who know what to do in an emergency.â Patrick jiggled his leg, and then he asked, âIs the generator at Green Acres working?â
âIt is, but even this morning they were shorthanded on staff. Can you imagine how bad itâs going to be if this aurora situation isnât resolved soon? The computers are down, and no one can reach the corporate office. Why should the nurses and aides show up for work if theyâre not going to bepaid? And how are workers supposed to get there without gasoline for their automobiles?â
âWeâre a small town,â Shelby reminded her. âSome people will walk.â
Bianca sat forward, her hands between her knees. âWhat youâre both saying is true, but Mamá has some valid worries. She is a stubborn woman, and I donât think I can change her mind about this. Iâm not even sure I should.â
âIf thatâs how you feel, Bianca, then weâll help you.â Shelby reached over and squeezed her friendâs hand. âWhen does she want to move him?â
âThis afternoon.â
âAll right,â Patrick said. âWeâll go and get him after lunch.â
âThereâs one more thing.â Bianca sat up straighter, as if she needed to improve her posture to handle the burdens she was carrying. âFor the time being, I think itâs best if I moved back in with them. With no Internet, I have no work. Who is going to buy pictures during a global crisis? Without work I canât pay my rent.â
âI can help,â Patrick said.
âNo. Itâs best that I make this decision now. Mamá needs me, and it makes sense for me to be there. I wonât need to take much with me⦠some clothes and personal items.â
âAre you packed?â Shelby asked.
âYes. I took care of it last night. Everything I need is in two suitcases inside my front door.â
âYouâll want to take what groceries you have as well.â Shelby shared with them Maxâs concerns about the food supply. âBest not to leave it in your apartment.â
âSounds like we have a busy day ahead of us.â Patrick clapped his hands, as if he were coming out of a football huddle. âOh, I almost forgot. Pastor Tony wants to have a meeting tonight after the mayorâs statement.â
Shelby exchanged a worried look with Bianca. âAny idea what itâs about?â
âNope. He asked me to spread the word, which I have now done. Undoubtedly you ladies have a grapevine that you can crank up.â
âMy grapevine was on my cell phone,â Bianca said.
âSame here, but surely between the three of usâfour with Maxâwe can get the word out to a few people.â
âLetâs start with Max.â Patrick had been watching out the front screen door. Now he stood, walked toward the door, and opened it. âAbout time you got here, bro.â
Shelby glanced out the door and saw Max coming up the walk. He raised his hand in greeting.
And the morningâs silence was shattered by the sound of gunshots.
For a moment everyone froze. Then Max hollered at Shelby and Bianca to stay inside. He and Patrick sprinted across the street and north toward the intersection of Kaufman and Fourth.
Shelby hurried to the door.
âWhat happened?â Bianca asked, crowding in beside her.
âIâm not sure.â
âWe canât see from here.â
âI think we should go and find out.â
Bianca hesitated, and then she nodded in agreement. âThe guys might need help.â
Shelby locked the front door and slipped her keys in her pocket. They hurried down the street to where a small crowd was gathering.
As Shelby pushed her way through, she heard a woman say, âHe has a gun. Youâd all better stay back.â
Max was standing in front of Rodney Tull. Nineteen years old with greasy hair and large gauges in his ears, he wore a black
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