“We found silt in his lungs, consistent with the location where he was recovered. Our conclusion is that he held his breath for as long as possible before inhaling the muddy water after he hit bottom. His body was recovered ninety feet down. The diver reported the silt was disturbed immediately around the body. We’re positive he thrashed around.”

Nathan couldn’t respond. He was with Kramer in that pitch-black water during his last moments. Descending. Veins bulging. Eardrums bursting. Eyes wide open in terror. Plummeting into a freezing abyss. Inhaling water when he couldn’t hold his breath any longer. No hope of surviving.…

He sensed Grangeland take his hand.…

And something else. Hatred, deep and vicious, expanded inside him like an acidic fracture.

Grangeland called out, her tone frantic. “Nathan!”

“Huh?”

“My hand!”

He released it.

Harv grabbed his arm. “We’re outta here.”

“What’s going on?” Salk asked.

Harv pulled him toward the door.

The next thing he knew he was sitting on the floor in the hallway with his back against the wall.

***

“What the hell just happened?” Salk asked.

“He’s been under a lot of stress lately,” Grangeland said, rubbing her hand. “And he’s been really nervous about seeing the body. He’ll be okay. He just needs a minute to clear his head.”

“I’ve been doing this a long time. I’ve never seen a reaction like that. I saw him crush your hand. He nearly broke it. You want to tell me what’s going on? That man just spooked me, and that’s not easy to do, not at this point in my career.” Salk started toward the door.

She touched his shoulder. “Please, Doctor, just give them a minute.”

***

“Breathe, Nathan. Close your eyes and use your safety catch.”

“I can’t.” Images from a tortured past flooded his mind, all of them terrifying. A bullwhip’s crack. Clenched teeth. Scattering birds. Moths. Sneering faces. A bloody knife.

“Do it now.” Harv grasped both his shoulders and yanked him forward. “Send him away, he doesn’t control you anymore. He can’t do anything without your permission. Send him away.”

Nathan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and visualized autumn-cloaked trees. He stood under the branches and spread his arms. A gentle breeze fluttered the leaves past his body, brushed them against his skin. A few swirled at his feet. He took another breath and let it out slowly.

“That’s it,” Harv said. “Deeper.”

It took a moment, but a calmness washed through him. All traces of hatred evaporated.

Replaced by resolve.

Harv smiled and offered a hand up from the floor. “Welcome back.”

“Damn, that was close.”

“Tell me about it. I was about to deliver a haymaker.”

“You’d really do that?”

“Damn straight.”

“He drowned him, Harv.”

“Don’t worry, we’re going skin him alive for that.”

“Let’s get back in there.”