Part 249 (1/2)

up before she could respond.

”Kesseiring, if you've finished talking to your sweetheart-”

”Let's move.” Michael interrupted his partner's complaint and started

for the door at a run.

”What the-”

”Move,” Michael repeated. He was already peeling out when MeCarthy

jumped in the car.

WHEN EMMA WALKED into the lobby of the Beverly Wils.h.i.+re, it was nearly

four. During her long afternoon on the beach, she'd made one decision.

She was going to call her father. He would have heard about Jane's

death, and Emma had no doubt he would have tried to contact her.

It wouldn't be an easy conversation, but a necessary one. It was time

she told him that she had left Drew. Perhaps it was also time to take

advantage of the press that was always so eager for gossip. Once the

separation was made public, she might break out of her perpetual daze.

Maybe she'd stop being afraid.

As she walked down the hall toward her room, she dug in her bag for her

key. Her fingers brushed the warm metal of the gun. She was going to

stop carrying it, she told herself She was going to stop looking over

her shoulder.

She opened the door of the suite, and frowned. The drapes shut out all

but the faintest light. She hated the dark, and silently cursed the

maid. Pus.h.i.+ng herself forward, she let the door close behind her as she

went toward the lamp.

Then the music started. Her fingers froze on the switch. That eerie,

unmistakable intro that haunted her dreams. The murdered Lennon began