Good morning and Happy Hump Day! If it's Wednesday, then it must be time for more flash fiction from the Wednesday Briefers! We're a group of authors who bring you our finest flash fiction every week, 500 to 1000 words, inspired by one of our prompts.
Well, the crazy actress is back in custody, all's well that ends well, right? Maybe not. Vinnie isn't so sure, and Ethan doesn't seem to be either. Her story of an unknown film director and an audition is a definite red flag. See what's going on in this week's chapter of Bad Karma and the Family Plan. Don't forget to visit the other Briefers and see what's up. Their links follow my tale! Enjoy!
Hours later we were back at Ethan’s parents’ house.
The agents were back in position, and all the tires had been taken care of,
courtesy of the US government. We’d had a long discussion with Anderson while
we waited. He wasn’t entirely convinced the threat was over, but for now it was
under control. He told us to lay low for a couple more days, if Ethan’s parents
were agreeable, and then take Benny to Atlanta. Once he testified, Anderson had
a feeling this nonsense would be over.
To my surprise, the minister was not only amenable
to the idea of our staying, but said he hoped we would. Ethan’s mother was delighted, of course, to
spend more time with her brother and her son. Sarah chose to return to Mercy’s
house, but they weren’t all that far away, so I suspected we would see them
again before we left. I saw no sign of Joe Jr, and I didn’t really care.
I expected Troy and Brendan would head back to
Roanoke, now that Anderson had essentially given the all clear, but Troy
surprised me by saying they wanted to stick close at hand until they knew Ethan
and I were out of danger, despite the fact that we had trained agents keeping
eyes on us. I was very touched by their declaration, and I’m sure Ethan was as
well. Maureen told them they were welcome to stay at the house as well, and not
to worry about a thing.
“We don’t want to impose on your hospitality,
ma’am,” Troy said, echoed by Brendan. But she was having none of that. The way
she was glowing, I could tell she looked as though she had acquired two more
sons.
Ethan’s mother is the best, no two ways about it.
Joey, of course, took advantage of the change in the
situation to immediately call dibs on the spare bedroom. If he thought he was
breaking our hearts, he was sadly mistaken. Ethan and I would much rather share
the living room with Uncle Benny, Troy, and Brendan minus his presence than
inflict him on them.
It was evening before we got everything squared
away. Where had the time gone? Ethan and I volunteered to make dinner for
everyone. Well, I was more of a sous chef than a chef, but I don’t think even I
could screw up making spaghetti. We added a large salad as well as cheesy
garlic bread, and everyone declared it all delicious. Ice cream for dessert was
the perfect way to end the meal.
After dinner, Ethan’s dad retired to his study,
while his mom shooed us out of the kitchen and suggested we enjoy the pleasant
evening while we could. We retired to the porch, grouping ourselves on the wide
steps. Ethan’s brother chose to remain inside, thank goodness. I’d noticed a
few daffodils had begun to make their appearance in Maureen’s garden, a sure
sign that spring was on its way. A gentle breeze was blowing, and occasionally
a bird song broke the silence.
“Do you think that woman had something to do with
the Atlanta threats?” Benny asked.
Good question. One I had been wrestling with myself,
to be honest.
“How would she even know about that?” Troy asked.
“How did she know anything?” I countered.
“And who is this mysterious director she kept
referring to. The one she was supposedly auditioning for,” Ethan said.
“You don’t think it’s that Daimler guy, do you?” I
asked. Gordon Daimler had not only been the actress’ boyfriend but her director
as well, including the Civil War pic where all Hell broke loose during
shooting.
Troy shook his head. “No, I’m sure it’s not him. She
would know who he was, first off, and she didn’t seem to know who this director
was, judging by the way she was talking. Secondly, from what I’ve heard, he
wouldn’t hire her if she were the last actress left in Hollywood. I heard his
next film has an all-male cast.”
We all laughed at that, and joked with Troy that he
should be in that one for sure, before the conversation turned serious once
more.
“Surely there’s a way of figuring out who she was
talking to,” Brendan said.
“Maybe there is,” Troy said thoughtfully.
“How so?” Ethan asked.
“Maybe by looking through her emails. I know all her
passwords. If she corresponded with this mystery man, surely the evidence would
still be there.”
That was a start, anyway.
to be continued
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