“Do not open it for anyone.”

“Not even the nurses.”

“I’ll be back by eleven-thirty.”

I nodded.

Ana slipped out of the room, her movements quiet and swift.

I stood up from the bed, my legs trembling.

I walked to the door and turned the small lock.

The click sounded incredibly loud in the quiet room.

I went to the window.

Below, the streetlights cast long, distorted shadows on the wet pavement.

I could see the dark shape of a sedan parked across the street.

Its headlights were off, but the wipers were moving slowly.

Someone was inside.

Watching.

I pulled the curtain closed, blocking out the light.

The room was dark now, save for the green glow of the heart monitor that wasn’t connected to anything.

I sat back down on the edge of the bed.

My mind went back to Evelyn Vance.

I pictured a young boy standing in the rain, watching his mother lose everything she owned.

I pictured the anger that must have grown inside him over the years.

It was a cycle of ruin.

Abigail had started it.