Under the porch of the Police Station Patrice Hathaway and Dorian Minks watch the raindrops patter upon the sidewalk of the Easttown streets.
"Dorian, I've always found it to be soothing: the rain."
"Yes, but only if I'm dry and the world outside is wet."
"But of course."
They laugh together, as they did in the asylum. Dorian catches sight of the glint of silver round Patrice's neck. On an impulse he lifts the chain and a locket slides out of Patrice's blouse: the metal is warm to his touch; Dorian's hand begins to tremble as he reads its inscription.
"'Amor Vincit Omnia'--love beats everything."
"Oh, well done, sir! Your Latin master would be proud. I prefer: love conquers all; take your pick."
Patrice takes the locket and drops it back inside her blouse. Dorian blushes and stammers.
"I-- I'm sorry, Ms. Hathaway. Please forgive my impertinence."
"It is of no account."
"...I like your translation the best."
"It is the only thing, don't you think, Dorian?"
"Ms. Hathaway?"
"Love, I mean."
"Yes, love is all."
Patrice murmurs.
"When thou be amongst people make love: the beginning and end of all things."
"Beautiful."
Patrice stretches upwards to chastely peck Dorian on his cheek; he turns his head and their noses touch, only allowing their lips to brush against each other. Patrice sinks down, beaming at the brass buttons on Dorian's uniform.
"
Delphine's, at eight o'clock?"
Dorian bows his assent. Patrice covers her head with today's edition of the Arkham Advertiser and runs out of the porch and into the rain. The rain has become a downpour of monsoon proportions, with the slate grey clouds rolling and tumbling. She shelters beneath a lintel just as a roar of thunder echoes down from the heavens and the rain turns into hard driven hail; the hail bounces several feet where it strikes the sidewalk.
Sunbeams break through and filter down over Easttown, the warmth melts the hail: the liquid wrath disappears into the gutter where it belongs. Arkham had been scoured, but is now clean, and a brand new day has begun. Patrice hums "My Blue Heaven."