ra Wrig

ndy downtown coffee shop. The award Anthony was in town to receive was a week away. Ti

ated with a t

ernoon' s panel is a drag. Wish I

ack sedan pulled up to the curb. He got out, impeccably dressed, a charming smile al

as his public voice-confident, warm, engaging. He was

d by a look of impatient hunger. His voice, even from across the st

anning the street. "No, I told you, the back entr

the narrow alley beside the coffee shop. The alley led to the service entrance of The Ather

dy, a low-frequency hum of pure, unadulterated rage. This wasn' t grief. It was som

imy alley, the stench of garbage and stale beer clinging to the air. I saw him

heck in. He had a key. T

entrance of the hotel, my face a mask of polite indifference

yer of filth coating my twenty-year marriage. I imagined what was happening in R

the door. I would not create a scene. My r

s, I pulled out my phon

ng, his voice breathless. "

d over his ragged breathing, was so prof

s-shaky, weak. I injected a note of panic into

y flowing effortlessly. "I' m just in a meeting, it'

o easy.

k," I whispered, letting my voice crack. "My

ar the gears turning in his head, weighing his

g right now. I' ll be there in twenty minu

hun

ng a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Seconds later, the door to Room 207 flew o

fe... she' s not feeling well. I have to go. No, I don' t k

rinted toward the elevators, jabbi

, the door to 207 opened again. A figure

trendy, expensive-looking dress that hugged her body. She stepped into t

voice laced with a petulant

ace tight with irritation. "K

ny real affection. It was a dismissal. "I'll make it u

fore she composed herself, smoothing down her dress. And as she

od ran

w tha

Northwood High

Shep

, as my son had described her. The one who was "

months ago, at the dinner table. "Ms. Shepherd is so cool. She

gh his phone, laughing. "Look at Ms.

k

on k

didn' t just click into place; they slammed together, forming a monstrous picture of betrayal so profound it stole the air from my lun

ling vipers, rose in my mind. They had been

eaned against the wall, the rough texture of the wallpaper digging into my back. This was a betrayal on a cellular l

my veins tu

ed away by a pure, righteous fury. I walked out of the hotel, not back to my car,

I didn't call a friend.

need you to do something for me. I need everything you can find on a woman named Ka

umber for LegalEagle

have proof. And I want to burn his world to the ground. But not ye