Chapter Seventeen

The sunshine cuts through Penny’s closed eyes like a knife slicing through a piece of cheese. She rolls onto the side where sunshine rays warm her back. With that simple turn, her head rattles, and her stomach puckers. Penny obviously had one too many drinks of whiskey last night but who could blame the poor woman after seeing her estranged son.

Another low rumble grows in her stomach while a jab of pain reverberates at the top of her body. Just like a knife. 

Nothing that a Bloody Mary couldn’t fix with a batch of fried eggs and bacon. But first, she needed more rest. With the sun rising, Penny fell back into a restless fit of sleep. 

Lewis felt strange that day at school. He couldn’t put his finger directly on the emotion but something just felt...off.

Maybe it was due to the night before. Mom and Penny were acting very strange. They regularly ordered pizza on a weekday but there was additional tension present with the meal. For starters, Penny was drinking way more than usual. And that’s saying something because Lewis’ grandma drank on the daily. 

He acts “dumb” but Lewis listens to everything. Penny enjoys a shot or two with her afternoon tea just before everyone returns home from work. And yes, she has an additional cocktail at night with dinner. All normal, except for the large flask that she didn’t even bother to hide while walking into her bedroom last night. 

Lewis is accustomed to his family drinking alcohol, but this excess drinking felt almost charged.

Denis was calm about him playing hooky earlier that day but even after entering his bedroom, it felt claustrophobic. Like an unwelcome guest had entered his space. The Home had a different level of energy. He truly believed that old homes held a history so dark and unspeakable that only the few could recognize. Lewis was one who acknowledged that energy and often reflected it in his drawings. It’s not like he tried to display the darkness lurking in the shadows but still, it was evident through his drawings and even more prevalent in the nightmares.  

This thought makes him sick while sitting in English and he tries to shake the feeling. He knew there was one person who could always make him feel better. This one person who he could confide in, even after fighting.

Lewis pulled out his ancient cell phone and sent a text to his childhood friend, Mckenna. “Sorry about yesterday...I shouldn’t have blown you off. Forgive me?” 

He sends the message, trying to ignore the energy that envelopes him.

Penny eventually rolls out of bed in the afternoon. The headache was subsiding but the growl deep within her stomach made it nearly impossible to sleep any longer. She had to eat some food and guzzle down a gallon of water, swearing to never drink again. 

The kitchen feels cozy with the sunlight pouring in which instantly brightens her mood. Instead of reaching for the coffee pot, she walks to the liquor cabinet and pulls out the half-empty bottle of vodka. The slosh of the liquid matching her empty stomach. “Nothing like having the hair of the dog who bites me to take the edge off. Just one Bloody Mary should do the trick,” she says to The Home. 

While shaking the vodka, tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, and ice inside the tumbler, she places a pan on the stove to cook some bacon. “A BLT would pair well with this drink, wouldn’t you say?” Penny has never lost her mind but chooses to speak with the presence within the home instead of ignoring it. 

“Now, I have a stash of bacon hidden somewhere within this fridge,” she peers to the very back with nearly half her body inside the fridge. Living with boys her entire life, she has learned the secret to keeping some food hidden otherwise she ends up hungry and broke. 

With her backside fully exposed to the kitchen and her mind focused on rediscovering the hidden bacon, she doesn’t notice the sun fading away behind the shadow that slowly creeps up from behind. Never harmful but always leering, waiting till a distraction catches the attention of a house occupant. The temperature drops suddenly as if the freezer door had just been opened. The house grows silent, not even a hum from the refrigerator can be heard. And Penny has her head stuck so far inside, that she won’t feel the icy slithering of a foreign touch until it’s too late.

She was cornered and never even realized it. 

The Shadow is always waiting in the dark for just the right moment. Happiness, joy, and love usually kept it at bay but yesterday, the estranged son had broken that spell. It had been far too long since it had been fed and now it was starving.

The landline suddenly rings and Penny bashes her head against the bottom shelf in response. The shadow slinks back into the corner as Penny yells four-letter expletives, “I mean come on! Who even calls the landline nowadays?” 

Rubbing the back of her head and smoothing out the rumpled muumuu, she answers the phone. “Hello?” No response from the other end. “Hello, who is this?” But still, the line remains silent and she slams it back down onto the receiver. “Damn scammers and their greed, now I lost my hunting spot for my hidden bacon.”

Little did she know that the caller was no scammer but rather a guardian angel. Light and dark share the same space, always fighting for attention. One will out win the other, for now. 

Chapter Sixteen: Close to Home

Back at the Gold Springs County Medical Center, the autopsy of the murdered victim is well underway. Since Edmund is the primary officer on the case, he sits and tries to wait patiently in the coroner’s office for the final report. 

His phone buzzes and he checks the screen. A text from Denis.

Edmund’s fingers hover above the keyboard when the office door opens. Dick was leading the way, while Megan trailed behind. They both wore clean, white robes, indicating the completion of the examination. 

“Well?” Edmund asks while returning the cell phone to his pant pocket.

Dick sits behind the large oak desk which is bare besides the manila envelope he places on top. The office itself is rather boring, with the beige walls vacant of any wall hangings. Only a certificate is framed and placed in the center of the wall behind the office chair. The whole ambiance is depressing and morbid, which seems only appropriate due to its grave purpose.

Megan sits beside Edmund in the vacant chair, still clutching the notepad to her chest. As if this alone could protect her from the harsh and cruel world. If only the victim had a trusty notebook, but then again, no thickness of paper could ward off one’s true destiny.

Dick straightens his back and opens the folder. Edmund braces himself for the worse. “As we figured, the victim passed away due to a stab wound. Upon further investigation, the object, which we conclude is a knife, went straight through the heart. She was killed instantly and calculated the time of death anywhere from 10 pm till 12 am on the night of the eighth. Also, based on the pictures taken at the crime scene, we suggest searching for another location where the stabbing happened. No other wounds nor bruising, besides the stabbing, was discovered upon inspection.” 

A long pause as Dick closes the folder and places his interlaced hands on top. Megan visibly stiffens in her seat. “The victim is a young teenage girl who ranges in age from 15 to 17. She is 110 pounds, 5’ 2” who has,” he has to clear his throat and Edmund notices Dick’s eyes glisten. “Excuse me, had blonde hair and blue eyes. The clothing she wore was a pair of blue jeans, a white t-shirt, and a pair of glasses. The pockets were vacant and no other bag was found near the scene. At this time,” Dick takes a deep breath, “we are unable to identify the body. We completed fingerprints to run through the database. Since she is most likely a minor, the body has only been cleaned and placed inside the morgue until we contact the next of kin.”

Edmund knew it was going to be sad but wasn’t fully expecting this. Lewis was around the same age. He tried not to think about his only son laying inside a refrigerated cell with no way of knowing what happened. His heart rate spiked, so he grabbed the armchair sides and planted his feet firmly to the ground, hoping to look composed. 

“What kind of knife was used to kill her?” Edmund asked.

“From the research, it was most likely a chef’s knife commonly found in kitchen households,” Megan finally speaks up and Dick remains stoic. 

Edmund nods his head and thinks, so the investigation of a murdered teenage girl begins.  He has more questions but can’t bring himself to ask them because this oddly feels all too familiar and all too close to home. 

Chapter Fifteen: Busy-Body Coworker

Denis works in a haze all morning long. She’s not sure if the brain fog is from a lack of restful sleep, too much caffeine, or nerves going frayed with the news of death. She agrees that it’s a mixture of everything and opts for less caffeine and more water.
	Even with the news of a dead body, the day continues as if everything is normal. Patrons explore the bookshelves; picking and choosing which book to devour next. The other co-workers scold the younger crowd when they become too rambunctious with a loud “SHHHH.” And they also help the elderly crowd to navigate the computer with patience and a tinge of annoyance. 
Without meaning to, Denis eavesdrops a little bit more than usual. Her ears strained to hear the words and conversations shared amongst one another. It’s a small town, so surely someone heard something. When anything worth mentioning happens in Gold Springs, the news travels faster than summer wildfires that plague the Rocky Mountains. Alas, she hears nothing besides the usual gossip about dating, unplanned pregnancies, and sickness. That is until her coworker, Pam arrives at work.
       This busy-body coworker is a mom of four young girls who works part-time at the library and is the secretary of the PTA. On the nights she wasn’t carpooling the young ones around town, she was most likely playing BINGO at the community center or power walking the neighborhood. Thick, curly brown hair sculpts her overly made-up face. The 1980s might have passed but Pam refused to give up the colorful eyeshadow, bold lipstick, and bright pink blush that she wore daily. And gum, she was always chewing on a piece. Usually, spearmint as that was her favorite. 
       Before Pam can place the overwhelming amount of belongings onto the counter, she begins, “Denis! Did you hear?”
	She could always rely on Pam to have the latest and juiciest tidbit of town news. “What?”
       “There was a dead body discovered at the river this morning! I heard it was a horrific scene and that the jogger who found it nearly fainted from the sight,” by now Pam had everything laid onto the counter, chewing her gum like a cow regurgitating cud. 
       “Are you serious? This is the first that I am hearing about it,” Denis asks with good-humored horror.
       “Yeah and get this. The victim was stabbed right through the heart,” Pam says.
       Denis no longer had to put on an act. This was rather shocking and she felt the familiar pit of despair return. “Really? How do you know this?”
       “Heard from my trainer this morning at the gym,” Pam says nonchalantly while settling into the day. That’s odd, the call to Edmund had come in at 5 am. “Hmm, yeah that’s crazy.”
      “And not to mention, scary!” Pam raises her eyebrows for an extra dramatic effect. 
       Denis wants to pry. To find out all of the details that her gossipy coworker knows. She doesn’t need the gruesome facts but rather the overlooked details. The evidence needs to be picked out using a fine-tooth comb that only a few elites know. But Denis had to be tactful because if Pam was willing to talk with her, that means this noisy civilian was willing to share anything with anyone. Especially if the information came from a cop’s wife. 
       A few moments later, Pam’s purse was locked away and she was chomping on a fresh piece of spearmint gum while logging into the computer. 
       “So what else did your trainer say?” Denis asks.
       Pam shrugs her shoulders, “‘nothing much. It’s not like she’s married to a cop or anything.” At this comment, Pam looked directly at Denis and raised her right eyebrow in a sly gesture.
       Nothing new here. Denis was used to this. As if she knew all of the secrets. This was not the case, Edmund kept his confidence about every case like a gambler who was holding the winning hand. “Ha! Yes, Pam, I am married to a cop but I haven’t seen my husband since last night. Also, another reality of being a law enforcement’s wife is the super late nights which leads to limited time together. And trust me, we’re not spending that time talking about his job,” she winks at Pam in hopes of her busy-body coworker stopping the interrogation.
Pam giggles in response. 
       “I am going to the cart, it’s overflowing from yesterday. Holler if the front desk becomes busy,” Denis says while grabbing her cell phone from the purse.
       Before re-shelving the book cart, she sends a short text to Edmund. Thinking of you, hope your day is going well. 

