was familiar to Martha. She' d been there too

, was parked haphazardly near the sa

e truck. She leaned heavily

ch, beers in hand, laughing. Th

vanished, repl

voice laced with annoyance.

ng, smirked. "Did little Elena send

ing on an explosive device. Out at the old qua

ating. Elena' s probably got her foot stuck in a

imed in, taking a long sip of her beer.

motion. "Bill Hoskins is there! The whole town will be th

at Brenda, who gave a little shr

ng back to Martha. "Elena' s just trying to ma

ely. "I' m busy.

the boy she had raised, the boy her husband had died to protect during

red, tears streaming down her face.

t understood by Martha, a reference to the pa

mperceptibly, but Bren

ce dripping with false sympathy. "If it was so serious, the pr

m Brenda. "Yeah, Ma. Go home. S

other, putting his arm arou

h fury and grief. Tom and Mike

reaching him.