ONE-NIGHT EQUALS FOREVER

posite from me. He was tall and skinny, with a hawk-

replied, my voice short and clea

on the desk in a methodical beat.

leaks." No alerts. I don't want half

w. "Smart." What's

yes were furious and guarded as they looked back

lippery." "Why do you think

n't just about her. It's about what

ay. I'll dig and find every address and face

eemed like a stone in my chest. "Start

er of his coat creaked. "You'

n more serious

the door snapped shut behind him. Juniper was no longe

eper into the hunt. Claire's name showed on the screen. She was my brig

steady, but there was an edge to it that I couldn't igno

ss." And who else is in her circle? "Everyone,

seen going into a design firm. Coba

and private. The perfect disguise fo

that company." "Staff, schedules, security

re's sigh. "You're

ood. I ha

e were red pins all over the place, and each one was a hint that brought m

ext?" Cla

h. "Let me know what's

"Are you ready for w

ight away. I didn

I had to

eak but strong. And I was going to

e little flat, and my son's cries were mixed in with all of it. I held him in one arm and

y. His little head rested on my collarbone, warm and so

it off because I didn't want Call

hest. I scrubbed the kitchen floor with one hand while singing

ide, but it didn't know

ow broke away from the gathering on the sidewalk a

d my heart sk

eath stuck in my throat. A folded note was stuck under the winds

sly opene

see

meone observing. Waiting. And the peace I had

street, but the sh

r door, the threat weigh

nging. But this, this was

at and made my lungs hurt. This was not a business trip; it was a search. A ti

e, that was clean and hard to find. The city below was buzzing,

ue suit. Juniper, every stride brought me closer to h

snuck inside without anyone seeing me. The lobby was elegant and smelt

she

nd her mouth set in fierce concentration. Her emerald eyes moved o

nside me behind a serene face. Charm. Take char

reaching out my hand. "Here

ge and then back at

adn't seen me yet, but I knew she would soon,

city wasn't ready for w

ye

I

eally paying attention. I felt a slight shiver run up my spine, the kind th

The faces of the people in the crowd changed and blurred

as I forced my eyes back to the drawings. But th

e quiet. The private investigator Callum h

to keep my voice

Chicago," her voice full of urgenc

h. I gulped, and my heart beat

said softly

ger. It wasn't simply being paranoid

of people on the street, and they all walked by wi

on. So far, I had kept myself and my son safe. I wouldn't

game were shiftin