"Well, perhaps a little of both of those things," she said. "But mainly it's something a lot more important than me, or either of us, Carlos or me—o... you, for that matter."Taken aback, he still recognized that he was stuck; comedian though he was, he understood that his role for at least this moment was straight man to her lead, she'd put herself in a position where he could only follow. "What?" he asked the inevitable question."The Edenites are going to die, all of them, every last one," she. Leigh Shaking his head in clear disapproval, Damien picked up his cell phone. ******** He had been waiting the whole morning for her to come out. He knew she would have to go to the building adjacent to file the proceedings of a case. He knew because the sexy brunette that assisted one of the case managers had told him. The chilly air provided the perfect excuse to conceal his face with the hood of his jacket. Michael sat on a bench across the building eating a sandwich. Thinking. Planning.. Then she sniffled. "I'm sorry honey. I mean Tony. Sometimes I forget you're getting to be a big boy."I hate big boy almost as much as honey, but I let it pass."It's Aunt Patti. Her appendix burst, and they've taken her to the hospital." Is she okay?" They have her in surgery. We haven't heard anything yet," Dad said calmly."She's my only sister. I want to go." Mom was almost whining."And I don't think she should. It's a three hour drive to Kirkland, over Stevens Pass." I thought the roads were. "Nasty fellows, huh," he grunted. He handed the papers back to Ron."Oh, I forgot to ask you," John said, "You folks make out ok by yourselves?"Ron and Brenda both grinned and John started to grin too. He got up and untied his horse and took it to the barn. John fed the horse and cleaned out the stall. Ron brought fresh water to the barn for the horse."I guess the police will ask you about those Bower brothers," John stated. "I wouldn't worry too much about it, I got the impression that the.