Encore of the Avenging Muse (Sylvia and Rupert)

"Yeah."

...

Private Clinic.

Sylvia had picked up some of Naomi's favorite snacks from a little deli on the way over-mini quiches, a slice of apple pie, and a thermos of hot chicken soup.

The bruises on Naomi's face had faded quite a bit, but she still looked haggard, her eyes shadowed from too many sleepless nights.

"Mom, try to eat something. There's been some progress," Sylvia said, setting the food out on the bedside table.

At the mention of progress, Naomi finally looked up, a flicker of hope in her tired eyes.

"Sylvia, did you find that man?"

"Not yet, but we're getting close." Sylvia handed her a fork, her tone gentle. "Mom, can I ask you something?"

Naomi nodded weakly. "Go ahead."

"If Bridget hadn't gotten into trouble, and she kept coming after me, what would you have done?"

hand trembled so hard she nearly

"Honestly, when I saw everything you went through, I wanted to confront Bridget myself. If it wasn't for Edwin talking me down, I might have

as she poured soup into Naomi's mug, but she was hanging on every

push too hard, not wanting Naomi to

soup, gathering herself before she spoke. “Edwin only found out later that Bridget once saved Rupert's life. That's why Rupert kept

high and mighty, but deep down? She was just trying to survive-no way would she risk her neck for

dig into it, but before I could, Bridget got into trouble, and then Reese showed up. That's when everything

box of mini quiches crashed to the floor, soup splattering all over her jeans

the pain,

went even paler as Naomi's

never lied to

had suffered so much at Bridget's hands. Naomi would cry every time the gossip columns

story of Bridget saving Rupert.

and now Sylvia finally realized

Reese.

Kay knew each other; finding

squeezing a confession

they did meet her. Maybe