Chapter Fourteen: 1995 - Early Release

The year is 1995 in the Colorado mountain town of Gold Springs. Peering into the local elementary school, Penny is teaching just a regular math lesson. She’s shocked to see that every single student is so enthralled with the new concept, especially with such a thrilling topic of long division.
	Most of the morning was teaching the actual concept but the flash of recognition slowly but surely showed in each student’s eyes. The engagement from everyone was not only outstanding but also a rarity.
	Until an unexpected guest walked into the classroom.
	“Oh, Principle Higgins how nice of you to join us! We were just learning about…”
	“Mrs. Terrell, I need to chat with you in the hallway,” Principle Higgins interrupts. 
	Her chest constricts with the thought of every worst-case scenario. “Of course, class please complete the test problems listed in the textbook. This is an independent project, so no talking amongst yourselves. I will be standing right outside the door, so trust me I’ll hear it.”
	By the time she finished providing instruction, Principle Higgins was already standing out in the hallway, waiting patiently.
	Penny searched his face for any sign of distress but only saw his kind blue eyes staring back at her. The constraint in her chest tightened with each step and her mind went racing:
	Was either Clyde or Edmund sick?
	Did one of my student’s parents complain about me? Reggie has been a little prick lately.
	Am I fired?
	Was Randal okay or did that old mine finally collapse?
	“Sorry for the interruption, first off your family is fine.”
	Without realizing it, Penny places a hand over her chest and letting out a breath that she didn’t even realize was being held. 
	“But we are letting students leave early today at 1 pm,” Principle Higgins says. 
	“Oh,” was the only word Penny was able to utter. Relief and confusion flushing her system.
	“Yes, well I am making my rounds to each teacher telling them one by one. I suggest finishing the lesson in the next ten minutes and letting the students know about an early release today.”
	“What if they ask questions?”
Principle Higgins clears his throat, “just say that we are having an early start to the weekend.”
“And what if the parents ask?”
	“The secretary is calling each parent as we speak,” he says.
“Okay,” Penny says. “So what happened?”
	A long pause, “I can’t say anything at this moment but it doesn’t concern you nor your family. Just enjoy the long weekend with your loved ones.” He turns around to leave but a brief second later, he turns back around to say, “give your boys extra love and attention tonight.” And he finally walks away to make the same announcement to the teacher next door.
Without warning, a shiver runs throughout Penny’s entire body. She’s not sure what has happened but plans to do exactly as instructed.

One hour later, Penny is driving the minivan home with Edward and Clyde strapped into the backseat. 
     “Mommy, what are we going to do this weekend?” Edmund asks.
     “Hmm?” Penny responds.
     “Well, it’s supposed to be a long weekend so I thought you might have something fun planned for us?”
      Penny was taken aback by the question. She always knew that her boys were smart but she wasn’t expecting them to be that smart. Should she lie? Or tell them the truth that something horrible may or may not have happened. Considering she didn’t know anything besides the unwelcomed chill that shivered throughout her body, she opted for a lie. “Of course, sweetie. We plan to go for a picnic tonight. How does that sound?”
     “We’re having a picnic for dinner?” Clyde asks innocently.
     “Why, yes we are. I plan to pack sandwiches, chips, and root beer. Sound good?”
      No immediate response, only silence fills the van.
     “Mommy,” Clyde asks.
     “Yes, dear?”
     “Will the monster be gone by the time we go back to school?”
      Penny glances into the rearview mirror to see her youngest starring out the window.
      No trace of emotion on his youthful face. 
     “A monster? Where did you hear that?”
     “Billy. He says that the school was over for the day because of the monster.” 
     “Monsters are not real, idiot,” Edmund says.
     “Excuse me, mister, we do not call each other mean names,” Penny scolds. She 
watches her eldest son roll his eyes but chose to ignore it. The mention of an imaginary creature now has her attention. “No honey, the school did not close early because of a monster. Remember those are all made up. Nothing to fear. Let’s think of a movie to watch later tonight, how does that sound?” Movies were a treat in the Terrell household so she was expecting a celebration erupting from the backseat. Instead, only silence remained.
	“I heard the monster did a very bad thing and that the kids were no longer safe at school,” Clyde says barely above a whisper. 
	“What was that, love?” Penny asks.
	But the two young boys continue to stare out the window for the remainder of the car ride. 
	Penny was expecting to see Randal’s truck parked in the driveway but found it empty once she pulled up to the house. “Hmm, I wonder where daddy is at. It’s his first day off from work,” she says to no one in particular. Looks like she will be entertaining the boys for the remainder of the day. Maybe she’ll slip a little whiskey in a flask. Heaven knows, she will need the extra something to finish out the day.

The picnic at the park was pleasant enough. The boys were well behaved and there was no more talk about monsters. Not to mention the flask full of whiskey took the edge off from the weird Friday they were experiencing. 
             After munching on ham sandwiches and BBQ chips, the boys chose to play tag. Penny doubted that she could run fast enough to catch the young hooligans but after a few minutes, she found that this tag game was rather fun! They ran around the park looking like a pack of lunatics, laughing the whole time. Only once did Penny wish that Randal was there, chasing after their sons. However, she reminded herself that he was working hard to provide for the family. 
           Once everyone was rightfully exhausted, they loaded up the minivan and headed home, agreeing to watch The Sword and the Stone tonight. 
           “Will daddy be home tonight to watch it with us?” Clyde asks.
           “I am not sure honey but we’ll make sure to pop extra popcorn just in case,” she winks at
her boys through the rearview mirror. 
	But once again as they pull up to the home, the driveway remains empty. Annoyance, concern, and a little anxiety fill Penny. And so they carry on.
	
The movie is over, the bowl of popcorn is fully eaten and the boys have been tucked tightly into bed but still no sign of Randal. As the stillness of the house settles further around Penny, she feels the overwhelming loneliness envelope her. 
       Today was a weird day. She still has no clue why the school was released early but the look on Principle Higgins’ face still haunts her. Something serious happened and she wished now more than ever that her loving husband was home to provide comfort.
       As if she was conjuring him, Penny hears the familiar rumble of the Ford truck.
Randal was finally home at midnight, twelve hours later than Penny was expecting him.

Chapter Thirteen: Sneaky Snake

The coroner arrived as dawn was breaking. By now, there was a small group of curious pedestrians rubbernecking -- knowing they should look away but were unable to do so. Edmund could never understand why a regular civilian was so fascinated by the horrific manner of a crime - especially murder.
	Edmund recognized one of the onlookers as the local newspaper reporter, Harry Jenkins. He was a short, squatty man with a receding hairline, a deceiving smile, and bright hazel eyes. Harry and Edmund graduated high school the same year and chose to stay in their hometown. They were never friends nor enemies but more like acquaintances. Edmund believes the media has an unspoken vindictive against law enforcement, they love to twist the facts and spin it into a juicy story just so they can sell more copies. 
He saw an opportunity and approached the crowd wrangled behind the crime scene tape. “Good morning Jenkins,” Edmund says.
	“Terrell,” Harry says in response. “What’s happening over there?”
	Right to the point, Edmund can see why he likes this man but also despise him at the same time. He gets to the point but is ultimately a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing. There are a few ways he could answer this question, he had to be smart. “Nothing to report at this time. What are you doing here?”
	That’s right, turn the questioning back onto him. 
	Harry smiles, revealing yellowed teeth and crow’s feet creases near his eyes. “I was out taking my morning stroll.”
	“Yeah, looks like you dressed perfectly for it,” Edmund checks Harry out from bottom to top. The sneaky snake was wearing starched blue jeans, a clean button-down, and a light brown sports jacket. “Light walking attire, I wear something similar for my daily walks as well.”
	Harry’s smile never falters, “I must head right into the office so figured it was easiest to get dressed for the day and walk to work.”
	So commences the tango of averting the truth with each question.
	Edmund nods gesturing Harry to follow him towards the outskirts of the crowd. These hungry attention seekers can be total leeches with information. Harry catches onto Edmund’s cue and walks to the edge of the tape. 
	“Come on Harry, how’d you hear about this?” Edmund asks once he’s sure that no one else is paying attention.
	Harry looks around and shrugs, “it’s a small town. News travels quickly.”
	“And what news did you hear exactly?”
	“That a body was found at the banks of the river.”
	“Did they mention if the body was dead or alive?”
	Harry shifts uncomfortably, in a hushed tone he says. “Dead.”
	Edmund was expecting this response, after all, Harry was right. Gold Springs is a small town where everyone likes to spread gossip about what they heard. Eventually, that so-called harmless chatter turns to poison that can butcher anyone’s reputation and in some cases, ruin someone’s life. The Terrell’s are all too familiar with this toxic poison.
	“So who told you this?”
	That deceiving smile full of yellowed teeth returns, “come on Terrell. I can’t reveal my sources. You of all people should know that.”
	Before Edmund can reply, a yell comes from behind him. “Officer Terrell, we need you.”
	“Duty calls. Harry enjoy your morning stroll,” Edmund says while turning away.
	“I heard she was stabbed straight through the heart.”
	The blood in Edmund’s veins freezes as if he was about to meet the Maker himself. No one knew that information. The coroner had just arrived at the scene. Of course, at first glance of the victim, anyone could see the pooling blood near the chest. But how would a civilian know the actual death was caused by a stab to the heart? Unless that source was the one who witnessed it or even worse, committed the crime. 
With a turn on his heels, Edmund was once again facing the local news reporter. “That’s a very specific detail, who told you that?”
	“So it’s true. The stab to the heart killed her?”
       “I cannot release that information.”
       “That’s a yes then?”
       This conversation was getting out of control. As usual, the media was being manipulative to gather any type of information. If Edmund didn’t choose his next words wisely, the whole crime scene would be printed on the front page before the victim’s body fully cooled. Sometimes, body language was more impactful than words. Edmund straightened his posture, shoulders back and strong, strategically placing his hands on the belt. One hand rested on the butt of the gun, while the other one rested near the taser. Never planning to use them, of course. It’s not a power trip for an officer but based on Harry’s previous comment, Edmund could be facing a killer. 
       Leaning closer so that only Harry could hear, Edmund whispers, “the comment about the stabbing is a very specific detail. In fact, not too many this early in the case would know that. Unless…” he pauses to look at Harry directly, “you either witnessed or committed the crime.”
       The smug look from Mr. Jenkins evaporated just like the morning dew.  
       “Obviously you know more information than you’re leading on to. So I’m going to make a suggestion. Either keep this information to yourself, meaning you do not report this in the newspaper. Or post it for the whole town to see and I will pick you up for questioning.”
       Harry opens his mouth to respond but quickly closes it once again.
       “Be smart, Jenkins. And when you’re ready to share more about your findings, well you know where to find me.” Flashing a wicked grin, Edmund says, “now have a lovely day.” And for the first time, Harry had nothing to say in response.
  

“Did you hear anything interesting?” the Sargent asked while Edmund walked towards him.
	“Possibly,” was the only response Edmund provided.
	The older gentleman leaning over the dead body was the county coroner, Dick and the young lady standing nearby was the medical examiner, Megan. By the looks of the scene, Megan was more like the observer compared to the actual examiner. Dick was the one who was touching, probing, and examining the young victim lying dead on the ground. There was another man who was walking around, photographing every angle possible of the crime scene. Edmund did observe Megan writing notes within a legal pad, whether documenting Dick’s or her observations, he did not know. What he did know was that the old man was mumbling nonsense to himself.
        Both law enforcement officers stood back with their arms crossed and mouths closed. After some time, the older gentleman joins his comrade. They both converse in whispers as if to compare notes. At last, they nod in unison and face the officers.
       “Well?” The Sargent asks rather impatiently.
       “We can confirm that the cause of death was due to the impact near the chest cavity,” Megan stated matter of factly.
       “No shit,” The Sargent says.
       “But what was the weapon?” Edmund asks to take the attention away from his impatient leader.
       “Well we will not know for certain till we conduct a proper autopsy, but we’re thinking it was conducted by stabbing,” Megan says.
       “By what?” says Edmund.
       “We can’t say for certain just yet,” Megan responds.
        Now Edmund grows increasingly impatient, “was the weapon a knife?”
	“Yes, it was.” Dick says tersely. “If you don’t mind gentleman, we’d like to take the body to my office to conduct a deeper investigation. Now excuse me.” And in his departure, Megan trails behind with the notebook clutched to her chest. 

