Paul’s “Race” to the Truth
Gunnar Olafsson I’ve been working with Silas for only a short time. He’s been getting acclimated to Middle Valley and our small-town mores. We have visited Paul twice where he sits in…
Gunnar Olafsson
Shirley’s Digging the Digging of the Dirt
My phone is ringing again. I had missed it the first time and there was no message. It’s an unforgivable sin to miss a call when you are self employed.…
Quizzing the Questioner: Silas & Merc Chat with Bernie
3 o’clock comes up quickly. Mercury returns from her afternoon coffee run – a giant latte for her and a small cup of black for me. On this day, I’m…
Cassie’s Good Day Keeps Getting … Better?
I was being honest with Bernie – I really didn’t know what Bitsy and Wanda were plotting, though I was, of course, tragically curious. Those two in a booth, a…
Bitsy at one with being the windshield; eschews being the bug
I believe it was the great Mary Chapin Carpenter who once sang “sometimes you’re the windshield, sometimes you’re the bug.” These days, I am, of course, a windshield. Which is…
Cloudy with a Chance of Confession: Paul, Revisited
It’s been a week since Silas and Merc first visited. I know because I can see the same clock I saw that day, and I can see that it’s 20…
Partnership: Cassie Wonders If It’s All That
Mid-morning behind the bar is a little slow. Not feeling particularly ambitions or energetic today. There’s not much for me to do without customers right now. So far, my achievements…
Sliding Doors: Elyse Opens One, Then Closes Another
I arrive at the Hughes’ porch and I hesitate. I ring the doorbell. Elyse answers immediately. “Come in.” She smiles, but I can tell she isn’t at ease – or…
Carson’s a Caged Animal and Wants Out
I feel sick. I could throw up. I look around this home that I live in, at these people I’ve taken pains to get to know and move among –…
Saved By the Bell? Paul’s Story Starts Trickling Out …
A guard leads me to a monitored meeting room where my visitors were waiting. I recognize Mercury immediately. “Glad to see you,” I say. “Gets kinda lonely here, especially since…