They left Hale's farmhouse on a Thursday morning.
The sky was clear for the first time in days, actual blue showing above the tree line, the kind of cold bright winter sky that makes everything look sharp and close and very real. The snow in the yard caught the light and threw it back hard and Emma stood on the porch with her hand shading her eyes looking at it like she was taking inventory of the color.
Hale came out to see them off.
His arm was in a proper sling now, Chen having re-dressed the wound that morning with clean bandaging and specific instructions about what to watch for in the next week. Hale had listened to the instructions with the cooperative patience of a man who would follow them precisely and not because he needed to be told twice.
He shook hands with Colton and Wal
