The road was a familiar one. She had taken it a million or more times. January always brought ice lined streets and snow covered roofs. Emily was driving slowly, but her heart was filled. She was off in another world and her driving was on autopilot. She kept reviewing the contents of her argument with her husband. How could he call her controlling? How could he suggest she was having an affair? She had taken care of him for the past three years. She had paid the bills, taken care of the kids, maintained the house and she still managed to think of him endlessly. Doesn't he get it? Why should she stay? He doesn't even care, so why should she? Lost in her own head, she was jolted into the here and now when she saw the stalled SUV a couple of feet ahead of her. Slamming the brakes, she desperately tried to stop the car, but the ice beneath the wheel denied her request. Her chest slammed into the steering wheel and the front end of her Lexus was attached to the SUV ahead. Without even a few seconds passing, the seat flew forward and her head smashed into the windshield. Stunned, she turned her neck slightly and saw the front end of a Mac truck sitting in her back seat. *** Dion slid into his Ford F150 and put it in gear, the big tires crunching easily over the ice covered road. Emily should be home pretty soon, he thought, I'll run out and get us some Boston Chicken for dinner. Man, I'm hungry. And I'm sure not in the mood for another argument. I just want to have a good, hot meal and relax after a long day at work. Have a cold beer and just chill. Yeah, that sounds good. A little peace and quiet after a long day, that's all I ask. Is that too much? He grabbed his coat and hat, walked over to the mantle and retrieved his keys. He double checked the locks and started his big bad girl. Emily would never lock the doors if she were just going to the store. She had no fear of all the things that could happen to an unsuspecting person. But he was trained to always watch his surroundings. He could tell you what was going on from all angles. He noticed the neighbor’s upstairs window open, the dog across the street in the backyard, the two boys hanging by the street light on the corner and so many other things most people would not pay any attention to. He had seen too much drama early in his life. Out of 19 male grand children he was one of three who made it out of the neighborhood into a semi decent life. Dion's grandparents had raised him. He did not know his parents and he made no judgments with regard to them. It was just life as he knew it. Hell, he had grandparents; that was better than many of his friends who grew up products of a single parent or no significant adult at all. His best friend in high school was the nicest guy in the world. He taught Dion how to always be aware of his surroundings. I guess when a person is a hit man for a living, he needs to watch what might be headed for his back. Even with his ever-vigilant radar for trouble, Dion wasn't prepared for what met him as he rounded the curve. The bright lights of an EMS vehicle and a cop car were splashing eerie blue and red light over the snow. That scene he was familiar with. But there in the midst of the flashing lights was Emily's Lexus. No. It couldn't be. His heart was hammering and sweat started to break out on his forehead. He threw the transmission into park and leapt out of the car. He didn't check to see if the doors were locked or the key was out of the ignition. He was operating on raw instinct. His stomach churned and his cheeks burned with fire as he approached the scene. “Hey, hey! That's my wife". He exclaimed. "Stay back sir. We have to be able to work here." Said the paramedic. He felt something firm touch his shoulder, he looked sideways and a baritone voice police officer, said, "Sir, can I see you for a minute?" "What's going on?> What happened?” He asked. "Sir, come with me." the officer said. "No, get the f… out of my way. Man that is my wife. What the hell happened? What the f… happened here?" He demanded. "Sir, calm down. Come on we have to get some information from you. You want to help your wife, don't you?" The officer replied. "What do you need to know? Oh my God. Is she alive?” He needed answers. "Sir, I'm going to need some ID to confirm that you are the accident victim's husband. It's standard procedure." The officer said. "Of course I'm her husband. Here," he said, handing the officer his driver's license. "So are you going to tell me what the hell happened here? Is she OK? Oh my God, is she OK?" The officer quickly checked the ID and then looked directly into Dion's eyes; his own eyes full of kindliness. "Sir, I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your wife has been badly injured. If you'd like to ride with your wife in the emergency vehicle to the hospital, the doctors there will be able to tell you more.”