of the crowd a comfort. He sat at a computer terminal and began the meticulous process of erasure. He liquidated his personal investment accounts,

a picture of him and Olivia on a beach in Bali, both of them smiling, the sun setting behind them. His finger hovered over the de

unded, keeping it brief and professional, citing personal reasons. H

t late that night, Olivia was waiting fo

ng her arms around his neck. Her perfume, the one he' d bought her for their first an

f, and felt nothing but a cold, empty space where his heart used

d with feigned worry. "Is everyt

couldn' t bring himself to mention the anniversary gi

He saw the woman he fell in love with, not the manipulator on the phone. His throat tightened, and

glanced at it, and a flicker of something-annoyance, mayb

he hospital, it' s about Alex." She grabbed her purse, her movements quick

. A minor accident. The same lie she would have told him about a

you," Ethan sai

It' s nothing serious, I' ll be back soon." She gave him a quick, meaningl

hadow behind hers as she sped through the city streets. She didn' t go to the nearest hospital. She drove

oup of visitors. He found the information desk and asked for Alex Thorne'

saw Olivia talking to a doctor,

want any press or visitors bothering him,"

truth he had only just discovered. His worst fears, confirmed in the cold, fluorescent light of a hospital corridor. He was the secre