Episode 4.11

Methodist Church Parking Lot
“I’ll call you as soon as we get there.” Ethan kissed Abby on the forehead before picking up his bag.
“I’ll miss you.” She took a few steps back, watching the commotion of parents and group leaders around her. All of these kids going off to except Christ into their lives.
“I love you, keep me up to date on how Dan’s doing.”
“No problem.” She hugged herself as she watched him climb onto the bus steps.
Oh one more thing.”
What?”
Ethan licked his dry lips as he looked into his wife’s dark eyes, “If Chad gets off I want to know.”
She was stunned by the abruptness of the moment, “Of course.”
“I’ll see you in a week.” Was all he said before the bus doors closed behind him.
Abby stood there and watched the bus filled with teenagers and her husband drive away in the early morning sun.


Trial Part 30
“Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury, Mr. Quick did nothing to defend his client. He rested. He didn’t provide you with any evidence showing that Mr. Davis didn’t kill Kathryn Layden.” Kyle Roberts stood in front of the jury box and looked directly at them.
He took a step back and looked at Chad, “Mr. Davis didn’t get on the stand and tell you what he did that night. I showed you signed affidavits and brought in witnesses. It would be a tragedy if you allowed this man to be free when he killed an innocent young woman.”
Kyle said nothing else and went to sit down. His stomach was in knots, his hands shaking, he felt like he was sweating but he didn’t want to let everyone else know how nervous he was feeling.
He shifted in his seat as he watched Christian get up, but everything that was said sounded like the peanuts adults to him. All blurry, warbled, and squeaky. Before he knew it, the jury was getting instructions. Now all he could do was wait for the verdict.


Gibbons Florist
Trista took a deep breath when she walked in, enjoying the cool air of the swamp cooler and the fresh scent of the flowers.
“Hi, what could I help you with?” The sales lady looked up from a overly loved paperback.
Trista twisted her hands inside of each other, “I received a delivery of flowers from your shop the other day and I was just wondering if you knew who sent them. You see the card was missing.”
The woman nodded, “What’s your name dear?”
Trista Silversky.”
Here it is, oh no. Jarred!”
“What’s wrong?”
The woman shook her head, “The boy the back took the order and smudged the name. All I can see is an R for the last name.”
“Oh, well that helps to narrow it down. Thank you.” Trista left the store and walked out into the hot air. “Damn heat waves.” The heat was the last of her bothers though, wondering who sent the flowers really had her curious.


Starbucks—Main Street, Durango
Cassie sat in the over stuffed black chair highlighting Patrick’s name once again in her cell phone. It went to voicemail after several rings and Cassie just slammed it shut.
“Cassie, what’s wrong?” Jillian handed her a Vanilla Latte and sat across from her.
“Patrick won’t answer his phone.”
“So what, let him be a prick.” Jillian took a sip of her Mocha.
Cassie sighed and looked out towards the street, when she saw Patrick walking out of the Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory with another girl. “That jackass!”
Cassie!” Jillian called out after her as her friend crossed the one way street and went after Patrick.
Cassie almost crushed the paper coffee cup in her hands as she dodged the traffic of tour buses and cars from out of state. “Patrick!”
He turned around and guilt crept on his face, “Hey Cassie.”
“That’s what you have to say is, Hey Cassie?” She shook her head, tore off the lid of her drink and then tossed the liquid at him before walking away. “Talk to me, when you want to talk to me Patrick. Otherwise, have a nice life.”
Patrick watched Cassie walk away, he tried to brush the latte off but all he could really do was hold his shirt away from his body. This was better for her anyways, he couldn’t give her what she wanted and he’d known that since the last time they were together.


210 Shavano Court
Maggie looked around her backyard as the evening air began to come in and cool things down. Her mother, Fiona, and Arthur were all gathered for dinner. Fiona kept looking over at her as if expecting some kind of information to be spilled at that moment.
Conner set down a plate of burgers on the picnic table and called everyone around.
“Okay, what’s going on here?” Allie asked as she watched this man she had met in the Nashville hospital hug her daughter.
“Well we asked you all here because we wanted to tell you that we’re getting married.” Conner smiled as he held Maggie’s hand.
“That’s wonderful! It’s about time.” Fiona stood up and hugged Maggie and then her son, “Now let’s see the ring.”
Maggie extended her left hand to show off the ring Conner had presented her with.
“It’s beautiful.” Allie examined it as well, “Have you set a date yet?”
Maggie and Conner looked at each other and smiled as if they knew a secret, “Nothing is set in stone just yet.”


Dan’s Apartment
Dan slowly opened the door to his apartment and looked around. Never before had it felt so large, but now it felt massive. He lived here alone in a three bedroom apartment. He had just been released from the hospital and could possibly end up behind a desk, and that was the last thing he wanted.
“Hey Bro, need some help?” Abby stood in the doorway with a bag of groceries.
Dan smiled, “Thanks, how’d ya ditch Mom?”
“Simple, she’s got a convention to go to.” Abby kicked the door closed and went into the kitchen. “And I know your fridge is empty cause I cleaned it out for you last week.”
“Thanks, what would I do with out you?”
She smiled, “Well your never going to find out goof ball.”
Dan sat down on the couch, “Trista says I can go back to work in a few weeks.”
“Well that’s good.” Abby brought him a bottled water and then sat in the near by chair.
Dan shrugged, “I hope so, I just hope I don’t get stuck behind a desk.”
“You’re young, strong, I doubt that’s your fate.”
“I don’t know what I would do if I couldn’t be a cop.”
“Well you don’t have to worry about it.” She felt her cell phone vibrate in her front pocket, “I have to take this.”
Dan watched his sister walk into her old bedroom, he could tell she was talking to her husband and yet he knew her heart belonged to another man—a murderer. Right now he wouldn’t worry about being stuck behind a desk, right now he would worry about his sister leaving Ethan for Chad.