Death by Latte Page 14

  Seth stood, and I jumped up beside him. I tightened my grip on his hand. I didn’t like the sound of her voice. “Mom, what is it?”

  She looked at me with sad eyes. “It will be easier this way.”

  I heard the car pull into the parking lot, heard it crunch over the gravel as it came nearer, but still I didn’t want to believe it.

  Seth pulled me close one last time. I clung to him, my tears soaking the shoulder of his sweatshirt, darkening the fabric. He stroked my back, my hair. His lips found mine and he kissed me deeply.

  Behind him the car’s engine idled. A man’s voice said, “Seth. It’s time.”

  Seth started to pull away, but I clung to him tighter.

  He pulled my arms loose. “I have to go now,” he whispered.

  I wiped my eyes and tried to smile at him. “Say hi to your dad for me.”

  “Aphra—”

  “No!” I stepped back. “Don’t say it. I’m not ready for good-bye.”

  He brushed my lips with his one last time before he got into the car. And then he was gone.

  Mom slipped her arm around my waist and stood with me. I laid my head on her shoulder. We didn’t talk. We didn’t have to. We watched the car drive away until its red taillights faded into the darkness.

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  EPILOGUE

  My name is Marissa Vaterlaus and I’m about to begin the new semester at an exclusive boarding school in southern France. At least that’s what it says on my visa.

  According to the computer, I checked into a posh New York hotel three weeks ago for one last shopping fling before hitting the books. In actuality, I didn’t become Marissa until today. This afternoon, in fact. I needed to remain Aphra Connolly long enough to send my dad a card. On the back I drew a picture of two forget-me-nots, intertwined. I hoped he’d understand.

  It was a dangerous gamble, sending the message. The Mole seriously wanted Aphra dead and making contact of any sort gave him a location of origin to trace. But I couldn’t let Aphra go without some kind of good-bye to her father.

  Especially since she may never see him again.

  I’ll meet my mother in Paris tomorrow.

  We have a lot of catching up to do.

  Intrigued?

  Read Death by Denim

  to find out what happens next

  to Aphra . . . and to Seth.

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