It was just after eight in the evening, and Ford had just stepped into the apartment after a day and night spent at Garden Newton. Jinxing it and making new friends made the man's aura look better.

He had just entered the elevator on the ground floor, and Ford seemed to be relaxed and enjoying life when, before, he was always busy thinking about many problems. Now he realized that occasionally he had to pamper himself to feel alive.

After exiting the elevator, Ford walked down the hallway until he turned a corner, but he was surprised to see a woman squatting in front of his apartment unit.

Ford paused...