The bus ride stretched on, seemingly without end, and Yvonne had drifted off to sleep, her head resting on his shoulder.


    When she finally stirred, the view outside the window took her breath away: a panorama of snow-capped mountains stretched to the horizon, a sliver of a crescent moon hanging over the highest peak.


    She nced over at Bet and was surprised to find him asleep.


    His thickshes cast soft shadows on his cheekbones. It seemed almost unfair for a man to be that handsome. Yvonne found herself staring, unable to tear her gaze away.


    The bus slowed to a stop at a checkpoint, and Bet''s eyes snapped open.


    She was caught off guard, with no time to hide the adoration in her eyes. His gaze met hers, his deep, obsidian eyes sharp and clear, betraying no sign of grogginess.


    "Bet, you were faking it!" Yvonne used, her lips forming a yful pout.


    A slow smile spread across Bet''s lips, but he said nothing. Instead, he reached out, cupped the back of her head, and pulled her in for a kiss.


    It had been their first kiss-tentative at first, then deepening with a clumsy, raw passion. Her heart had hammered against her ribs, and she was sure she''d forgotten how to breathe.


    She would never forget that thrill, the feeling that had seemed to promise a lifetime. But their lifetime together had been so tragically short...


    "Had your fill?" Bet''s voice cut through her reverie. His eyes were open now, his dark gaze calm and chillingly distant.


    The coldness in his eyes was like a physical blow. Yvonne flinched and looked


    away, clenching her fists in herp to keep the tears from falling.


    Jonas, sitting in the front, had heard their voices but couldn''t make out the words. He twisted around in his seat and offered a cheerful grin "Feeling a bit tired, are we? We''ve only got about two more hours to go. It''s a shame this border region is so remote; there''s no train service, so driving is the only way."


    "It''s fine. This is much harder on you," Yvonne replied politely.


    Leaning against his seatback, Jonas continued, "You look so delicate, but you''re tougher than you seem. Most people can barely remember a face they''ve seen once, yet you gave us perfect description for a sketch of Mark. You have no idea-we''ve been hunting this guy for years. Without your sketch, he''d probably still be out there."


    Bet turned his head slightly, his gaze on Yvonne now filled with a quiet curiosity.


    "You''re too kind," she said, forcing a humble smile.


    As a top student at the police academy, providing a precise description of a suspect


    for aposite sketch was a fundamental part of her training.


    Two hourster, the car rolled into a small border town and stopped in front of a modest two-story building. It was painted blue and white, with the national g and a police shield mounted above the entrance.


    Bet got out first, then walked around to open the door for Yvonne.


    "Don''t be nervous," he told her. “Just answer truthfully. I''ll be with you the whole time."


    "Okay,” Yvonne said, managing a small, grateful smile.


    An officer from the border precinct greeted them. After a brief exchange with Jonas, he led Yvonne and Bet into a small room. The room was enclosed by three walls and arge pane of ss that looked into an adjacent room, where several men in prison jumpsuits were being led to their seats.


    "Don''t worry," the officer assured her. "They can''t see us in here."


    Yvonne nodded. She knew it was a one-way mirror; she could see them clearly, but


    to them, the ss was just a reflection.