He even offered twenty percent above market value.
I accepted without a moment's hesitation. I knew exactly why he was being so generous—he wanted to lock me in before I could change my mind.
After we hung up, I went right back to enjoying my trip.
I took photo after photo, filling my camera roll until it was bursting. Looking at all those pictures, I felt a quiet certainty settle over me. The way things stood now, I wasn't the least bit afraid of those two shameless women stirring up trouble.
I spent the entire day out exploring, and by the time I dragged myself back to the hotel, I didn't even bother showering. I collapsed onto the bed and was out cold the instant my head hit the pillow.
I was that exhausted.
Somewhere in the haze of deep sleep, my phone rang.
Aunt Patricia's voice came through, tight with panic: "Jennifer, come quick! I fell!"
The sound jolted me awake like a bucket of ice water. It was exactly the same as last time—the same call, the same desperate tone, the same hour of the night.
Last time, I'd scrambled out of bed and rushed to her apartment without a second thought.
But this time around? Why would I care whether she lived or died?