With an uncertain nod, Jack turned away and escorted the man who had been on the brink of ending his life back down the bridge. Rachel watched them slink away, disappearing into the night.

As she watched them, the night seemed to grow silent. She could still hear the sobs of the man theyd just talked down, and the rushing water beneath them. There were the sounds of the city, sure, but they were in the background, nothing more than ambient noise.

Only, that wasnt true. There was something else. Some other sound from behind her.

Footsteps. Soft footsteps.

And they were retreating.

Rachel turned and looked down the opposite expanse of the bridge. She could not see anything in the darkness, just the open and empty bridge for about ten or twelve feet before the darkness of night took it over. She gave chase, following the sound of the retreating footsteps. Within several steps, she realized that if this was indeed the killer ahead of her, the person had made a critical mistake. Sure, there was no way the killer could know that there was currently an NYPD officer on the way to that end of the bridge, but they were trappedabout three quarters of a mile of bridge ahead of her, and a federal agent behind her.

Rachel kicked into a higher gear when she came to this realization. She also understood that the chances were very good that she was faster than the killer and, cancer diagnosis aside, in better shape. This was proven correct when she finally saw a murky shape ahead of her. It was thin shape, rushing forward in the darkness. As she closed in on the figure, Rachel could see the quickly moving legs, pumping up and down. A few more steps, and she saw the bobbing shape of a ponytail and the back of the blonde head to which it was attached.

Lisa, stop! This is Agent Gift. I just need to talk to you!

The figure ran for another several strides but then came to a stop. When they turned around, Rachel was not at all surprised to see Lisa, the operator from Better Days Suicide Prevention. She had a wild, almost feral look in her eyes as she stood in place, staring Rachel down as if she were an alien or monster.

Why did you come? Lisa asked.

To stop you. And to see why youre doing this.

You wouldnt understand.

Youre right, Rachel said, not giving the conversation time to breathe. She figured if she could keep things moving along quickly, shed be able to keep Lisa from trying to run again. Youre right, I dont understand. You spend so much time trying to help these people…so why would you want to see them dead? Why would you want them to take their own lives?