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"This can’t wait, Joe It can’t"

"She’s not going anywhere, right?"

Her eyes were burning noith unshed tears She couldn’t explain why she felt so oppressed by this; she couldn’t understand it herself "She needs help now I’ first" She read him the address "Seriously, wait for me I’ll be back as soon as I can"

"I can’t leave her like that"

He was silent for a second, then said, "You knohat you one to dose"

"I know," she said "I can’t let her suffer, Joe That’s why I have to go"

"As long as you knohat you’re getting into I’ll get Pat to uments, boss This is how it’s done" The boss was ironic; Bryn was al up before she could tell him not to call McCallister--not that he would have listened

She hadn’t spoken directly to McCallister since they’d parted ways in that unco forward to it now Butto find at Violetta Sammons’s house Where was Violetta’s husband? McCallister will have the shot, she thought We can do this We can ure it out from there

I have tofros, and took one of the ently of bleach Either I s products Annie was right: boyfriends were probably out of the question at this point--presuht to think about such real-life issues any, as she followed the navigation system’s directions to Violetta’s address up in the La Jolla hills It was in a very posh neighborhood, with big, expansive houses and a breathtaking view Not Patrick McCallister’s price range, but even the sone for a couple of million

No wonder Fairview had chosen Saot out, carrying her black canvas bag, just as Patrick McCallister’s tinted black sedan closed in behind like a shark He stepped out, and they looked at each other for a few seconds His bruised cheek had mostly healed, and his suit looked clean and i, too She didn’t think his held the sas hers did

"Bryn," he said, in a very careful, neutral tone "What’s the eency?"

"I think she’s one of Fairview’s," Bryn said "And I think she’s been without a shot all this time I couldn’t just … I have to help I have to You understand?"

McCallister hesitated, then nodded "Let o first"

"No," she said "I have to do this"

"Not alone," he said "We do it together, then"

That felt better, because she was terrified and trying not to show it The house looked co the doorbell, then tried the front door, but it was locked

"What now?" she asked McCallister led her around to the side, to a kitchen door She tried that one "It’s locked, too"

He stepped up and did souessed She expected an alar A house like this, there had to be an alarm…

McCallister stepped inside and checked a keypad next to the door "It’s off," he said "Come in" He closed and locked it behind her

She iht the unmistakable smell of decomposition--ripe, sickly sweet, and dense She wavered, and exchanged a wordless look with him

"Bryn," he said "Let me do this You don’t need to--"

She shook her head, waited to let her senses adjust, then went forward through a spotlessly kept white tile kitchen, down a hallway The stench gotclose beside her, silent now

No turning back

She expected a horror show, but there was nothing in the large, gracious living roo with the sound turned down There was a glass of what looked like Scotch sitting on a coaster on the coffee table, and a book spread open, facedown, as if someone had put it away for just a moment

McCallister touched her shoulder and pointed She followed hi staircase led upstairs

The smell orse here, and increased as they ascended Halfway up, Bryn heard the first hum of insect activity She hesitated just for a breath on the last step, gathered herself, and stepped over a busy line of ants that o

McCallister was right behind her, silent and solid He was the only thing that gave her the necessary strength to keep going

The bedrooerly first, as if itthis Seeing this

She took a deep breath and opened the door

The noise exploded in an angry buzz, and flies whizzed past her, heading out into the open air She ducked So did McCallister He coughed and put his hand over his n of weakness she’d seen fro she saas the deadin a deep armchair at the end of the bed There was a bullet hole in one teun still lay on the carpet next to his feet

He’d been gone for days