Two days after Mr. Evan's funeral, the first snow arrived. Because of the circumstances, the funeral was a bit later than most had expected. Many had attended the service, but most seemed a bit nervous. There were rumors of a "mystery man" around the neighborhood. The police blotter reported that Marshal Meacher was assaulted and couldn't identify his attacker and a Mr. Hanky reported a break-in. Von Leitmeritz hadn't been seen in a week after a scuffle outside his bar.
Lamar was getting weary of people being afraid to say anything. The diner meeting proved pointless. He sat once again in the diner with his coffee and donuts scribbling on a note pad.
"Everyone is too frightened, too weird, or just chicken." he mumbled to himself. "We know from the autopsy that he died from a puncture wound to the stomach. But the weapon has yet to be found." He looked-up, took another sip of coffee, then circled "the mystery man" he had written on the side of the page.
"Mr. Hanky had a mask in his possession and officer Luong reported that an anonymous source saw Mr. Evans with a man in a mask."
On the roof of West tower of the Maitland the blue lantern lights that hung from the pergolas sparkled on the surface of the misty, heated pool. Mei was about to meet Marie. She had a message for her. Mei, with ear buds on and waving around the spectrometer, was humming to a song when she stopped and saw words being written. Marie was somehow writing the words "Time ran out" several times in the snow around the edge of the heated pool.
Due date Dec. 23rd.
