Kodiak Sky (Red Cell Trilogy Book 3) (34 page)

EPILOGUE

“Y
OU OKAY?
”
Karen asked.

“Yeah, sure.” A light snow had begun falling on the small graveyard. It was just starting to cover the tops of the seven tombstones. Jack stood before the gravestone on the far right. “I need a few minutes alone with him, okay?”

“Of course.” Karen leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. “Take as much time as you need.” She took a step and then turned back. “Never forget how much I love you.”

“Never,” Jack answered firmly.

He watched her walk away into the woods. She still needed a cane, but not nearly as much anymore. Her speech was getting better, too. And that smile was almost perfect again.

She was going to give him a son in four months. Why was he so damn lucky?

He turned away so she wouldn’t see his emotion if she looked back. He still felt the need to be her strength even though, ultimately, she was probably stronger than him.

For several moments Jack gazed at Troy’s tombstone. “Why did you have to die?”

Maybe Troy was right after all. Maybe some people couldn’t be saved. Worse, maybe they didn’t want to be saved. Maybe those extreme measures RC7 took could be justified after all, at least when it came to those people.

Tears rolled down Jack’s cheeks. The last time they’d seen each other he’d shouted something terrible in a moment of anger and panic, then raced away to save Karen. Troy had died before he could take those words back.

“I miss you, brother,” Jack whispered as his lower lip quivered. “So much.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T
O MY
daughters, Christina, Ashley, and Elle. I love you so much.

To my literary agent, Cynthia. A wonderful partnership that’s lasted twenty years.

To my editor, Kevin Smith. The consummate professional.

To all the great people at Thomas & Mercer who make these books possible: Alan Turkus, Daphne Durham, Jacque Benzekry, Tiffany Pokorny, Paul Morrissey, Sean Baker, Kjersti Egerdahl, and Terry Goodman.

To Kevin “Big Sky” Erdman. Here’s to all those red stripes and browns we’ve caught in Montana over the last thirty years—and the ones still waiting for us.

To Todd and Karen Cerino for so kindly allowing me to use their beautiful home on the edge of Seneca Lake when I needed inspiration and solitude. Promise Kept was perfect.

To the others who’ve been so supportive over the years: Matt and Sarah Malone, Andy and Chris Brusman, Pat Lynch, Jack Wallace, Jeanette Follo, Lisa Sevenski, Barbara Fertig, Bart Begley, Walter Frey, Marvin Bush, Kurt Butler, Scott Andrews, Baron Stewart, as well as Mr. Smith 1, Mr. Smith 2, and Colonel Smith.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo © 2008 Diana Frey

S
TEPHEN
F
REY
has spent twenty-five years working in investment banking and private equity at firms including J.P. Morgan & Company in New York City and Winston Partners in McLean, Virginia. He is the author of nineteen novels, including the first two books in the Red Cell series,
Arctic Fire
and
Red Cell Seven.
He lives in Leesburg, Virginia, where he writes full-time.