Page 4 of The Verdict

He knew I saw what he’d done.

And then I bolted. I didn’t know who to trust. Mercury wanted to kill me. Jupiter had just killed Neptune and then bargained with the police. Maybe it was their plan to kill me all along.

I sprinted out the back of the building, tearing down the alley behind the store until I reached the back door of the dry cleaner a few buildings down. It’s amiracle I made it in one piece with my heels.

I was responsible for casing the area—the neighboringbusiness—for the last two months. Charting business hours and busiest hours. Everything to make sure the heist went off without a hitch. So, I knew this back door would be open—the teenager responsible for manning the store in the slow, early hours always took a long smoke break to go visit his girlfriend who worked at the store on the corner.

I grabbed the first hanger of clothes I could reach and ducked into the back workroom where they did clothing repairs. I stripped out of my bloody outfit and boots and pulled on what appeared to be a man’s suit.Great.I layered on the clothes, shoved the diamond into an inside pocket, and then looked in the small mirror.The hair was going to be a problem.I grabbed the fabric scissors on the desk and started to cut. And cut. And cut. Until the floor became a graveyard for over a foot of hair.

On my way to the front, I found a worn pair of flip-flops, a hat, and a pair of sunglasses. And by the time I made it out the front door, more police were congregated in front of the diamond cutter’s workshop, so I headed straight for the fray.

Jupiter might’ve bought off a few cops, but he couldn’t buy off the whole force.Or maybe he could.I had no idea. No idea what he was capable of. No idea who I could trust.

So, there was only one thing to do.

I ran for my life and knew it would never be the same.

Chapter One

Merritt

Five years later…

There was comfort in invisibility. In disappearing into the background—into the masses. Unseen. Unnoticed. Unbothered.

Some disappeared out of necessity. Needing a fresh start somewhere new.

Some disappeared out of fear. Hiding from those who sought to harm.

Some disappeared for power. Fear and mystery creating an illusion of dominance that was hard to destroy.

I’d disappeared for all three reasons at one point or another, but it wasn’t until I went to step back into the light that I realized my disappearance had brought me peace. Or the closest to it I’d ever had.

Five years, and I’d created a life without secrets. A life without fear. And a life without relationships. No one to hurtme and no one I could hurt. And it was peaceful. Lonely but peaceful.

So what was I thinking coming here tonight?

The question flickered as brightly in my mind as the crystal gleaming from the chandeliers above, light glittering off every person in the room. I—Merritt Manning, substitute Spanish teacher—didn’t belong here.

The gilded, baroque mirrors along the walls reflected every angle. The marbled floors echoed every step. The crystal-studded floral arrangements begged to be photographed. To be here was to be seen. To be here was to want to be seen.

And I wasn’t sure I wanted to be seen.

I turned slowly in the grand ballroom of what had to be the nicest hotel in San Francisco, its ornamental luxury wrapped in holiday décor. From the garland-wrapped white façade perched to the life-size gingerbread house erected in the lobby, I didn’t expect anything less from a holiday party hosted by Dr. Wheaton—Les.He kept insisting I call him Les.

I should leave. Go home.

I adjusted the strap of my purse—a loaner, along with the black velvet dress from Natalie. I could still feel her excitement like she’d stapled it to my chest with her smile and wink when she’d dropped me off out front a few minutes ago and made me promise to call her later.

You never get out, Mer. You need to live a little.

I’d lived enough—more than she’d ever know.Lived and lost everything.So, I was happy to exist in obscurity—in invisibility—if it meant I was safe.

But maybe tonight—one night—wouldn’t burst my protected bubble. At least, that had been my thought when I’d accepted Les’s invitation.

I reached up and ran my fingers through my hair, forgetting the velvet headband studded with crystals she’d shoved on myhead.Crap.I recovered by brushing my chin-length, wavy black hair behind my ear.

I could do this.I breathed out.I’d certainly done a lot worse.

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