Love Story: In The Web of Life by Ken Renshaw (snow like ashes TXT) 📕

be back early tonight becausetomorrow I have to correct papers and do grades. Maybe we shouldstop by your desert mobile home to let me freshen up."

She grinned mischievously and added, "Do youhave any Snickers bars there?"

I felt that mysterious energy around my heartagain.

****

Monday, as I entered my office, Zaza greeted mewith a slight smile and said, "He has that look about him again.The desert flowers must be in bloom. Weekends, it must be Flopsy.No! I can't keep track. Flowers in order?"

I ignored her and said, "I am going to go toRocky Butte for a court date on Thursday at nine o'clock, and tosee Steve Manteo. Make me reservations for me to fly to Sacramentoon Wednesday, getting there in the morning if possible. Get me acar, and make a reservation at some motel in Rocky Butte for onenight. I'll be in court there on Thursday morning, and I'll driveout to see Steve in the afternoon. I'll play it by ear about whereI'll stay Thursday night. Get me a flight back to LA in the earlymorning on Friday."

"Got it!" she replied. "Dore Hamilton is comingin tomorrow morning at nine, only for a half hour she said. Shedoesn't want a formal progress report. She said she wanted todiscuss some security issues about the trial."

I spent the day in the office.

****

The next morning Zaza buzzed me and said, "DoreHamilton just arrived and is in the conference room."

I put on my coat and hurried to the conferenceroom, getting there as Carolyn was showing her in.

"Good morning Dave," said Dore as she thrusther hand out for a handshake. "How is the trial preparation going?Are you getting comfortable with the subject?"

Dore was wearing a navy blue business suit witha scarlet scarf tied loosely around her neck. She was giving me hericy stare and I knew I was being 'read.' In a few seconds her facerelaxed and seemed friendly.

"Good to see you, Dore" I replied. "I am nowquite comfortable with these new ideas. Dr. Montgomery was veryhelpful. I have a court date in Rocky Butte Thursday and I'll seeSteve Manteo that evening and stay over as required."

Dore was giving me one of her highly practicedprofessional smiles. "We can talk about that later. I'm sure youhave it under control. I think we have some security issues we needto address. Our security consultants have been talking to youroffice security and have done some further investigations. Itappears the trial has attracted the attention of a group of peoplewe should be careful of. They call themselves Skeptemos, and claimto be part of a secret organization that has existed since theRenaissance. Their role is to stamp out bad science, which theydefine as anything but Newtonian science. They especially like togo after anything of a psychic nature.

"There are legitimate organizations, scientificoffshoots, of otherwise reputable people that make it theirbusiness to debunk all psychic phenomena. These are not the sameguys.

"Skeptemos seems to be more like the guys thatget totally involved with online video games and that go to gameconventions dressed as game characters, wearing tights or capes.From our reports, Skeptemos people seem to believe that there is aconspiracy to destroy Science so that evil people can take over theworld with superstition and fear. They feel called-on to save theworld. The 'secret' order doesn't seem to have been in existencefor more than a few years.

"We traced the tracking device on your car to aperson who has a website that touts some of the Skeptemos line. Heis a retired Special Forces enlisted man. He fits the descriptionof the man Dr. Montgomery saw near her car. He could bedangerous.

"Our security firm suggests that we rent aplace outside Rocky Butte for the duration of our business upthere. Then, we can have people come and go without notice and notstir the locals up. An isolated place would make the securityeasier. I'll take care of the arrangements."

I replied, "Somehow that doesn't cause me muchconcern, but I'll defer to your judgment. I am going up there nextweek for court date and to visit Steve Manteo. I am going to hangaround town a little bit to get a feel for the place. I understandabout small towns like Rocky Butte. I was raised in a small loggingtown in northern California. Everyone knows what everyone else isdoing and the rumor hotline is faster that the speed of light. Itmight be wise to secretly put a local on the security payroll,someone who would know about all the rumors, and someone who cantell you about strangers that might be spending timethere."

"I'll suggest that. Now, I have to getgoing."

I walked Dore to the lobby, shook hands andsaid, "Thank you for selecting Bracken and Stevens to represent youin this matter. This is a good change of subject to me and I amquite excited about it."

Dore looked at me without blinking (I was being'read' again) and then smiled her professional smile and said, "Weare very pleased with our selection."

I walked her to the elevator and said goodbye.As I walked back into the lobby, Carolyn gave me her 'You are sucha wonderful man' smile.

****

Chapter Five

ROCKYBUTTE

I drove into Rocky Butte late on Wednesdayafternoon, across the bridge over Butte Creek, which was swollenwith the spring runoff from the snowmelt, and saw about what Iexpected. One main street with one cross street surrounded by pineforests. I was seeing small town America, only modestly changedfrom the 1950s: a sporting goods store, a grocery store, the RiverView and Rocky Butte Inn motels, two restaurants, a post office,drug store, a hardware store that advertised "Gold Pans and MiningSupplies" and "Satellite Dishes," two gas stations, an auto repairshop, two real estate agencies, a bank, and two saloons.

After six it was quiet and most of thebusinesses were closed. Only the saloons, The Claim Jumper andDiggings, seemed to be doing a good business judging by the varietyof pickups parked in front, some looking as though they might