se had been. It pressed against Chanel's ears, a

mputer, tapping her foot. Chanel reached for the bedside phone.

ard again. Duke Montgomer

ted the digits in her head like

rang on

ate Office. Sta

her end was male, p

r throat. Her voi

ld to call Du

could hear the man on

ice asked, dripping with

traighter to project some authority

s from Beckham's cast-offs, the m

. The dial tone hu

anic flared in her chest, hot an

he nurse said loudly. Now. Or I

ent Belongings. She reached for it, her movements stiff. Inside

tinum credit card. The name

d it to t

ugh the reader attached

beep filled th

yebrows raised. She swiped

LIN

se said. Her voice d

took the phone again. She searched the contacts

k. Mothers helped. That was

do answered on

Her mother's voice was s

hospital. My cards aren't workin

erys! Cynthia screamed. The sound distorte

phone away from

u tried to fake a suicide? Driving into a ditch

n't remember...

on. Don't come home until you fix this with Beckham

all e

ncially and emotionally orphan

d her arms. I'm

n of her phone. She looked pale, ragged, with dar

encies. Beckham had accused her of stalking him in the Hamptons. Her mother screamed about a faked suicide in a ditch. Two different narrativ

over. It suppressed the urge to cry. Cryi

card again. It was the only door