Kira sipped at her coffee as she scanned the photos

Suddenly, her hand froze.

Her body stiffened,

She gawked at a photo onscreen.

Kira sat in the backseat as the car sped towards Stamford Airport

They would need to take a two-hour flight to

to Beach Rinton.

She stared at the photo in her hand.

It was printed off the file Rony gave her,

She hadn't tom her eyes away from it for the past twenty minutes,

Rony nudged Manuel and gestured for him to talk

The cameraman cleared his throat. 'Kirs, what's so interesting about the photo?"

When the first saw the photo three hours ago, she had been so shocked, she knocked over the coffee mug

Then she shot to her feet, sprinted to pim's office and took the assignment to Riston.

Which was why they were now on their way to the airport.

Kira tocked away the plint in a clear folder. exclusive content.

put on a nonchalant smile. 'It's nothing. I just saw someone in the background. Thought it was a friend."

A friend?

Manuelled to recall the co

contents of the photo.

It was a shot taken inside a hospital

Someone was vialling is family there, saw the hectic scene in the hospital hallway and captured the moment, then pasted the pluto online. Hap

There were plenty of people in that photo-doctors, nurses, patients, their families and friends.

Which one was Kira's friend?

Manuel was about to ask, but Kira closed her eyes and leaned back against the headrest.

"I'm talding a nap, Wake me up when we reach the airport, thanks."

Manuel and Rony exchanged a look, but neither said anything

Kira was exhausted, but she couldn't fall asleep.

Her mind was whirling

The camera only caught the side profile of the man in a black suit.

But Kits was certain the man wa

was Austyn

Well, almost certain

she had searched for him for four years.

His face was seared in her memory.

Kira had gone to so many places loolding for him, but all in vain.

During the first year, she would rush over whenever she saw someone who looked even remotely like him, but she would always be disappointed, They bore at most ap

a passing resemblance to Austyn, but none of them was him.

Kira fingered the photo in the folder and tried to warm herself not to get her hopes up.

What if this was another doppelgänger?

But even if there was just a glimmer of hope, a one-in-a-millionchance, she would take it. She had to see for herself

The news team went in search of a hotel after they came out of the airport.

Ricadidn't rest

She went online, did some digging and found the Facebook profile of the man who posted the photo.

She reached out to him

He didn't know the man in the background, but he did give her the address of the hospital

She took a tan there,

The outbreak of flu had stated about a week ago.

Now, almost all the hospitals and clinics were inundated with patients.

Kira donned a mask and pushed her way through the crowd.

Then she paused at the lobby.

Now that she was here, what was she supposed to do next?

The hospital compound had four major buildings with more than two hundred wards combined.

She wasn't about to go toon to foom

The hospital staff probably wouldn't allow her to do it, either.

It would be like searching for a needle in a haystack

Kira removed the photo from her pocket and approached the nurses' station.

Maybe someone there would recognise the man

She gave the nurse Austyn's, but the nurse told her there was no

no patient by that name.

Nor did his name tum up in the hospital personnel database or in the visitor' log.

Kira sighed, thanked the nurse and walked away.

I looked like she had no choice but to do this the old-fashioned way.

An Unlikely Reunion

Kira started with the main building, went from floor to floor, poked her head into the room if the door happened to be open, and apologised when she intruded on

She was exhausted after two hours, but her search drew blank

She showed the photo around, but none of them recognised Austyn

Kira hung her head, dejected.

She plonked herself down on a bench and massaged her sore calf muscles.

The news team would only be staying in Hinton for two days.

What it she couldn't find Austyn by then?

Had this been another false hope?

Kita scanned the busy hallway.

on a familiar figure. -

Her eyes came to rest on

Kira shot to her feet.

She had to rub her eyes to make sure she wasn't hallucinating,

The woman was real.

But Kira was soon puzzled.

What was she doing here?

The woman continued walking down the hallway,

on a whim, Kira decided to follow her at a distance.

The woman came out of the building and went to stand under a large elinter.

She was on the phone.

Kira couldn't hear either end of the conversation

She decided to wait for her to finish the phone call before approaching her.

