His Perfect Crime, Her Perfect Comeback

trict, a place I used to frequent before the accident. I needed to

s a m

d two women at the next table. They were patrons of the arts, the kind of

the Golden Rose?" one said, her voice dripping with pity.

sperate. Especially with Sarah Jenkins at the absolute peak of her powers. David

re. Olivia is the past. A beautiful, t

skin. They didn't hurt, not anymore. They just confi

shadow fell

can't belie

Jenkins. She was radiant, glowing with succ

said, my vo

me without waiting for an answer. "I was so thrilled when I heard you were going t

eyes held a glint of something

Sarah. It' s my li

mean... it's wonderful that you have something t

al whisper. "He told me he wants you to be happy. That's

pocrisy was

out for myse

longed to my mother. It was the one piece of jewelry I n

it. "That's a lovely

I said, my hand inst

ed across the table, her fingers brushing again

cup of coffee. It spilled across the table, drenching the

lying to her mouth in a perfect imitation of shock

vements weren't gentle. They were rough, insistent. Under the guise of h

tug, the ch

lattered ont

" it. The locket fell again, this time landing with a sickening

locket was crushed, bent ou

ake horror. "Olivia, I am so, so sorry. I don

er. And then I looked at Sarah's face. There was no remorse in her eyes. Only a co

He must have been waiting outside. His eyes took in the scene-me, drenc

, his face a m

ned? Are yo

, her voice trembling. "I spilled my coffee,

me. He put his arm aroun

soothed. "It was an accid

is expression shifting

There's no need to make a scen

st a ne

music box wa

en reduced to a series

rst time since he walked in. He saw the cold fur

ropping into a low, warning tone. "She's under

ming me. Over the desecrat

ast affection I might have still harbored for

st the floor. I looked from his face to her

't say

ocket, and walked out of the café, l

ed. It was a message from Jake Rile

opy of a ba

shell corporations to an account belonging to a man w

r was dated

before my

of the puzzle cl

and and the phone in the other. T

quiet prepara

ime to g

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