Prologue
Autumn had come with an early bite. Blades of grass stood in silent attention under a frosting of white as yellow leaves glittered and waved in the early morning breeze.
Victor Malvagio grimaced at the frigid air. He pulled his trenchcoat around him as he stalked to his car. The blonde was only half as pretty without vodka to improve her looks and she had fake tits. Victor hated fake tits. Last night he did not care. Things always looked worse in the morning. Now he had to find a way to explain to his wife why he was coming home a day early from his business trip. Leave it to a woman to mess up his best laid plans.
He started his car and sat for a moment while the Volvo blasted warm air and heated his seat. Victor opened the glove compartment and took out a small leather bag. It held a variety of emergency items, including a comb, which he used to smooth his salt and pepper strands straight back from his hairline, finishing it with a few swipes of gel. Next he applied a bit of pancake make-up to a small port-wine birthmark near his left eye. He refused to have laser surgery. He was too afraid something would happen and he would be left disfigured.
Victor’s hand closed around a vial in the bottom of the bag and he smiled. He brought the small spoon to his nose and sniffed. There, he felt better now. He could face anything.
Dolores Margaret McKee sat staring at a squirrel as it played among the branches of a large oak tree. At times, all she could see was its bushy tail wiggling from behind the trunk. Then another squirrel came racing down the branches, shaking leaves as it attacked. The two rolled and scampered until she was dizzy from watching.
"Ms. McKee?" Maggie turned and placed a quivering hand over her heart.
"Yes?"
"We’ll need you to fill out some paperwork and the consent Ma’am."
Maggie shook her head in agreement and followed the nurse to a small room in the back.
"Ms. McKee, I have to inform you that your pregnancy test was positive and the ultrasound has showed a live fetus. The consent you will sign will give the doctor permission to perform an abortion."
Maggie nodded her head. The nurse continued speaking but Maggie was thinking of the squirrels again. When she signed the consent she haphazardly checked the box marked "Donate To Medical Science," and handed the clipboard back to the nurse.
The cold was sapping Nanon Peche’s strength. She cursed the wind as she battled the last 10 miles of trail. She knew Five Corners intersection was only over the hill and from there she only had two more miles. Every muscle in her legs burned and she down-shifted again. She bent her head into the wind, plumes of white streaking out behind her as her breathing increased. The last few feet were the hardest and she shifted her feet on the pedals, working a different muscle to pull her the rest of the way. She felt the subtle shift of terrain, just as she always did here. Here, where she would realize she was sweating. Here, where she could enjoy the rush following the exertion. Here, she was on top of the world.
She began the downward decent towards the stop lights, braking gently. She saw she would catch the green light and she could sail away home to a hot shower. Perhaps she would read that mystery novel she bought a few weeks ago. There was also a new exhibit at the art gallery.
Vincent saw the light changing and decided he did not want to wait. He gunned the Volvo and hit the curve a little too sharp, sending him fish-tailing. He spun the wheel and over-corrected sending him onto the berm first and then his bumper hit the retaining wall, spinning him even further and head-on into the path of Nanon Peche.
Nanon saw him coming and braked hard, her tire sliding out to the left. She had no where to go. The Volvo smashed into her, throwing her onto the hood and into the windshield, which smashed with her impact. As the Volvo hit the retaining wall, she rolled off the hood, onto the wall and like a liquid spilled on the table, she fluidly fell over the side.
Victor Malvagio grimaced at the frigid air. He pulled his trenchcoat around him as he stalked to his car. The blonde was only half as pretty without vodka to improve her looks and she had fake tits. Victor hated fake tits. Last night he did not care. Things always looked worse in the morning. Now he had to find a way to explain to his wife why he was coming home a day early from his business trip. Leave it to a woman to mess up his best laid plans.
He started his car and sat for a moment while the Volvo blasted warm air and heated his seat. Victor opened the glove compartment and took out a small leather bag. It held a variety of emergency items, including a comb, which he used to smooth his salt and pepper strands straight back from his hairline, finishing it with a few swipes of gel. Next he applied a bit of pancake make-up to a small port-wine birthmark near his left eye. He refused to have laser surgery. He was too afraid something would happen and he would be left disfigured.
Victor’s hand closed around a vial in the bottom of the bag and he smiled. He brought the small spoon to his nose and sniffed. There, he felt better now. He could face anything.
Dolores Margaret McKee sat staring at a squirrel as it played among the branches of a large oak tree. At times, all she could see was its bushy tail wiggling from behind the trunk. Then another squirrel came racing down the branches, shaking leaves as it attacked. The two rolled and scampered until she was dizzy from watching.
"Ms. McKee?" Maggie turned and placed a quivering hand over her heart.
"Yes?"
"We’ll need you to fill out some paperwork and the consent Ma’am."
Maggie shook her head in agreement and followed the nurse to a small room in the back.
"Ms. McKee, I have to inform you that your pregnancy test was positive and the ultrasound has showed a live fetus. The consent you will sign will give the doctor permission to perform an abortion."
Maggie nodded her head. The nurse continued speaking but Maggie was thinking of the squirrels again. When she signed the consent she haphazardly checked the box marked "Donate To Medical Science," and handed the clipboard back to the nurse.
The cold was sapping Nanon Peche’s strength. She cursed the wind as she battled the last 10 miles of trail. She knew Five Corners intersection was only over the hill and from there she only had two more miles. Every muscle in her legs burned and she down-shifted again. She bent her head into the wind, plumes of white streaking out behind her as her breathing increased. The last few feet were the hardest and she shifted her feet on the pedals, working a different muscle to pull her the rest of the way. She felt the subtle shift of terrain, just as she always did here. Here, where she would realize she was sweating. Here, where she could enjoy the rush following the exertion. Here, she was on top of the world.
She began the downward decent towards the stop lights, braking gently. She saw she would catch the green light and she could sail away home to a hot shower. Perhaps she would read that mystery novel she bought a few weeks ago. There was also a new exhibit at the art gallery.
Vincent saw the light changing and decided he did not want to wait. He gunned the Volvo and hit the curve a little too sharp, sending him fish-tailing. He spun the wheel and over-corrected sending him onto the berm first and then his bumper hit the retaining wall, spinning him even further and head-on into the path of Nanon Peche.
Nanon saw him coming and braked hard, her tire sliding out to the left. She had no where to go. The Volvo smashed into her, throwing her onto the hood and into the windshield, which smashed with her impact. As the Volvo hit the retaining wall, she rolled off the hood, onto the wall and like a liquid spilled on the table, she fluidly fell over the side.
posted by Traci Dolan at 12:53 AM
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