Melody thought it over. It didn''t matter whether Roretha had actually seen her back then or if Jonathan had paid her off to say so. If Roretha disappeared for good, then her problems would be solved once and for all.


    It was risky, and she knew snatching someone from Jonathan wouldn''t be easy, but she had no choice. Last time, she and Lenora had only upset Anneliese''s


    grandmother enough tond her in surgery, and Jonathan wanted both of them in prison for it.


    Back when Nak died, it had been two lives lost. If Melody were convicted for that, the lightest sentence would be manughter.


    Still, Melody had the recklessness of someone who didn''t know any better. Once she made up her mind, she figured Jonathan was just a guy in his twenties. If she spent enough on some pros to tail him and track down Roretha, she could handle the rest.


    A cold look shed in Melody''s eyes as she sprang into action.


    She gathered up her savings. On top of that, she even packed up the clothes, purses, and jewelry she''d gotten Anneliese to buy for her over the years, ready to sell everything for cash.


    What she didn''t know was that Jonathan already had people watching her every


    move.


    As soon as she reached out to a reseller with her armfuls of luxury goods, word got back to Jonathan.


    "Mr. Fullbuster, what''s up with Melody? Do you think she''s selling everything so that she can run off to another country?" Zion guessed.


    Jonathan gave a littleugh. "She barely finished middle school, and she has no connections or experience to survive overseas. Leaving the country? She wouldn''tst a day. Besides, she''d never give up all herfort and risk not being able toe back to Lunasia."


    He bet Melody still thought she could get a light sentence for what happened to Nishay, and that Zacharias could pull some strings to get her probation-then she could go back to living in luxury.


    Zion caught on right away. "She must be trying to find Roretha and shut her up for good."


    Honestly, Melody''s got guts.


    She actually thinks she can kill someone right under Mr. Fullbuster''s nose. She must have a death wish.


    She really is vicious, too. Mrs. Fullbuster''s adoptive mother and Melody used to be neighbors. Mrs. Fullbuster treated Melody so well, only to be killed by her in the end.


    Maybe Mr. Fullbuster always knew Melody would try something like this, which is why he baited Zacharias in the first ce.


    As Zion was thinking all that, Jonathan gave an order. "When the timees, leak Roretha''s location to her. Make it obvious enough, but don''t spook her before we catch her."


    "Got it, Mr. Fullbuster. Don''t worry, we''ll catch her red-handed. There''s no way she''ll talk her way out of this."


    There had never been hard evidence against Melody for her crimes back then, but her guilty conscience was about to do her in—she''d deliver the proof herself.


    Days passed in a blur as the holidays came and went.


    Anneliese hadn''t seen Jonathan in days—not that she really had a chance.


    Before, Nishay always worried about getting in the way of her work and life, so she''d assure her that the caretakers and nurses were taking great care of her and there was nothing to worry about.


    Whenever Anneliese came to the hospital, Nishay would urge her to leave early.


    Buttely, Nishay said caretakers cost too much during the holidays, and she could take care of herself.


    Anneliese knew exactly what was going on. Her grandmother just wanted to keep her close and watch over her personally.


    She didn''t confront her about it.


    Instead, she yed along-staying in


    the hospital all day so Nishay could


    see she really had split with


    Jonathan and finally rest easy.


    It worked out, since Anneliese''s nextpetition wasing up after the new year, and she needed some quiet time.


    She spent her days in the hospital room, typing proposals on herptop or scribbling notes on thick printouts, barely saying a word all day.


    Nishay sometimes looked at her with aplicated expression and let out a sigh.


    But she figured since Anneliese and Jonathan couldn''t be together, it was better to end things quickly rather than drag them out. She had no ns to change her mind. One day, Jessica stopped by to visit Nishay. After chatting for a bit, Anneliese walked her out.


    Nishay was tired from lying in bed all day, so she gathered a basket of fruit to take to the nurses'' station.


    There was just too much fruit, and she didn''t want it to go to waste.


    But before she got close, she overheard a group of nurses chatting away.


    "What''s the story with Dr. Chevalier and that olddy in Room 1223? Even during


    the holidays, he keepsing by to check on her himself."


    "Yeah, I''ve been wondering about that too. mean, it''s Dr. Chevalier for god''s sake. Someone of his caliber barely sets foot in the hospital two or three times a year, and now he''s here all the time..."