I didn't really say anything back as I didn't want to be a part of the mess, I just agreed and continued listening. We arrived at his place as he look...d over at me and thanked me. "Do you want to come inside for a bit?" he asked. We stared at eachother eyes locked. "Sure..." I let out as he smiled and stepped out of the car to wait for me to park it. In my mind I was wondering why I didn't just say no. Oh well, I was in for it now. I went ahead and got out of the car as I followed him down the. Bye” she said, ringing off.And so as Mike talked to Patrik on the phone, the picnic took shape, Lauren making sandwiches while her mother packed some soft drinks into a small hamper. It contained all the plates and cutlery they needed, along with cups and a big tablecloth. Lauren had used it many times, even on her own, when wandering up in the mountains during the hot summers.Nikki arrived with her carrier bag containing the wine and a blanket, and the three set off up the hill to wait for. He nodded. Dannel turned down the lamp to just a faint glow, only light enough to see the ground around them and one another, leaving even the nearest trees to become black, mysterious shapes in the general darkness of the new-mooned night. A few stars peeked through the dense canopy of the old-growth forest, but shed no real usable light on things, and the woods seemed close and sinister in the chill air, a light fog hugging the ground and weaving among the trees, further softening the light. Mr. Crisp tried to get me this afternoon when she wuz out. He got his hands on me, sir, and? Like? I wanted him to do it, sir? B ... but I remembered what yuh said ... like? about me needin' somone big. And Mrs.Crisp come home just then so nothin' happened."Brother John was unbuttoning the front of her frock as she spoke. She was completely nude beneath it and, as he slipped it off of her shoulders and let it drop to the floor, she asked, "Wuz she here, sir? Did she come here today? She said.