How a Dying Woman Rewrote Her Epilogue

The search area was enormous.

Fleming soared through the night sky, carefully adjusting his altitude to a level that was both safe and gave him a clear view of the chaos below.

He knew Elodie well. In a crowd, she'd stand out she always did-so if she was down there, he'd spot her quickly enough.

Smoke still drifted up from the ground, making it hard to see. Fleming frowned, dipping a little lower for a better look.

Adrian's voice crackled in his headset. "Fleming! Are you out of your mind?

There's been no order from command! You'll be held responsible if you keep this up!"

They were military, after all-discipline was enforced with ironclad rules, and following orders wasn't optional.

But tonight was different.

Still, there would be consequences for acting on his own.

Fleming scanned the ground with laser focus.

He felt strangely detached about the risk. He knew exactly what he was doing.

After all, Esmeralda had made herself clear...

He wasn't going to overthink it.

to human life, any disciplinary

was a national treasure in her field-there was

matter,"

for Lucy, aren't you? I've seen it for a long time now-Lucy cares about you, and you

swayed by Esmeralda's announcement that the engagement

the way of following his

Fleming didn't answer.

the question even

gaze sharpened, locking on to something a few dozen

racing down the road. The headlights illuminated the windshield,

a figure in the passenger

down the window and looked straight up

A signal.

most. In that instant, he

Jarrod. Elodie's husband.

him Jarrod

and Jarrod were

reacted instantly, flicking on the aircraft's signal

was about to descend

for what it was a domestic

Jarrod swerved toward

to descend, Jarrod made a sharp gesture, signaling him to hold off and motioning for the pilot to look