plitting Karen's reflection into two disjointed ha

ater sputtered, brown at fir

ached for her right hand and beg

ection in this damp base

ther sl

turn. Her left hand ended abruptly at the knuckle of the pinky finger.

shb

Three women. The leader, a woman with a spiderweb ta

rincess," the woman had sneered. "And your brother

unch o

s red. She dried the stump quickly, terrified Hoke might walk in, and pulled the black

!" Hoke called fr

he milk was watered down to make it la

shing her slice toward

insisted. He pointed to a piece of paper o

t was a structured drawing of a skyscraper, using p

oke explained. "So you don't hav

ightened. "It's

ttle too big in the shoulders, but clean. She sprayed a little lav

e. "Do not open the door for anyone. Not even the landlord.

ommy. I'm

ks. Books she had stolen from the library beca

stop:

ng auto repair shop in Queens. It w

his chair, the dialysis machine humming rhythmically. He loo

d," Dann

e him. She took his hand-her glov

's H

Danny, I have an interview today. A small s

us, Karen. They'll see that. 'Dawn' was

aid sharply. "I'm just

rness. "The best money could buy. But I told you, I won't set foot in a King-fun

ispered, his breath catching. "We su

nto Manhattan. The car was crowded. Bodies pressed against

commuters, a digital

the new 'Villarreal Tower'.

heekbones were sharper, his eyes like flint. He was wearing

to Karen sighed. "Tragic, though.

hat down low. She

red with fabric samples and half-finished mannequins. The o

lio. He looked at her s

e lines... the minimalism. It reminds me of that

le," Karen sa

e frowned. "Gap in employment. Fi

es

at

laugh

. He leaned back, looking her up and down. The a

ps. "It's a liability. Hiring a

on't need to meet clients.

he desk. He stood too close to her. Sh

you'd have to make it worth my while. A pretty woman li

out to touc

away. The sound was l

said, her voice shaking with

rple. "You ungrateful bitch! You're a murderer!

n the stairs, out into the street