ten. Breathe. With each breath feel the soothing calm. Breathe. Feel the overwhelming love wrapping around your body. Your mind is at total ease. There are no thoughts, there is only each breath. Breathe. Each breath bringing you closer. Closer to absolute freedom. Nobody can hurt you now. You are alone in a world that does not understand...breathe. I understand -- now let go of the tethers holding you back. Breathe. Step forward into the safe zone, where they can't get you anymore. Be in absolute harmony. Take the step."
Andrew's hands came off the railing and he leaned his body weight forward. As his foot moved past the ledge, his centre of gravity moved ahead, pivoting him forward on the remaining foot, still on the bridge. The sudden realization he was falling triggered a reflexive muscle contraction in his back and neck, trying to somehow hurl his body weight back onto the bridge. His mind already knew it was too late.
He had become an outside observer. Everything slowed. The wind rushed past him. His mind flashed back to a car accident where he had lost control of the vehicle and time slowed, allowing him to absorb every detail. Now, instinctively, he stretched out his arms to slow the descent. His body moving head first toward the moon reflecting off the water's surface. He stared at the fast approaching water. Adrenaline surged, heightening all his senses. The smell of the air intensified. The wind against his skin. The fine detail of the waves.
His outstretched arms did nothing to lessen the impact. His face hit the surface first, ramming his head backwards. He heard a loud snap and he was underwater. A second or two passed before realizing where he was. Then the pain hit. Intense pain on his face, like nothing he could imagine. But no pain anywhere else.
He tried moving his legs -- nothing. His arms moved a little, but were slow and uncoordinated. He knew he had broken his neck. Holding his breath, he also knew he wouldn't be able to get his head out of the water.
He held his breath until his breathing reflex kicked in and he could not resist any longer. His brain, desperate for oxygen, inhaled. The pain receptors in his lungs protested as the water rushed in. It felt like hot embers scorching the inside of his chest.
Then everything faded, and he felt no more.
Chapter 5
Bill Roberts
Getting off the elevator, Bill headed to his office, stopping by the desk of his assistant. "Anything new, Cathy?"
"Nothing yet, Inspector. A number of calls from the media asking questions and looking for a comment from you -- but nothing important."
Bill checked his watch. Almost eight o'clock. "This one's looking pretty cut and dry, so far. It's been a long day for you. Why don't you call it a night?" He pulled out his cell phone. "I better phone the kids and tell them I'm going to be here a while."
"I called and spoke to Sam when you were heading to Leaside. She said, she and Patrick had already seen it on the news, and they expected you'd be late." Cathy stood. "And, you know there's nowhere I'd rather be. I'll put a pot of coffee on."
Bill nodded to her in understanding. "Thanks Cathy." She had lost her husband a year ago and work is what kept her going right now. He already guessed she wouldn't be going anywhere. He'd lost his wife to cancer two years ago and knew what she was going through. Work, and his two kids had gotten him through a very tough time. His daughter Sam was now sixteen, and his son Patrick was twenty-one. It had been hard on all three of them, but it had also brought them closer.
Cathy didn't have kids so poured herself into her work instead. She had been his assistant for the past five years and had been invaluable. Before working for the Toronto Police, she had worked at Queen's Park with the provincial politicians. She had grown tired of the politics, but while there, got to know people at all levels of government. In fact, she had connections all over -- a tremendous asset to Bill.
Her boss turned to walk into his office and Cathy said, "One question, Bill." He looked back at her, she pointed to her forehead and asked, "What's with the new body art? Is that some new kind of tattoo?"
He walked over to the mirror on the wall. The corner of his