rile white. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a ha

d. There was blood on his sleeves, blood on his pants, blood dried under his fingernails. He didn't c

bove them was on. Inside, they were cutting h

liot Hardin striding down the hallway. His oldest friend. The only person who kn

n front of him. He held out a bottle

ed at the red light, his voice a r

t stood there, a silent pres

ove. He barely breathed. The image of Clementine falling, the s

open. A doctor in blood-spattered scrubs stepped

, his heart hammering again

ficant concussion and severe bruising across her back

ense his knees nearly buckled. But before

sorry. Your wife was about six weeks pregnant. The

van like a sledgeh

gna

s seemed to close in on him. He stared at the

" he b

tly. "It's likely she didn't even kn

dded once and

g his child. A tiny, defenseless thing that h

lder. "Don. Don, look at me. Th

laced instantly by a cold, hard mask. He couldn't show weakness. He couldn't show pain. N

is jaw clenching. When he spoke, his

ing into a sneer. "It changes noth

with disbelief. "What are you tal

at them. If he looked at them, he would think of her lying on that tab

eeping his voice low, making sure it carried in the quiet

He stared at the white wall, his han

words tasting like acid on his tongue. "She... she might

uilt, the terrifying surge of emotion that had threatened to drown him-he had to bury

, his friend's face was pale, his expression a mix of

as if he couldn't believe the word

d a gurney out of the recovery room. Clementine lay o

by. He felt nothing.

The door was left slightly ajar t

k a deep breath, smoothing down his ru

the bed, her body perfectly still. Her eyes were open, but they weren't

heard ev

ce had carried through the gap in the door. She had heard the doctor. She had heard the word "pregna

he had hea

man

He had killed her baby. And then, like a final twist of the knife, he had casua

n was too vast, too consuming, for tears. It was

He looked down at her, his face a mask

ed at him. The man she had married. The man she had loved, once,

y, as lifeless as a doll

ed. He thought she would get over it. He turned and wa

beeped steadily beside her. The pain in her bo

And in the darkness

cold, hard diamond of resolve. You w