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19

SAGE

Patrick Dalton is supposed to be dead.

His picture stays on the screen while everyone prepares to leave.

He looks different from the man I remember.

His hair is shorter now.

A scar runs along the left side of his face.

But I know his eyes.

I saw them through the curtain in Greg’s house.

Patrick stood in the front steps while Greg yelled at him.

He didn’t yell back.

He only stared.

That frightened me more.

“What were they arguing about?” Sean asks.

“I couldn’t hear everything.”

“Anything may help.”

I close my eyes.

Greg’s house returns.

The dirty hallway.

The bedroom door that never closed properly.

The smell of cigarettes and sweat.

Greg pacing across the front porch.

Patrick standing near the front door.

“You lost her,” Greg shouted.

I open my eyes.

“Greg said Patrick lost someone.”

“Marisol?” Kane asks.

“Maybe.”

“What did Patrick say?”

“He said she wasn’t supposed to be there.”