ed'

Kate's apartment, the image of her standing by the doorway lingered in my mind. Her smile had been

do to some extent- to recognize when she was sh

t in muted shades of gray and amber-coffee shops buzzing with early risers, couples strolling hand in hand, red and pink

happened befor

was, she didn't

tle panic in her eyes when Sophia nearly flung the door open. The way she had been too ea

't caught the last flicker of flames

w cle

I hadn't notice

old me to let it go. If it was important, she would tell me. But the other part-the part that had l

t afford any

er ever

still lurking

ead. No. Kate wouldn't lie to m

ld

at me like an itch

one snapped me ou

ng cal

on on the steering

ea

e was edged with something that made my spin

at the red light. The screen gl

od ran

red envelope. The same kind I had seen in Kate'

rd, typed in an all-too

rpr

vi

my veins. My fingers curled around

been prot

from

gotten to her first? How

I was up before dawn, it took me less than a few minutes to freshen up, I s

my bones. I wasn't sure what I was expecting when I got back to Kate's apartment-an explanation

engine and stepped out. The winter air bit at my skin, the s

dy, pounding rhythm in my ears. When I reached her door

ans

gain, this

l no

see the faint glow of light

g against the wood one last time. "Kate." My

le

a beat, the

to see her face. Her wide, brown eyes loc

going to

scent of lavender and coffee lingered in the air, mixing with the faint scent of burning paper.

ally had

oversized sweater, her bare legs peeking out beneath the hem. She

d, my voice even, but edg

her head.

closer, and she instinctively t

her throat bobb

"You burned something the second I walke

ayed s

rough my hair. "Kate, I need you to be

e body we

the confirmat

in had always been a problem lurking in the shadows, waiting for

e what

y, she walked past me, grabbing a glass of water from the co

." Her voice was qu

hat much, but I

of the counter. "And that his next one would be for my 'clueless fake

ched m

as taun

ice was measured, but there

t directly. But it's Ke

nd under her chin and tilting her face up to mine. "Yo

tically. "I don't know, I found only the card at my doorstep

ghter to her sweater fabric

e, we need to be more careful keepin

arms around herself. "I just

t your cal

r than I intended, and I

at the fireplace where the ashe

e normal," she whispered.

ftened, jus

hands resting on he

for just a moment before straigh

ve an answe

thing wa

done playin

him lay a hand on the dams

guess I'd be heading to the office now" I