Nanny Dove stood in front of the grave of her sister Lizzie.
"Well, Lizzie, its bes a long time since Ise stood 'ere.
Ise knows dat youse will never forgives me fer what Ise did, but Ise were young den and Ise thot Ise were doin' da right ting."
The spirit laughed.
"da rite ting wud 'ave been to butt da fuck out and lets youse and 'enry be.
Fer dat Ise bes sorry. Ise done alls Ise can do Lizzie.
Guess Ise not bes as strong as Ise thot Ise were."
Nanny Dove knelt in front of the grave.
"Forgives me Lizzie."
"Tilly, me love. Youse gonna git yer dress dirty, kneeling' dere like dat and youse knows dat mudder will take a switch to youse ifin youse does."
Nanny Dove got slowly to her feet and turned.
"I cannot believes me eyes."
~~~~~
"Hello."
"Is this Gail Hirst?"
"It is.
Who is this?"
The woman on the other end laughed.
"I am the woman who knows where all the bodies are buried."
Gail sat on the edge of the bed.
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on Gail. Surely you knew that your past would catch up with you."
"Look. I don't know who the fuck you are or what you think you know, but I have nothing to hide."
The woman laughed.
"Really? Ah, Gail. Stupid, naive little Gail. Did you really think that your father's death would put an end to this?"
"Look, whoever this is, I really don't find this very amusing."
"Neither do I."
The woman's voice grew very serious.
"I know everything about you, your father and your family. And if you want your dirty little secrets kept hidden, you best do as I say."
"I have had enough of this shit."
"You hang up that phone bitch and I go to the authorities. I am sure they would be more than happy to know all the little secrets that your father told me, when we were, as you say, engulfed in the throngs of passion."
"I have had enough of this."
"Does the name Jake Harrison jog your memory. Or maybe Randy Quilty."
Gail went silent.
The woman laughed.
"I thought that might change your mind."
"What the fuck do you want?"
"Oh I want a lot. But for starters how about ...."
~~~~~
Randi kissed Valerie.
"I will see you in the morning."
"Oh. Do you have to go?"
"Yes I do. Its only one night."
Valerie moaned and rubbed up against her fiancé.
"You sure you can't wait until the morning."
Randi kissed her again.
"Okay, you horney vixen. I have to go. My dentist appointment is for seven in the morning and I don't feel like getting up at four to get there on time."
"Let me come."
"You have to work tonight."
Randi kissed her again.
"Besides I have to pick up a surprise for you."
"A present."
Valerie clapped her hands.
"Goody. Goody."
"So much for my horney vixen."
One last kiss and Randi went to their truck. Moments later, she turned on the highway, headed south.
She had only gone about 10 miles, when she saw a car on the side of the road, hood up and a young woman leaning over it.
Randi pulled over to the side of the road and jumped out of the truck.
"Hey there. Problems?"
The young woman threw her arms in the air.
"I don't know what happened. It just stopped."
Randi looked at the engine.
"Let me take a look. I know a little about cars."
"That would be amazing."
Randi leaned in and looked.
"There is your problem. The distributor cap is loose."
"Well that is a problem isn't it?"
Randi stood up quick, when she heard the man's voice.
She turned to see a rough looking, heavy bearded man, standing a few feet from her. He held a handgun.
"Now, if you would be so kind as to get in the front seat of the car."
"And if I don't?"
The young woman walked up to Randi's back.
"If you don't, I will drive this hunting knife through your spine. Now, do as you were told."
Randi walked around the car, as the man opened the door. The woman went to the driver's side door.
"Get in," the man ordered, pushing the handgun in Randi's back.
Randi leaned forward, as though she were going to get in the car, bur suddenly spun around and slammed her fist into the man's throat.
The man dropped the handgun and grabbed his throat.
Randi jumped down the small embankment and started running toward the forest.
"Stop, bitch."
Randi never turned.
She cringed slightly, as she heard the sound of the hand gun being fired, but she never stopped.
The man was now gaining his senses. He took the hand gun from the woman.
"Stop you fuckin' bitch."
Randi never stopped.
She ducked, as a bullet smashed into a fir tree to her right, but kept on running.
Another shot rang out.
Randi was knocked forward by the impact of the bullet. She fell face first to the ground, fighting to stay conscious.
~~~~~
Bill and Matty sat at the front of the lighthouse veranda, looking out over the village. It was a beautiful, warm, August night and the two were sharing a drink of wine.
"Now this is paradise," Matty smiled.
"It is a beautiful night," Bill agreed.
Matty laughed.
"I was talking about the wine."
She kissed the glass.
"I have so missed you."
"Just one glass. Remember what Nick said."
"Just had to spoil the moment, didn't you."
Matty turned to her right. She reached down and readjusted the blanket on the baby, in the car seat.
"I just love these car seat, bed things. So handy."
"How's my boy doing?"
"Our son, Silas, is doing just fine.
How about my daughter?"
Bill laughed.
"Tilly is sound asleep. Quiet as a mouse. Not like her namesake."
Matty laughed.
"Okay. The last thing we need is Nanny here right now."
Matty waved to Tanya and Quinton, who were just returning from a walk.
"Hey fatty? How you doin?"
Tanya flipped Matty the finger and then blew her a kiss.
"Love youse."
"Love youse too, witch."
"You were a chubby like that once, remember?" Bill reminded her.
"Fuck off," Matty laughed, as she leaned over to kiss Bill.
"We best go down soon. It is getting a little chilly. And I have to feed the monsters."
"You know they are seagulls and they are more than capable to get their own food."
"Says the man that spent $25 on fresh salmon for a treat for them."
Bill shrugged.
"Well there are four of them now."
Matty finished her wine.
"Come on. Let's go in before it gets chilly."
Within minutes, Bill was closing the door to the lighthouse.
"Who has the codes tomorrow?"
Matty never answered.
"Honey?"
Bill turned to see Matty standing a few feet from another woman.
Bill smiled and walked toward the woman.
"Hello."
The woman smiled and extended her hand.
"You must be Bill."
Bill took her hand gently.
"I am. And who are you?"
"My mother," Matty whispered.
THE END