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Lou tossed and turned most of the night but never slept deeply enough for nightmares, thank goodness. She woke the next day feeling
just as unsure of herself as she had the night before. She rose, dressed, and put on tennis shoes for her morning run. She brushed the snarls from her long, dark hair and put it in a ponytail. Today was Saturday so she wasn’t expected to make breakfast for the hands but still rose early. She poured a bowl of cereal for Sarah and kissed Sadie on the cheek as she went out the back door for her run.
She looked around for Brody as she stretched against the fence but didn’t see any sign he was even up yet. It was probably better. He might not ever want to see her again.
She checked her watch and started jogging slowly through the winding path she always used. She found a good rhythm and then picked up the pace. The sun felt good on her body and the exertion was always good for stress. She forgot time and place, and concentrated on her footfalls and her breathing. About ten minutes into her run, she rounded a corner and came up short as she spotted a man standing in her path. She slowed to a walk and shielded her eyes with her hand, trying to see if it was Brody who had somehow gotten ahead of her.
She walked a few steps closer and got a good glimpse of the man. It certainly wasn’t Brody. But who else would be out here? She walked a few steps in reverse but then the man called out.
“Why don’t you stay right where you are, Mary Lou?”
“Pardon me?” she asked, certain she had not heard him clearly.
“I said, I think you need to stay right there so we can have a talk,” the man said quietly. He took a few more steps forward and Lou caught the scent of cherry cigar on the breeze as he lifted it to his lips. The face looked vaguely familiar.
Ball cap. Five o’clock shadow. The temp who had helped to put up hay. Wes? Lou’s thoughts dashed in mad abandon like ping pong balls set loose inside her head. She tried to grab each one as it bounced around but had no luck. He had just called her by her given name.
“Do I know you?” she asked tentatively.
“No. But you know my boss. Or at least he knew your mother. He was real sorry to hear about her passing.” He took a draw on the cigar.
“What are you talking about?” Lou asked defensively.
He pulled an envelope out of his pocket and threw it at her. She caught it against her chest and opened it with shaky fingers. Photos fell out that Lou had never seen. They showed her mother, standing in front of their trailer. Her mother at work. Lou together with her mother, sitting at the kitchen table. Lou gasped as she looked through them all.
“Where did you get these?” she asked, her voice hoarse with emotion.
“We have sources,” he replied.
“What do you want?” she asked, putting the pictures back in the envelope.
“Your mother stole something from my boss. He thinks you have it and he wants it back. I’m here to collect.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I left with nothing the night my mother died,” Lou’s voice shook with the memory.
“ I know you’re lying. You left with one thing. He’s sure of it. You were seen with a black bag as you ran through the woods. This bag just happened to contain something that was precious to my boss. He wants itback.”
Lou’s heart skipped a beat. She held out the pictures. “I can’t help you,” she stated.
“I think you can.” His face took on an even more menacing look. “I think you will.”
“Or what?” Lou asked.
“Or you‘ll be sorry.” He nodded his head toward the house. “And so will they.”
“And if I refuse?” She thought long and hard for a moment. “I would be willing to pay whatever it’s worth to you.”
“Refusal is not an option. But we could discuss compensation.”
“If you touch my daughter…” Lou started.
“She’s safe for now but you need to take this seriously.” The man stopped and turned his head, listening to something in the distance. Lou could hear footfalls behind them. “I’ll be back. I’m watching you, so don’t try to run away again.” He walked into the woods that lined the jogging path and disappeared. Lou tucked the packet of photos into the back of her shorts and covered it with her shirt.
Brody came over the hill just at that moment, a big smile on his face as he saw Lou standing in his path. “You didn’t have to wait for me. I could have caught up,” he said smiling, already winded. “I saw you as you were leaving, but I was running late. I couldn’t catch you before you left the yard.”
“Well, you got me now,” she responded sarcastically, her heart still thudding wildly in her chest from the encounter.
“What’s wrong?” he asked cautiously. “You’re not mad at me about last night, are you?”
