The wind was angry that night. It was snowing heavily while I drove down the interstate. The headlights reflected minuscule points of light from the flakes that were careening toward the earth, making it hard to see the icy, black road beneath the tires. The Jeep was performing well, and the snow, darkness, and thrumming of the heavy engine all suited the dark mood. The glow of the dashboard illuminated my shadowed, cold eyes.

My knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and I barely shifted my position. Cursing silently, my mind struggled to focus on the task at hand. It was about an hour from home when it happened.