EXCERPT ‘Did you enjoy seeing the ghost town, Ashkan?’ Karen asked, setting a piece of chocolate mousse cake in front of me on the wooden table tagged Smith & Hawken. ‘Yes.’ It was a half-truth. I stared at the mountain range in the distance, trying to focus my eyes as she poured coffee into my oversized terracotta cup from a stainless steel carafe, then into the other two cups on the table. Her feet made no noise on the flagstone as she headed back toward the patio doors leading to the kitchen. I was alone again…