Gavin’s splashing footfalls kept pace beside her. The rain piddled half-heartedly, though she hardly noticed. A small crowd of neighbors, a news crew, and some passersby had gathered in front of foreboding yellow bands of police tape.It was dark, but not so dark she couldn’t see the damage. Adriene hadn’t exaggerated. The house was freaking gone. Burned to a pile of still-smoking ash. Not even the bricks had survived.A panic attack weaseled up her spine and grabbed her by the back of the neck before she had a chance to do the controlled breathing thing her shrink had taught her. She halted her steps, bent forward, hair dipping into the muddy grass, and braced her hands on her knees. Her vision shook.Everything was toast.All the research they’d done. The DTAGs. Hundreds of digital photos. Hard drives. Backup drives.Her copy of Among Whales by Roger Payne, the researcher who’d inspired her to become a whale biologist.And oh God, the beautiful song Gavin had written for her that she kept under her pillow.Her eyes pumped a steady stream of tears as her body quaked with profound, raw loss.Gavin dropped to his knees before her, took her by the chin and looked her in the eyes.
