rds. Police officers filled the

hat the vehicle had originally

them to confirm that there had been a single fata

remained

between himself and Lydia count

forts had beco

orkers carefully recovered what littl

bly as he belatedly pulled hi

the countless missed call

ber, however,

on went smoothly today, but she insisted on being discharged

ice on the other end. The hand gripping

him the night before, and how he had readi

n a simple injection would leave her ashen

she must have faced those momen

aced Ethan Reeves, an acquaintance who was walking

ondol

pened, then, perhaps unsettled by Damien's expression,

private phone k

ared on the scree

t want t

he wanted was a brie

k through the four brief years he had shared with

wless face had been etched into his heart

been a resemblan

opped mattering so much?

er waiting. No matter what h

pulled his coat tighter and got back i

ast. His mind was

The moment he pushed the door open an

what happen

, undisguised and unmistakable. A

as he replied flatly, "She's dead. T

the Carter

iently, speaking quickly as

the paperwork for her death certificate. And one more thing." He paused mid-step. "Have

e wife was released in t

ly portrayed the grief and agony of

t birthday celebration for Ava had a

g, Damien had been a man deep

the heaviest snowfall in a

ilth deep underground, just as the Hayes Esta

Ronan close, smiling as she ate the nu

ved his wedding ring and casually