Page 147 of Shadow

Officer Daniel Cross, Badge 2847

1968 - 2009

Beloved husband and father

“Greater love has no one than this: to lay

down one’s life for one’s friends” – John 15:13

Daphne knelt, touched the cold stone. “Hi, Dad,” she whispered. “It’s been a while.”

The cemetery was silent.

“I’m sorry I haven’t come. I was—I’ve been angry. Angry that you left us.”

Her eyes burned, her throat thickening.

“There’s this man. Asher. He’s—he’s a lot like you, actually. FBI agent. And I’m angry at him too. I thought he betrayed me.”

Around her, the trees rustled.

“But he was just doing what you did. Making hard choices in impossible situations. Being who he is. A protector. Someone who can’t not help. And if I can’t forgive him—I can’t forgive you. But see…I want to forgive you.”

She wiped her chin.

“So, yeah. I…forgive you.” She drew in a breath. “And I forgive Asher.”

She sat now, in the cold, damp grass, and leaned against the stone.

“I love you, Dad. And I miss you. So much.”

She sat in the quiet, in the chill, listening to the wind.

Listening to her heart start to beat, finally, without the ache.

“Say hi to Mom for me.” Then she got up and walked back to her car. Sat there with the engine running, the dashboard lights glowing green in the darkness.

When you see a good man, you hang on to him.

The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

You can trust me. I promise.

Put her car into Drive and headed back to Renegade.

Fifteen

In truth, Asher thought she’d left town.

He didn’t blame her. He’d spent most of the night interrogating Roger, who, yes, agreed to testify. No surprise there.

Then he’d gone into a briefing with Patterson. And when he’d emerged, he’d spent hours cataloging all the evidence he’d retrieved from his house. By the time he’d finished, the night had crashed down over him.

And Daphne was gone.

And okay, maybe he should have called her. But a part of him…

Well, it was one thing to save someone. Quite another to forgive them.