“Be careful out there tonight. The roads are slick.”

“I will,” I said.

We walked through the side exit into the alley.

The cold air hit my face, smelling of damp brick and diesel exhaust.

Denise walked quickly toward her car, her heels clicking on the wet stones.

“I’ll call you as soon as the filing is processed,” she said, unlocking her sedan.

“Go home, Harper. Get some sleep.”

“I will,” I said, though I knew I wouldn’t sleep a wink.

I watched her drive away, her red taillights reflecting in the puddles.

I walked toward the subway station, my hand clenched around the key in my pocket.

My phone vibrated in my purse.

I pulled it out, expecting a text from Denise.

Instead, it was an unknown number.

The message was brief.

*Come to the restaurant tomorrow at noon. Seraphina wants to talk.*

My breath caught in my throat.

Seraphina Romano rarely came to the restaurant during the day.

If she wanted to see me, she already knew something was wrong.

I stood under the awning of a closed flower shop, the rain dripping from the canvas above.