Wooldridge looked confused and desperately un-
happy for a moment, and then glanced over to Trimble and started to shake. Trimble quickly crossed the distance to his boss and guided him to the desk chair. Then he looked up at Langdon. “This is a very cruel trick.”

Langdon shook her head. “It’s not a trick. It’s a message to Wooldridge, from Elaine. She made it a few hours before she passed on.”

“What is she saying?”

“I think it’s better just to play the video, Mr. Trimble.”

Trimble glanced down at the suddenly very frail-
looking Wooldridge. “I don’t think that’s the best idea right now.”

Wooldridge picked up on that immediately. “Shut up, Garrett. It’s Elaine.” Trimble shut up, straightened up and looked at a spot on the far wall. Wooldridge reached for the phone. “Let me see that.” Langdon gave it to him. He took it and pressed the “play” button on the screen.

“Orval,” Elaine said, and smiled, a small and very weak smile. I couldn’t see the screen right now but I knew she was smiling because I had already watched the video, with Langdon. Elaine’s voice was equally small, weak and tired. “I’ve asked Jimmy to help me make this for you because I know you’ll be unhappy with my choice. I know you will want to blame others. And I know why you will want to do it. So please, if you love me, listen to me now.

“We’ve been fighting this cancer for years, Orv. It’s been eating me up. I’m tired and I’m hollowed out. I’ve kept fighting because you asked me to keep fighting. I’ve kept fighting because I know how much you’ll miss me. I kept fighting because I know you love me. I’ve done this for you. Fighting and dying, and being brought back and fighting again. For years now.

“But I’m tired now, Orv. I’m tired and I don’t want to fight anymore. There’s nothing left to fight, my love. I’ve already lost. I lost months ago, and everyone around you knows it. Everyone can see it but you. You can’t see it. You won’t see it. And it scares me, Orv. It’s turning you into someone I can’t bear to see. Someone old. Someone scared. Someone angry.