Save A Place For Me

Chapter 1

Standing in a downpour, black rain coat dripping, silvery lights glaring through the tree line as she stumbled, fell, lost, so hopeless in that moment. This is the end, she thought. She closed her eyes and gave into the weakness. As darkness overtook her vision, she heard his voice whisper in her ear. And then... Nothing.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the town of Franklinville, strangers were not common. There was a hundred and fifty mile radius around the central point; anyone who passed through that way would be taken notice of and reported to city officials, guard dogs to keep the people safe. No person could pass that boundary without the whole town noticing their presence.

So when a group of men stopped at Marissa's café, she was expecting them. After the night's storm, many of the town's residents would be coming in for morning coffee before they set out gathering their cattle, rebuilding fence lines knocked down by trees, or going to work at their own businesses.

She'd received a call two hours ago from one of the townsmen, Riley, who lived closer to the borderline. Three vehicles, all SUV's, with New Hampshire plates, and a long way from home. As much as she had known they were coming however, she was unprepared for the smells assailing her nose when they walked through the door.

Nine men, walking in three at a time, dressed in slacks and wrinkled dress shirts tucked in. A few had put product in their hair to achieve some semblance of being put together. They were tall, strong, and domineering. But she knew they posed no threat to herself or anyone else in this place. One sniff confirmed they were all human. A second however confirmed they were all armed. The smell of gun oil and lead was alarming.

"Good morning, gentlemen." She said. "What can I get started for ya?"

They sat down, four by the doorway, and the rest spread out along the bar. They all ordered coffee, bagels and some other breakfast items. Missa sent the order back with one of her girls so she could lean over the counter and find out more.

"What brings you to Franklinville, lovelies? It's been a while since we had some men as handsome as you lot." Her green eyes flashed mischievously, watching every move they made. In other parts of the café, she knew the other customers would be listening and analyzing whatever they said, ready to step in should Marissa be in danger.

A smaller of the men spoke up, clearly enamored by her cleavage peeking through her button up top. "A business trip, sweetheart. Just taking care of some things out this way." She couldn't wait for Davies in the back to finish making their food so the man would drool over something other than herself.

Disgusted but keeping up the ploy, she continued, "Really? What kind of business?" She wriggled her eyebrows conspiratorially. "We've mostly got land owners around here. Ranchers and the like. Real businessmen? You from the city or something? I've always wanted to meet a man who could show me the way around city life." She bit her lip and eyed him up as much as he'd been eyeing her.

He seemed the most willing to talk so far and her suggestiveness stroked his ego. "I was picking up an asset for the company. It got lost in transit so we had to come out and bring it back personally. Very valuable, not to be trusted to the regular mail." He had puffed up like a fucking bird. She ate birds for breakfast.

"That's fabulous." She said, smelling that their food was ready. She walked over to the window as Davies began placing plates up to be taken to their seats. "Call Michael." She told him.