Chris“Chris, tonight was lovely,” Amelia sighed, gazing up at me with those big doe eyes of hers as we wandered back to the Packhouse. “Just you and me… a candlelit dinner, the finest cuisine.” A shiver rippled through her petite frame. “Really, Chris. Thank you for this.”I forced a tight smile, s
“Are those your parents?” she asked, pointing up at the man and woman in the painting.I nodded wistfully as I followed her gaze. The portrait of my late parents had always been my favorite—my father looked particularly healthy with his hair coiffed and his mustache curled up at the ends, and my mot
AvaThe sound of pounding on the front door reverberated through my aching skull, each vibration sending fresh stabs of pain coursing through my temples. I groaned softly, blinking my bleary eyes in a futile attempt to force away the hazy fog that was clouding my mind.What… What had happened?Slugg
The words felt like a knife in my gut. Kind, sweet old Degas… How could someone do that to him?My gaze drifted over toward Ophelia and Leonard, who were still wavering in the doorway with matching pale looks on their faces. Had Amelia orchestrated the cookies that Gemma had given us, somehow? Some
AvaThe soft sound of the curtain brushing aside was all that broke the eerie silence as we stepped into Degas’s hospital room. I felt my breath catch the instant I saw him hooked up to all those machines again, just days after he had been here before.For a moment, I almost turned and fled—but then
My eyes widened. “Degas, you don’t—”“Nonsense.” He cut me off and coughed again—this time, a bit of red blood splattered his lower lip as he did so, but he made no move to wipe it away. “You two belong together; I realize that now. Whether you are together or not should be up to you and no one else
ChrisThe interrogation room was dimly lit, save for one hanging light over the cold metal table. I pursed my lips as I peered through the small window that was set into the door; there, seated at one of the chairs, was an all-too-familiar head of red hair.Leonard cleared his throat beside me. “We
“I… I…” She gulped hard. “Look, I… I don’t—”“Quit stammering and get out with it.”Amelia nodded hastily and swallowed again. “I didn’t want to hurt anyone, I swear,” she began slowly, haltingly—I allowed her to speak, even though the sound of her voice made me want to punch a hole in the wall. “I