PREVIOUSLY

Smiling at Téa, Todd pulled himself halfway up the embankment, ignoring the pair of handcuffs that were still hanging from one wrist. He was just moving one leg up, when all hell broke loose. Vaguely aware of the loud bang of the gunshot behind him, Todd lurched forward as the bullet slammed into his body. Téa screamed, dropping to her knees next to his fallen form. He just had strength to lift his head and find her face. Their eyes locked, the awesome connection between them still strong, but growing weaker….and weaker. It was all there…the love…the regret…what could have been and what would never be.

“No…no…” whimpered Téa a second before another shot rang out.

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The burial party was very small, befitting a man who had had few friends in life. The late autumn day was blustery, and a light rain had begun to fall as the handful of mourners gathered at the modest cemetery on the outskirts of Llanview. They shivered in their black overcoats as they gathered around the beautifully polished wood casket topped with a spray of white roses.

Kevin Buchanan hunched deeper into the thick wool fabric of his coat. He looked grim as he surveyed the stark sight of the coffin. He had so many conflicting emotions about the man within. Blair Cramer took a place next to him, her face drawn and tired. Although she had written up the story for the Sun, she still was in shock over the events that had taken place near the cabin on Llantano Mountain a few days before.

The two reporters looked up as a long black limousine parked nearby and a trim, middle-aged woman emerged. Kevin sighed in exasperation, leaving his place and blocking the woman’s path toward the grave. “Mom! What are you doing here?” he asked, gently taking her arm. “I thought we agreed at the church that you wouldn’t come out here for this? You’ve been through enough…”

Viki sighed, shuddering a bit as she caught sight of the stark scene. “I know, Kevin, but something in me just has to be here. I…I couldn’t stay away…”

“But he…” Viki reached up a gloved hand and covered her son’s mouth.

“Shhhhh. Don’t say it. He’s dead now. Let’s forget about the past and try to honor him for the good that was in him.” Shrugging helplessly, Kevin escorted his mother toward the burial site.

“At least Téa was spared having to see this,” he mused in a low voice.

“Yes, Téa seemed exhausted after the church service. I’m afraid she is feeling a lot of guilt over what happened at the cabin. She needs to go away and try to forget about this tragedy. I’m happy she decided not to attend the burial.” Mother and son joined the other mourners gathered at the graveside.

“I never meant for this to happen, Bo,” said Asa Buchanan as he and his son trudged up the hill to join the others.

I know you didn’t, Pa,” said Bo with a deep sigh. “But it’s time you learned that this is the price you pay when you meddle in police affairs. A man is dead. I’m not going to speculate on whether he did or didn’t deserve his fate, but I’m uncomfortable with your role in it. Just be happy you aren’t facing charges…”

Surveying the meager crowd, the Reverend Andrew Carpenter stepped to the head of the coffin. “We are gathered today to lay to rest a man who found little peace during his short life. Together we pray that he may find in the arms of our heavenly father that which he was denied while on this earth. Although he did some horrible things, and caused a lot of pain, in his own way, he was a good man.” Noticing that the rain had begun to come down in earnest, the minister cut short the ceremony, ending with a brief prayer and the 23rd Psalm. The mourners hustled away, seeking refuge from the nasty weather. Soon, the coffin sat alone in its bleak location.

Two cemetery workers quickly brought up a small backhoe and filled in the grave after lowering the coffin into the tomb. They worked as fast as they could, being anxious to be out of the driving, icy rain. When the grave was covered, they replaced the cut strips of turf over the churned earth, which was now turned into mud. In the dying light, they brought up a small wagon and slid the headstone into place. As the workers hurried away, flashes of lightening began to streak across the sky.

The raindrops splashed onto the fresh grave, throwing little splatters of mud onto the marker. With a blinding flash, a bolt of lightening lit up the sight, clearly illuminating the inscription on the lonely stone. It read:

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