Halfway up a hill I stopped to catch my breath.

Lena asked whether I was all right.

“Yes,” I said, surprised by how completely I meant it.

For a long time I’d measured my life by whether Dennis was pleased.

That afternoon I had no idea what he was doing.

And the world remained beautiful anyway.

PART 26

Dennis learned what the suitcase contained when excerpts of the independent investigation became part of a public civil filing concerning the disputed vendor arrangements.