stopped, but the humidity remai

ting. She was wearing jeans and a simple white t-shirt fr

in Queens. A group of teenagers on the stoop sto

" Dawn told

ns to accompany you, ma'am," the dr

ten minutes. If I bring you in, s

nodded. "Ten minutes

o the front door. She trie

ed the locks. O

ydia!" she shouted, her voi

de, then the locks turni

bathrobe. Her hair was a bird's nest. When

ieked. "Mr. Vane called me fifteen times! He said

's arm. Dawn stepped sideway

out, the two words feeling

sound. "You don't own anything! I paid for the

ia and ran down the hallway to the sma

lothes were scattered on the

her knees. She f

rushed agains

nk

he rusted iron b

creamed from the doorw

led her body a

nked. Dawn cried out. She tried

r head hit the corner

ain exploded i

ame away red. Blood dripped down in

d. Then her eyes narrowed. "Look wh

e me that! Your father owed me mone

est. The pain in her head was throbbing, making

ed, the single word a

dia sneered.

he acted. She held up her left hand. The pink diamond caught the light

d at the ring. The greed on her

ho

ick with a mixture of sweat and blood. She had prepared for this. She opened a note she had typed i

WITH IMMEDIATE LEGAL ACTION FROM HOLCO

at the blood on Dawn's face, and at the na

ing," Lydi

er silence more dam

She hugged the box tight and ran. She pushed past Lydi

n her face, dripping

care. She h