Installment #1
Meg
Meg watched Fred from the kitchen window as he crossed Banner road and headed back up the mountain. He walked with the air of a man who had just unburdened his soul, and indeed, he had.
She had gone to bed last night and awoken this morning to this long day. It had begun when she reached for the doggie door cover to let the dogs back in and ended when she found herself on a boulder and supported by Fred’s arms and Kevin on the phone.
It had been a long day. The lengthening shadows marked the end of the day and the beginning of the night. Could she possibly sleep tonight without her mind whirling through the day’s events? She turned from the window to Kevin, her son, setting at the table and watching her with a concerned look on his face.
“Are you all right, mom? You sure look tired.” He smiled and waved his cell phone before laying it on the table. “Greg sends his love. He is on his way and will be here in the morning. He wants Huevos for breakfast.”
“Oh, dear, is he driving? Alone?” Meg frowned.
“Oh, no! He is packing and will catch the plane at 2:30 AM and drive a rental car down from Denver. Said he should be here by about 7:00. Is the green chile thing do able?”
Meg laughed. “Anything is do able! And where Greg is concerned, it is always do able and I will be tickled to death to do it. Just let me dig some pork out of the freezer.” She turned and started for the garage where the freezer was located. She stopped with her hand in mid air suddenly afraid to open the door.
Kevin noticed the hesitation and hurried to her side. “It’s all right, mom! You have been through a terrible ordeal and you have every reason to be afraid. You just have to remember to be aware and watch for anything unusual. The garage door is closed and locked so you are safe. You can open the door.” Kevin stood beside the door while Meg rummaged in the freezer and retrieved a small package of diced pork. Then she stepped inside and firmly locked the door behind her. Her eyes met Kevin’s and she smiled tremulously.
“Well. There is one thing I do not understand about this whole mess. I was asleep the whole time. I did not even know I was in danger. I did not know anything until I woke up on the boulder with Fred holding me upright. Why am I so afraid?” She paused, put the pork in the refrigerator, and turned back to Kevin. “I bet part of it is the effects of that drug he gave me. I never was much good at taking anything like that. When is Jack going to fill us in on Marshall Purcell? Or is he?”
“Gee, mom, it has only been a few hours. Jack said this guy was a piece of work and that there is a lot of digging that needs to be done. He did say that he would try to get up here next week. He will call first. Hey, Fred looks pretty good all cleaned up. Shall I start worrying? He was looking at you kind of funny.”
Meg shrugged and turned back to the window. The shadows were lengthening and the cars were coming down the mountain and heading east toward the highway. They must have all the evidence they needed from Marshall Purcell’s cabin and tunnel. The detective who had debriefed Fred stood by the road waiting to be picked up and taken back to Denver. Meg suddenly felt a tiredness weigh on her shoulders like she had never known before. She turned to Kevin and spoke. “Honey, I am going to bed. I am so tired I can barely stand on these two feet. Oh, I will be so happy to see Greg. I am so glad you two found each other.” She stretched and yawned, kissed Kevin on top of the head and walked toward the hallway. The dogs fell in behind her and soon passed her on the stairs. As she heard their toe nails click on the bare floor she made a mental note to call the groomer and make an appointment. Mundane things to do. That was what she needed this night.
Meg
Meg watched Fred from the kitchen window as he crossed Banner road and headed back up the mountain. He walked with the air of a man who had just unburdened his soul, and indeed, he had.
She had gone to bed last night and awoken this morning to this long day. It had begun when she reached for the doggie door cover to let the dogs back in and ended when she found herself on a boulder and supported by Fred’s arms and Kevin on the phone.
It had been a long day. The lengthening shadows marked the end of the day and the beginning of the night. Could she possibly sleep tonight without her mind whirling through the day’s events? She turned from the window to Kevin, her son, setting at the table and watching her with a concerned look on his face.
“Are you all right, mom? You sure look tired.” He smiled and waved his cell phone before laying it on the table. “Greg sends his love. He is on his way and will be here in the morning. He wants Huevos for breakfast.”
“Oh, dear, is he driving? Alone?” Meg frowned.
“Oh, no! He is packing and will catch the plane at 2:30 AM and drive a rental car down from Denver. Said he should be here by about 7:00. Is the green chile thing do able?”
Meg laughed. “Anything is do able! And where Greg is concerned, it is always do able and I will be tickled to death to do it. Just let me dig some pork out of the freezer.” She turned and started for the garage where the freezer was located. She stopped with her hand in mid air suddenly afraid to open the door.
Kevin noticed the hesitation and hurried to her side. “It’s all right, mom! You have been through a terrible ordeal and you have every reason to be afraid. You just have to remember to be aware and watch for anything unusual. The garage door is closed and locked so you are safe. You can open the door.” Kevin stood beside the door while Meg rummaged in the freezer and retrieved a small package of diced pork. Then she stepped inside and firmly locked the door behind her. Her eyes met Kevin’s and she smiled tremulously.
“Well. There is one thing I do not understand about this whole mess. I was asleep the whole time. I did not even know I was in danger. I did not know anything until I woke up on the boulder with Fred holding me upright. Why am I so afraid?” She paused, put the pork in the refrigerator, and turned back to Kevin. “I bet part of it is the effects of that drug he gave me. I never was much good at taking anything like that. When is Jack going to fill us in on Marshall Purcell? Or is he?”
“Gee, mom, it has only been a few hours. Jack said this guy was a piece of work and that there is a lot of digging that needs to be done. He did say that he would try to get up here next week. He will call first. Hey, Fred looks pretty good all cleaned up. Shall I start worrying? He was looking at you kind of funny.”
Meg shrugged and turned back to the window. The shadows were lengthening and the cars were coming down the mountain and heading east toward the highway. They must have all the evidence they needed from Marshall Purcell’s cabin and tunnel. The detective who had debriefed Fred stood by the road waiting to be picked up and taken back to Denver. Meg suddenly felt a tiredness weigh on her shoulders like she had never known before. She turned to Kevin and spoke. “Honey, I am going to bed. I am so tired I can barely stand on these two feet. Oh, I will be so happy to see Greg. I am so glad you two found each other.” She stretched and yawned, kissed Kevin on top of the head and walked toward the hallway. The dogs fell in behind her and soon passed her on the stairs. As she heard their toe nails click on the bare floor she made a mental note to call the groomer and make an appointment. Mundane things to do. That was what she needed this night.
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