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PROLOGUE Maggie December 23, 2015 My wrists burn. Hours of trying to break free of the rope that binds m
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But she never told me that. I found out through her mother just last week. Her apartment looks more l
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The house in La Jolla was going up for sale. Dad was buying a condo close to the airport, to make tr
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And I’m not just writing checks from my house in California. I’m right there in the trenches, witnes
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But no phone. I know she didn’t have it on her when she died. The funeral home arranged for all perso
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A girl who I just can’t believe would kill herself. What if the police have it wrong? When I drift off
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“Wow.” He must sense my lack of excitement because his mouth flattens and that snooty tone reemerges.
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“Okay.” I turn my phone on to check for any messages—there are several, most work-related that I’ll
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She only died two weeks ago. So far, I’m not impressed with Detective Chester Childs. With a big meat
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I throw an angry hand toward the picture I just showed him. “And you don’t think this is a tad suspi
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The receptionist adjusts her headset. “Do you have an appointment?” “Tell her it’s Maggie Sparkes.” I
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Isn’t she? “Are you feeling okay?” Dani leans in, scowling. “You’re a little pale.” “Yeah.” I clear my
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Rosa made Celine swear that she wouldn’t tell me just yet. They planned on telling me together, when
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Farther down are his qualifications for the “perfect woman”—confidence, attention to detail, an appr
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He eases himself upright until he’s sitting within the hammock, his brown suede slippers planted fir
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“You just moaned the old lady’s name.” “Oh, God! Ruby!” he moans again with exaggeration. I can’t help
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What Dani doesn’t remark on—and I’m thankful for it—is the fact that I’m wearing one of Celine’s dre
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“So he doesn’t want my money?” This is a first. “His time—and your time—is valuable. He wants to have
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I watch and wait, searching for a good opportunity to bring up Celine. I know there will definitely
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“Hot dog?” she asks, handing the vendor a twenty and collecting her lunch, dumping streams of condim
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“Venture to the LES again?” He heaves a dramatic sigh. “I suppose I could.” I decide that I both like
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Books spill out everywhere. The crates are full of little books, ranging from pink journals with unic
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She hated it. There are five diaries dedicated to how much she hated it. How the kids found out that
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But this diary, with its black, soft suede engraved letter C . . . I need to stop now. To catch a bre
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How I ended up with a roommate and friend with such loose morals, I’ll never be able to explain. She
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I hope Raymond didn’t rip me off. “How was it?” Patty exclaims as I push through the door and kick of
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And she tells herself over and over again that it’s okay. A lot of girls do it to get through school
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“I’ve had a really bad few days and I thought I might feel better up here.” He still says nothing, hi
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“I did. She never noticed any men visiting. Ever.” “Did Celine mention names or anything like that in
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Grady takes the foil packet from my fingers and tears at it with his teeth until it comes apart. I s
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“Would you happen to know of one who is good at more than catching cheating spouses?” He sighs, and t
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Doug frowns. “No, keep it up. It’s harmless and you may learn something else.” He smiles, the first
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“Hey, are you going to be okay?” “Claustrophobia,” I manage to force out. I rarely ever admit that to
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“Maggie!” I’m only faintly aware of two strong hands gripping my shoulders. “You’re hyperventilating
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Grady’s arm tightens around me, reminding me of the last time I was lying in this hammock with him.
