One By One by Freida McFadden(70)

But for some reason, I can’t shake this awful feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I once read that when people have near-fatal heart attacks, they get a sense of doom. They describe a sinking sensation before the chest pain even begins, like the world is about to end. It’s a commonly described phenomenon that nobody can explain. But when something terrible is about to happen, people know.

And when I look at Adam Barnett, for a moment, I get that sensation. Doom.

Like something terrible will happen if I follow him to his table.

But that’s ridiculous. I’ve had a run of bad luck over my life, so of course, I’m going to be suspicious of everything. I don’t believe in fate and I don’t believe in premonitions. What I do believe is that I will be homeless in a few days if I don’t get my hands on some money. And turning tricks in Times Square is not my cup of tea.

“Okay,” I say. “Let me get cleaned up and then I’ll join you.”