Reece counted down the time, but nine o’clock came and went, and nothing changed. He’d expected an announcement when it was done, or to feel some shift as X left the world. The crowd seemed to feel the same frustration. He noted the strange looks that passed between people, the perplexed expressions of those newscasters he could see. That’s where the ripple began. The news crews sprang to life. Cameras rolled tape, and the pretty people straightened up. But the expressions Reece saw were more shocked now than perplexed.

“Excuse me, sir?”

The voice was female and severe. Someone tugged on Reece’s sleeve, and when he turned he found an iron-haired woman with heavy glasses and a thick neck. “Whoever you’re looking for, it’s not me.”

“Are you Mr. Reece?”

The whole world seemed to stop. Noise died. No breath in his lungs. He said, “No.”

Her disbelief showed in the frown and sharp glance. “I was given a very specific description of you, Mr. Reece, of your appearance and of five possible cars you might drive, including the one you parked just there. I was told you’d wear dark glasses and a hat of some sort, and that you’d stand at the rear of the crowd. I have a letter for you.”

Reece shook his head, still struggling. “Who are you?”

“I work for the warden, if that makes a difference.” She offered a sealed envelope. “Will you accept the letter or not?”

He took it with numb fingers, and she left with a final glance of disapproval. The envelope was thick, creamy, and expensive. It terrified him. Reece broke the seal, and removed a single page. He tried to focus, but the crowd was growing restless and very loud. Near the front, people began to push and shove, to actually shout. The noise spread like a wave. It rose, crashed, and spilled, in seconds, to the place Reece stood.

There would be no execution.

The prisoner was gone.

Rumor? News? Reece couldn’t know, but he stumbled back, as if from an imminent, physical threat. He found a place between two cars, but the chaos only grew. People were pushing and fighting. Others stood in stunned disbelief. Reece tried to read what he’d been given, but his hands were shaking so hard he had to crouch between the cars, and put the letter on the ground.

He read it twice as a dark stain spread in his lap.

Epilogue