“Get in,” Vivian said without looking at her and slid in herself.

Jules stood, stunned, for a moment. Even as she walked around the car, she considered sprinting down the sidewalk. Vivian had decided that she must be silenced; she was going to have her driver take them down to the docks, kill Jules, and then dump her body in the river. Or worse, Vivian was going to think of something else for her to do before going to bed and trying to process the day.

But all Vivian did as Jules buckled her seat belt was lean back against the headrest, close her eyes, and say, “Take me home, and then drop Julia off at her apartment.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Ben said as he smoothly pulled into the street.

Jules was getting personal chauffeur service after the working day was done? That had never happened before.

She wasn’t about to question it. Just ride in silence; just let Vivian rest. She needed a break. She needed a lot of things, most of which Jules couldn’t give her, but Jules could manage a peaceful car ride.

When they’d gone four blocks, she dared to look at Vivian out of the corner of her eye. Then she blinked in astonishment. Vivian had slumped against the window. Her eyes were closed, and she was breathing deeply. She’d fallen asleep.

Jules met Ben’s eyes in the rearview mirror. She blushed without knowing why. But Ben’s own eyes were wide, and she realized he was as astonished as she was. Almost five years of driving Vivian around and apparently he’d never seen her sleep in the car before.

When they got to Vivian’s Upper West Side home, she was still sound asleep, and Jules realized she had to wake her. She didn’t have the courage to touch her. You didn’t just touch Vivian.

She cleared her throat loudly and watched Vivian twitch into wakefulness, inhaling through her nose. Then Jules looked out her window so Vivian could pretend no one noticed her sleeping.

At the sound of Vivian unbuckling her seat belt, Jules turned her head and managed a weak smile. “Thanks for the ride.”

Vivian’s brow furrowed. Her hand fumbled a little as she finished unbuckling, and she blinked sleepily. It would have been cute if it had been anybody else; as it was, it was a little scary. Without a word, Jules undid her own seat belt, got out, and hurried around to open the door for her.

By the time Vivian was on her feet and on the sidewalk, she appeared a little revived, perhaps because of the cool air. She gave Jules a quick glance as if waiting for something. Jules had no idea what, but she blurted out before she could stop herself, “The tests could be wrong.”

Vivian narrowed her eyes.

Jules winced and hunched her shoulders. Yeah. Okay. Shut up.