In the center of the room was a large gray cylinder or barrel of some kind. It was maybe two feet tall and three feet in diameter. There were holes ar...und the sides and the top had odd side-by-side indentations and straps. Off to the side of the room I noticed other similar cylinders. There was another man and also a young woman. I begged them to tell me where Alex was, but they remained silent.The girl approached with an aerosol can while the man who had led me in stood behind holding my arms. She heard him give his name.She sat there frozen. There could only be one reason for him being there. He was looking for her. Why? His goodbye had been curt and had left no doubt that their marriage was over. Surely he could not be seeking reconciliation. He must have been sent to silence her. She needed to talk to Uncle Steven.She waited until she heard Ray move off with a page to show him to his room. She shut the door and rang Steven."Uncle Steven, it's me, Mary." Hello, my sweet. This is a. Alex has yet another guy pinned to the nearest wall. "Alex? Definitely not." I also see another man look at our table and head toward us. He a tall thin black man, whom I don't recognize but clearly — by the sudden smile on his face — Ryan does. "You're new friend?"Ryan doesn't answer just stands up to meet him. "Scott, I'd like you to meet an old friend of mine. This is Peter. Peter, Scott."I stand, shake hands and exchange the standard pleasantries. We chat for another few minutes before. Since it was already afternoon I'd had enough boredom. I needed relief.I worked from home and liked the freedom it afforded. My wife was an administrative assistant at an accounting firm in town, so weekdays alone at my home office alllowed me to do whatever I wanted; but also got lonely when things were slow. My kids were grown and gone; Joanne was in college and John had joined the Marines to try to straighten his life out. Best move he ever made - after many stupid moves.I was 48,.