Dresses packed, she went in search of the Manolo Blahnik shoes that would go beautifully with the Dior dress she’d picked up on her last visit to Paris. The perfect outfit for her first dinner in Rome, her bucket-list city for this trip.

She found them in the closet and returned to the suitcase, spirits ticking up. This would be a grand adventure. One no one here in the heartland would ever know about.

Nor would they know about her other grand adventure—amassing a fortune under the radar by exploiting weaknesses.

Human nature was so predictable.

Dave had caved at the first threat and agreed to be her front man for the investment opportunity.

Tyler Holmes had been low-hanging fruit. After being kicked out of the house by his father, and after all his brushes with the law, it was a given that he’d jump at the chance to earn a few extra bucks under the table. He’d been the perfect person to do her initial dirty work with Grace.

As for all the poor seniors who’d been struggling to make ends meet, her volunteer gig with the meals program had provided her the ideal opportunity to screen candidates for her scheme. Befriending them and offering to do errands—like banking—had helped her choose clients for Dave who didn’t frequent the same financial institutions . . . just in case anyone got suspicious about large withdrawals from more than one customer.

And once she decided to cease their monthly payments, all she’d had to do was supplement the dinner of the day with her special salad—crisp lettuce, assorted fruit, toasted nuts, cracked yew seeds, sunflower seeds, and poppy seed dressing laced with dried, ground yew leaves.

It had worked like a charm until Grace poked her nose in.

But soon the forensic pathologist would be history.

Eleanor strolled back to the dresser and picked up her glass again. Dare she have one more scotch? Two was usually her limit, but she had much to celebrate tonight. A trip to Italy, a hefty balance in the offshore account, and no more impediments to her scheme.

Why not indulge?

She was home free.

28

THE FAINT, WELCOME WAIL of a siren penetrated the bathroom walls as a wave of vertigo made the room spin, and Grace clutched the edge of the vanity beside the toilet, sagging in relief.

Thank God help was on the way!

Another shaft of pain knifed through her abdomen, doubling her over, and she emptied her stomach. Again.

It would almost be easier to die.

Almost.

But she wasn’t going to let Eleanor win. Not if she could help it. She would not go gentle into this good night.

As the siren grew closer, she wiped her mouth on a towel and staggered to the front door. Despite her waning energy, she managed to unbolt the lock and twist the knob. Then, back against the wall, she slid down to the floor and dropped her forehead to her knees.