CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part six)
Tuesday morning — 2:30 A.M.
Czech Republic
Mike set Valerie down to open the apartment door. She stumbled into the living room and flopped on the couch. He helped her out of her clothing then carried her to the bathroom. By what the media called her ‘diva demands’, their plush apartment came with a large [...]

[Read more →]

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part five)
Monday afternoon — 4:11 P.M.
“That’s the best we can expect, Aden,” Samantha Hargreaves said.
“One year in county, one year work release, three years probation,” Aden said. “It doesn’t seem like much of a bargain.”
“Third degree assault has a possible sentence of two years in county. A year sentence is a reduction. You should [...]

[Read more →]

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part four)
“I saw my mother yesterday,” Heather said. “She saw Sandy on the television and said she wanted to talk. I went over…”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You’ve been working to finish getting the Lipson sale ready. I didn’t want to bother you.”
“What did your mother say?”
“That gay boy is going to break your heart.” [...]

[Read more →]

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part three)
Monday morning — 8:16 A.M.
Anschutz Hospital

“So that’s it?” Blane asked. He looked over at Heather’s smiling face. “We’re done?”
“That’s it,” his doctor said. “We haven’t found Hep C virus in your system since the end of last year. We’ll check again in a month, two months, then six months.
“But he can stop [...]

[Read more →]

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part two)
He fell silent. Jill kissed his cheek. Trusting him to tell her when he was ready, she rested in the warmth and comfort of his lap. He sighed again.
“I ached for you, for a chance at a life with you. I longed for family, children, joy. I wished for Val to come home [...]

[Read more →]

CHAPTER SEVENTY-EIGHT
(part one)
Two days later
Sunday night — 11:20 P.M.

Jill woke up in an empty bed. Grabbing her warm bathrobe, she wandered through the loft looking for Jacob. Not finding him, she was about to head down to the Castle when she saw light coming from under the door to Jacob’s old apartment. She wandered [...]

[Read more →]