"It is about revenge, isn't it?" the contact asked.
"Those people are obsessive," Darius said worriedly. "And all three of the obsessed have a bitter grudge against George, Anna, you, Owen, and even..."
Just then, another figure slipped into the darkness of the alley, cutting off his words. "Sorry I'm late."
A big smile formed on the newcomer's lips as she reached them. Darius's eyes widened as he looked at the person that just materialized.
"I can't believe you're here," the newcomer said to his contact, their voice filled with a sudden rush of warmth as they stepped forward toward his contact.
"It's so good to see you again," the first contact murmured, and the two people with him quickly pulled each other into a tight hug.
"Listen, we can catch up on the details later," Darius warned them, his eyes darting toward the street entrance. "You need to get back out of sight. You both do."
"Can you give me a lift to my pickup point?" the first contact asked, turning to look at the newcomer.
"Sure, just give me a minute," the newcomer said, nodding. "I heard everything as I rounded the corner. So trouble is coming to town then?" they said, turning to glance over their shoulder. "I'll let everyone know."
"It's getting real now," Darius warned, his expression dead serious. "Keep your heads up and don't trust anyone new on the property."
"We will," they assured him, standing there staring at Darius.
"Take care, and we'll meet again tomorrow at our usual place?" Darius said.
"Yes," they confirmed.
They turned to leave, each preparing to head in their own direction, but something stopped them simultaneously. Darius and the other person both turned back, their eyes locking across the shadows of the alleyway in a sudden, quiet moment of raw understanding.
Isabel
Isabel walked down the sunlit town sidewalk, her fingers lightly brushing against Owen's arm as they made their way toward thelocal ice cream shop. The afternoon heat was thick, but the easy rhythm of their conversation kept her thoughts light.
"Look, there's Michael and Maggie," Owen noted, pointing toward the corner.
Isabel smiled as she spotted the couple heading toward the exact same destination. "Let's catch up to them."
They quickened their pace, joining Michael and Maggie near the front plaza of the shop. But before Isabel could voice a greeting, she noticed two figures standing slightly obscured by the large bins in the alley. They were locked in an intimate embrace oblivious to the world around them. Isabel squinted, her brow furrowing as she tried to make out the faces in the glare of the sun.
"Is that..." Isabel began, her voice trailing off as she realized that Maggie and Michael had gone completely still beside her.
"Uh-oh," Maggie hissed, her face draining of color as she suddenly spotted another two figures approaching the plaza from the opposite side of the street. It was Debbi Wineberg and Baxter, walking directly toward the ice cream shop. Maggie forcefully tugged on Michael's arm sucking in a panicked breath.
"Michael, we have a massive problem right now." She pointed a frantic finger.
"Drat!" Michael hissed, his jaw clenching as he took in the layout. "Go get those two out of sight immediately." He pointed to the two in the alley. “I’ll deal with those two.”
Maggie rushed off toward the kissing couple, while Michael pivoted on his heel, striding quickly across the pavement tocause a distraction that would stall Debbi and Baxter before they could reach the corner.
Isabel and Owen were left standing on the edge of the sidewalk, watching the sudden chaos unfold in front of them.
"What on earth is going on here?" Isabel asked, thoroughly perplexed as she turned a searching look toward Owen. "Do you know what this is about?"
Owen looked incredibly guilty, a sudden flush of deep heat warming his face as he shifted his feet against the concrete. “I’m not entirely sure."
Isabel nodded slowly, her eyes narrowing to thin slits as she evaluated his nervous posture.
"Something is definitely going on here, Owen," she insisted.
"It certainly looks like it," Owen said. He cleared his throat, looking thoroughly uncomfortable.
"Great, then let's go find out, shall we?" Isabel said firmly. She wrapped her fingers securely around Owen's wrist, pulling a very awkward, reluctant archaeologist right behind her as she marched toward the alley. “I want to know why one minute my brother and Linda are supposedly on the outs with each other and are now kissing in an alley.”
