Scarlett and Orric had been dating normally.

Two months in, five or six dates — they both felt the fit was there.

Before long, mid-November arrived. Deep autumn.

At four in the afternoon, Scarlett got a call from Orric asking if she'd come meet him for coffee. She was a little surprised — they'd just seen a movie together the day before — but she wasn't the type to shoot things down, and she happened to be free, so she drove over.

She ...