Chapter Twelve: A Crime Scene

A deafening ring awakens the sleeping couple. Denis sits up in a panic, thinking that a fire alarm was set off. She checks the time, 4:52 am. Just a few minutes before the first alarm. She should feel rested but instead feels rudely awaken from a dead sleep. 
	Edmund is already standing up with his work cell phone in hand. “Okay, slow down Sargent, what did the runner discover?”
	Denis did not like the sound of that. Nothing good ever came from the hours of midnight till dawn, she would know. Being married to a cop only reveals the true wickedness of the world. By now, Edmund is pacing back and forth across the room, with his head tilted down and the phone glued to his ear. This sounded serious but Denis could do nothing except wait until the call ended. She sunk deeper under the covers, not allowing her imagination to run amuck.
	“Yeah, of course. It has been some time but once I am on scene, it should become familiar again. Do you have an extra forensics pack?”
	Oh no. Something terrible did happen. Was there a terrible accident on the highway? What if a short-fused partner finally snapped which resulted in domestic violence? Worse yet, what if someone died? A pit the size of last night’s pizza grows deep inside her loins. No matter how long Edmund has been a police officer, it never becomes easy to hear about the death of someone. Even if they are a complete stranger, it still eats away at her fragile heart. Maybe it’s due to the way Edmund reacts. The nonchalant of the storytelling seems very emotionless. But then again, maybe it takes a total disconnect to deal with death on a regular basis. 
	“Okay, that’s fine. I’ll stop by the department before I head over. Let me take a quick shower and I’ll be out the door in fifteen minutes. Besides you, me, and the witness, no one should be near the body nor the scene. We know how the last case ended.”
	This confirmed Denise’s fear and she knew that today was going to be a dreary one. 
	The bedside clock rang its familiar alarm preciously at 5:00 am. That dead slumber faded like a dream as she switched it off. By now Edmund was off the phone and into full cop mode. Serious face, rigid posture, and set on a mission - get ready for the day and leave quickly. 
	“I’ll brew some coffee and pack your lunch with extra snacks. Sounds like you have a long day ahead.”
	“Thanks, babe,” Edmund says while getting undressed. “Will you also pack me an extra pair of clothes?”
	“Yes, my love.” Extra clothing was never a good sign.

Just as he promised, Edmund was out the door by 5:13 am with a fresh pair of clothing, a lunchbox full of food, and the largest thermos of coffee. 
	He pecked a kiss on Denis’ lips and walked out the front door. The morning air welcomed him with a dew-covered patrol car. The sun was still sleeping and the moon was nowhere in sight as he headed towards the department. By 5:40 am, he was pulling up to the crime scene. 
	All was surprisingly calm when he parked the car. Spotlights shined down the banks of the river illuminating a single spot. The babbling of the brook grew louder with each step he took while heading towards the scene. 
	Just on the outskirts of the lamps, the Sargent was talking to a middle-aged woman who was wearing workout attire and a headlamp. She was as pale as a ghost and Edmund immediately knew this was the reporting party. 
	As Edmund approached he heard the lady say, “then I saw something shiny and that’s when I looked down by the river and saw...I saw…” her voice quivered until she finally broke down into sobs. 
      Both officers were trained on how to intervene when someone faced a crisis. So with a calm voice, Edmund said, “that’s okay. You don’t need to say anything more until you’re ready. How about you take a seat and drink some water. Take your time and just breathe for a minute.” Once they had her situated, they stepped back to provide her space. 
     “So she was the one who discovered the body?” Edmund asks once they’re out of earshot. 
     “Yeah, she was warming up before the run, that’s when her headlamp reflected off the victim’s glasses and discovered the body.”
     “Okay, let’s take a look ourselves,” Edmund asks while they walk towards the river. The heat from the spotlights cut the chill as they peer over the edge together. Laying flat on the bank of the river was a young, petite brunette girl. Her hair fanned out from around the pretty face and the wired-rimmed glasses sat neatly perched upon her nose. 
     “She looks as if she’s all ready to be put to rest,” the Sargent whispers. 
      Her legs set out straight as a rod, with seemingly clean clothes. Not an ounce of dirt nor grim covered her clothes. The only stain crept over the white t-shirt, dead center of the chest. Her hands were placed reverently over her bosom as if to discreetly cover the bright red pool of blood. Her eyes were closed and there was nothing too horrible about the scene beside the finality of a young life. 
     Edmund didn’t want to admit it but the whole scene felt rather peaceful. This thought alone sent a chill straight up his spine. Murder looks horrific but this one was different and felt oddly familiar.
    “Right, so when will the coroner arrive?” Edmund asks without removing his eyes from the corpse. 
    “Soon, he was the first call I made. In fact, I thought he’d beat you to the scene but looks like you made it here first.”
    “Well in the meantime let’s close off the sidewalk. I have a feeling this jogger is not the only earlier riser.” And with that, they leave the body where it lays not knowing the darkness that will soon envelop the small Colorado mountain town. 

Chapter Eleven: Love at First Sight

The chilly night air wisps through Denis’ hair while reading her novel on the front porch. By this time of night, everyone has settled into their designated rooms preparing to sleep. 
     Lewis sits on the messy bed with the doodle pad stationed between his lap. He should be studying but has an itch to draw instead, so he chooses to satisfy that itch.
     Penny had a long and emotionally draining day. After having a couple of whiskeys that afternoon, she was peacefully snoring into the night. 
     The Home stood proudly for everyone to see. It was dark outside and the streets remained quiet but The Home buzzed with the night energy.
     Denis always made the habit of sitting on the front porch, patiently waiting for her beloved to return from work. This was her favorite time of day. It was just her, a good book and the outdoor air allowing her to surrender the day, reassuring that tomorrow would be a fresh start. For now, she would enjoy the emptiness of the air and darkening sky speckled with bright stars. The dew filters through her nostrils while inhailing deeply. She turns the page and a beam of headlights temporarily blinds her while the patrol car pulls into the driveway. 
     Edmund shouts, “Hey good looking! Have you seen my wife?”
     “Oh, you have a wife? I haven’t seen such a person. Are you looking for a good time, officer?” Denis asks teasingly while wrapping her arms around the handsome uniformed man standing in front of her. With one swift movement, he pulls Denis into a loving embrace and kisses her passionately. Excited, relieved, and overall happy to be reunited once again.
     “What’s for dinner?” Edmund asks while releasing her. 
     “Your favorite, pepperoni pizza,” Denis replies.
     “Bummer. I was kinda hoping for a pot roast, would’ve been perfect for tonight.”
     Denis teasingly punches his gut, “well excuse me but I was called away from work which means my whole evening was canceled. And grocery shopping just so happened to be on my to-do list.”
     “I tease you, my love. Thank you for comforting mom on short notice. Now lead me to the home-cooked meal that awaits me.”

     Once the pizza was eaten, the dishwasher was started and lights were all turned off, they walked upstairs to sleep away the day. 
     Denis and Edmund always had a teasing relationship from the start. They met one another through mutual friends at a downtown Denver bar. Denis’s roommate, at the time, wanted to go and have a few drinks. Even though she was reluctant to join, she will agree that it was the best decision of her life. Once at the bar, her roommate, Rachel, was drinking, flirting, and having a grand time when she suddenly ran across the restaurant and wrapped her arms around a man. Bewildered by this behavior, Denis trailed behind her intoxicated friend to a table packed full of guys. Rachel was giggling and pushing her way into the conversation, like literally pushing herself onto the booth to make room for her petite body. Incidentally, there wasn’t enough room for everyone, and the last man on the end was booted and stumbled directly into Denis while she approached. Edmund and Denis locked eyes and as the saying goes, it truly was love at first sight. He was there drinking with some buddies from the police academy and Denis was babysitting her roommate. They separated from the group of friends and sat alone at a different table. By the end of the night, they both knew they could not live another day without the other person. 
      It’s been fifteen years since that beautiful night and they still are madly in love. Yes, their marriage has ebbed and flowed over the years but they found that humor and love always brought them back together.
     They now lay in each other’s arms while in bed, talking about their day. 
     “Yeah, I saw BillBo again today. And guess what?” Edmund asks.
     “He was drunk?” Denis responds. 
     “Well yeah, that but he also spat on me.”
     “What the,” a long pause from Denis then asks, “please tell me you showered at the end of your shift? I am not really in the mood to share bodily fluids with your best buddy, BillBo.”
     A laugh escapes from Edmund. “Yes dear, I know you all too well. You should just be glad that it was only spitting. He almost threw up on me.”
     “Gross! I could never do your job.”
      A pause.
     “So was that before or after you found Clyde at home?” Denis asks timidly, not fully ready to breach the subject but knew it needed to happen.
     Another uncomfortable pause.
     “It was after I dropped BillBo off at the drunk tank. I headed directly back to the station to write up the report but chose to come home instead for lunch. Probably best that I listened to my stomach at that very moment.”
     “So what exactly happened?”
     “I am not sure. When I pulled up to the house, I saw a dark figure standing in the doorway and mom standing in the hallway. At the time, I thought it was some neighbor saying hello or something but then I heard the yelling. I only realized it was Clyde once I fully exited my vehicle. That’s also the time when I saw mom with the shotgun.”
     “Would she have shot him?”
     “Can’t say for sure but I do know that it was about to escalate rather quickly.”
      They both lay in silence knowing full well that their whole family could’ve been front-page news. Denis shivers at the thought. Neither of them likes being in the spotlight, especially when the story is centered around the family.
      “You should’ve seen his face. He looked like a wound caged animal. Like he would attack but also escape if he had the moment. It was kinda…”
     “Heartbreaking?” Denis asks, feeling the same emotion swell inside.
     “Yeah, something like that.”
     “Why don’t you just forgive him? It’s been so long since everything happened. He’s the only sibling you’ll ever have, so why not mend your relationship?”
       Now Edmund looked like a wounded animal. “It’s not that easy. If it was something as simple as saying ‘I’m sorry’ I would’ve done it already but those few words will never change the past. He was the one who chose to leave. When we needed each other’s support the most, he was the one who walked away. Family is blood and when the going gets tough, you come together. Not turn your tail to run away.” 
     She knows this is a very sensitive topic to discuss and it usually makes Edmund grouchy but tonight was different. There was a touch of resolution and sadness to the conversation. Like seeing his brother today, re-opened the wound he worked so hard to heal. Time can never heal the hurt, only forgiveness can do that.
     “I’m beat, let’s go to bed. I love you,” Edmund says while rolling over in bed. 
     “I love you more,” Denis whispers back. Tonight she will be the one to hold the person whom she cares about the most. 

