THIRTY-FOUR
The phone’s shrill ringing woke Sage from a deep sleep. At first she thought it came from her dream, but as her eyes opened, the noise continued. She swatted at the nightstand, her hand missing the mark each time, landing with a dull thud against the wooden surface.
“Too early,” she moaned, even though she hadn’t seen the time. Blackout curtains blocked out most of the sunlight, leaving a glowing halo around the window.
The phone continued to ring.
Sage finally pushed herself up and grabbed the receiver. “Yes. What?”
“I’d expect someone so concerned with keeping a low profile to avoid altercations and side-trips around the city.” Sylvia’s voice came through loud and disapprovingly clear on the line.
“Good morning to you too,” Sage grumped back.
“Afternoon. We have a sche
