THE LONELY DESERT

PART 2 - THE BROKEN WOMAN 

By Tessa Harvey

But Shayla had stopped her small vehicle, now glistening in the rain, threatening all day, now tumbled down. She thought for a few minutes.

    To be honest, she didn't really see how racing after that old woman and Ariella would help. Turning around and no longer following was a huge step for her, but all she longed for now was her dear beautiful baby Alfie and her mother figure of Auntie Ruth. 

    She drove back through the dashing rain and calmly walked up to the front door of her recent work place. It was still hanging open. Aware of twitching lace curtains and blinds, Shayla glanced up at the door, miming horror she had left it open and calmly hurried to shut it, but first she glanced inside for anything else useful. She made a show of searching her black and silver carry bag as though she had forgotten something, then went inside.

    Well, the absence of the patient could not be disguised. So, how to protect herself? She needed to work. Carefully she wrote a note and placed it where the medicine tray still lay on the polished but dust walnut table. "I have to go early. Love, Shayla." The old ticking clock was always out of time. However her phone told her she had ten minutes before old Stoney face was due. As an afterthought, she added: "so sorry, family emergency."

    Then she hurried out. It had been tempting to rummage around for anything else of value, but personal objects could be traced. Still she picked up a tiny brass lady. Her old-fashioned skirt hid a tiny tinkling bell. It disappeared into her large bag, joining the medications and the money. "I'm a criminal," she thought, and not for the first time."

COMING SOON - A CROSS THE CHASM