“Well, here’s an interesting fact…”

Liushi Testado leaned forward, her long hair pulled into a knot that left her elegant face unframed. She had high cheekbones and dark eyes, and she was, in a word, beautiful. She smiled at me, clearly enjoying something about whatever interesting fact she was holding back.

“This Stefano character has been under investigation for a while.”

It was a sign of how tired I was that my brain took a few seconds to process just who Stefano was, but once I had, I leaned back in my chair. “Really.”

“Yes. They’ve tried to bring him in more than once, but nothing ever sticks.” She shrugged. “Now, this isn’t my area of law, but I know people. I could make some calls. If your friend Camry was willing to testify against Stefano, if would make it an easy case to get her approved for a Green Card.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “First, she’s not my friend. Second…right now, I think Kaleb is having a hard time even getting his sister away from Stefano.”

“But that’s the plan, right? Get her away from him?” Liushi cocked her head. “If not…well, maybe it would be best for her if she were deported back to Australia. It would take having somebody tip off Immigration, and it’s not like she’s abiding by the agreement set forth when she came here to study. If she was removed from this man’s influence…”

My stomach knotted at the very thought of it. If Camry left, then so would Kaleb.

“There are other ways to get her away from his influence. Once we do that, maybe she’ll straighten up and see how damaging all of this is.”

“True.” Liushi lifted a shoulder, the elegant cut of her red suit highlighting her every subtle curve. “Of course, you have to get her away from him, convince her how damaging all of this is, and then we’ll still try to find the right way to keep her in the country. Like I said, testifying against him would be an almost sure win.”

I made a face, because while it made sense to me in theory, I knew too much about how girls like Camry behaved. Stefano was probably as much a drug to her as the chemicals he was feeding her. He gave her…something. Made her feel something. Wanted, maybe? I couldn’t know.

I checked my phone, wondering if Kaleb had texted. If he’d gotten through to her, that would be…something.

But there was no message from him, and I was left with nothing to do but nod at Liushi and thank her.

She gave me a card and told me to stay in touch.

Once the card was tucked away, I left her office and headed back out in the late afternoon sun.

* * *

My stomach was upset, so I found a place that served mostly soup. Over a bowl of chicken noodle, I tried to tell myself that it could be any number of things making me feel sick.

I don’t know why I was so determined to convince myself that it was anything other than what I suspected it was.

Part of me was even excited. Almost giddy about it.

But everything in my life was in complete upheaval.

Did I really need a change like…this?

And what about Kaleb?

I’d signed the annulment papers. It would be finalized any day now.

This wasn’t the time for any of this.

When is it ever the time? a small voice in the back of my head spoke up. You act like life is supposed to be something you’ve figured out, and nobody ever has it all figured out. Not even your parents. Not even you.

Slowing to a halt on the sidewalk, I let that roll through my head as I considered it.

Because it was true.

When did anybody ever have it all figured out?

I needed to talk to him.

About everything.

Changing directions, I headed back to the hotel. Another quick look at my watch had me thinking he might already be there. The meeting had been over an hour ago. He could be done. He could already be back, waiting for me.

We needed to talk. And we should talk.

The sight of a drugstore sign caught my eye, and I slowed my steps, studying it.

We should talk, I thought again. And I should know for sure before we do. Kaleb should know. He deserved to know.

I went inside, but nerves overtook me, and instead of going straight to the section I needed, I swung by the pantry area and picked up a box of crackers. It wasn’t like I wouldn’t need them. Then I forced my feet to walk in the direction of the right aisle, and I stopped.

Heart pounding, I studied the boxes.

So many different ones.

They all blurred in front of me, and I finally grabbed one at random, reading it.

Digital readout.

Two weeks sooner.

Ninety-eight percent accurate.

Good enough.

My hands shook as I paid for the purchases, and I wondered if the cashier noticed, but she seemed completely oblivious. Nervous twenty-somethings coming in to buy pregnancy tests were probably run of the mill around here.

I headed for the door, feeling more settled somehow.

I was going to stop wondering.

I was going to get an answer.

But then I swung left and saw her.

She was leaning against the light post, arms wrapped around her middle, looking scared and nervous and cold, even in the burning heat.

As I slowed to a stop, she lifted one hand to her mouth and started to bite at her nails. She swung a look down the block away from me, then pushed off the light post and started to pace. When she turned in my direction, she faltered.

The tears in her eyes had my heart aching.

“Camry,” I whispered.

“Um.” She looked behind me, then behind her, so jumpy, it was like she expected the shadows to come to life and steal her away. “Hi. It’s Piety, right?”

“Yes. Is…where’s Kaleb?” Compassion welled inside me, and I took a step forward. “Honey, are you okay?”

“I…shit. Fuck. I can’t talk about this…” She went left, ducking into the narrow alley between two buildings. “I shouldn’t have come here.”

“Camry, wait. What’s wrong?”

But she shook her head and continued to walk.

Feeling helpless, I went after her, my little plastic bag slapping against my leg.

“Talk to me, Camry. Where is Kaleb?”

She stopped when I put my hand on her shoulder and turned slowly, facing me.

Her eyes were still open too wide, and now that I was closer, I could see the oversized ring of her pupil. She was high, but she seemed steady enough. Probably so used to being strung out, it was her normal. Shaking her head, she said, “You shouldn’t be here, lady.”

“Don’t be silly.”

Camry just shook her head. Then, slowly, her gaze flicked past me, her tongue snaking out to wet cracked, dry lips.

I heard it then.

It was quiet, so quiet, I couldn’t have heard it over the sound of my voice a moment ago.

But I heard it now and spun around, ready to face whoever it was.

I had a good idea who it was too.

But I never made the full circle.

I saw something swinging down at me, and I lifted my arm.

Then everything went dark.