But the woman kept talking for a long time.

Occasionally, Kira caught a smile on her face.

The way she smiled made Kira think that she was talking to either a boyfriend or a husband.

Kira tapped her foot and checked the time.

She had to get back to the hotel soon.

She almost jumped when her phone vibrated in her pants pocket.

The caller ID said Gideon.

Kira was tempted to let it go to voicemail,

But she knew Gideon would just call again

So she had to answer the call 'Hello."

'Kira, are you sleeping? No one's answering the doorbell."

'I'm not at home.!

'Then where are you?!

'I took an assignment out of town

There was a long moment of silence before Gideon spoke again. "Are you in Rinton?"

'How did you know?

'Kira!' Gideon raised his voice. 'Do you have any idea how dangerous it la over there?"

"What are

"The pandemic has taken two dozen tives. It'spreading beyond Rinton to other cities. People are trying to get out of the city. Why did you decide to go in there?"

"It's not as bad as you think. Don't believe everything you read online. A lot of it is fake news, you know. Which is why I had to come. We need to present the truth and quash those rumours. People are not running away. I see them going about their business as usual' Gideon was about to say something else, but Hira beat him toil

'I need to go now. Bye."

Klea hung up

Then she switched off her phone to prevent ideo from calling again, which she knew he was bound to do.

When she looked up again, the woman had disappeared.

Kira smacked a palin to her forehead.

Dut she soon caught sight of the woman again.

She was heading back into the building.

Kiratzailed her at a distance and saw her get into the lift.

de taking the stairs.

Kira remained in the lobby and waited for the lift to stop on the fifth floor before t

The woman was wearing a hospital gown.

She had to be a patient here.

Kita walked down the quiet hallway, searching from ward to ward,

Within two minutes, she glimpsed the familiar figure sitting on a bed.

The door was open.

Kira knocked once before entering

The woman looked up with a smile, which froze on her face when she realised it wasn't whom she was expecting.

'Miss Reyes.' Kira greeted Gwen with a polite nod.

Twenty minutes ago, Kira had been shocked to see a woman who looked so much like her.

It took her a while to recall Gwen's name,

Gwen gawled at Kira, open-mouthed. "What are you doing here?"

'Work trip, 'Kina said.

She took in the woman's pale face, which bene a striking resemblance to her own.

"We haven't seen each other for a long time. I thought you were in Curhiana."

Gwen said nothing.

Her mind was reeling.

It had been four years since they last saw each other.

After that kidnapping, Gwen was practically banished from Stamford by Gideon.

He didn't want her to appear in front of Kira,

Gwen took in the girl's appearance.

No, not a girl.

A Woman

Kira had matured.

The baby fat on her cheeks was gone.

Herlong ponytail was replaced by a bob cut

The college student's get-up of a simple white cotton t-shirt and jeans was replaced with a professional foolding suit. 'Miss Reyes? Gwen?"

Kira waved a band in front of Gwen

Owen blinked. "Kira?"

'Yes, it's me. I'm glad you still remember my name, Kira smiled pleasantly, 'What brings you to Rinton?"

Owen did not answer the question

Instead, she asked, "Why are you here?"

Um, like I said, werktrip."

Kira got the sense that Gen was not too thrilled to meet ber again.

"Miss Hewitt, what a nice surprise. We should have dinner and catch up. But I'm afraid I'm in the middle of something right now. So, if you don't mind..." Kina caught herdrift.

1 see. I won't take up any more of your time then.

"Good day." Gwen seemed eager to show her the door.

Kira Lurned around.

But then she paused.

"Miss Reyes, can I ask you something?"

What Owen gripped the edge of the blanken.

An Unikely run on

There's another reason I came to Rinton. I'm looking for someone."

"Who is it?" Owen looked downL

Austin McCarthy. You've met him before. Kira produced the photograph.

Gwen just glanced at it and said nothing.

"He went missing four years ago. I saw this photo of him yesterday. It was taken at this hospital. Hence this trip. Have you, by any chance, run into him?"