Mid-morning, JJ got a message that someone was waiting for her in the cafeteria. She took the elevator down on her break and glanced around, trying not to look too eager.
There was no auburn-haired man in uniform. Instead, a white-blonde head swung in her direction, and an elderly woman stood and waved her over.
“Iris, when did you get back?” JJ asked.
“About ten minutes ago,” Iris said, handing JJ a coffee. “I came here first.”
Her face was pale and her eyes and cheeks were sunken, as though the structure that held her together was eroding from within. It reminded JJ of Adam, even before yesterday’s drama. He and his grandmother were traveling the same hard road, and the journey hadn’t ended yet.
“I’m back because of Harlan,” Iris said. “He’s stable, but he’s not improving. And they
