Gray's Requiem: Maggie Gray Trilogy, #2

Prologue

FARO AND HIS PEOPLE needed a safe haven; they were tired of being accused of crimes because they were low born among the Atropi. They were tired of constantly being reminded of their failures, their shortcomings and being victimized. They knew any form of revolt would only lead to a worsening of their conditions. What they needed was a fresh start; a new life somewhere else. Faro had had enough of oppression and slavery at the hands of his masters. He gathered anyone willing to follow him into the unknown for a chance to control their own destiny. A chance to be free. Faro managed to gather a small group and together they worked out a plan for escape from the city and a method to liberate a few cargo ships to get them off the planet. It was a daring plan and there was every chance they would be killed before they made it to the ships not to mention before they could get off the planet, but it was a risk they were all willing to take.

After traveling as far as their ships would take them they landed on a small blue planet. It was sparsely populated, but offered a good climate, despite the brightness of the sun that forced them to seek shelter from its heat. They were safe from their masters and that was all that mattered to Faro and the eleven other families that had survived the voyage.

As Faro and his small band of refugees began to explore their new surroundings they encountered natives of the planet. Their skin was darker than Faro’s people and they carried weapons of stone and wood. The had very round heads and spoke in odd tones. Faro learned the natives he encountered did not have a full understanding of the universe around them. They believed their home was on the back of a turtle. However, the natives were kind and they provided Faro and his people with animal skins to protect them from the harsh sun. They shared their food and provided shelter. In return Faro and his people shared their knowledge with their new neighbors. Faro’s people taught them how to create weapons that were far deadlier than anything the natives possessed. They showed the natives how to grow crops to sustain themselves more easily and how to cure their meat for the long winters.

Faro soon learned the planet offered a variety of climates and natives. They traveled to each of the different regions of the planet and each time were treated with awe and reverence. They were treated like GODS.

CHAPTER ONE

THERE WAS NO WAY TO avoid the storm bearing down on her. She had managed to stay ahead of the clouds of her past. But, as she pulled her ancient manual drive SUV over to the side of the road just outside the heart of Morgan Creek, Montana storm clouds of a different sort were spilling down over the mountains in front of her. It gave her an involuntary chill down Maggie's spine.

She turned off the SUV’s engine and stepped out to scan the horizon in the direction she had just come. She had just spent twenty something hours driving west from Virginia after retiring from her position with the Federation Intelligence Service. In theory it had been an ideal plan. Retire, move back home to Montana, take over her uncle’s cattle ranch and try to forget the faces of the men she had killed in the name of Federation Intelligence service. The reality of her plan was that her now former boss did not appreciate her plans for the future. One does not simply ‘retire’ from being the Federation Intelligence Service’s top assassin and to prove that point Gideon Keeley, Director of the Intelligence Services branch had sent two men in dark suits to follow Maggie on her drive west.

She had first noticed the pair at a rest stop and devised a plan to try and lose them before she crossed from Federation Territory into the United States of Western America. Maggie considered her options; she could lure them off the interstate to a back road and shoot them both. It wasn’t like she didn’t have her favorite Beretta 9mm tucked into her waistband. Option two, was to try and lose them on the back roads, but that left too much to chance. While she was weighing her options, she had spotted a roadside diner and decided to lure the men inside. She was betting that this close to the Federation and USWA border the locals wouldn’t be too friendly to a couple of Federation watchers.

The diner was dimly lit inside and as her eyes had adjusted to the interior she had wondered if she had made a mistake. The entire diner went silent as she walked in, all eyes turning towards her. She had sat down and was approached by a large man with a bald head and several menacing tattoos.  He introduced himself as Mickey, Stella’s younger brother and as luck would have it was a friend of her uncle Charlie’s. When the two men had followed her into the diner Mickey had been more than willing to help her. He didn’t bother with the details as to why the men had followed her only that she was Charlie Gray Eagle’s niece and two men were harassing her while she was trying to get back home following her uncle’s death. Mickey and his friends had been more than willing to help her out, being Charlie’s niece practically made her a member of the family as far as Stella and Mickey were concerned.  Stella’s Roadside Diner had been the solution she needed.

As Maggie stared back towards the border she heard a sound that could have been mistaken for thunder, if no one noticed the thick black smoke rising-up from behind the tree line. She knew the bodies of the two men who had been following her would never be found thanks to her new friends at Stella’s Roadside Diner.  The harsh reality was that a lot of people went missing in no-man’s land along the Federation and USWA border and she wondered how often the boys from Stella’s Diner had a hand in those disappearances. It wasn’t something she wanted to think about at the moment. She was just grateful for their help in dealing with Keeley’s goons. Maybe he would think twice before harassing her again. But, she doubted it.

