_{[Which part is the delusion? Not believing he's dead on a more permanent basis like Winters? Hoping he's alive? Not wanting him to be dead?]}

I know.

_{[Two words that betray the conflict between realistic expectations and that hope. He could very well be dead, or just plain gone, like so many already. But this one... This one M.K. is more reluctant to add to that list.]}

Either way, I want to be sure. If that were the case, wouldn't that girl have mentioned it in one of her bulletins by now?