"Why didn't you go through the tunnel at the same time?” Aanders said.

"Because I knew he wanted to go to the parallel world. I tried to get him to come back. At first he tried, but then it looked like he gave up,” Lora said.

"I don't think he gave up. He wanted to go to the parallel world. He was afraid you'd make him change his mind.” Sadie waited while Lora tried to regain her composure. She also waited for the denial.

Tipping her head back Lora burst into tears again. “My husband is going to be so angry. He always said I was a terrible mother.” She placed her fists on the table. “He'll never forgive me."

Curiosity flickered in Aanders’ eyes as he looked at Sadie. “Why didn't she go to her husband the same time Michael went to the parallel world?"

"I'm glad you're asking questions. It's the best way to learn."

Sadie pulled her chair closer to the table. “Crosssers can't step into the tunnel unless they've made their declaration. It's the same as if they never found someone on the brink. It results in death without purpose. But if someone who has already made their declaration steps in ahead of them, that person determines the final path.” Sadie reached for Lora's hand. “I think Lora remembered that whoever steps into the tunnel first makes the decision. She knew Michael wanted to go to the parallel world."

"I begged him to come back. He tried, but the power of the tunnel was too strong.” Lora buried her face in the crook of her elbow.

"Lora you know that's not what happened. Michael made a conscious decision. It was a sound decision. He didn't want to live in fear any more and knew what had to be done. You should be proud of him."

Theo looked at Aanders. “If you're going to help your crossers, you'd better listen to everything Sadie tells you."

Raising her brows in astonishment, Sadie bit her tongue to keep from commenting on Theo's observation. Theo wanted Aanders to pay attention, yet Theo refused to listen. The bitterness and penchant for revenge Theo displayed during the afternoon had frustrated her, but Sadie had no intention of letting the others in on their confidential conversation.

"Lora, you've got to rethink your decision. Michael needs you. It would be in your best interest to join your son. Your self-esteem is so eroded you can't think straight.” Sadie leaned toward Lora. “Choosing to go to your husband is the worst decision you could make. He's not going to change."

"Why does he need to change?” Rodney said. “Why can't she change? She needs to do what he says instead of moping around all the time. You're making him out to be the bad guy."

Theo scooted his chair over until his arm pushed against Rodney. He leaned within two inches of Rodney's face. “You are going to close that mouth and keep it closed until I tell you to open it. Is there any part of what I said that requires clarification?"

"Shit,” Rodney mumbled in two syllables as he leaned away from Theo. “Just cuz you're a judge doesn't mean you can boss me around."

Theo put his hand on the back of Rodney's chair and whispered in his ear. “Yes, it does."

Jane opened the screen door and let Belly in. The dog checked his empty dish before ambling over to Theo and placing his jowls on the man's black slacks.

"Would you please remove your dog from my leg?"

"He's not my dog."

"Do you realize how idiotic that sounds?"

Sadie put her hands on her waist and jutted her left hip. “The truth is never idiotic. But those who can't interpret it may be."

Dismissing her comment with a look of disgust, Theo stood and opened a cabinet door. He pulled a box of dog treats from the shelf and placed several in Belly's dish.

"Don't do that. He's too fat already,” Sadie said. “And besides, he's got gas from Jane's cooking."

"You might as well add vulgarity to your ever-growing list of shortcomings,” Theo said. “I'd be willing to loan you a second sheet of paper. Or maybe you need a third."

"Bite me,” Sadie said. “You're not perfect either."

"Were any of you successful in zeroing in on someone close to death?” Sadie listened to Theo and Tim discuss the pending death of two nursing home residents. Aanders added commentary when Tim left things out. She encouraged Aanders to be mindful of all the crossers, not just Tim.

"I have a question,” Rodney interrupted, waving a fist full of mail at Sadie. “Why is your mail addressed to Fifilomine instead of Sadie?"

"Why were you going through my mail?"

"I was looking for money."

Sadie grabbed the mail and shoved it in a drawer. “My real name is Fifilomine. Actually both Jane and I have the same first name. Fifilomine. My mother chose that name to get even with the man who got her pregnant. He refused to marry her. It's that classic story of the man forgetting to mention he already had a wife."

Gesturing, she put her index finger on her chest. “My real name is Fifilomine Sadie and Jane's is Fifilomine Jane. It just so happens the man's wife was also named Fifilomine. Does that answer your question?"

"Now I know where you get your personality quirks,” Theo said. “From your mother."

Puzzled, Tim and Aanders looked at one another. “What was your dad's name?” Aanders said.

"That doesn't matter. Actually our mother refused to tell us who our father was. All that mattered was that she got revenge."

"Was your mom the death coach who trained you?” The group strained to hear Tim's question.

"My coach was the man who took my mother in when her parents disowned her. Years ago it was a bad thing to have a child out of wedlock.” Sadie looked at the boys. “That means you didn't have a husband."

"The man befriended my mother and offered her a job at his resort. Back then Witt's End was called Swanson's Resort. When that man died, she got the resort and renamed it Witt's End."

As memories washed over her, Sadie crossed her arms over her chest and leaned into the back of her chair. “I found out I was a death coach when I was twenty-four-years old. It was quite a shock. I had the same urge to deny it as Aanders has, but Mr. Swanson was patient. He taught me everything he knew. When I saw a rainbow at midnight, I became responsible for my own crossers."

"Do you think I could wait till I'm that old to do it?"

"No. That's not possible. You've got years of training ahead of you. You could become an official coach at any time, but the training goes on for a life time. I still learn new things every day."

As she sensed Aanders’ disappointment, she noticed a look of concern cross Tim's face. Tim slumped lower in his chair. Sadie put her arms under Tim's arms and pulled him up. “What is it, Tim?"

"You tell her,” Tim said, looking at his friend.

The group turned toward Aanders.

Aanders joined Tim and sat on the edge of his chair. “Tim's upset because you won't believe his dad was murdered. He even knows who did it. He wants you to tell the cops."

"What?” Theo and Sadie exclaimed simultaneously.

"We've already talked about this, Tim.” Looking at the others Sadie said, “It's natural to think murder could be an option. It's another way of justifying what he doesn't want to accept."

"No, I'm positive. I saw the rifle.” Tim coughed, struggling to catch his breath.

"I bet things happened so fast, your brain didn't have time to register,” Sadie said.

"No. I saw him. I saw the gun. And then after everything got quiet, I heard a motor start up. It sounded like it was on the other side of the woods."

Theo withdrew his arm from the back of Rodney's chair and leaned on the table. “Do you know who the man was?"

"Yes. It's the same man who was here the other day with the deputy. It's my dad's business partner."