Semua Bab Losing the Lonely: Bab 81 - Bab 86

Marcus I saw her again. At least, I thought I did. That distinction should have made me feel better. It didn't. I had spent enough years convincing myself that what happened was over. There were facts I couldn't change, mistakes I couldn't undo, and one death I couldn't take back. My sister was dead. I knew that. I'd known it for years. Yet twice now, I had looked across a street and seen a woman who made every part of me question what I knew. The first time, I called out to her. She stopped. That was what I couldn't get past. She stopped. If I'd mistaken some random woman for my sister, she should have kept walking. Maybe she would have looked at me like I was crazy. Maybe she would have ignored me completely. She hadn't. Her entire body had gone still. Like the name meant something. Then she left. The second time was worse. I saw her near Orion's shop. I called the name again. And again, she reacted. I couldn't sleep afterward. I had spent years carrying guilt over what happened to

HunterWe were halfway through our morning run when I decided Purple Gardens had too many people."Nine."She didn't look at me."Eight.""Nine.""The man by the fountain was here yesterday.""Doesn't count.""Then why did you count him?""Because I don't like him."She glanced at me."He hasn't spoken to you.""Exactly. Suspicious."She shook her head and kept running.I caught up easily.Purple Gardens had changed overnight.Not dramatically. The property was too large for that. But there were people where there hadn't been people before. Two additional kitchen staff had arrived before sunrise. Someone was carrying linens through the main house when we came downstairs. Medical supplies had been delivered yesterday afternoon, and there were more groundskeepers moving around the property than usual.They weren't security.I knew security.Security watched without appearing to watch. They knew where we were and generally had the good sense to stay out of our way.These people were staf

HunterShe didn't come to breakfast. I didn’t point it out. Johanna had apparently survived her first night at Purple Gardens. I'd seen her briefly when I came downstairs, sitting at the table with Taryn and talking considerably more than I preferred anyone to talk before I'd eaten. The kitchen was worse. Two additional people were preparing food. Someone from the medical staff passed through the hallway. A housekeeper entered through one door while another left through the opposite one. Too many people. Yesterday, the woman and I had agreed on that. So, when she didn't appear for breakfast, I assumed she'd reached the same conclusion I had and simply done something about it. She was probably eating somewhere quiet. Or hadn't bothered eating at all. Neither would surprise me.The woman still hadn't appeared after I finished breakfast. I walked through the rear entrance and followed the stone path toward the gardens. I wasn't looking for her. I simply happened to take the route we norm