"I don't think we'll learn anything more from looking at this mess," Detective Oester said. "Thanks for your help, Dan."

Dan left the building. He stopped on the pavement to breathe until the urge to be sick vanished. He'd seen bodies before, but not people he knew. He'd track Pranthi down tomorrow. Right now he wanted nothing more than to get home to Cindy.

***

Cindy ran out of their house and threw herself at him, clutching him tight.

"Ow," Dan said, "not so ...