Maggie turned her attention once again to the west towards what had once been her home, Morgan Creek, Montana.

Damn. The rain began to fall, and it only served to increase the feeling of dread at returning home. The idyllic reasons she had told her friends back in Virginia for moving home were a nice thought; a pretty picture. But, the reality was she had questions, serious questions.  Her need for answers about her own past spurred her forward. She drove the remaining miles into the heart of Morgan Creek carefully. Not that the roads weren’t unfamiliar, but it had been at least fifteen years since she had been home.  No point in driving all the way from Virginia just to crash a few miles from her destination on a wet slick road.  She drove slowly down Main Street past small shops and a diner pulling over into a parking space along the curb. She had survived the twenty-hour non-stop drive; been followed by Federation goons; now the next hurdle to her homecoming was in the squat stone building across the street staring back at her; daring her to come inside and face her past. The rain was pelting the windshield of her SUV and she didn’t relish the idea of getting soaked with the cold rain. She sat for a moment hoping it would slack off.

Maggie glanced over at the book her friend Hugo had gifted her when they said their final goodbyes back in Riverside, Virginia. She was eager to read it but there had been no time on drive west. She ran her finger along the heavy brown wrapping paper. She wondered if it was some old copy of a classic, Moby Dick or Sherlock Holmes. Hugo was the proprietor of Spy Glass Books, and she had rented a small apartment above his bookstore for nearly eight years. Hugo loved books and enjoyed sharing them with his friends. Regardless of what tome was concealed in the heavy paper, it was preferable to crossing the street and having to start a new life. She had a childish thought that when she come home her life would be different, that it would shift back to something pure and good. That she wouldn’t have to live with lies anymore. Now that she was here, nothing could be further from the truth she would be living a bigger lie here than she had the past fifteen years using assumed identities because she would never be able to tell her friends and family the truth about her life prior to returning to Morgan Creek. She thought of Hugo and all the nights they had sat out on her tiny balcony back in Riverside watching the throngs of people below. She would miss the miniscule apartment above the bookstore and she would miss Hugo. She had an urge to turn the SUV around and drive back to Virginia.

The rain slacked a bit and she decided she would make a run for the stone building. It was now or never. As she pushed open the door marked ‘Sheriff’s Office’ a tall, too handsome deputy standing at a filing cabinet holding a sheaf of papers greeted her with a cocky smile. 

Hello ma’am. I’m Deputy Rick Colson, can I help you? The papers were forgotten on top of the gunmetal gray cabinet.

I’m looking for Deputy Chapman. She didn’t return the smile.

Chaps, I mean Deputy Chapman, stepped down to the evidence room for a minute, but I’d be happy to help you. He hooked his thumbs on this belt as he sauntered to the counter.

She wanted to laugh and then she wanted to slap him. He was clearly aware of his good looks.

No, I don’t think so. Maggie turned her back to him and studied an old faded map hanging on the wall. The date in the corner read 1898. She was fascinated by old things, maps, books, pictures. Anything that predated the advanced technology of the Federation. It seemed just as foreign to her as life on a colonized planet. The office itself looked like something time had forgotten; everything was wooden, some of it painted some of it not and it looked a little neglected and forlorn. She wasn’t much into all the metal and glass of Federation buildings, she enjoyed a room with character, but this room needed help. In addition to the cocky Deputy Rick Colson, was also a female deputy seated at a desk near the window and an older lady sitting off to the right, trying to appear disinterested in Maggie.

Several minutes later the door to the left of her opened allowing the musty air to sneak into the lobby. Deputy Joshua Chaps Chapman had his back to her with a large file box under one arm while he tried to lock the door to the hallway with his free hand.

Here let me help you with that. Maggie walked up behind him and took the box.

Thanks. Chaps concentrated on the door using both hands to pull the door tight and turn the key. He finally got the door secured and turned to retrieve the evidence box.

Maggie!

Surprise shown on his face.

Hey buddy.

Maggie grinned just as pleased with herself for surprising her childhood friend as she was to see him again.

Give me that! Chaps took the box and practically threw it on the floor. Then he scooped her up in a bear hug and swung her around.

What’s going on?

Deputy Mary Hicks came to stand next to Deputy Colson and watch the reunion.

Not sure.

Rick watched with fascination. He wasn’t used to being tossed aside by women and especially not for the likes of Deputy Chapman; a baby faced pudgy man, who had, as far as Rick knew, never had a girlfriend.