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“Uh . . .” I follow him to her desk, where he grabs the sheet of passwords I set out, and then he ya
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My eyes veer to a box in which I had wrapped up a set of crucifixes and other ornate church parapher
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Right. I did do that. I was so relieved when I saw the email request this morning, I answered quickl
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“It was definitely something on her mind.” “That’s a great idea, Maggie,” Grady offers softly, close
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“Sure.” Though I don’t know that I’ll do anything with it. Yet. “Is there a Jay in her contacts list
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“A mixture of medication and alcohol.” “Was it . . . ,” she struggles for the words, a few tears slip
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“Celine stopped taking client calls through me after the incident, so if she was meeting with men af
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“Not a seal written in kaishu!” “Hans . . .” Sometimes I wonder if he truly forgets that normal peopl
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And this red dragon . . . I could have just spent fifteen dollars on something that came off an assem
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“Could mean a whole lot of things. Maybe your friend deleted the pictures and the blog post. She may
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“His parents. What for?” Doug asks. I tell him what I learned over lunch, specifically about the vast
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He taps the envelope. “Where’d you get this information?” “From Celine’s phone.” “So you found her pho
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Or . . . Grady glances over his shoulder quickly. He’s blocking the door from the inside with his kne
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We leave the store and head down Mott Street, weaving through throngs of pedestrians and around the
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“I think it’s exciting.” Her old eyes crinkle with her smile. “Do you think he actually has the vase
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“You said you were considering investing more money with me.” “No . . . Actually I said I wanted your
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“Maybe, señorita.” Carla isn’t even looking at me, as she continues her duties. Given that Carla’s o
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“I’m so sorry. Red wine sometimes does this to me.” I smile, and it’s genuine but for all the wrong r
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Jace’s motionless body still lies stretched out on the couch. “He’s still sleeping,” I whisper with a
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He Will be My Ruin Page 55 “How far does this video feed go back?” Doug asks. “It’s motion-activated,
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He reaches a hand out for her, beckoning her closer. She hesitates for one . . . two . . . three sec
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And stare at my phone. Doug called to relay a message from Zac that Jace did wake up. I guess the Amb
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I feel him hardening against my wrist, so I guess the pain has faded. I help it along by wrapping my
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“Well, it’s certainly more glamorous than what I normally do on a Sunday night,” Ruby muses, smiling
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I’ve never responded well to that look. “How long have you known her?” “Almost seven months.” “Are you
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I knew this was coming and yet I’m still somehow not prepared. “I don’t know what you’re talking abo
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I was a week away from handing in my resignation to Vanderpoel so I could start school in a month. T
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He seems more amused than bothered. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” “Maybe.” I stand there like an obtus
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He shrugs. “We really hit it off. She was beautiful, smart, and motivated. Classy. We went out for d
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“Why were you there?” “Because she called to tell me that she had found the perfect gift for my mothe
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“Oh, dear. That can’t be good.” Her words are on point, but her tone says she’s more curious than co
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Finally, a reaction from the always calm and collected Grady. “So you’re saying it’s not true?” There
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“Would you know anything about that?” “I know absolutely nothing about how a technology genius the li
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“He was definitely on a high when I left him,” I mutter sarcastically. “Maybe he’ll forget.” I’m fur
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A knock sounds. Taking a deep breath, I open the door. “Hey.” I have always found his piercing hazel e
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He chuckles. “I have enough money.” He steps in even closer, settling his hands on either side of th
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Soon, all traces of my best friend will be gone. While that saddens me, I also need something to occu
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“She didn’t tell me anything.” Ruby slowly swirls the silver spoon around her cup and very simply sa
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Finally, they’re at the front door again. “It was nice meeting you,” Jemma offers, eying me cautiousl
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“Oh . . . I’d say so. But let’s wait for Doug. He’ll be here in five. He likes to do the grand revea
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“So he’s a hacker.” Zac chuckles. “A hacker? No. I’m a hacker. James Hartford is a fucking god. He go
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December 15, 2015 “I think it’s safe to say we have enough proof that Grady was paying Celine for sex
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“And Grady gets jealous? Angry?” I can’t picture him angry. But I also can’t picture him paying Celin
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“Are you kidding me?” I stare at Doug and Zac in shock. This seems far too easy. CHAPTER 40 Maggie “He d
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We’re now in his apartment. Well, the police are. “I didn’t think you were Missing Persons, Detective
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“Or a shrine. He clearly felt something strong for her. But we haven’t seen anything that indicates
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With glasses poured—our second pricey bottle—and alone once again, Jace turns back to me. “All right
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“Whatever makes you comfortable,” he says easily. “I don’t want you to worry. I’ll take good care of
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“You have to find him.” Doug squeezes my shoulder. “And you have to get on that plane tomorrow mornin
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“It doesn’t matter where you are, it feels like they’re watching you, doesn’t it?” a deep male voice
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I chug back a large gulp as he pulls out onto the street. “I hope so. Hans said there was a lot of i
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I don’t even scream. Without even trying, I know that my voice is long gone. Is this his place? Pickin
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I catch Jace’s icy gaze in the mirror and I hold it defiantly, refusing to show the fear he wants to
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I bolted from my desk and ran for the office restrooms, but not before several people saw the tears
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It must be infectious because I can feel his excitement now, too. “What would something like this be
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I laugh through my sobs and I sound even more pathetic. “You’re only just realizing that now? I’m he
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I’ll sleep well tonight. I can feel it. CHAPTER 47 Maggie December 23, 2015 “She was fucking obsessed wi
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“Maybe not. But then there’s also his car, which has a soiled trunk full of your DNA—thank you for t
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“And his lawyers will argue that you were ‘not of right state of mind,’ pumped full of drugs. Best t
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The police confirmed that the two other women in videos found on Grady’s computer are alive and well
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