Romantic Homicide

an endless tunnel, dark and oppressive, bu

cended the staircase, her breath shallow and uneven. At the base of the stairs, she paused, gripping the strap of

her head tilted back in satisfaction. Jake was across from her, his posture tense yet unmoving. The fire c

rupy with satisfaction. "Sarah won't last muc

s gaze heavy with something Sarah couldn't qui

knee. "You know this is what Alex would have wa

e front door before her emotions could betray her presence. Her hand hovered over the

longer a life at all. She turned the knob slowly and slipped out into t

didn't have a destination in mind, only the certainty that she couldn't stay. Each step fel

rs numb as she dialed Eva's number. Her best friend an

What's

before she could second-guess them. "I can'

's voice softened. "Come here.

es. She wiped them away quickly and nodded, even tho

rd. The night seemed to stretch on endlessly, the cold air filling her l

ftly. The tinted window rolled down with a mechanical hum,

d, his voice low

s she stared at the man, her mind racing with questions. She didn't know whet

of a streetlamp. The sleek black car remained idling at the curb, its presence an unwelcome interruption

ow but unmistakably firm. "You're

lines to his sharp features, and the shadows in his eyes carried a weight she c

managed, her voice trembl

icker of weariness. "Someone who knows exactly what's happening in

ity. Then it hit her-a memory buried under years of pain. "You're

narrowing slightly. "Yes. And

e had mourned so deeply, the man who had supposedly died in a plane crash. He was

under the strain of confusion and disbelief. "Jake

e darkening. "That's exactly

ly out of the car, his voice softening. "Sarah, please. I know you have no reason to trust me, but yo

. Her memories of the last few months-of Jake's indifference and I

lling the truth?" she as

g her, and pulled out a folded envelope. He extended it towa

ion, Sarah stepped close