But no, not Garth. He cluelessly a.s.sumed it was a stomach bug, thus letting her off the hook.

You still could have told him.

Youshouldhave told him .

And she will.

Yes, over the coming weekend, provided he doesnt spend every minute of it in the campus library again.

At the moment, her primary concern is returning a call to Fiona. There was a message from her just now, when Brynn returned from Stop & Shop with a carload of groceries and Jeremy, who is hungry for lunch.

Brynn, its Fee, just give me a call as soon as you can.Fiona paused for a moment, then added,Dont worry, this isnt about working for me, and it isnt about Ca.s.sie or anything like that.

Brynn is grateful for that rea.s.suring addendum. Still, she wont delay calling Fee back. She hasnt spoken to her since yesterday, when Fee all but hung up on her when she turned down the job offer.

Brynn dials her office number. The groceries can wait in the car for a few more minutes, and Jeremy can temporarily occupy himself with a plastic tub full of cars and trucks on the living room floor.

Fiona Fitzgerald Public Relations, Fiona speaking.

So she hasnt found a temporary receptionist yet. Hey, its Brynn. Whats going on?

Theres a pause.

Ill call you back in a few minutes, okay?

Okay.

Puzzled, Brynn hangs up and waits.

Almost a full five minutes, wondering with increasing anxiety if she should forget about Fee and go get the groceries.

Then the phone rings, and the caller ID number is unfamiliar.

She hesitates before picking up.

Its Fiona.

Where are you?

On a pay phone.

Why?

Just listen, and dont say anything specific in case someone is listening on your end.

n.o.bodys here but Jeremy, Brynn says, but her voice is hushed and she looks around uneasily just the same.

Brynn, I need a favor.

Of course you do.

As long as its not about my working there I already told you it isnt. I have to go away for a few days.

On business?

Brynnmy birthday is Sunday.

Oh. Of course.

It isnt that Brynn hasnt been aware that every pa.s.sing day brings Fionas milestone ominously closer. She just a.s.sumed, because Fee hasnt brought it up, that she isnt worried about it.

But clearly, she is. And in the face of her friends unprecedented vulnerability, Brynn is left feeling as though she herself is precariously clinging to the sheer face of a ma.s.sive rock wall, and one of her st.u.r.dy iron toeholds has just been plucked out from under her.

What do you need, Fee? Whatever it is You know Im here.

I need two things. One is absolute secrecy. You cant tell another living soul that Im going away.

I wont.

I mean it, Brynn. Not Garth. Not your kids. Not my kid.

Youre not telling Ashley?

Im not tellinganyone . This is her weekend with Pat. He picks her up from school today and he doesnt bring her back until Sunday.

Sunday is your birthday.

Thats where you come in, Brynn. Fiona lets out a deep breath.

Shes a nervous wreck,Brynn realizes, and her own anxiety kicks up another notch.

I need you to be at my place, waiting, when Pat drops off Ashley Sunday morning at eleven. Make sure you have the boys with youAshley will jump at the chance to spend time with them. Just bring her home with you and keep her there for me, until you hear from me. Bring her to school Monday, and keep doing it until Im back.

But Brynn, I cant take any chances; Im laying low until my birthday is long gone.

Where Shh, please, dont say anything. Just in case. And I cant tell you where Im going, Brynn. Im not telling anyone.

Maybe shes just going up to her cabin in the mountains, Brynn thinks. Few people even know she has it, and those who do wouldnt expect to find her there.

I knew I could count on you, Fiona is saying.

But What am I supposed to tell Ashley? she whispers. And Pat?

Just say that something came up and I asked you to take care of Ash for the day.

What if Pat gives me a hard time?

He wont. Hes a great guy when hes dealing with everyone but me.

Thats true. Brynn cant imagine affable Pat standing in her way, especially when he sees Ashleys affection for Caleb and Jeremy.

Fee, Im worried about you.

Her friend is silent for a moment.

Then she says, her voice laced with stark fear, So am I.

CHAPTER 19.

Its getting worse.

The morning sickness.

Yesterday, it lasted well into the afternoon. Now its kicked in, violently, before the sun has even come up.

Then again, itis officially morning.

As in four forty-three, Brynn notes, glancing at the illuminated digital clock as she climbs back into her empty bed following a particularly vicious vomit session in the bathroom.

She tried to keep the noise down in there, but it was hard. She half-expected Garth to come knocking on the door to check on her, but he didnt.

He must be sound asleep in his chair in the other room.

Or maybe he isnt even home yet.

He spent last night at the library again, working on his book. When he left, she jokingly complained that shes beginning to feel like a single mother.

Garth didnt crack a smile. He only said, absently, Sorry, Ive got to get this done, and then he left.

Just as well. The less time they spend together, the easier it is to conceal all that shes hiding from Garth right now.

Shes content to let him spend his time on campus while she stays home alone with the boys. Caleb and Jeremy dont notice her brooding, or jumping at every unexpected sound, or turning green every time she opens the fridge and smells Thursday nights leftover Chinese food.

Brynn rolls over and yawns. The alarm wont be going off for at least Wait a minute. It wont be going off at all. Today is Sunday.

Good. She can go back to sleep.

Then, suddenly, Brynn remembers what else today is.

Fionas birthday.

Opening her eyes, Fiona senses its early.

How early?

Theres no clock nearby; she has no idea.

She gets up and slips over to the window to peek between the wooden slats of the blinds.

The sun is coming up, painting the eastern horizon in glowing pinks and golds with the promise of a beautiful day.

And Ill be here to see it,she thinks with a sleepy, satisfied yawn, before lying down again.But not until later Its been years since shes slept this well.

Maybe thats because, for once, shes not worrying about her business, or her schedule, or even her daughter.

Right now, shes not even worrying about falling victim to whoever has been stalking her with mementos of the past, and her a.s.sociation with Rachel.

I finally feel safe,she thinks as she drifts off again.

Ahhh, good. Shes sound asleep.

On the couch, surprisingly.

Not in bed, where youd expect her to be at this hour.

No, shes dozing in the living room, half-sitting up, still fully dressed almost as though shes been waiting for someone.

But not for me.

Its tempting to wake her, just for the final satisfaction of letting her see whos in charge now.

Tempting but far too risky.

Fiona Fitzgerald will undoubtedly go down fighting, given the chance.

But I cant afford to give it to her.

This old Tudor is solidly built; not a floorboard creaks as footsteps, m.u.f.fled by the luxurious designer rug, swiftly cross the room.

Fionas impudent features are unexpectedly sedate in slumber. How deceptively benign she seems now.

But she isnt.

n.o.body knows better than I do that shes about as benign as a rabid bear.

And, like a rabid bear that has destroyed an innocent victim, she has to be put down before she can do any more harm.

The knife was taken just now from its place of honor in her own kitchen, plucked from a butcher block stand on her counter top. Its a Henckels chefs knifewhich probably costs more than a month of Ashleys private school tuitionironic, since Fiona doesnt even cook.

Doubly, and delightfully, ironic that the knife will be put to good use anyway.

The blade is held, clenched in two hands, for a long, breathtaking moment, poised high in the air above the sleeping woman on the couch.