October 7, 2018
Galveston, Texas
Second day on the job. They had enjoyed an early dinner at a local burger joint to prepare for the responsibility. Nancy smiled. With Harlee and Jack in the lead, Noah, Cora, and Nancy were enjoying the crisp autumn day, a rarity in Galveston this early in the fall. She loved this island but living here had always been a challenge for someone who grew up in the Northeast. Smiling to herself, she remembered her conversation with Marnie.
“Oh Nancy, it’s so good of you to supervise the kids walking my pups. Jack is such a goof, and it’s impossible to get him enough exercise. These Colorado dogs don’t know what to do with the waves of the beach. Harlee is pretty sure she’s supposed to chase them. I think Jack would drink the whole bay up if it wasn’t salt water.”
“It’s a great way to motivate all of us to go for a walk. Noah and Cora are excited to have their first paying job.”
“Oh, it’s money well spent. Louise suggested twenty-five cents a mile. I laughed and told her it was 2018. The going rate is two dollars a mile.”
As they completed their second mile and circled back to Marnie’s, they passed through Darragh Park. It was decorated with a wrought iron gazebo and benches, which were anchored with huge chains to prevent them from wandering off. One person in a hoodie sat quietly on the bench.
Jack, totally out of character, started growling.
Nancy quickened her pace to draw level with Noah. That’s when she noticed the hooded figure stood up and turned to face them. When she looked closer, all she could see was a gun pointed straight at Cora.
Nancy shrieked. The children dropped their leashes as Jack lunged at the person, getting a piece of his leg. The gun went flying and landed several feet away.
The man stumbled backwards, and Jack went for his face.
Nancy commanded the kids to run to the car, grabbed the dogs’ leashes and followed the children. She clicked the car door open as she ran.
Once inside, she locked the doors, started the car and drove off—for once, not checking if the kids were buckled in.
Sitting on their family room couch, Didier and Louise were enjoying a few minutes of conversation after an adult-only dinner.
Didier was recounting a “sighting” for Louise. He loved to tell her about the birds he had been lucky enough to see each day, along with any details he found interesting about his clients.
“I was with my group today, three sisters and a sister-in-law, on their annual sisters’ trip. We were looking north from Seawolf Park on Pelican Island, out to the Selma shipwreck. It’s a magnet for brown pelicans and laughing gulls this time of year. The birders were more interested in the view of that half-submerged WWI concrete battleship than the birds, I think. I was having a hard time convincing them that concrete could float…”
Before Didier could finish, they heard footsteps pounding up the front steps. As Chico dashed to investigate, the door flung open, and Cora and Noah ran in and attached themselves—Noah to Didier and Cora to Louise. They were both crying. As they were trying to learn what had happened, Nancy came through the door with Marnie’s dogs. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was uncharacteristically plastered to her scalp with perspiration. At seventy-three, she was in excellent shape, and Louise was shocked to see her so breathless.
“Mom, sit down. Let me get you a glass of water. What on earth happened?” Louise went to the sink with Cora still glued to her, her head pressed into Louise’s neck.
It was Noah who spoke up next. “He pointed a gun at us!”
Didier got up holding Noah, scanning the street outside and locking the doors. All three dogs were circulating the room, trying to figure out what was going on. Nancy had collected herself enough to speak.
“We were walking Marnie’s dogs. Noah had Jack and Cora had Harlee. We were circling the park near Marnie’s bungalow when I spotted a man—I mean, I think it was a man—sitting on a bench and appearing to read a magazine. He stood up when we passed, dropped the paper, and pointed a gun right at us.”
“Oh my god!” Louise said.
“At first, I froze,” Nancy said. “When he took a step toward us, Jack lunged at him. Noah let the dog go and I think he bit the man’s leg. The man fell back, rolled over, and we ran to the car. Here we are.”
By now, the dogs were settling down. Jack sat facing the group, looking from one to another. Noah climbed down from Didier and gave him a hug.
“I’m calling the police,” said Didier. “We need to find this guy. Why would he threaten our family?” He dialed 9-1-1.
Louise’s mind was racing. It wasn’t only their family, but what was left of Marnie’s family as well. Was this attack related to Marnie’s and Chris’s trip to the lab? She transferred Cora to Nancy’s lap, found her phone, and dialed Sudhan.
“Detective Sudhan? Iliana?” Louise continued breathlessly, unable to assume the calm demeanor she displayed in the ER. “It’s Louise. We need your help. My mother and our kids were just threatened at gunpoint. They got away and we’re all fine now. Didier’s on the phone with 9-1-1. I think this is related to Marnie finding the thumb drive and Gen’s murder.
“Okay, slow down. Everyone’s okay? Did they get a good look at this guy? Never mind, I’m on my way. Sit tight,” Sudhan said.
Louise’s next call was to Marnie.
As Savannah discussed the remaining staff members, Marnie, seeing that Louise was calling, answered her phone. The color drained from Marnie’s face as Louise filled her in. She gestured to Chris that they needed to go and headed for the door.
“Oh my god! Are the kids okay? Nancy?” Marnie asked.
“They’re all still shaken up, but yeah, safe and sound. We called the police and Sudhan. They’re on their way. I think this is all connected to Gen.”
“The dogs?” Marnie half sobbed the question.
“Don’t worry, your kids are safe and sound, too. Turns out Jack was the hero. I’ll explain when you get here.”
Before following Marnie, Chris dropped some cash on the table and made a quick apology to Savannah.
She thrust the folder at him. “Take this with you.”
As they pulled out of the parking lot, their car churned up a white cloud of dust from the shells and silt. Marnie could feel her heart pounding. Please God, not another tragedy.