Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 97

Emma got into the lift, and Annie slipped in right after her. Her chest heaved as though the weight of their tension somehow became heavier inside this small area, suffocatingly heavy. Her breathing hitched, her chest juddering as though her lungs and heart were at battle with each other. Emma said nothing but paid attention to the glowing numbers up above, indicating which floors they were currently passing

The elevator doors opened with a ping, and the two women, each for different reasons, went through it into the hall, unified by urgency across the chasin of emotion separating them. Down the hall to Adam Hersel's room, they went, Emma's heart pounding with the anticipation of truth. Annie's with dread at exposure.

But just as they reached the corner, both stood still, arrested by a sight ahead.

A young woman, who could almost have passed for Adam Hersel's daughter, was being dragged away in handcuffs by two- officers. She resisted their grasp, her tear-streaked face twisted in a mix of rage and despair. Behind her, an older woman wailed, clinching at her chest as her cried echoed off the sterile hospital corridor.

With that, the young woman cast one quick, sharp glance toward Emma before turning around the bend and out of sight. There was something substantive in that glance that weighed upon Emma.

"What, what's going on?" Emma quavered, her voice barely audible as she looked through to Adam's room.

Her breath caught as a stretcher emerged-a body covered by a white sheet-wheeled out of the room. Emma's legs moved of their own accord, propelling her forward as the nurses pushed the gurney past her. The world blurred around her, while at the same time focusing down to the body beneath the sheet.

her

the edge of the

Her knees buckled.

face was pallid, his body utterly still, and his eyes closed

freight train. Her vision blurred at the welling of her tears as her shaking hands flew to her mouth. This can't

of relief in her gaze told a different story. Emma didn't see it. Annie felt it, the weight of impending doom lifting off her shoulders, Adam Hersel was gone, and with him, any chance of her secret being exposed. She

at the nurses, her voice breaking as she pleaded for an explanation: "What happened? He was fine this morning! What

them- professionally and very hesitantly replied, "He asked for his family. His daughter showed up

words struck Emma like a blow to the gut. Her knees buckled, and she stumbled against the wall for support. Sharp breaths racked her chest while tears coursed down her face. All the hope she'd clung to, the promise of justice, was taken away in just one second. "How how could

as if the death of Adam Hersel had

Something inside Emma snapped

Tue, Dec 17 Chapter

anguish was too much, the weight unbearable. Adam Hersel was gone, and with him, the truth. It was like the investigation won right back to square