The silence was the worst part.
Cole sat on the porch, watching the sun rise over the fields. Three weeks had passed since the last operative was arrested. Three weeks of nothing. No texts. No threats. No footsteps in the dark.
Normal life. Quiet life.
He should have been happy. Instead, he felt like a man walking through a minefield, waiting for the explosion.
Evelyn came out with coffee. She handed him a cup.
"You've been up all night."
"I couldn't sleep."
"You always say that."
"Because it's always true."
She sat beside him. The rocking chair creaked.
"What are you thinking about?"
"The void. The one they keep talking about. Someone always fills it."
"Then we'll be ready."
"Will we?"
She took his hand. "We've survived worse. We'll survive this."
He wanted to believe her.
