"No. Just stop searching for her identity and have compassion. Think of a recluse who finds herself in possession of a marvelous gift, through no action on her part. All she wants to do is utilize this present from the gods to the maximum benefit of mankind without interference and assault on her simple life."

"That sounds reasonable."

"Let me ask you something else, Miss Reagan. Have you ever seen a murder first hand, someone being butchered before your eyes? A woman raped, or a person screaming for mercy or a child frightened to death, helpless and pleading for their mother? And all you can do is watch. Even the police, who see the aftermath of terrible, gut-wrenching crimes, aren't forced to watch them actually happening. It's incomprehensible, but the tipster keeps doing it."

"How could a person keep their sanity under those circumstances?"

"Perhaps they can't." I promised to check in from time to time as we finished our conversation. I'm sure Ethel Reagan had a thousand more questions but she didn't press me. I prayed she'd take my warning seriously and maybe give us some helpful press in the bargin.

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As the others remained behind the closed door of the conference room, I went out to lunch on my own. I knew to right the train on the track apologies needed be given. I acted presumptuously in not taking the others, especially my, into my confidence. Our actions were testimony to our different personalities but it was imperative that we continue to work together if our operation was to survive.

When I returned the four were waiting. They were holding hands.

New York State. Back roads, wine country, the Erie Canal. It's so lovely a tour on a spring afternoon. Small towns, children playing, birds singing.

There was no more I could accomplish in dreary Lynn thought I felt a closeness to my prey. Now I have another dazzling thought, bred from my brilliant research. I missed my calling as a wise and successful detective!

Consider this as an example of my brilliance; "After," is an organization designed to follow up on unresolved crimes, many being pursued because of mysterious tips from my nemesis. Is there a connection? Who is behind this enterprise? I find it is funded by corporations, do-gooders, trust funds, individuals, and off shore ghost entities . . . unfortunately, too many names to pursue each and every one. But then I see a benevolent individual has donated a not insignificant amount in memory of my late lamented house guest, Brenda Washington. This same gentleman appears on the list of backers of "After." There is more. My careful cross-referencing noted the same name listed as a wealthy grandfather of a kidnapped child who was returned after a strange tip was received. A coincidence? I think not.




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