Chapter 28-29 Summary

Paul Giacomin returns to Boston for Christmas with his girlfriend Paige. The three of them eat dinner and drink wine, and once Paige goes to sleep, Spenser and Paul discuss Susan. Paul reiterates that Spenser's standards for himself are unrealistically high, that he could date another woman or demand more from Susan, but Spenser stands firm. He knows that something has to change in order for his relationship with Susan to function.

Early the next morning, Spenser wakes up and decides to go for a run. He brings along a small gun in case Joe Broz decides to have him killed. While he runs, Spenser comes to a sort of realization that he can love Susan deeply and settle for being second to her work. Just then, Spenser sees two of Broz's men standing next to the footpath pointing guns at...