Ren would live with Lee, Eileen and the kids for many more good years.

All they were told of Lee’s donor was that he was a Canadian man who died suddenly while on business in the U.S.

In their hearts, Lee, Eileen and Ren were thankful for his gift and all that God had given them.

#####

In the days immediately following Will Fortin’s death, RCMP Superintendent Munro Massey flew alone to Seattle to oversee return of the Mountie’s body.

It was Massey, who years ago, being sympathetic to Fortin’s tragic history, had assigned him to escort duty with his national security team. He had always believed in Fortin.

Massey ensured all the documentation was in accordance with all laws and regulations in the U.S. and Canada, and brought Fortin back to the RCMP training academy in Regina, Saskatchewan.

It was always Fortin’s wish that he would be buried in the RCMP cemetery at Depot Division within the academy, the same place where he had trained.

In keeping with tradition, a memorial service was held at the academy’s small RCMP chapel.

The sky was clear, that day, the sun bright and light breezes caressed the academy when the funeral cortege left the chapel to proceed around the parade square for Fortin’s “final march.”

The procession moved north, passing the science building and the stables then on to the cemetery gate where a lone RCMP sentry stood at attention. Fortin’s mother, his father, along with Cathy, his former wife and her husband Chadwick, were there to watch as Fortin was given a final salute.

The Canadian flag that had draped his coffin was precision-folded and presented to Fortin’s mother who touched her tear-stained face to it.

Then Fortin’s coffin was lowered into the ground.

In the time that followed, Corporal Will Fortin’s name was added to the memorial stone honoring all RCMP officers who had given their lives while on duty. Their names were carved in granite above the inscription from Corinthians.

“For the trumpet shall sound.”

And somewhere over the eternal prairie, where the sky met the land on even terms, where the landscape exaggerated, or diminished, your place in this world, Will Fortin was at peace.

A NOTE TO THE READER

Before Sunrise is a work of fiction drawn in my imagination where I exercised creative license and took liberties with geography, aircraft and aviation, technical realities, jurisdiction and the investigative process, to present a drama concerning human beings facing extraordinary situations.

In bringing this story to you I benefitted from the help of several people.

Thanks to Wendy Dudley for making this a better story.

Very special thanks to Barbara, Laura and Michael.

I would like to thank Donna Carrick.

Thanks of course to Amy Moore-Benson of Meridian Artists.