The tension in the room was almost suffocating. Regan had finished explaining the diagram to Gabriel a few minutes ago and her husband had not spoken a word the entire time. He had dropped her hands and she had again risen to stand back behind his chair, steadying herself on the tall back. She waited, her heart in her throat, for his reaction. The time dragged.

“How do you know this is true?” They were the first words he’d spoken and when he said them his voice was barely above a whisper.

“Because Simon told me it’s true. And I believe him.” Regan would not waver on that point ever again.

“He could have falsified this scan you know?” The accusation came as more of an afterthought than a conviction. Gabriel sank slowly back in his chair and rubbed a hand over his face.

“He didn’t. He told me that if you wanted to check the authenticity there are some scans you can run the data through. Some of the security sweeps you use at the office. He said that would verify the data.” Regan still waited on pins and needles, unable to tell which side of this her husband would ultimately fall on.

“And Simon is sure of this?”

Nodding, although he couldn’t see the gesture, Regan explained. “He is.”

When silence again fell between them, Regan waited as long as she could before pushing the issue. “Gabriel, River doesn’t have a lot of time. I need know if you’re going to help us.”

He swiveled slowly in the chair to examine his wife. She was still determined, showing more energy than he’d seen from her in quite some time. She had never shown a sign of weakness, all through the explanation of their daughter’s crippled brain scan. She truly believed what Simon had told her.

“I have to process this, Regan,” he said, his voice holding none of the fire he’d exhibited over the past few days. “Please leave me be.”

If Regan was offended by the brush off, she didn’t show it. She had been raised too properly for that. Instead, she strode out of the room, shutting the heavy doors behind her. On