Page 30 (1/2)

There, in a faded black-and-white print that had seen better days, stood the four of us I walked to hiet a closer look

"You are a constant surprise," he whispered, his eyes wide as he looked over the ie

I wore a sleeveless dress that hit e that shimmied and shook whenever I sauntered in it, which I did with aploraze ster My hair was short and carefully curled into perfect finger waves that framed my face

A trio of woirls: Daisy, Iris, and Violet Our ars canted for the caet this?" I asked, glancing back at her

She flushed, just a little "It was in a box of stuff I got from Mom--old fa tio And we should hurry"

She nodded, then picked up a duffel bag and began filling it with clothes from the bureau I watched her dutifully, but could feel Luc’s eyes on me He was curious--about my past, and what I hadn’t yet told him

But there was nearly too much to tell

Rachel closed the bureau drawers and walked to a door I assumed was a closet "Couple pairs of shoes," she said, "and I think I’m ready"

She turned the knob, and I heard the click

My heart stopped

"Rachel!" I yelled, leaping toward her and pushing her to the floor, covering her body with er snapped

She screa over our heads and ripping through a framed poster on the opposite wall

Their sudden fear clawed atunder control I am a professional, I re of my heart I looked up, saw the un, an old-fashioned booby trap designed to injure--or kill--an intruder

"Jesus!" Luc exclai up froun," I said, and his gaze flashed to mine, his question obvious: How did Lindsey knohat it was, and that it would go off?

I stood up and gliold on the closet floor Carefully, I un, in front of a tidy collection of shoes, was a gold coin I picked it up and se I kneould be there--the outline of a shao of the Green Clare

I slipped it intocard," I said, standing up and helping Rachel to her feet

Luc walked toward the closet to inspect the ered when she opened the door" He looked back at ot lucky," I said, but we both kneas lying

Rachel looked back atat the corners of her lashes, and her fear and shock perer because of me--had nearly been killed because of me She shouldn’t have been part of this Wouldn’t have been part of this, if the culprits had any sense of honor You didn’t take your grudges out on innocents

"Aunt Linds?"

"You’re okay," I said, wrapping my arms around her

"They tried to kill me," she said "They tried to kill azine would have been here for you to find," Luc said,you back to New York"

I pulled back, just enough to see Rachel’s face My heart ached, and I pushed the ache down, focusing instead on the task ahead and the journey I was going to have toto answer

"I’et to the botto to be fine"

One way or the other, everything would be fine

--

We drove back in silence, Rachel in the backseat I checked her constantly in the rearview mirror, as if she could be snatched away But she stared blankly out the , the duffel clutched in her hands as if it were her last possession on earth

Luc decided to call Chuck, Merit’s grandfather and the city’s forreed to talk to his Chicago Police Department contacts, have them clear out the house and find a safe location for the rest of the girls until we addressed the matter

We parked and entered the House, and Helen met us in the lobby She had the look of a futuristic le hair out of place Her hands were crossed in front of her, her heels perfectly shined I found her creepy

"You must be Rachel," she said with an efficient suest suite on the third floor You et settled in"