I gave up the idea of reaching Anastasia before she left. It was clear she planned to leave the city before her forgeries were discovered. But why stay in the city a moment longer than she had to? Why not leave earlier, hiring me instead to sell her belongings and send her the money?
Perhaps she never wanted me to know where she was going.
That hurt; she was one of the few friends I had in Bridges.
"You're so quiet," Gardena said. "I hope all is well?"
Anastasia helped Frank Pagliacci. "I recently learned that a friend may have betrayed me." I couldn't help but notice Gardena's flinch and Morton's evaluating gaze of us both.
I wondered what Gardena had done, why she sounded so contrite, so remorseful, at Queen's Day dinner. Why she had begged Tony to tell me something important, and i
