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

everyone was socompetitive in my recall. I can really feel the energy on that. Imust have been striving to win the medal," I said as I handed theiPad back to Tina. "A strand of my 'web of life' must be tied tothat space-time if I can feel intense emotion from looking at themedal."

Tina turned a few pages on the iPad and thenhanded it back to me saying, "Look, here is a picture of one oftheir old airplanes."

As I looked at the picture, my body againreacted and I felt an emotion of loss or of grief. "That must havebeen one of the kind of airplanes I flew." I closed my eyes a fewseconds and thought about the airplane. "Wow!" as I think about it,I know exactly what is smells like, the sound of the engine, theexhaust fumes. I also can perceive the jolts on my rear end when ittaxies." I paused for another moment and said, "I also know exactlyhow it flies, the response of the stick, and the G's as it turnsand rolls. I can hear the machine guns. They are reallyloud.

"Let's change the subject or do something else.This subject is freaking me out."

"'Freaking–me–out' is not good." Replied Tina.She squirmed a little bit and then exclaimed in a false southernaccent, "Oh dearie me, just look how my bathrobe is falling off myshoulders. What am I to do?"

As I walked into my office on Tuesday, I didn'teven notice Carolyn doing her thing because I was feeling so good.When I got to my suite, Zaza wistfully sighed her "Good morning."Then, she looked at me and said, "OK, this looks like a dozenlong–stemmed roses sort of day. Did you get Flopsey and Mopsey andCottontail together somewhere? OK, I get it, one dozen for each,one for Saturday, one for Sunday, one for yesterday."

"No flowers," I said. I saw a puzzled appear onZaza's face.

Zaza said, "You have an unexpected visitor inthe lobby. He said his name is Mr. Burton. Do you know who heis?"

"No, can't say I do. Is he therenow?"

"I'll check," said Zaza as she buzzedCarolyn.

"He's there."

I walked into the lobby and a tall man in adark navy blue suit and dark aviator glasses rose out of his chairand said, "Mr. Willard?"

I said, "Yes," as he handed me his businesscard. It said 'Mr. A Burton, Special Representative, EBServices.'

I stared at the card for a minute until Iremembered who EB Services was, Colson's Security consultants, andthen nodded my head in recognition.

"Please come into my office," Isaid.

"Can we take a walk?" he said.

"OK," I said. I then turned to Carolyn who waspretending to look another way, and said, "Tell Zaza I will be gonefor a while." I followed Mr. Burton to the elevator, and we got inwithout him saying a word. As we rode down, he didn't speak. Hestood with his hands clasped in front of him staring at thedoor.

As we exited the elevator he said, "Lets go outinto the plaza."

Our Century City building is situated on theedge of a park-like plaza that is shared with two other high-risebuildings. The plaza has a central fountain and many benches undertrees or next to landscaped plots for people to relax or havelunch. I followed Mr. Burton to an isolated bench where he satdown.

"Please excuse the precautions, they are partof our business. As you know, we have been retained by the ColsonFoundation to provide security for you and your key witnesses fromnow until the end of the trial. I am aware of Dr. Montgomery'sscare at your parking garage, the discovery of surveillance deviceson your car, the person seen around your equipment at CrystalAireairport, and at Rocky Butte, and in Ogden. We know who he is. Wehave a plan for your security and the security of your witnesses atRocky Butte.

"First, we would like to provide surveillanceof your equipment at CrystalAire airport. It sits in the open andwe would like to park some sort of vehicle in the vicinity that wecan conceal a surveillance camera in. Do you have anysuggestions?"

I thought for a second and then said, "Isometimes rent a jeep sedan from the tow pilot, Dan, to tow mysailplane trailer for off-road retrieves. Rent Dan's jeep and parkit near my trailer. It would not seem out of the ordinary since acredible coat of dust covers it. You can trust Dan. Tell him youare doing it for me so I can catch whoever has been messing aroundwith my trailer."

"We will do that," Burton replied. "Now, hereare the arrangements for Rocky Butte.

"We have leased an upscale Dude Ranch nearRocky Butte, which has a main house and five first-class cabins.You can stay in the main house with a couple of our people. Buster,one of my operatives, will be your bodyguard. His wife, Sofia, willbe a bodyguard, and will prepare the meals for the witnesses andother visitors. The pair are experts at what they do.

"Your witnesses and other visitors, such asyour firm's staff, or people from Colson, will stay in the cabinsand we will provide transportation to and from the Rocky ButteCourthouse. Witnesses and visitors will fly commercially toSacramento and then will be flown, by us, on a chartered lightplane to the airstrip on the ranch property. Witnesses can bringspouses or significant othersfor their stay, but nobody goes into Rocky Butte for anythingbut court business." Burton paused, and I interrupted.

"How about me, can I bring mysignificant other?" (I was delightedat saying that.)

Burton didn't flinch, but I thought he wasmulling over the fact that they hadn't found a significant other in checking me out.

"And," I added, "I need to go into Rocky Butteto mingle with people so that they will consider me more like alocal. The local grapevine is an asset I intend to use. Thegrapevine gave me the intelligence that there was someone checkingup on me, the guy that was also spotted in Ogden."

Without pausing Burton said, "Of course, inanswer to both requests, but, your guest shouldn't go into RockyButte during the trial. We don't want to risk a hostage situation.Whenever you go into town you must be accompanied by our man or hiswife,