Knight stared out at the clouds drifting past the window, but he wasn’t admiring them.

His mind was elsewhere—on a memory.

His wife’s face, pressed eagerly against the glass as she watched the clouds float by. The way her cheeks had puffed out with delight. The light in her eyes. The innocence in her smile.

“We’ll be landing soon,” Fang said from across the cabin.

Knight didn’t respond. Didn’t look at him. He just kept staring out the window, unmoving.

****

As they approached the waiting car, Fang handed Knight a lighter. Without a word, Knight lit the cigarette, took a long drag, and slid into the backseat. Fang followed,...