside witho

believed no o

ps. Fast and purposeful. Celeste appeared with a

tay hidden that long," she

ed at her. "Y

hesitated. "I just

u l

towel around her. "I

up at her, shive

ounger then. Kinder. She re

e said, their f

lie to each other

-

mth of the study sh

reading the transcript Damien had printed from the

e signed off on entries two days before Harold Vaughn's death.

Damien said, pacing slowly behind her. "Quietly

to fists. "She was plannin

e foundation gala, the media splash... i

e tha

careful. No smoking gun. Just misaligned dots that on

oing," Isabella whispere

ngs deeper," he said. "He ju

settle

pulled out a faded photograph-the one from

r change?" she asked. "We wer

the image. "W

ad always said Celeste had the brains, and

t respon

dow. The garden outside looked peacef

how perf

ed. "In the rain. I waited for hours.

d n

abella said. "Just

over and sto

e've found," he said. "Y

for

arted. And to decide what kind

swer. Her eyes wer

hing old cracked-and somethi

reve

gr

so