How long have you been here? Chaps set Maggie down.

About five minutes. I thought I’d stop by and let you know I was here and maybe grab the keys to the house.

Chaps didn’t try to hide his excitement.  

Okay sure, but I mean, we are going out, right? I mean we have to celebrate your home coming,

Sure, we are, she gave him a wink and a smile but I didn’t think you wanted to celebrate in the middle of the day. She prayed he didn’t want to leave work and celebrate right now. After twenty hours on the road and the little incident at Stella’s Roadside Diner she needed to at least freshen up before she did any celebrating. 

No, of course not. Well, why not? I mean we should be celebrating out in the square.

She thought he might be serious.

Chaps?

Just kidding. I thought you were going to call me and give me a heads-up or something though.

And ruin the surprise? She squeezed his hand.

Okay, okay. Here are the keys.

Chaps fished a small ring from his pocket.

Chaps, you going to introduce us to her little friend? Deputy Hicks walked up next to Chaps and squeezed his arm while giving Maggie a too sweet smile.

Maggie noticed the possessive gesture, it irritated her, but then maybe Chaps had a relationship with this beauty queen wanna be.

Uh, sure. Chaps looked from Maggie to Deputy Hicks and back. This is my friend Maggie. Maggie this is Deputy...

Mary Hicks, nice to meet you. Mary stepped in front of Chaps to shake Maggie’s hand.

And this is Deputy Rick Colson. Chaps continued.

Maggie glanced back to the deputy she had dismissed earlier and gave him a tight smile. In return Rick Colson nodded once in her direction.

Did I hear someone say Maggie Gray was here? Reba Sweetwater got up from her desk and joined Chaps and the others.

Ms. Sweetwater! Maggie smiled.

Well, I am so glad to see you again Maggie. I was beginning to think you weren’t ever coming home for a visit.

Well, I hope I’m home for longer than a visit. Maggie smiled and hugged the diminutive woman. Chaps, why didn’t you tell me Ms. Sweetwater worked here?

I don’t know I guess I forgot. Chaps looked sheepish.

How do you know Reba? Mary Hicks tilted her head to one side and smiled.

Ms. Sweetwater used to be our school librarian. Maggie didn’t take her eyes of Reba. You and I will have to get together for lunch.

Oh, I would love that! Reba hugged Maggie.

Maggie pulled herself away from the small group.

About tonight Chaps, you choose, she smiled and kissed his cheek, you have my number, call me when you get off work and let me know what you decide.

Chaps blushed a little at the kiss in front of his co-workers.

Okay, I’m so glad you’re here. He stepped forward and hugged her again.

Me, too.

Maggie was just realizing just how much she had missed her dear friend.

Rick and Mary watched with interest.

Okay, gotta run, I’ve been on the road for what seems like forever. I need a hot shower.

Yeah, you do.

Brat! She laughed as she opened the door to leave. She pointed at Chaps.  Call me later.

I will. Chaps stood grinning at the door after she left.

Chaps, is that the girl that sent you all the post cards?

Rick crossed his arms over his large barrel chest.

Yeah that’s her. You and get to know her more tonight. I’m going to throw her a big welcome home party.

Chaps headed for his desk, the evidence box forgotten, and picked up the phone. He quickly dialed the Nina’s Nook Bakery.

Nina, its Chaps.

AS MAGGIE PULLED UP in front of her uncle’s house she felt for the first time the full impact of her uncle’s passing. She regretted that she hadn’t kept in touch more with him. She regretted not being there for him and missing his funeral. Charlie’s truck was parked to the right of the house, but there was no Charlie. She half expected to see his large frame step out onto the porch like the hundreds of times he had before when she was a child growing up. It took a few moments, but she came to the realization that she would never see Charlie again.

She had come to live with Charlie when she was five years old after her parents died in a house fire. The family had been at her uncles home earlier in the evening. She and her parents were upstairs sleeping when the fire broke out. She had awoken at the sound of her mother’s screams. The hem of her nightgown had caught fire before she could escape her room and she was frozen with panic. She remembered a large man breaking rushing into her room. He wrapped her in a blanket smothering the fire and then carried her to the window where her uncle was waiting below. She had believed the man was her father but, later while she was in the hospital her uncle had told her that both her parents had died in the fire. It had been so hard for a five-year old to understand.

She had been happy here as a child, but when she got the opportunity to leave when she after high school to attend college in the Federation she didn’t hesitate. She had left and never looked back. Now she questioned why she had wanted to