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woman gave a quick dip of her head. “Okay. I don’t have much yet, anyway. Your sister was being settled into intensive care when she suffered a seizure. Shortly after that, her condition began to deteriorate. We did another CT scan and discovered she’d had a hemorrhagic stroke—in other words, a blood vessel inside the brain ruptured. She was rushed back into surgery about twenty minutes ago, and the doctors are working to get the situation under control. I’ll pass on updates as I get them from the operating room.”
    Shell-shocked was the word that came to Jake’s mind as he assessed Liz. She groped for the bed behind her, as if seeking some tangible support, and he edged closer.
    “Thank you.” Her voice sounded steadier than she looked.
    With another nod that encompassed both of them, the nurse exited.
    For a few beats of silence after the door closed behind her, Liz stood unmoving. A spasm rippled across her face, and her lower lip began to tremble. She caught it between her teeth, blinked several times, and gestured toward the bathroom as she snagged her purse off the nightstand. “I think I’ll freshen up a little.”
    Jake got the message. She needed a few minutes to pull herself together.
    “Okay. I’ll be in the hall.”
    He waited until she pulled the bathroom door shut behind her with a quiet click, then exited.
    Spence pushed off from the wall with his shoulder. “I asked one of the aides to round up a toiletries kit, if you want to shave and brush your teeth. Can’t help you out on clothes, but at least the rumpled look is in.” The other marshal shot him a quick grin as he handed over the small bag. “I also asked her to see what she could find in the way of food.”
    On cue, Jake’s stomach rumbled. Reminding him that his last meal had been a fast-food burger he’d grabbed en route to the airport in Denver more than fifteen hours ago.
    “Thanks.”
    “All in a day’s work. There’s a men’s room down the hall, on the left. Those guys will stay until you get back.” He inclined his head toward the two officers who’d remained through the night.
    “Give me ten minutes.”
    “Don’t hurry on my account. I’m not going anywhere.”
    With a wry quirk of his lips, Jake headed down the hall. He’d prefer a long, hot shower, a decent meal, and a soft bed, but he’d make do. If nothing else, freshening up would help him feel more human.
    He hoped the same would be true for Liz. Doing routine things often comforted people in stressful situations. A few normal minutes could shore up their stamina, leaving them better equipped to cope with the next trauma.
    And Jake had a feeling Liz was going to need all the shoring up she could get in the hours and days to come.

3
     
    ______
     
    Liz gripped the edges of the sink, faced the mirror, and cringed.
    It was hard to believe the haggard woman with weary, shadowed eyes and tangled hair staring back was her.
    But the stark, shocking reflection—exacerbated by the harsh, merciless overhead light—was all too real.
    As real as the nightmare that had become her life.
    Lifting an unsteady hand, she brushed her fingers over her cheek. There had been a time in the not-too-distant past when she’d worried that her youthful appearance might be a detriment to her career.
    She could now put that concern to rest.
    Today, she looked every one of her thirty-eight years.
    As for her career . . . she’d trade all her achievements, all her accolades, all her awards for the chance to make things right with Doug and Stephanie. For the chance to have a normal, trauma-free life.
    But it was too late.
    For all of them.
    Fighting back a wave of despair, she turned on the faucet and picked up the bar of soap. As she tore off the paper wrapper, the maroon stains under her polished fingernails caught her eye. Lifting one hand, she examined them . . . and discovered more of the same in her cuticles.
    The breath whooshed out of her as if someone had delivered a