Chapter Ten: 1995

The year is 1995 and the Terrell’s were sitting down for family dinner after a normal fall weekday.
	Randall takes the head seat of the dining table, while Penny sits opposite him. The boys, Edmund and Clyde are seated between their parents. The dining room table sits comfortably in the bay window that overlooks the front yard. 
	Lamb chops, mashed potatoes, and steamed green beans are on the menu for the night. Even after working a full day at the school, Penny always makes dinner. It’s tradition. Her mother cooked every meal and so shall she. And no easy meals, such as Mac’N’Cheese from a box. No, every meal had meat with a side of starch and one serving of vegetables. And a baked good made from the weekend before. It’s all about balance and Penny could do it all. Well, do most of it. “How are the lamb chops, Randall?” Penny asks after the first bite.
	Without hesitation, Randall responds, “absolutely delicious and so tender.” 
      “Yeah mom, it’s all yummy!” Edmund says a little too enthusiastic. 
      “Except for the green beans,” adds Clyde who pushes the green objects around with the fork. “I hate vegetables.”
      "We all hate vegetables but you know the rule mister. No greens eaten, then nothing sweeten for you,” Penny says.
      “Or rather you get beaten if no greens are eaten,” Randall adds with a chuckle. 
       A slight threatening undertone was applied even after Penny tisked the comment off. Clyde resentfully picked up the fork and stabbed a single bean only to slather it in mashed potatoes, put the concoction in his mouth and swallow before chewing. Penny considers scolding but chooses otherwise. After teaching all day, she was exhausted and the last thing she wanted was more disciplinary action. “So tell me about your day. Clyde once you swallow that bite, tell me what you learned today.”
     A dramatic gulp slips through the youngest child’s lips, followed by a ravishing drink of milk to wash away the remaining green bean flavor. “I am learning about the times’ table. I am a master at one’s. Quiz me, momma!”
    “What’s one time three?”
    “Three!” Clyde says without hesitation.
    “Nice job! What about seven times one?”
    “That’s easy, it’s seven.” He says with a dramatic eye roll. Shockingly it melts Penny’s heart. If one of her pupils did just that, they would immediately be sent to the corner of the room. 
    “Looking for a challenge huh?” Randall says. “What is two-hundred and fifty-seven times one?”
     A furrowed brow shows on Clyde’s face. “Hmmm, it’s 257. I think.”
     ”Well is it 257 or not?” Randall asks. “Believe in yourself, champ. Just like I taught you on the mat.” Clyde has been into wrestling since he was three years old and has shown a real talent for it. Each boy was allowed to play in one sport, Edmund chose basketball which was fitting for his tall figure but Clyde chose wrestling. Whether he chose that sport due to parental pressure or to finally face a real opponent besides his older brother, his parents will never know. However, they both saw raw talent on the mat and encouraged him to hone that deep underlying rage into something more productive, like wrestling.
     “It’s 257,” Clyde says.
     “Ha, that’s my boy!” Randall says with a slap to the table, reverberating the dishes. “And what did you learn Edmund?”
      Now, attention was turned to the eldest, patiently waiting for the limelight away from his little brother. “I learned that Kelly has a crush on me.”
      A smile stretches across Randall’s face. “Oh did you learn that while in class today?”
     “No, it was during recess when she tried to hold my hand.”
     “GROSS!” Clyde yells with a mouth full of food. “You have girl cooties!”
     “I do not! I pulled my hand away.” 
    “Ma looks like our boys are growing up!” Randall says.
    “Kelly and Edmund sitting in the tree. K.I.S.S.I.N.G.” Clyde sings.
    “Stop it, Clyde! I don’t even like her!” 
       Penny could see a rowdy situation escalate before it reached the breaking point. “That’s enough Clyde,” she commands in that authoritative teaching voice. 
      His response was to make loud and sloppy kissing noises towards his older brother. Randal was holding back a fit of laughter and Penny also found it a struggle not to laugh at such a childish but innocent gesture. This was a sibling relationship, especially between two boys. They were meant to tease, fight and ultimately love one another. Seeing this memorable moment unfold, Penny muttered a little prayer under her breath begging for this brotherly love to continue through adulthood. 
      But now Edmund’s ears were turning red. Either by embarrassment or rage. The boys did inherit their father’s anger. They were tightly wound up like a cork on a champagne bottle that had been shaken vigorously. If not properly addressed, they would spew that bottled-up rage all over the walls, allowing The House to absorb the poison of hate. As if on cue, the lights flickered and the floorboards creaked above their heads as if someone was walking across the room. A low rumble bubbled up from deep down below the house. Guests would say they had a loud heater but the Terrell’s always knew the truth. It was something or rather someone who fed on the rage. 
       Needing to diffuse the situation quickly, Penny changed the conversation altogether. “Randal, what did you learn today?”
Thankfully by now, Clyde was bored of the teasing and continued stuffing his mouth full of mashed potatoes. Edmund sat still while staring down at his brother. Penny noticed the rhythmic movement of his chest, watching as he controlled his breathing. The temperature in the room returned to a comfortable warmth, for now.
       “I learned that I love spending time with my family around the dinner table and I do believe I have discovered a new favorite meal,” Randal says.
      “And what would that be?” Penny asks.
      “Lamb chops and mashed potatoes,” he shovels another forkful into his mouth and flashes her a wink. 
      “Glad to hear, it was an easy meal to make. Now would you all like to hear what I learned today?” 
      The three most important men in her life nod back enthusiastically and she dives right into the story about a rowdy classroom who lost the privilege to a pizza party. Of course, she couldn’t help but twist this story into a life lesson and by the end, all men were standing taller. She inwardly smiles and pats herself on the back.


       Dinner had concluded and as the boys cleared the table, Penny cleaned the dishes. Randal was moving around in the upstairs bedroom, making quite a ruckus. At one point, the remaining family members looked towards the ceiling, as if to decipher the noises. All went silent and a few seconds later, Randal’s shoes echoed off the stairs as he made the descent.
     “Okay boys before we have any dessert, we should review your spelling words for the test.”
     “Mom, we already know them,” Edmund says while wiping the leftover crumbs onto the floor. 
     “Don’t wipe that onto the floor! Place them into your hand and throw it away in the bin,” she snaps.
     “We went over them like one hundred times over the weekend,” Clyde says while bringing over the butter dish. He mostly walks around the table, acting like he is cleaning off the table but the truth remains that he could barely reach the top of it. So Edmund did the heavy lifting and handed stuff to Clyde in support. 
    “Well if you’re so confident, it will take no time to recite the words. Now grab the lists,” Penny says. Randal enters the kitchen with his shoes and jacket on. “Where are you going?”
     Zipping up the jacket he says, “going to grab a few drinks with the boys.”
     “But we’re having canned peaches and oatmeal cookies. Your favorite!” Penny tried to hide the disappointment in her voice but noticed that she sounded desperate instead. Randal worked hard for ten days and had four days off in a row and she treasured that time with him. But she also didn’t want to be a controlling wife. Although he had been frequenting the bar with the ‘boys’ here recently. She was about to protest his leaving when he kissed Penny squarely on the mouth and yelled, “alright you two listen to mom and go to bed on time. I’ll be home before midnight.” And with that, he headed out the front door without a second look back. 

Chapter Nine: The Anniversary

“Yes honey, I can leave work early,” Denis says to Edmund. There go my plans to finish the Dewy Decimal project, she thinks to herself but refuses to admit that to her husband. “Is she doing okay? Should I pick up anything for mom?”
	Denise always called Penny “mom,” because, after the accident, Penny stepped into the loving role of caregiver. 
	“No, I think just some company will provide her with the peace of mind,” Edmund says. “Sorry, you know I can’t just take off from…”
	Denis interrupts, “I know, my love. Work takes priority.” It always has, not that she was ever bitter with being married to a law enforcement officer, it just came with the territory. Late nights, canceled vacations, and no text replies throughout the day were just common practices. “I’ll figure something out for dinner and will save you some for when you’re off work.”
	A heavy sigh on the other end. “Thanks, babe, I know you were working on a large project for work but momma feels a little shook up from the interaction this afternoon,” Edmund says. 
	She admittedly was impressed with his memory about the project but ultimately, family mattered most of all. “That’s okay, I’ll tell my boss and will head out in five minutes.”
	“I love you,” Edmund says.
	“I love you more, now please be safe at work.” The usual send-off at the end of each call is followed by a click ending the connection. 

Denis loves being a librarian for a variety of reasons but mostly due to the people she works with. Her boss, Carol, is easygoing and realizes that family will forever come first. So it was no surprise that Carol said, “then what are you still doing here?” when Denis asked to leave early. This made life easier when coworkers' priorities align with her own. 
	Now she was headed towards home with peace of mind when a familiar figure was heading in the same direction on the sidewalk. She already knew who the person was before passing them. It was Lewis. 
	Pulling up beside the sidewalk, she rolls down the window and says, “want a ride, stranger?”
	Lewis jumped in response due to staring into his cell phone instead of paying attention to the surroundings.
	Without a word, he climbs into the passenger seat.
	“Seems a little early to be heading home from school?” Denis says once he’s buckled the seatbelt. “Playing a little hooky today?”
	Silence from the passenger seat.
	Denis pulls onto the road again. She always skipped classes in high school but still managed to graduate. Lewis has a better GPA than she ever did while completing school. There was inner turmoil deciding if disciplinary action was required. Part of her thought yes. It was her duty to raise such a responsible young man to contribute to society. But a larger part of her wanted to say the hell with it. There were worse things to be concerned about and skipping class wasn’t one of them.
	Before pulling into the driveway, she says, “don’t make this a habit of missing class. You’re smart so I’m not going to discipline you on how to act like a mature 15-year-old. However, don’t let grandma catch you home early. She’ll skin your hide from here till Mississippi. Head upstairs and I’ll text you once the coast is clear.” She winks at her only son while putting the car in park.
	A smirk flutters across Lewis’s young face, he looks so much like Edmund. A ripple of love envelopes Denis’ heart. “Thanks, mom for being so cool. And you’re right about grandma, I didn’t think about that. She would skin and display me on the front porch for all to see.” They both laugh at the comment knowing Penny was a force to reckon with and not against. 
	“I love you, now head upstairs to your room while I distract grandma.”
	“I love you more,” Lewis says while hopping out of the vehicle. 
	To distract Penny, Denis walks into the house first yelling, “Hey mom, it’s me. I left work early. Where are you at?” This canceled out Lewis’s stomping up the stairs.
       Denis doesn’t wait for a reply and heads directly into the kitchen where Penny sits at the breakfast nook, staring out the front window. Edmund has returned to work but the remnants of his lunch scatter the counter. Mustard, mayo, Swiss cheese, and ham gather in resolution while a dirty plate and knife chill in the sink. Looking towards her mother-in-law, “do they ever learn? You know how many times I’ve told Edmund to put stuff away after making his sandwiches. Especially the perishable stuff.” Denis says while trying to ease the tension. “Some days, it’s like I am raising two children.” 
       Penny laughs in response and stands to help her daughter-in-law. “And it remains like that for the rest of their lives so prepare yourself.”
       They work side by side in comfortable silence. Once everything is returned to their designated location, Denis picks up the bottle of whiskey and grabs two glasses. “Join me with a drink and tell me about your day?”
       Sitting back at the nook, Denis poured two fingers of whiskey for both ladies. They take a long swig and stare out the window. “So tell me what happened,” Denis says.
      “Not a whole lot to say. A knock at the front door disrupts my tea time. Unsure on who to expect, I grab the shotgun and open the door, only to see Clyde on the other side.” 
     “Clyde?” Denis says. The phone call with her husband was short and he never divulged the details. She expected a disturbance but not the appearance of her estranged brother-in-law.
     “Yeah, him.” Penny empties the glass and indicates Denis to pour another. She obliges but pours a little less. 
    “What did he want?”
    “I don’t know. I kicked him out before he had a chance to explain the unannounced visit.”
     They both take a sip of whiskey in unison.
    “You know, the anniversary is almost here,” Denis says in a hushed tone. 
    “Yeah.”
    “Maybe that has something to do with his visit.”
    “Possibly but I think he was mostly here for money,” Penny polishes off the remaining drink. “Guess we will never know. What’s for dinner?” An abrupt change of subject indicating that she no longer wanted to talk about The Secret. 
     Denis was no stranger to this reaction and also fostered the same belief. The Secret was never fully talked about in the open. She agreed that Penny seemed a little shaken up but nothing that some whiskey and comfort food couldn’t fix. And so once again, she brushed the issue under the rug and moved on with life. “Well, I was supposed to go grocery shopping after work because someone likes to eat all the food but never shops for groceries.” 
      Penny blew off the passive-aggressive comment by saying, “you’ve heard of such things as grocery delivery, right? I hear it’s all the rage.” A dramatic eye roll from her only daughter-in-law catches Penny’s attention. “And when in doubt, there is take-out.”
     “Hmm, pizza for dinner it is!” Denis says while grabbing the phone book to place an order for delivery. 

