His reflection overlapped the stylish dress on the mannequin on the other side of the storefront window. “Beautiful,” he thought, and then gazed over to the other items on the elegant display. Window shopping on Michigan Avenue, Chicago’s Magnificent Mile, was always a special treat for Bill Henry. No one knew him here. He could let down his guard a little bit. He was free to shop, and dream. He walked into the store and on impulse bought the dress. “A graduation present,” he flushed to the clerk.

“Doctor” Henry. He still couldn’t believe the years of research and study were over- years of class work, field work, papers, presentations, dissertations, and being on someone else’s schedule. At thirty years old, it was hard to believe that his life was now his own.

Henry walked out of the store, bag in hand. He leisurely strolled down Michigan Avenue, appreciating the window displays, and the variety of people hurrying along on the busy street. It all seemed so alive, so real, such a far cry from the stodgy world of higher education in Boston.

He decided to head back to his room at The Drake. He was looking forward to dressing up, and then ordering room service for a nice dinner in the privacy of his own room. He had never dared to dress up in public.

Daydreaming, he did not see them coming. He didn’t notice the black Ford Crown Victoria that slowly cruised past him and stopped at the curb a short distance ahead...