5 Years, 99th Penalty

taff wing of the Montgomery mansion, th

the turmoil

fumbled wit

he was my

a few rings. Her calm,

hat's wrong? You

self to shed in front of

out, "I need help.

t. Just that I couldn't stay, that t

ss for details

e'll figure it out. You wan

As soon as possible.

make that happen. Start thinking about what you absolutely need

g tentative plans. When I hung up, a sl

s were a blur of

enduring his carefully modulated "concer

han usual, his eyes always on m

eaming of being Mrs. Montgomery, Sarah?" or "Ethan

blank, my res

urricane, Ethan announced he w

ession serious. "Some urgent Montgom

pack, an unusual di

added, almost as an afterthought. "She'll be accom

hed. A new phy

ark on the phone in the hallw

to do. Ethan won't know what hit him. H

ff

echoed in

quired me to bring Ethan s

. He gestured

Ah, Tiffany. Yes, I'm looking forward to it

ards me, a strange, al

earpiece – a woman's light laughter, the

iness call. He was

was a lie. Just ano

a smug little smile

ements, Sarah. You can leave

ce impassive, a

d were taking root, growing stronger w

"ninety-ninth penalty," wh