“Welcome, Ms Madur, I’m very pleased that you have decided to join us.”“Well, I had to do something. My agent insists on me having insurance a...d recommended your firm. And, please, call me Madur, everyone else does,”Her voice was deep and dark and husky. It flowed through the room like warm chocolate, and I could detect her singing buried behind it.“Of course, Madur, that’s much more informal, and please call me Joss,” I managed to reply and smile at the same time. “I’ve read your previous. ??You too.?-oOOo-As soon as she left work it was like a starting gun had fired and Cassie was on the run from minute one. She literally raced to the school to pick up her kids, drop Lachie off at soccer practice, take Ally to her friend Amanda?s house, and then it was off to the supermarket. It was as she was driving from the school to the soccer field that her cell phone rang and she deftly drove with one hand while putting on the hands free kit with the other. When she was all set to go. They eventually got their drinks and then stood there, trying to find somewhere to sit.Char and I gave each other a nod, reading the other's mind, and she stood up, got their attention, and waved them over. “You guys can join us if you want!”“Thanks!” they said back almost in unison and took off their coats before sitting down—like they were going to say no to her, looking like she did.We made introductions, and their names were Sean and Chad, and I can't remember the other two; something like. The last thing I heard before passing out completely was Andrea saying,"Get the rest of the council. They're ready..."I still shudder when my fragmented memories of the next few hours riseto the surface of my mind. Fortunately those memories rarely come now,and when they do, they are almost dreamlike, almost as if they werehappening to someone else.The first incident I remember from that time, I was lying on... what? Icouldn't feel the floor or anything else behind me, but I was lying in aprone.