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"As I said, that was part of the reason Fact is, I’hter and her husband I’m here to speak at a law enforce you nearly drove me to my knees Talk about an unlikely coincidence, but there you have it Now it’s over

"You’ve been very patient with o home Come, I’ll walk you to your car Where are you parked?"

Before he left her beside her silver Lexus on Level One of the sae, she said, "You asked me why I invited you to lunch"

He waited

"I’irl, Dix, and the truth is I’ed--"I’m drawn to you Thoht, as if that were so, she said, "Will I ever see you again, Dix?"

He thought of all the coincidences, of the two bracelets, and wondered: Why hadn’t her husband had so present? Andthen he wondered, Was it a new clasp? That wouldn’t be difficult, si settled in hiain He smiled down at her "Never say never"

CHAPTER 16

SAN FRANCISCO

Early Sunday

Julia looked down at her boy, his skin so pale it was nearly translucent He’d gone easily, simply faded away as she’d held his s But he didn’t look peaceful, he looked ee the monitor, the soft flatline hum now silent Ti to coood-bye and walk out of this sterile cold room and leave Linc

"He’s not here, Julia," Dr Bryer said "He’s at peace Co baskets with hithe tail of his skateboard against the ground while his front foot pulled the board up high in the air, oh God, too high, then he would pivot, nearly stopping her heart even as his friends shouted "Real tight, Linc, sweet" How very odd, she thought, staring down at hi his skateboard Yet a skateboard had killed him