Epilogue

Courtney Young pressed the button on the blender with a short, angry jab. Yet another cook had quit, forcing her to fend for herself. When she’d married her wealthy husband, she’d thought she’d never have to cook for herself again. She couldn’t even go to a juice bar, since the doctor had warned her not to wear makeup until the latest cosmetic surgery had healed. It had been years since she’d left the house without makeup, and she wasn’t about to humiliate herself like that for a smoothie.

She lifted her manicured finger off the button and the grinding sound stopped, leaving just the cable news anchor’s voice filling the kitchen. “…scene taken right out of an action movie, this tiny mountain town was…”

Courtney picked up the remote with an annoyed huff. Why would they think anyone would be interested in what was happening in some “tiny mountain town”? Turning toward the TV mounted on the wall, she lifted the remote, her finger on the power button.

Shock left her motionless, her arm outstretched. The news camera panned over the small town’s main street as the voice-over continued. A woman in a waitress uniform stood outside a drab-looking VFW, smiling up at a uniformed police officer. She glanced over at the camera and froze for a brief moment before ducking her head and rushing inside the building. The cop glared at the camera.

Courtney’s gaze remained fixed on the television long after the story was over and the anchor had moved on to a Supreme Court decision. Finally, she turned off the TV and carefully placed the remote on the counter. Picking up her cell phone, she found the number of the latest in a long string of private investigators.

Tapping the number, she held the phone to her ear and gave the tiniest smile.

“Time’s up, Juliet.”