Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

Most of the people at the dinner party had never been through this kind of screening before, and you could see the curiosity in their eyes as the process unfolded.

Except for Bridget. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she started sniffling quietly.

"Officer, please, can't you cut her some slack? Sylvia's so young-if this gets out, her reputation will be ruined!"

The cop's face was all business. "The law's the law. No one gets special treatment."

At that, a few of the designers who'd been standing near Sylvia quickly stepped back, obviously worried about getting caught up in the mess.

Sylvia lifted her head and looked straight at Bridget, her voice calm but icy. "Ms. Simpson, the results aren't even out yet. Why are you so sure I'm in trouble? Got a crystal ball or something?"

Bridget froze for a second, then wiped her eyes and stammered, "I just care about you, that's all. I was worried. Maybe I overreacted."

People glanced at Sylvia, and you could feel the judgment in the room-like she was being ungrateful.

Sylvia ignored them. She just kept her eyes on the little test kit in the cup.

Right then, the officer stepped forward and pulled the test strip out of the glass.

One line. Two lines...

in shock-except for Bridget, whose

It can't

Negative? But

seen these tests before, so how do you know two lines means negative, Ms. Simpson?

realized too late she'd slipped

explain. "Uh, back at my college, the local police did some workshops, so I... I know about these

replied with a cold

since she drank the glass of wine Mark handed her. The instant that strange feeling hit

a world of difference between accidentally

accident. Destroying the evidence had crossed her mind, but he body wasn't cooperating-so when she got up, she

test strip, nodded, and

over

"Mark's not here he stepped out and never came back," she said, pointing to where Mark had

Mark's

Positive.

judging by how quickly the test reacted, there was

"Go find him-now!"

few officers rushed

the lead