g inside. The metal clasp snapped shut with a loud, sh
heel and walked to
ctly into the metal groove of the elevator track. She jerke
ator doo
lack suits and clear earpieces. Their broad shoulde
d forward. He raised a thick,
s Elia Tate?"
She stepped to the right, trying to walk around him. Anothe
, lady," the lead guard said. His heavy
ia said. Her voice shook,
took half a step closer,
e wrist. His rough, calloused palm
r arm back with
arble floor. The bag popped open. Her lipstick and compact powder spilled ou
ngers were stiff and freezing. She pressed her thumb to t
ialed
ency?" the operator's ca
detaining me and physically assaulting me," Adelia said rapidly. Her
gers struck her hand, knocking the device from her grip. The phone hit the marble floor with a si
Her shoulder slammed hard into the dry
behind the station desk. The lead guard turned and glared at
d through the hospital's soundproof windows.
ers charged out, wearing tactical vests. The he taller officer shouted. He
slowly raised their han
ined a bright flashlight over Adelia's torn
asked. Adelia took a deep, ragged b
he Cooper family security captain yelled
aid, staring coldly at the captain. "I am p
lia was escorted into the
hrough her thin dress and straight into her bones. Ne
in the road sent a wave of nausea crashing through Adelia's sto
d at the 19
like burnt coffee and old sweat. The
h fluorescent lights above buzzed loudly, burnin
as soggy. She muttered a thank you but did not drink. She only wrapped
t, an officer pointed her
rostitute sitting a few feet away stared
er phone and dialed
tant answered. The rhythmic beeping of hospi
He cannot leave the hospital to bail you out toni
nd scraped against her dry throat, triggerin
ded th
legs. The deep autumn chill of New York sank into her skin. She shi
/1/113265/coverbig.jpg?v=24d2edb6d1e49203bed91a1978399757&imageMogr2/format/webp)