Chapter Eight: Brotherly Love

“What’s going on?” Edmund asks while approaching the front door. Hand still on the gun, prepared for whatever events might unfold. 
	No responses. The tension could have been cut with a dull knife. Assessing the situation, Penny held onto a shotgun that was dangling by her side. Clyde was backed into the corner of the front porch like a caged animal. No blood or wounds seemed to be visible. Which was a good sign because Edmund did not feel like hauling his mother off to jail. Still, everyone remains silent. “Well, is anyone going to tell me what happened here?” he said.
	“Nothing happened, I was just asking Clyde to leave,” Penny said.
	“More like escorting me outside with a shotgun,” Clyde responds.
	Penny ignores this comment but kept a visibly firm grip on the barrel. 
	“What were you doing here, to begin with?” Edmund asks.
	The caged animal had a hurt look in his eyes. “Can’t a brother just stop by to say hello to his own mother?” Showcasing the point, his hands raised towards the woman standing in the doorway. “Any guess how she greeted me? With a shotgun. Yes, a damn shotgun.”
	“That’s also the same way I greeted you back on that fateful day a few years back,” Penny remarks. “Do you remember why Clyde?”
	Silence.
	“Boy, I asked you a question!” Penny states while aiming the shotgun at Clyde.
	“Alright, simmer down mom. There’s no need to escalate the situation, please put the gun back down. Better yet, return inside and I’ll make sure Clyde leaves the house, alright?” Edmund says. The last thing this family needed was another report on record. This address was infamous within the town and therefore, the department. “Please, go back inside. Clyde will be leaving the property as requested.”
	After a moment's hesitation, Penny lowers the gun, heads back into the hallway, and closes the door firmly.
	“Golly, I sure do miss her sunny disposition,” Clyde says. His whole body relaxes as if the caged animal finally notices the open door. “Thanks, my brother.” In a dramatic show, Clyde moves to slug Edmund in the shoulder.
	Before he can make direct contact, Edmund leans backward to avoid the physical touch. “Time for you to leave,” he says.
	The wounded look of the caged animal returns and for a split second, Edmund feels sorry for the little brother he once loved so much. But that emotion passed just as quickly as it arrived.
      “Whatever you say, Officer Terrell,” Clyde says while walking down the front porch steps. 
       Edmund watches, “hey Clyde, why did you show up at the house?” Curiosity got the best of him and now he yearned for the truth.
       Without turning his back, Clyde shouts, “honestly I don’t remember why. I was just walking the streets and my feet lead me here.” He looks over the shoulder, “this will always be home. Even if I am no longer loved nor welcomed.” And with that, he left Edmund alone on the front porch. Both of the estranged brother’s hearts were aching but were too stubborn to forgive one another.
Family is blood but the secrets that weave through each family can easily break that bond. 

       Edmund joins Penny at the breakfast nook corner. The shotgun is missing but the look of hate is sketched all over Penny’s face which also reflects in the body language. She looks like a ball of furry with her legs and arms crossed. A rumble bubbles up from Edmund’s stomach. He should eat something but he no longer has an appetite. “You doing okay?” He asks while sitting across from his brooding mother.
      “Fine,” she replies curtly.
      “Do you want to talk about it?” He asks.
       A long pause. 
       He searches around the kitchen to make sure nothing had been stolen nor damaged. Clyde might steal but Penny would gladly shoot a hole in the wall to make a statement. The lonely bottle of whiskey caught his eye.
      “Just finished tea time, huh?” He stands and walks towards the counter. “I was wondering where this bottle went.”
      “He just came to the front door and pounded on it, which about gave me a damn heart attack! You should be grateful you don’t have to carry me out in an ambulance.” 
      “Nor a body bag,” Edmund says while leaning against the counter.
      “Your brother will be in that body bag before me!”
      “Yeah, probably but that doesn’t mean I should be taking you to jail for shooting a man that came knocking on the front door. Why grab the shotgun, to begin with?”
       Penny harrumphs. “You would’ve grabbed the gun too if you heard the manic way he was hitting the door. I thought for sure some crazy had wandered off the street begging for money. Turns out I wasn’t too far off from the truth.”
       The reality of this statement settled in deep and a moment of reverence reverberated from the walls. 
       “Is that why he was here? Asking for money?” Edmund asks.
       “I dunno, we got into an argument. But I am sure that’s why he showed up. Why else would he come back?”
       Edmund ignores the question, “what did you argue about?”
       Silence from Penny while staring out the bay window.
       “Mom, what did you argue with him about?”
       In a whispered tone, “you know. Don’t make me say it out loud.”
       He knew all too well what she was implying and left this statement as is. Moving away from the counter, he approached Penny who was holding back tears. The Terrell’s rarely show any affection through physical touch but Edmund knew this was the time to make an exception. He gently places a hand on her shoulder, “I know momma. You’re safe now.”
        With that simple and kind gesture, he retreated to the kitchen to make a sandwich. Not that he had much of an appetite after this interaction but he still needed the nourishment. “I have to return to work but I’ll call Denis to return home. I don’t think Clyde will come back to the house but I’d feel better knowing someone else was here with you.”
         He pulled the cell phone out and dialed the library knowing full well that his wife had her cell locked away. “Hello, can I please talk to Denis? Please let her know it’s Edmund.” 
         While he was on hold, he pulled the ingredients to make his lunch. “I am making you a ham sandwich, momma. You need more than tea and whiskey to survive. Besides, it looks like you just saw a ghost.” 

Chapter Seven: A Day in the Life - The Home

The Home remains quiet, patiently waiting for the Terrell family to awaken. 
	At 5 AM, the ringing of the alarm ripples throughout the master bedroom. An open invitation to start the new day. The heater turns on. The floorboards creak. The coffee starts brewing and The Home comes back to life. 
	A heavy sigh escapes from Edmund as he rolls over in bed. “Just nine more minutes,” he whispers while cuddling the warm body beside him. Denis folds into the embrace and suppresses the anxiety of starting another busy day. Before the snooze alarm rings, Denis sits up in bed. 
	“Did you hear that?”
	A muffled response from Edmund, “Hear what?”
	“There was a scurry out in the hallway,” Denis said while rubbing the sleep away from her tired eyes.
	“Like a mouse?”
	“Shhh!” 
	The silence refills the room while they both listen intently. 
	“Never mind. It must be the fan blowing,” throwing her legs over the side of the bed, she timidly places her feet on the floor. Either in fear of a hand reaching from under the bed or from the coldness that settles into the old hardwood floors. 
	A yawn escapes from Edmund, “it’s also an old house, babe. It makes weird noises all the time.”
	“I know, this one just sounded...weird.”
	Reaching for a robe, she wraps it tightly around before heading into the bathroom and turns on the shower.
	Edmund follows right behind her, “if there is an intruder, I’ll keep you safe.”
	“Oh my hero,” she says sarcastically.
	He smiles and pulls her into a loving embrace and a deep kiss. Denis welcomes the gesture and wraps her arms around his neck. What should have been an intimate and private moment had another spectator. Eyes peeking from every corner of the room. The bathroom mirror reflected more than the two lovers caught up in the moment. 
	Denis finally pulled away and slipped into the hot shower. Edmund patted her naked bum while she stepped over the bathtub rim. A little whoop escaped from her mouth. 
      In a steamy bathroom, Edmund walks up to the sink. The mirror is covered in condensation, and he uses a towel to wipe it clean only to see a dark shadow standing behind his shoulder. Panic rises in Edmund’s chest thinking that an intruder has indeed snuck into the house. He quickly spins around, assessing the situation and thinking of the best way to attack without alarming his wife who stood naked in the shower. But once he turned around, the figure had vanished. It’s not the first time Edmund has seen weird things in this house. Most of the time, he ignores the strange noises, shadows, and overall creepiness that looms in the house. However, there was no mistaking the dark figure that was present this morning.
      Turning off the shower and opening the curtain, Denis says. “Hey babe, you doing okay? You look as if you have seen a ghost.”
He says nonchalantly, “oh yeah. Just feeling a little tired. Ready for your early morning cup of Joe?”
“Hmm yes please,” she says while drying off with a towel.
“Two cups of hot coffee, coming right up!” Edmund exits the bathroom, praying this shadowy figure was no omen. 
	
At 6:30 AM, Edmund pecks a final kiss on his wife’s cheek and leaves for the day. At this time, she walks into Lewis’ room to awaken the slumbering teenager.
	“Wake up sleepyhead,” she whispers while rubbing his back. 
	A moan floats up from the pillow.
	“Did you sleep well, my love?” Denis asks with genuine curiosity.
	Lewis flips over, looking groggy and disheveled. “Yeah, I had some nightmares but nothing new there.” He yawns. The similarity in facial expression between father and son warms this loving mother’s heart. “The usual creepy figure standing at the end of my bed.” 
	“Oh yes, the usual,” she says to portray the normality of this conversation. Which in fact, the discussion of nightmares is common practice. These dreams have been happening ever since he was a baby and continue to do so. She hoped that one day, he would outgrow it but the nightmares only seem to worsen with age. Shaking away the somber thought she says with an overly exaggerated tone, “well the sun is shining and it’s a brand new day! Time to rise and shine!” She kisses his forehead before exiting the room. 
	Lewis lingers in bed for a while longer, knowing that today — along with every other day — will be the same. Shower, breakfast, school, lunch, school, homework, drawing, and eventually bedtime. He finally crawls out of bed and walks into the bathroom he shares with Penny, his grandmother. Opening the medicine cabinet, he retrieves the yellow bottle and pops the daily pills. By the time he’s done showering, the medicine does the trick and makes him feel a little less numb than before. He’ll feel like a brand new person once he walks out the front door. The house feels oppressive. Once groomed and dressed for the day, he joins Denis in the kitchen.
	“It’s a cereal for breakfast kind of morning. Looks like grandma ate the last of the toast and eggs. I’ll go grocery shopping after work today,” she says while handing over an empty bowl and spoon.
	“No big deal mom, I like sugar for breakfast.” 
	They giggle in unison knowing full well that was not the case. Eating cereal in comfortable silence, Lewis doodles on the edge of a phone book. Yes, a phone book. This small mountain town prints one every year. With limited cell phone service and unreliable internet, this old-school town resorts back to the phone book. Denis sips on her second cup of coffee and reads a steamy romance novel. Another common practice with the morning routine. Eat-in silence but sit together at the table. Lewis might look like his father but he acts like Denis; quiet, introspective and avoids the engagement of small talk. 
	After placing the dirty dishes in the sink, they gather up the book bags, a thermos of coffee, and cell phones charging on the counter. Within a few moments, they are backing out of the driveway, ready to start the day.
	The Home becomes silent once again. Patiently waiting for the final occupant to make her appearance known.
	This is the time when the home feels most at rest. The stillness between the first alarm clock, to the moment the car leaves the driveway - this is the time to settle in for the day. 
	The walls breathe a side of relief as the vents blow warm air from the heater. The drapes sway slightly in response to the heater turning on. The floorboards no longer creak from the strain of the weight. But rather relax knowing their only job is to hold the ground in place. The furniture sits, stands, or stays with no effort while waiting to be used once again. And the heater continues to hum a soothing song, much like a mother lullaby’s a baby. The shunned house guest usually lurks where the sun never shines. This guest has been here from the beginning of time and remains a permanent member. It supports the infrastructure of The Home and even serves a purpose.
	Bong. Bong. Bong. The old grandfather clock rings in the living room and on the tenth bong, she rises. Penny stretches her arms high above her head and yawns away the night.  “Good morning my love,” she says. Placing a wrinkly old hand over the infamous wedding photo that sits on the nightstand. Melancholy fills her soul while the sun warms her weathered face. Before exiting the bed, she puts on the pink slippers and scoots to the bathroom. 
	“You are a spunky old gal and you still got it,” she says to the reflection in the mirror. With the daily affirmation out of the way, she secures the dentures and makes her way to the kitchen for a piping hot cup of coffee.
Settled into the breakfast nook, the mug’s heat radiating through her cupped hands, she greets the final family member. “Hello, home. So glad to see we have another day together.” And with that, she raises the mug to cheer the invisible figure in the corner. The Home pops and creaks in response. 

Chapter Six: A Day in the Life - Clyde

Clyde walked away from the collection of brightly colored tents. The community, located right next to the main park, is a common gathering area for pre-teens who become bored and go looking for trouble. The so-called young rebels would skateboard in restricted areas, and smoke pot. The best form of transportation for anyone (especially those rebel teens) is bicycling. It was common to see a bike rack full at this time of day.

