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Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Love best-selling fiction?
  3. Also by McGarvey Black
  4. Dedication
  5. Epigraph
  6. 1
  7. 2
  8. 3
  9. 4
  10. 5
  11. 6
  12. 7
  13. 8
  14. 9
  15. 10
  16. 11
  17. 12
  18. 13
  19. 14
  20. 15
  21. 16
  22. 17
  23. 18
  24. 19
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. 37
  43. 38
  44. 39
  45. 40
  46. 41
  47. 42
  48. 43
  49. 44
  50. 45
  51. 46
  52. 47
  53. 48
  54. 49
  55. 50
  56. 51
  57. 52
  58. 53
  59. Acknowledgements
  60. A note from the publisher
  61. Love best-selling fiction?
  62. You will also enjoy:

“They know who’s getting divorced,” said Heather, “or who’s getting foreclosed on, having surgery, overdue on their bills.”

“Michelle Rothberg had foot surgery,” shouted one of the younger officers as everyone else in the room nodded.

“Exactly,” said Daryl as he handed each member of the team their assignments. “We need to find out who has that same Upper West Side postal route now. And, we need it fast.”

“With the whole country working remotely,” said Heather, “I don’t know where to start. All my usual channels are out of whack because of this virus. Who would we call to get postal routes?”

“I’ll get the postmaster general of the United States on the phone, if I have to,” said Daryl. “We’re going to find out who has that route—today.”

The entire team jumped on their phones, texting and calling around to find out which department controlled the mail-carrier schedules in Manhattan. After leaving dozens of messages, they still had no answers.

“This is the break we were waiting for,” said Daryl rubbing his hands together. “I’ll brief the captain on this. Let’s see if he can get a postal inspector on the phone. This can’t wait until tomorrow. If he can’t help, I’ll take it right up the line to the police commissioner.”

39

When the alarm on Gabriela’s phone rang at 6:30 that Thursday morning, she opened her eyes and smiled. She had been waiting for this day for a long time. Sr. Bello had promised that everything would be taken care of and the problem neutralized before the day was over. He also pledged that they would finally be together in October. In five months, I’ll be on my way to my perfect life. I should plan a little surprise October celebration getaway for the two of us. Hmm… where should we go?

Her husband’s side of the bed was empty. He had an early dentist appointment that day. She heard sounds of banging cabinets coming from the kitchen. He’s so annoying. Why must he slam the doors all the time? She put a pillow over her head to block out the noise and remained quiet. If he thinks I’m sleeping, he won’t bother me.

Pulling up the cool cotton sheets around her flawless neck, she thought about her life’s journey. After all the years and all her struggles, everything was finally coming together. Images of her childhood outside of Mexico City, and their broken-down family home flashed across her mind. When thoughts of her stepfather and the way he touched her intruded, her forehead furrowed. Her only wish had been to get away from that place, convinced she was destined for far greater things.