Descending Star

RECON

On the following morning, Zoey made an early start. Ben had told her that Charlie would be out of the door for work at seven, so she stretched in the Newtons' front parking lot at six thirty, to warm up for the three mile run to Ben's house.

The store wouldn't open for another three hours.

She heard shuffling footsteps, glanced up, and saw Leah Clearwater approaching at her typical lethargic gait, as though she were weary of the entire world.

"How's it going," Leah asked, in the tone of a declaration, as though she didn't care about the answer.

Zoey continued through some deep stretches and absently asked, "Aren't you a bit early, to open up the store?"

Leah looked back toward La Push, eighteen miles to the northwest, and said, "I suppose I made good time. Maybe I'll go to the diner for a muffin."

Zoey offered, "My apartment's unlocked. Sara Newton won't stop fattening me for slaughter. There's a whole cinnamon bundt cake on the counter, in a Tupperware container."

"Cool," said Leah. She made no move to go and just stood there.

Zoey looked up at her through her bangs, from a deep bend, and shrewdly realized that Leah hadn't made an early start by random chance.

In fact big Sam Uley had reminded Leah last night that Zoey's sport-climbing classes had ended and that she would have idle time on her hands. He had told Leah that she should keep a closer watch. Leah had told Sam Uley to find a fencepost, drop his pants, and take a seat. So Billy Black had interceded and begged her to keep an eye on things in Forks. She had cursed and grumbled somewhat until Billy Black had broken out the rosemary crackers and homemade Secret Ghost Pepper Dip. Leah enjoyed lighting herself on fire with the stuff. The burn distracted her from all the rest.

Zoey asked, "What can I do for you, Leah?"

"Got plans for today?" Leah asked with morose disinterest.

"Maybe. What's it to you?"

Leah shrugged and said, "I'm supposed to watch you guys."

Zoey's eyes went wide with fresh fury. "What guys?"

"You and Ben Swan."

Zoey clapped her hands over her face and broke into a fast jogging pace, venting as she went, "I don't need watching. Neither does he. So back off. Stop following me, or whatever you're doing."

She spun to confront Leah, to see if her commands were in any way unclear, and she stood alone in the parking lot. Leah was gone.

_________

Karl sat on a rock atop the ridgeline twelve miles north of the Sol Duc River. He wore a dapper summer outfit: tweed trousers, a pink silk shirt, a flowered silk ascot, brown and white saddle shoes with spats, and a smart bowler hat. He also twirled an ornate Irish shillelagh, a gnarled and thickly varnished hawthorne walking stick, topped by a golfball sized amethyst. He hadn't come down from Alaska so attired; he had stolen the outfit in Tacoma and had arrived late.

Geoff and Lauren had been here much longer, in no attire whatsoever. They presently tangled with each other in a nearby bed of spiny brambles.

Karl studied the Cullen house, which was locked up tightly with steel shutters lowered over every door and window. He said, "Edy could be in the house. We'd never know, from here."

Geoff said, "Then go check."

"I'm not checking. I don't care one way or another. I'm just coming along for something to do."