Climbing the hill, Clyde saw an opportunity. 

Most pre-teens owned fancy and expensive bikes. The common practice was placing the bike on the rack with loads of other bikes and hoping no one stole the unsecured bike. And it didn’t matter to these prepubescent children because mommy and daddy would buy them another one. So instead of teaching them a wise lesson, the parents would enable them. Alas, they would never learn and leave their bikes unlocked, might as well place a sign stating “free bike!”

Clyde knew this was the common practice. Unlike most pre-teens, he was smarter than the local 12-year olds. 

It was his lucky day. The first rack had three free-roaming bikes with no lock in sight. All he had to do was pick one, casually ride off with it, and meet Bud - the Bike Dealer - to make the exchange. 

Casually Clyde checks the area and being sly like a snake, he strolls up to the bike rack. Acting cool as a cucumber, he checks each bike and grabs the best option by the handlebars to free it. He places one leg over the bike…

“Hey, what are you doing?” A shout bellows from behind him.

Clyde has two options, either hop on the seat and paddle like hell. Or play it off that it was no big deal. Weighing his options to either interact with the cops or outsmart these kids, he chose the latter. Placing the foot back on the ground, he smiles and faces the stranger. “Hey, man. What’s up?”

The stranger was no pre-teen but rather a tall giant who most likely outgrew his fellow classmates. His pimple-faced comrades looked less intimidating but stood tall with their arms crossed. “That’s my bike, prick!” Shouted the giant stranger.

Time to play it stupid. “Oh damn, man! Is it really?” Pulling it away at arm’s length, Clyde inspects it further. “Geez, it looks just like my bike. What are the odds?” Clyde says through a cheeky grin. Still feeling slightly intoxicated, he remains confident. After spending time in jail, he could handle these pre-teens if they chose to jump him. Even if it was three against one, it wouldn’t be the first time. So he straightened his back and squared his shoulders while facing the opponents.

On the sidewalk in the middle of Gold Springs Park, a modern-day dual was about to happen. The giant stood taller, towering Clyde by a couple of inches. The boy on the left also stood strong and rooted. 

Clyde was familiar with this game. It was a male peacock, strutting its stuff to attract a mate. Or in this case, a male showcasing his physical ability to do harm. The two pre-teens (who looked to be closer to eighteen years old vs thirteen years old) proceeded and Clyde stood ready, till he saw a movement from the corner of his eye. The third boy pulled a cell phone from his pocket and quickly punched the screen three quipped times.

“Wait, are you calling the cops?” Clyde nervously asks.

No response from the boy holding the phone. His two buddies look at their friend and back to Clyde. Trying to make a decision but Clyde already made a choice. 

“Hey man, no need to call the cops. Nothing is going to happen here,” Clyde said. The boys eyed him suspiciously, not fully convinced. Clyde looks down at the bike trying to think of another alternative. He really needed the bike to pawn off but didn’t know if the price was worth the risk. Especially if his brother showed up for the call. “I think you’re right. This is actually not my bike.” Clyde walks it back to the rack. “It really looks a lot like mine,” he shrugs. This final gesture diffuses the situation because the boy puts the phone back in the pocket. 

And with another nod of defeat, Clyde turns around and walks away empty-handed. 

“So long prick!” The giant yells from behind. 

This stops Clyde dead in his tracks. The rage starts to simmer deep inside. If he’s not careful it’ll overflow like a boiling pot of water. 

Rage won the first time he was booked into jail. Instead of walking away, he chose to engage with the robbery. “It’s an easy job,” his old pal explained. It was an older couple who had no security, no dog, and multiple ways to enter the household. They were retired and supposedly the house had expensive jewelry and art pieces. Therefore, Clyde trusted this “friend” and robbed the house one night. After ransacking the place, the duo left with nothing. Somehow they managed to break into the house without the couple being home. It was pure luck but that would eventually run out for Clyde.

“I thought you said there was good stuff for us man!” Clyde yells after they exit. 

“Well shit man, I guess my intel was bad.” The old pal said. 

“You guess it was bad?! What are we supposed to do now?” Clyde exclaimed.

“Figure it out on your own,” was all the old pal said. 

By this time, Clyde was coming off his high and needed a fix, quick. In a split second, Clyde could only see red. When he finally came back to reality, he was covered in blood. It wasn’t Clyde’s blood but rather the old pal. He had nearly beaten the life out of this poor fellow. Other civilians saw the attack and called the cops. The ringing came from the sirens but settled into Clyde’s ears. Before he escaped, the cops pinned him to the ground. A few days later, he was a resident of the county jail. The irony was that his old pal told the cops about the robbery, framing Clyde as the conspirator. First time in prison with being charged as a burglary with a battery. Which is a serious felony offense. Of course, he couldn’t afford an attorney and the state-appointed one didn’t provide much help. Clyde was sentenced to ten years in prison. 

That was his first real interaction with the law and it wouldn’t be the last.

Trying to ignore the red tunneling around Clyde’s vision, he walked away. That would be a serious offense if he fought with children. “Not worth it over a damn bike,” he muttered.

Not really sure where to go next, he wandered the streets. Occasionally stumbling and tripping. The tall, dark figure with unruly black hair and beard, was becoming sober. He needed some food to fill his rumbling stomach. 

Clyde wasn’t always this way. Most people choose not to live on the street, drinking away the horrific memories and getting hooked on the drugs. But it happens. He’s not a bad guy, just searching for an escape from reality. An escape from the nightmares and separation from the secret. 

Before his dad died, he shared a strong bond with his older brother, Edmund. Clyde was top of his wrestling team and had decent grades. Then the accident in the mines happened. One afternoon, he lost a role model, a mother, and a loving brother. That’s when the rage arrived. Instead of going to therapy, he snuck into the kitchen and started drinking. Within a few years, he was a high school dropout who was living on the streets after being kicked out of The Home. 

Since that time, he has drifted in and out of jail and lived across the Denver metro area. This past summer he hitched a ride back to Gold Springs, not visiting his family once. 

But now, he is standing in front of the ominous shadow of The Home. Funny how one always ends up coming home. Admitting defeat, Clyde approaches the front door and rings the doorbell.

Chapter Five: A Day in the Life - Penny

Penny was sipping the second cup of afternoon tea, welcoming the familiar buzz. Just enough alcohol to warm her cold soul when the doorbell suddenly rang.

	“Well hells bells, who is here?” Penny peers out the bay window, looking towards the front patio. Anyone peering out at this angle should see who was at the front door. However, this individual was hiding in the perfect blind spot. “Hmm, I am not answering it. If I can’t see you, well then you can’t see me.” Straightening her newspaper to an erect state, she continued reading the obituaries. 

	The doorbell rings again followed by a manic pounding on the front door and a muffled cry.

	Now Penny felt uneasy, thinking about the crazies who wander off the mountain trail, searching for money just to get their fix. Doesn’t happen often - especially when the patrol car is parked out front - but when the cold settles in, people become desperate.

	No need to fear, Penny knows how to protect herself, the family, and The Home. 

	The pounding and ringing of the bell continue as Penny walks towards the china cabinet. While standing on her tippy toes, she reaches above her head to grab the reliable home security device. There is a rattle to the drawer as she opens and inspects the drawer’s contents. With a loud popping snap, she holds the device tight, ready for the idiot standing on the other side of the door. 

	Silence follows as she stands squarely in the hallway. She’s not scared. Nor shaky, not even anxious. Just utterly pissed that her afternoon tea was disrupted. There will be hell to raise for anyone who interrupts this sacred ritual. She taught students for 35 years, raised two boys into adulthood alone, and watched the man of her dreams take his final breath in this life. Nothing in life scared her. Not even a random loony could upset this strong woman.

	With bated breath, she waits for one more knock or ringing of the doorbell. What happened next, she wasn’t fully prepared for.

	“Momma, I know you’re on the other side of the door.” The strange voice floated through the door. “Is the shotgun loaded?” 

	“What do you think?” Penny said while holding the shotgun steady.

	“If I know anything about my fearless momma, she has the gun fully loaded with the barrel placed against the door set at the midsection. Hell, you probably have your finger on the trigger, ready to pull.” A pause, “you’ll do anything to keep this house and your family safe.”

	Penny faulted for a split second and let the shotgun drop towards the floor as if the stranger on the other side of the door had an invisible string attached. 

	A heavy sigh escaped from Penny knowing full well who was standing on the other side. “Clyde, why are you here?”

	Another silence and Penny readjusted the gun to point upwards. 

	“Momma is that how you greet your long-lost baby boy?” Clyde says.

	“Damn straight you are lost!” Penny shouted. “Now get off the porch before I blow a hole clean through you.”

	This was no empty threat. She would pull the trigger. Blood didn’t mean much once a family member dragged their name through the mud.

	“Please can we just talk? I promise to leave but I want to talk with the only person who truly understands,” Clyde pleads. “You’re the only one who can calm my demons.” This was a blow to Penny and the warmth of love filled her bosom. Keeping the shotgun in hand, she unlocked the door and cracked it open. “Don’t pull any funny shit Clyde or I’ll blow brains out.”

	Clyde nodded in acknowledgment.

	Penny stepped aside and allowed the youngest son to walk past the threshold. As soon as he crossed the barrier, a creak reverberated throughout the house. There was more than just momma greeting Clyde home. 

	“Come on, let’s go to the kitchen,” Penny said leading the way, shotgun still in hand.

	“Are you still planning to use that?” he asked sarcastically.

	As if on cue, Penny whirled right around bringing the gun to Clyde’s eye level. “Don’t test me, son. You know what I am capable of,” she spittled.

Raising his hands in protest, he simply said, “yes ma’am.”

The tension grew as the chill settled further into the room. Another creak broke above their heads as if another guest was making their presence known. 

One. 

Two.

Three seconds passed with no one making a move.

Never breaking eye contact, Penny motioned her head towards the kitchen. “Go on, you take the lead.”Clyde moved around the gunslinger woman he called momma, keeping his hands up like a hostage.  

“Sit,” Penny said when they finally reached the breakfast nook.

Clyde plopped down. A whiff of alcohol, sweat, and urine filled Penny’s nostrils.

“You reek like a homeless man,” she said with irony. “When was the last time you showered?” Penny asked while sitting across from the unexpected guest and placing the shotgun gingerly across her lap. Pointing the barrel away from Clyde but remaining strong and in control. 

Clyde ignores the question and takes inventory of the messy kitchen. Spotting the whiskey bottle on the counter, “did you just finish your afternoon tea?”

Shockingly enough, Penny laughs. Not just a giggle but a full belly laugh. A second, more sinister laugh joins along.

Goosebumps creep over Clyde’s skin.

After catching her breath, Penny begins to interrogate. “So why are you here, Clyde?”	                                                                              “Glad to see you too, momma." Her eyes roll with such exasperation that the neighbors could feel it from across the way. “Last time I saw you, you were passed out on the curb and I had to call Edmund to pick up his drunk brother.” 

“Correction, I was high.”

Penny brings the gun to chest level, “oh that’s right. You like to smoke dope get stupid drunk and live on the streets, leaching off society. Did I get it right this time?” She says with a wicked sparkle in her eyes. 

“Where did I learn such habits, mother? Maybe from my alcoholic parent who chose to numb out her pathetic life and completely ignore her children?”

	“Stop saying that,” Penny seethes through gritted teeth.

“Or maybe I choose drugs and alcohol to escape the truth,” Clyde admits.

	“What truth?”

“You know the truth!” Clyde yells in response. “How can you still live in this demonic house where everything happened?”
	“Clyde, stop talking about The Secret.”
	“Why, what will happen? Will the house banish me just like my loving momma did? Is the house ashamed of me, like you are? Because admit it, when you couldn’t cope with dad’s death, you turned towards the bottle. You turned away from the kids you birthed. And you allowed this house and everything connected to it to swallow you whole.”

