Page 242 (1/1)

Afterreasons not to return Krista's call I fought the temptation to hop into my car and drive Where, I hadn't an idea As much as the idea appealed to me, I couldn't, whatever remained of my family needed me I was oblivious that the exact opposite was true

I retreated toover Shannie's yard and Fernwood I was tired of life at this dead end Eyes closed, I pulled myshades shut I climbed into bed Despite my exhaustion, I couldn't sleep My mind raced back to the accident

"It's definitely the the bodies "The Driver's naer's name is Shannie Ortolan"

"Any idea of next of kin for Ms Gray?" Bradigan asked

"She has a brother," I broke ainst the back of the police car "If it helps, his name's Calvin Gray Used to be in the Aran said

Turningon the steps of JD's, towering above those on the sidewalk, his facial features obscured by a cloud of cigar s the scene I scratched the idea of approaching hi the news that his butterfly lay broken on the far side of the tracks I overheard a shaken voice identify hiineer I turned towards the owner of the voice

A coe, compassion and pity struck ineer to look like, he wasn't it How could someone so frail operate such a powerful beast? In the years Shannie and I dodged freights, I've always harbored i so a card-catalogue at the public library His haggard face was frarandfather used to wear Unlike ineer's face was thin and sickly, an oval with pencil marks for nose and lips, his eyes no more than slits topped by eyebrows as thick as forsythia He looked incapable of accidentally killing an ant let alone soan asked

The engineer paused, exhaling a long breath before speaking "As we approached the crossing, the car pulled around the gate and stopped on the tracks I've seen it before, you know, drunks playing chicken Hell, I've had pedestrians at this very crossing stand in front ofme; damn imbeciles I don't knohat possess them Anyway, the car stops, I lay on the horn It wasn't till the passenger door opened and the blonde ju I iency breaks, but you knoell as anyone there's no way the train was going to stop in tihts, she paused for a second, looking at the train, I swear she was studying it She ran around to the driver's side I could see her yanking on the door, pounding on theShe looked up at us again; I could see the fear on her face I started to yell, screa, like she'd hear me Instead she jumped over the hood, leaned into the car, across the driver and opened the door from the inside"