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She dropped her purse and her shopping bags on the sofa, called, “Dad? Hey, Dad, I’et a bottle of water

“The better to cool off with, h she wasn’t sure she wanted to cool off What she wanted was to be in Rane’s ar in her ear, though she couldn’t now recall what he had said But it didn’t matter He wanted her There was no doubt about that And she wanted hi roohts were off, but the satellite screen was on, so where was her father? It wasn’t like hiy had always been one of his quirks

She glanced around, a sudden feeling of unease skating down her spine Murhts

Soh the room The books on the bookshelf had been moved, the drawers in the small desk that had been her mother’s were open The trio of candles on the coffee table had been knocked over Her father’s favorite coffee cup lay on the floor surrounded by a dark stain

She stood in the middle of the room Should she leave? What if the intruder was still on the pre her skin “Dad?”

When there was still no answer, she picked up one of the heavy candlesticks She couldn’t leave Her dad ht still be in the house, hurt, unable to answer

Tension coiled deep within her as she walked down the hall to her father’s bedrooht from the hallway, she could see that his bed was e closer, she saw his wheelchair lying on its side by the bathroom door Fear’s icy hand clamped Savanah’s insides Where was her father? Why didn’t he answer? Her fingertips tightened on the candlestick as she hurried around the foot of the bed, her eyes focused on the bathroo soft, felt her heart go cold when she saw her father sprawled face down on the floor

“Dad!” Tossing the candlestick on the bed, she switched on the bedside laasped in horror at what she saw His face was as pale as paper, his lips were blue, his eyes sunken Had he had a heart attack? She placed her hand on his heart Was he breathing? She couldn’t feel a heartbeat

She had to call 9-1-1, had to get help He couldn’t be dead She was reaching for the phone when his fingers curled around her ars you need to know…”

“Later, Dad, I need to call…”

“Listen! Things about me…your led for breath What was he trying to say? Whatever it was, it would have to wait He needed help and he needed it now “You can tell htened on her arrip “My desk…envelope…” He took a deep, shuddering breath “Envelope…behind…bottom drawer…for you”

“Yes, whatever…” It wasn’t i paler, weaker, by the moment A prayer rose in her mind Only one word, Please, please, please repeated over and over again She grabbed his cell phone froers dug into her flesh “Be…careful”

“Dad, please, just hang on… I can’t lose you, too”

“Love…you…” He looked up at her, a faint sh, his hand fell away froone