Survival was my only hope, success my only revenge – PATRICIA CORNWELL

Harvard University, 2000

She'd finally done it. All her hard work and burning the midnight oil at both ends had paid off. It was her first day of college in the new millennium. Cat walked to her assigned dorm feeling vibrantly alive. For the first time in a long time, she'd felt that this was where she belonged. After the horrible accident of losing her parents in a landslide four years ago, she'd stopped feeling anything. But now she finally allowed herself to feel the first rays of hope.

Back home in Scarsdale, she'd had little to worry about and even little to challenge her intellect. Her innate intelligence and curiosity about everything had left her parents confused. But they had been the most loving and supporting parents in the world as they'd tried to keep up with their genius IQ daughter.

But when she was fourteen her life had turned into a nightmare and she barely remembered the many woozy months post the aftermath when she literally didn't know which way was up. She still remembered the night she had opened the door to her cozy white brick house to flashing red and blue lights. Her neighbor, who usually kept her company the nights her parents were gone, had dropped off to sleep. Cat had run to the door expecting her parents to have come back early. Till date, she only remembered the subdued tones of the cop telling her and Aunt Selene the news of the accident. The smell of strong mint cologne he'd been wearing and the hint of oncoming summer in the air still made her faint with sadness.

They'd been on their way back home.

To her.

But hadn't made it because of some freak landslide. That singular event had marked the beginning of the end for her.

After she'd thrown up and cried herself to sleep, Cat had awoken to find a social worker on her doorstep after a few hours. The Government employee had informed Cat that her Godfather and fathers' best friend, Jonas Black had been officially named her guardian in the absence of any near relatives. As per her parents' will, she was going to be living with him. Recalling the olive-skinned, light-eyed, well-built man only as a consummate bachelor and a salesman like her dad from her birthday parties, she'd been wary of him at first.

Her parents had discussed how Joe had taken up gambling and drowned himself in drinks after his wife's death. It had almost taken a toll on him. But after he took her in and they moved to San Francisco, he'd cleaned up his act and proceeded to raise her as his own. It had been a learning curve for both of them. He was set in his ways and she'd had to adjust to a strange town with unknown people. But their bond had been of consummate grief and pain, only a few understood after having lost their only family. It had been rocky at first. But now they were the best of friends and she could count on him for anything.

He had supported her in everything she'd wanted. He'd worked hard at his sales job and had offered to pay for her Ivy League college tuition which she had promptly refused. She'd had the money left over from her parents' life insurance and a nest egg they'd built for her college. They'd had a big argument about it as he had wanted her to save the money for a rainy day, but finally, Uncle Joe had relented.

"I'm so proud of you baby girl, your parents would have been too. Just look at how beautiful and smart you've become." They'd stopped outside the entrance to the Airport.

"Uncle Joe...I know. I miss them so," Tears pricked her eyes.

"I know baby. I do too," He hugged her and she felt the warm comfort of home in his oak and pine fragrance. "Now don't get all girly on me, you know I can handle anything but that," He sniffed and his tone was gruff, "Are you sure you don't need me to move in?"

"Yes, I'm sure and I'm sixteen now Uncle Joe, not ten. I'll be fine."

"I think Max would understand if I took a couple of days-"

"No Uncle Joe. It's fine. Don't worry about me. I know you've got an important work thing or you would be coming with me. Seriously, it's cool."

"Don't forget about the gift I gave you from your parents and me. If any guy gets wise, you have permission to use it," He chuckled.

"Yeah right. Though I think the college authorities would not be too pleased if I tasered a guy for hitting on me."

"I taught you to always take care of yourself, baby girl."

"Damn right, you did and I'm never going to forget. I'll keep up my martial arts training, don't worry too much about me, ok?"

"But it's my job to worry."

Cat rolled her eyes and said exasperatedly, "C'mon Uncle Joe."

"Ok, fine. I'm done arguing and call if you need anything. Now go before you miss your flight."

There had still been time for her flight and she didn't miss the suspicious moisture in his eyes as he turned away. So, she had given her Uncle Joe an extra-special, fierce last hug.

"Thanks, Uncle Joe... for everything. I'm gonna call you every week. Miss you already."

"You'd better. I'll miss you too, baby girl," He'd returned in a thick voice. "This is silly. Gonna be seeing you for the Holidays."

"Yes, we'll see each other soon," Uncle Joe had abruptly walked away. But not before she had noticed the slight tremble of his shoulders.