Welcome to Chapter 5! Remember this is a totally freewritten, unedited rough draft, so comments, critiques, concerns are all welcome. If you’re just coming into this story at chapter 5, you can find the rest of the chapter by going to the Table of Contents and clicking the prompts.

Enjoy!

Chapter 5

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“So what’s up, girlfriend?” Pepper inquired when they walked out the door and headed the two blocks to Clairmont Comics and Such.

“You haven’t seen Hazel around today, have you?” Erin asked hopefully.

“I haven’t,” Pepper answered, “but that’s not unusual. She usually just pops into your place and then heads to the park or home. She doesn’t tend to stick around town. Is there some problem?”

“Well,” Erin hesitated, feeling a little silly, but still worried enough to keep going. “She doesn’t always show up, but she left this really strange message on the shop’s voicemail. “ Erin stepped aside as a mom pushing a double stroller rolled past them on the sidewalk.

“What do you mean by ‘strange,’” Pepper asked.

Erin stopped at the corner and waited for a couple of cars to pass before she stepped off the curb and continued. “She said she had uncovered something that would prove that the accident 20 years ago that killed Bernie and Bryan wasn’t really an accident and that she was scared.”

“Whaaat?” exclaimed Pepper. “Do you think that’s just some of her crazy ramblings? She can sometimes have conspiracy theories, you know. Remember when she was convinced that putting aluminum foil on her roof would keep the aliens from listening in to her conversations? With nobody, ever, because she never lets anyone into her house?”

“I know, I know,” Erin conceded. “But this time she sounded really scared. Her voice was different. She’s never shared any kind of information like this before.”

They stopped as they reached the entrance to Clairmont Comics. “Do you think we ought to look for her?” Erin asked. “I mean, I know it has only been a few hours. But it’s not really like her to not come into the village and to not answer her phone.”

Pepper pulled open the door. “Let’s just see what today turns up, OK, Salty?” Erin grinned at the endearment. “Maybe she had a doctors appointment. Or maybe her phone’s not working. Or maybe she slept through the ringing. There’s all kinds of scenarios that could be true.”

“OK, you’re probably right. Harry pretty much said the same thing. I’ll try not to worry. Thanks for letting me share my concern.”

Pepper waved goodbye and stepped into her realm while Erin headed back to Be My Bagel. The sound of a siren in the distance did nothing to ease her mind.