“I said STOP IT!” She was yelling, the gun shaking from the intense interaction. 

“Guess what momma? Even though I am homeless and a drunkard, I still chose to escape this wicked family. I’d rather sleep on the streets instead of sleeping inside this home!”

In a sudden jolt, Penny was standing tall with the shotgun barrel aimed directly at her son’s chest. “Get out.”

With a pitiful shake of the head, Clyde looked at his hands before following the command and stood up. “Looks like I warmed out my welcome.”

“You think?” Penny spit sarcastically.

He trudges to the front door, keeping his hands by his side. Knowing full well that Penny did hate her youngest son but she would never shoot a man in the back. 

He opened the front door and made a final attempt to explain the random visitation, “momma. I am sorry but…”

With such spite and hatred, she simply states, “I don’t give a rats ass what you have to say. It was your choice to turn away from the Terrell family. You are never welcomed here again.”

At that exact moment, a patrol vehicle pulled into the driveway, with concern etched across Edmund’s face. 

Chapter Four: A Day in the Life - Lewis

Lewis knew better than to skip class but also knew the sender of the note was more important than the wrath he would receive from an adult. “Besides, it’s only homeroom.” He rationalized while walking through the now vacant hallways of Gold Springs High School.

	It was crazy to think that his father also walked down these same hallways nearly twenty years earlier. Lewis highly doubted the building had any major changes since his dad, Edmund, attended. Even with shared DNA, they were complete opposites during their teen years.

	Edmund was a popular jock, with acing classes and scoring with the ladies. Lewis was smart but not athletic. He tried out for the basketball team freshman year but never made the final cut. From that day forward, he swore to never try out for sports again. Even if Edmund was a sports star, he never pushed Lewis to compete in such activities.  

	Instead, Edmund encouraged his son to shine in other hobbies. For example, Lewis was a very talented artist. Even as a kid, his drawings always outranked his classmates. The fridge in the kitchen, the hallways, and even the doors were covered with the baby artists’ drawings. As Lewis grew, so did his skills. Now he specialized in pencil drawings and loved to sketch the human body. More specifically the female physic. There was just something about the female anatomy that caught this teenager's attention. To be honest, every teen boy noticed the beauty of the female body but he never viewed them sexually. But rather with reverence. Knowing that the female body was capable of doing anything but most beautiful of all, they could create and nurture life. 

	Lewis excelled in the art world and in academics. He led the class in becoming valedictorian. Learning just came naturally to him. He was like a sponge, soaking up every single detail allowing him to pass tests. 

	Sure on paper, Lewis sounds like a normal kid who had loving parents. His peers respected and even looked up to him. While everything seemed wonderful on the outside appearance, other issues ran deeper. A topic that should never be taken lightly, Lewis did suffer from depression. 

     “It’s common amongst teens these days with all the influence of social media, video games, and TV,” the family doctor commented as he wrote up a prescription. “It’s perfectly normal,” he said with a smug grin of self-righteousness.

     But Lewis never felt like this was normal. 

     Even as a baby, Lewis always seemed sadder compared to others. Never a cry baby but more like a child who looked at the world with a gloomier view. His drawings as a child were detailed but rather melancholy.

     When he was ten years old, there was one particular drawing that caught the attention of his mother, Denis. “Honey, is that the house in your drawing?”

     “Yeah, mommy. You like it?”

     “Of course,” she lied. “But the house is yellow, why did you color it black?”

     “Because it’s scary,” Lewis stated simply and returned to drawing. 

     Denis wanted to pry further but justified this comment as normal. Besides, Lewis had never mentioned an imaginary friend nor monsters in the closet. Not even night terrors woke her young child. But she still couldn’t shake the eerie feeling that the blackness of the house had a deeper sinister meaning.

     “Hey slowpoke, glad to see you finally arrived!” The girl with golden hair and sea blue eyes set behind the oversized hipster glasses. Makenna was a spitfire who fought against the patriarchy, the ongoing threats of global warming, and was a hardcore true crime junkie. Even though their stark opposite personalities, these two had been best friends since kindergarten. Right after Makenna shared her juice box on the bus ride home one day, it was an instant connection. “What took you so long?” She asked while hopping off the rusty gate that separated the football field to the mountain’s backside. 

    “I was sneaking out of school, Kenna. I couldn’t just walk right past the offices through the front doors, now could I?” He asked sarcastically.

    “Sure you can! That’s how I did it,” she smirked while pulling out her vape mod from the pin-covered book bag. The latest pin was the largest and most obnoxious one. She was binge-listening to a new podcast and was OBSESSED with the hosts. The pen stated “Stay Sexy and Don’t Get Murdered” with a giant bloody knife slicing right through the middle. Lewis never understood her fascination with true crime. But then again, not too many people could understand the horrific truth about murder unless one saw it for themselves. “Smoke?” She held the vape pen out for Lewis.

     “Nah, I am good. Why do you even smoke that stuff?” He asked while pulling at the backpack straps. A nervous habit thinking he might get in trouble for skipping homeroom and smoking while on school property.

    “Because it’s cool. Duh!” She giggles and blows out a puff of smoke. “We all know smoking cigarettes is bad for you. But vaping is a little better,” she stated matter of factly. 

    “Right, not like studies have proven over and over again that vaping may be less harmful but it can cause popcorn lung. Which in fact, can be worse than lung cancer caused by cigarettes. So yeah, I’ll pass on being one of the cool kids,” Lewis said short-tempered.

    Blowing a long puff of smoke from her mouth, she stared him down before saying, “okay Mr. Perfect. It’s not like you haven’t vaped before, you know?” 

    A deadly silence fell between the two childhood friends. The unspoken rule was the first person to speak after a quarrel owes the other person a Coke. Lewis used to speak first every time until he learned the power of a silent treatment. And so, with another nervous tug on the backpack, he turned and headed towards the school.

     Makenna stood there all alone with only the vape to keep her company.

     Lewis thought about returning to homeroom. He’d make an excuse about an upset stomach explaining his tardiness. He finally decided that this excuse would never work and chose to face the wrath of his grandma, Penny.

Chapter Three: A Day in the Life - Denis

Denis sends the text. The sex life has improved since the dirty talk started with her hot husband cop, Edmund. There has always been sexual tension between the couple but with time, it became more of a task to check off the “to-do” list.

	However, the daily dirty talk has spiced up their love life. 

	This particular text was only a silly GIF. Those were also fun to send. Especially with Edmund’s demanding job, she preferrers to keep their conversations simply silly. So she sent a dramatic cartoon GIF, showing her affection. 

	After sending the text, and returning it to the purse, she locked the file cabinet to focus on work. She had a very busy afternoon planned; full of reshelves, customer support, and putting the finishing touches on a large research project about the Dewey Decimal System.

	Denis originally majored in communications but realized that journalism was too cut-throat for her heart of gold. She changed her major to Elementary Education and earned a Bachelor of Science degree. Even after graduation, she never stepped foot inside a classroom. After a few years of working within a coffee shop and bookstore in Portland, OR - she applied all over the country for a master’s program in Library Science. As fate would have it, she was accepted to Denver University. Upon acceptance, she said good-bye to her loving parents (she was an only child, so this was a heartfelt farewell) and moved her whole life to Denver, CO.

	She planned to graduate and move back to the west coast until tragedy struck. In a span of one night, Denis became parentless. In the depth of her sorrow, she was introduced to the man of her dreams. It was never her plan to become a Colorado transplant but as always, love conquers all. And fifteen years later, she has never second guessed that decision.

	Other residents would say she stayed for the family and status. But the truth lies within The Home. The moment she crossed that threshold, she knew that life would never be the same. For better or for worse, she was connected to that home and the family secret.

	“Mrs. Terrell, can you please help me find this book?” A familiar face asked from behind the counter. 

	“Of course, I can! How are you today, hun?” She recognized the person but could not put a name to the face. Must be a classmate of Lewis, yes that had to be it. The perks of living in a small town. Everyone knows everyone, and everyone knows their secrets. Well, almost every secret.

	“I am great! Have you seen the pretty fall leaves?” Asks the Familiar Face.

	“Oh yes! How can you miss it? In fact, every morning I sip my coffee on the back patio and watch the trees change color,” she responds while taking the lead to the non-fiction section.

      “Wait you can actually see the leaves change color in real-time?!” They exclaim.

      The excitement and wonderment amuse her and plays along. “Well of course! Have you seen them change color in real time?”

      A shake of the head from the Familiar Face.

     “It’s true. In fact, if you listen carefully one can actually hear the old leaf die little by little as the fall color suffocates the green color out.” A pause for dramatic effect. “While some say it’s the wind that makes the whining noise, it’s truthfully the dying leaf gasping for its final freedom of life.”

     “Geez, that’s awful,” they say with a touch of sadness.

      Now that makes Denis feel guilty. She didn’t believe it was so convincing. “I’m teasing,” she laughs and grabs the book in question. “Here you go!”

	A tiny smile escapes the mystery patron’s lips. “I sure hope you’re right. What a sad way to live out the last moments of your life.” A pause followed by a heavy sigh. “Thank you for the help, Mrs. Terrell.” 

	Denis feels guilty for the false story she shared. Since the marriage to Edmund, she has learned the importance of humor. It’s needed nearly every day when a loved one is surrounded by a sad and horrific reality. Even The Secret sucks the complete life and joy out of everything. That’s why she was having fun with this familiar - yet not so specific - face. She felt a kinship with them and thought a little dark humor would benefit them both on this chilly fall day. Now looking into their face, she quickly realized this was a bad judge of character. So she did what any mother would do, she comforted.

	“Hey hun, I am sorry.” With a laugh, “I was just teasing you. Seriously don’t take the story to heart, okay?”

	A tiny nod followed by a sniffle.

	Now she had really done it. The poor lad was crying. 

	“Oh my dear, come sit down.” She grabbed the Familiar Face’s arm gingerly and lead them to a secluded corner of the library. By the time they had fully settled into the couch, the young teen was sobbing. 

	With a heavy sigh, Familiar Face says, “I am sorry. I don’t mean to be a bother.”

	“Oh, you are no bother at all! Did my story about the leaves really upset you?” Denis said followed by another sniff. “It’s not that Mrs. Terrell. It’s just…just my,” another heartbreaking sob escaped the young mouth. 

	Not really sure how to respond, Denis rubs their back and looks around the room hoping to avoid any unnecessary attention. Thankfully the library has been slow that day, and no one seems to notice them.  

	She continues to rub their back and ignore the ever-growing fear that she was the one who caused such a traumatic reaction. While remaining patient and kind, she continues to rub their back until eventually, they speak up.

      “I am sorry, my grandma just died this past weekend, and well,” another sad pause. “She loved watching the fall colors change. In fact, I remember her telling me that one could physically feel the changing of the leaves. It was as if the old leaves were letting go. I originally did not believe your story, because let’s be honest, it’s a little exaggerated,” the Familiar Face said.

      This sly comment made Denis chuckle and ease the discomfort a little.

      Familiar Face continued, “but she always told me ‘how wonderful it was to let things go, and that’s what fall always taught us.’ You know, that it was totally okay to let things go and simply fall.” A heavy sigh. “I guess hearing that story reminded me of her, so I am sorry for being dramatic but we did just lose her.” A back of the hand swipe to the nose revealed a trail of mucus. “So what I guess what I am trying to say is, thank you. And also sorry for being so emotional.”

     At that exact moment, Denis recognized the book pulled from the shelf, "Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief" by Martha Whitmore Hickman. A classic and common recommendation for those who experience grief. Even Denis gave it a read after losing her parents in a horrific car accident. She was an only child, so she found comfort within books. Including this exact one.

    “I am so sorry to hear about your grandmother but this book is simply the best! I have no doubt that it will comfort you. I encourage you to read the book amongst the trees and see if you can hear the leaves change with the color.”

     They both laugh at this comment and Denis walks with the young patron to the front entrance. The Familiar Face thanks her again after checking out the book and exiting the building. 

     A warm feeling envelopes Denis. Then her coworker speaks up, “Denis, there is a phone call waiting for you, it’s your husband.” And just like that, the warmth dissipates and the undeniable cold takes over once again. 

Chapter Two: A Day in the Life - Edmund

Edmund types the code into his phone and smiles at the screen. Even after fifteen years of marriage, butterflies flutter in the chest while thinking of his loving wife, Denis. 

Their recent messages have been a mixture of sexy talk and funny GIFs. Words are no longer required when communicating with a soul mate. Sending a GIF will simply share the message they are portraying. The dirty talk is happening at a higher frequency and so has the frequency between the bedsheets.

He quickly sends a comical GIF of a cartoon cop car and locks the screen. “Well, BillBo let’s get you to the drunk tank.”

There is a mumble from the back seat. Edmund assumes it’s another insult and chooses to ignore it. After radioing dispatch his location along with the current mileage from the odometer, he puts the patrol car in drive and heads to the county center.

Considering fall had fully settled into the Colorado mountain town, Edmund was glad that BillBo had been called to dispatch. Soon it will be too cold for transients to live on the street and should migrate to the homeless shelter. Even with these services offered, there is usually one individual who sadly freezes from the unforgiving winters. BillBo was urinating in the streets but winter will suffocate the life out of anyone, regardless of the crime committed.

Edmund forces the dark memory from his head and reverts to the usual practice.  Moistening his lips to whistle Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. This one song brings him back home every time. Home is the place that’s safe, happy, and where unscathed memories reside. When the outside world becomes too dark, this tune brings him home. He whistles the comforting tune while reflecting on life. 

Ever since he was a young child, all he wanted to be was the “man in the uniform who helps.” For many years, his parents didn’t know what he was referring to until one night when they were pulled over by a state trooper. The family was exhausted after a day trip to Denver and the father was driving over the speed limit. Shortly after midnight, flashing red and blue lights reflected in the rearview mirror. The trooper was so understanding and kind that he let the family go with a warning. Once they were pulling back onto the highway, Edmund exclaimed “that will be me one day!” From that day forward, the Terrell parents encouraged him to pursue those dreams. 

Even with Randall (his father) being a miner and Penny a grade school teacher - he never wavered from his ambitious dreams. Once he turned twenty-one, he immediately applied for the police academy at Red Rock Community College. There was no surprise that he graduated top of his class and was offered jobs to three different police departments.

It was a no-brainer that he chose the patrol officer position for his hometown. Edmund swore to serve and protect the city that welcomed him into this world, nourished his growing body, and united him to the love of his life through a casual encounter. It was love at first; as if their souls knew they needed one another.

A monstrous belch brought him right back to reality.

“Nice one, man. Are you going to throw up again?” He asks while turning on his blinker to pull onto the road’s shoulder.

“Nah, pig.” A hiccup bubbles up from BillBo’s mouth. “I am all good now,” another hiccup escapes. 

“Well if that changes, there is an orange barf bucket beside you,” he comments while returning onto the highway. 

His steely blue eyes look at the rearview mirror to see the usual reflection, a handsome but weathered face looking back. Just the other day, he noticed additional grey hairs peeking through the well-groomed blonde hair. During the younger years, he felt as if thirty was so far away and so old. But as he approaches forty, he believes that ninety is the new “old age”. In fact, he remains fit and healthy regardless of his stressful career. At a tall height of 6’3” he’s no stranger to the fitness industry. Crossfit piqued his interest for years but now he does functional fitness. In this line of work, he never knows when the time might come when he must wrestle a man twice his size. And in harsh reality, it could be a life or death situation. 

Even with a strenuous job making an impact on his quality of life, he chooses humor to combat that. It’s no easy task seeing the wickedness that plagues this world. Edmund has seen murder, drugs, kidnappings, and the heartbreaking abuse of children. It takes a strong individual to choose this career year after year. But that’s exactly what the world needs right now - individuals willing to put their life on the line to protect those who will never fully understand the sacrifice. They never do it for recognition but rather choose to make a positive impact within their community. It’s not a job, it’s a calling. 

When he’s not spending time with his wife and 15-year-old son, he is usually listening to stand-up comedy, fly-fishing, or hiking. All he really needs is some alone time with nature to disconnect from the harsh reality of the world.

He still resides within his childhood home and will only leave when he’s buried six feet under. Even if he tried to leave, he could never truly escape from The Home. It holds secrets that only blood can truly break the bond it has developed with the family. And so he will continue to live in The Home.

The patrol car parks in the tiny lot. As he turns off the engine, he hears an unfamiliar rumble. BillBo was fast asleep and snoring in the back seat. “Well, that explains why you were so quiet,” Edmund announces the arrival to dispatch and stretches upwards before exiting the car. “And yet another reason I workout daily is to help clumsy drunks exit my vehicle. Just another day patrolling the streets, crushing crime and keeping everyone safe.” He chuckles while softly waking the slumbering passenger.

______

With his business finished at the drunk tank, he heads back to the department to finish the report before the shift ends. He glanced at the time, realizing he hadn’t eaten lunch. With a flick of the blinker, he turned the cruiser in the opposite direction and headed home to devour a scrumptious sandwich.

Fall was making its appearance known. It was only the start of September but the changing leaf colors were in full effect. A mixture of green, gold, yellow, and bright red, blurred past the windows. There are only two seasons in the mountains: winter and mud season. But thanks to Mother Nature, she allows autumn to make its brief appearance for a few weeks. More like two weeks but Gold Springs was blossoming and fading with the changing of seasons all at once. 

Edmund rolled down the windows to enjoy the fresh, crisp mountain air. A deep inhale of that dewy goodness brought life right back into perspective. All was fine and dandy till he pulled into the driveway and saw two figures standing in the front door.

Through the cracked windows, he heard Penny scolding a dark shadow looming in the doorway. Immediately that perspective of life was shattered when he realized the dark shadow was his little brother, Clyde.

With one hand on his gun and another on the door handle, he exited the vehicle, ready to serve and protect. 

Chapter One: Meet the Family

       The text blurs under Lewis’s stare. American History usually interests him but today, he couldn’t focus on anything. The teacher was rambling on about two old guys in a duel with a pistol stand-off. What should have been thrilling and engaging was rather boring to this 15-year-old, sophomore. 

“It started as a simple political rivalry that ended in total tragedy on July 11, 1804…”

Lewis zones out once again. With his pointer finger, he traces Mr. Hamilton’s profile that’s printed on the page. 

Tracing around.

And around until the pad of the fingertip goes numb.

“Hamilton finally passed away the following day on the 12th due to the gunshot wound.” A deafening ring echoed throughout the room. Students stand abruptly from their desks.  “Finish reading the chapter and don’t forget the writing prompt on the last page!” The Teacher yells over the ruckus. The silence brings Lewis back to reality and he slams the textbook closed. A folded piece of notebook paper, flitters to the ground. He retrieves the folded note to read the text: meet me at the spot

_______

Denis turns the final page on the children’s book.

“And the tree was happy,” she says with a sad smile.

The clapping and cheering brings the attention back to the children sitting around her. Their glowing faces provide a sliver of joy on this gloomy fall day in Gold Springs. She grins and claps back in response, “so what did we learn from this week’s reading?”

Eager little hands wave in the air. A fiery redhead in the back row jumps up in excitement, “oh pick me, Mrs. Terrell! Pick me!”

“Henry, your energy is infectious but you know the rules. ‘Keep the round upon the ground.’ So please, sit down.”

With an exaggerated harumph, he falls back to the ground and raises his hand.

“Thank you, Henry. Now, will you please tell us what we learned from this week’s book?”

Inhaling deeply, he responds, “to give everything to people we love. Like my mommy and daddy.” 

“And what would you give to your mommy and daddy?” Denis asks.

Henry places his hand under the chubby chin, as if deep in thought. A comical gesture from such a young child that Denis muffles a laugh. “Well, I give them hugs and kisses every day.”  

“That’s very true. You love your parents so much that you would give anything and everything to them, right?” The children nod in unison.

“Just like the tree, would you give everything away to those you love the most?”

In response, there was less nodding and more fidgeting from the little audience.

She’s losing their attention, time to wrap things up. Soon they will start pinching and hitting one another. “And with that children, remember it’s better to give than to receive. Love is all that matters.” She sighs deeply while little heads bob up and down. “Now children, thank you for joining me today.” 

“Thank you, Mrs. Terrell!” They yell in response. 

One by one, the parents gather up their children until Denis is eventually sitting alone. She re-opens the book to the title page and runs her fingers over the handwritten script: 

To D,

Remember love is all that matters

With love, Mom & Dad

_______

Edmund wipes the spit off his face.

With a chuckle, he says, “not today BillBo. You know if you spit on a cop, you go to detox.”

“Fuck you pig,” BillBo slurs.

“Yeah, yeah. We’ve done this tango once before. It’s not a crime to be drunk, but it is a crime to walk around town peeing on the public streets.”

BillBo laughs and slurs again, “fuck you pig.”

“You know the drill man, place your hands behind your back and intertwine the fingers. Also, do you have any weapons, drugs, or anything that could harm me inside your pants or pockets?”

Instead of the predicted response from the drunk transient, BillBo bends over and barfs all over the cement floor.

“Real glad I stepped behind you before that happened,” Edmund says.

Another eruption of vomit escapes the meager man’s mouth.

In transporting Edmund’s regular customer to detox -- for the fifth time that month -- his phone vibrates with a text from his loving wife, Denis. He types the code and smiles at the screen. 

_______

Penny pulls the steamy tea bag from the chipped blue ceramic mug. A hot vanilla chai tea with a dash of creamer is a perfect “pick-me-up” for this dreary afternoon. 

With the mug in one hand and the local newspaper in the other hand, she walks towards the bay window to sip and read. The house creaks with every step. The Victorian house is over a hundred years old and matches the charming personality of the Colorado mountain town. With all original interior still intact, the bright yellow exterior and sky blue trim compliments the quaintness. However, the exterior is deceiving. If only the walls could talk, oh the stories they could share.

The crinkle of newspaper fills the empty silence as Penny lays it out on the breakfast table. Over her spectacles, she reads the local news and keeps a wary eye on the strangers walking on the sidewalk. 

With the mug just inches from her mouth, she carefully blows on the steam ready to partake. “Hmm that’s the good stuff,” she says to the empty room after the first sip. On chilly fall days, she might (but most definitely does) add a shot (or two) of whiskey to her afternoon concoction. 

“I am too damn old to give a rat’s ass,” she once told her son, Edmund. 

After her late husband died at a young age, she learned to care less and to live more. Of course her eldest son, the respected police officer, strongly discourages this behavior. But if this 35-year retired grade school teacher wants to spike her afternoon tea, well hell she plans to do so.

“Oh looks like Jolene finally kicked the can,” another sip. “It’s about damn time for the town whore to die.” A wicked laugh echoes off the walls as if a second laugh joins in Penny’s delight.

_______

Clyde awakens from a drunken slumber in the late evening. The smell of urine, sweat, and disdain fills his nostrils. He’s unsure of the origin of the stench. It’s either from him or the neighborly friends who live under the bridge known as Rainbow Tents. The irony is not lost on the name for the transient community that thrives in a colorful array of tents located under the city bridge.

Only a temporary resident of the community, Clyde visits the Big Yellow tent when he has no other place to crash.

However, last night's binger had him in such a daze that he never made it inside the tent. Instead, crashed right outside of it. 

“Damn, what happened last night?” Clyde mumbled. As he sat up, an empty vodka bottle rolled off his chest. “That’s what happened,” he says to no one in particular. With a disappointing shake to the bottle, he accepts that it is completely empty and contemplates the next plan of action.

For a brief moment, he considers visiting his childhood home but a better option just presented itself to Clyde.