[IC] – M&M 3e – A New Heaven and New Earth - From What You have Fallen

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

The drive back to the APD Headquarters is mostly uneventful save for the bombardment of news updates on the radio. It’s a bad day to be someone who wants to avoid politics and current events. Rock stations, Rap stations, Sports-talk Radio….no matter your taste in entertainment, there are frequent interruptions about the heightened state of tension in governments across the world. You cannot help but be made uncomfortable by the fact that much of the tension is due to paranormal activities.

At APD Headquarters, you find that the entrance into the staff parking-lot is manned by heavily armed police. Everyone is scrutinized before being allowed to enter. “Sorry for the inconvenience, Detective.” A young policeman sporting some variant of an MP-5 submachinegun waves you through after checking your picture ID.

Inside the HQ, the mood is more tense than normal, which is saying a lot. Perhaps the general spirit of the department might be better characterized as extremely flustered. When the Desk Officer sees you, he immediately waves you back to the elevators which lead to the briefing room. Normally he’d be courteous enough to speak, but he’s on the phone (and apparently getting an earful from someone).

You take the elevator up to the meeting room where you were briefed before. The doors are locked and require you to scan your photo ID badge across a sensor pad. After the doors “click!”, you enter the familiar room where you first met Agent Pak as well as Deputy Chief’s Gibbs and Glazier. This time, however, Pak is the only one present. The room has been turned into a “research area”; boxes of files sit out on the meeting tables. Pictures and documents are scattered around, and the whiteboard on the wall has various diagrams hastily scribbled upon it.

Pak is seated at one of the tables perusing through some documents. Though his mouth is stuffed with a Dunkin “Boston Crème” Doughnut, he manages to force some words through his teeth. “Good afternoon. How’s the hunting been this morning? Did you hear? Another dead gang-banger turned up in a dumpster in Norcross this morning. The guy was a heroin dealer in the Uchiboro outfit. From what I’ve been able to gather he was one of the up-and-coming favorites of the recently deceased crime-boss. Now he’s gone to join the ‘invisible chorus’." Pak pauses to push a half-eaten box of doughnuts your way when he sees the box of food your carrying. "You bring me lunch?”

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

Paranormal activities, governments on edge, and a killer validating all of that about. While not having hard evidence, Robert was starting to strongly suspect there was a new crime boss in town that was the same as the old boss. Ordinarily, he would pass the info on and part ways at this point. Despite his fortitude and exceptional physical prowess, he couldn't stop a rising boss committing murders easily under normal circumstances. These were not normal times. Undoubtedly, the government knows there is an invisible killer about likely with martial prowess and one is enough to validate a host of things Robert would want to avoid.

As he returned to the command post, it was becoming all too clear it had already started. It was only a matter of time before the military would get involved or one of the other black site maintaining three letter agencies. Robert wasn't keen on seeing those places. If he could nip the invisible killer in bud now, maybe things could turn out different. Of course, he didn't let any of this show. To betray his true feelings about all of this would only make things a bit more complicated. So, he did his usual nonchalant vibe.

"Sounds like someone is cleaning house. Seems like senior Uchiboro is taking back the reigns of the family business. On the plus side, I either have a tasty treat to eat or useful clue with me. After the meal I've had, I'll take the clue, but the rest of the food was so good its a hard choice.", says Robert glibly as he proceeds to open the package.

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

"Sounds like someone is cleaning house. Seems like senior Uchiboro is taking back the reigns of the family business. On the plus side, I either have a tasty treat to eat or useful clue with me. After the meal I've had, I'll take the clue, but the rest of the food was so good its a hard choice."

Pak takes a sip of coffee to wash down his doughnut. Despite stuffing his face with several of them this morning, he still eyes your dessert-box hungrily as you lay it on the table.

"You think the ol' man would kill his own son in order to take control back? He'd have to be one cold-blooded son-of-bitch." He pauses for a moment, ruminating on your hunch. "He'd also have to have the backing of other important gang-members before doing something like that. From my research it looks like the Elder Uchiboro lost the backing of the younger generation of gang-members many years ago. He'd have to purge a whole lot of people to re-establish himself. I'm not saying your wrong, it just sounds awfully risky to me."

As you flip open the small 'to-go' box, you see 9 Mochi Cakes of various colors sitting on a thin, glass plate. They look almost too good to eat....almost. "Ooooo...", Pak says, eyes widening. "You mind? I've got poison-control on speed-dial if something goes wrong." He says half-jokingly. He reaches in and takes a couple of them out. Eyeing them carefully and then sniffing them, he hesitated for a few seconds before plopping the tiny confection into his mouth. "Oh my...those are good." nodding his head up and down.

As your eyes move from Pak's satisfied face back to the box, you see something odd under the glass plate. It appears to be the edge of a folded piece of paper.

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

"You think the ol' man would kill his own son in order to take control back? He'd have to be one cold-blooded son-of-bitch." He pauses for a moment, ruminating on your hunch. "He'd also have to have the backing of other important gang-members before doing something like that. From my research it looks like the Elder Uchiboro lost the backing of the younger generation of gang-members many years ago. He'd have to purge a whole lot of people to re-establish himself. I'm not saying your wrong, it just sounds awfully risky to me."

Robert shrugs his shoulders. "Well someone is making a power play with an invisible killer on their payroll. If we don't catch the killer soon, the fight for power will get alot more bloody.". says Robert as if this was any old back and forth. In reality, it meant quite a bit.

After Pak ate the dessert's, Robert smiled a bit at the possible clue. "You should have had the meal. It was specially prepared by the possible crime boss himself. Looks like we have a note to go along with it. I didn't know they cared so much.", adds Robert as he reaches for the note. Grieving mothers were unpredictable so depending on how much she loved her son, this might be her reaching out to help or hide her own ambitions.

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

The folded note is written in neat cursive:

"<Meet me tomorrow Macy's Dept. Store in Perimeter Mall. Go to a dressing room at 11:15. I'll meet you at 11: 30. I have a proposition which I believe is to your liking. Please be there early. I am taking a horrible risk.>"

The note is signed "<Kana>".

Pak, standing beside you the whole time, finishes reading the note at roughly the same time as you do. He looks up at you with a sly grin on his face. "You could agree to wear a wire, ya know. Or would that violate your principles? ...your call."

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

Robert grins when Pak mentions wearing a wire. "She's too old for me if you are worried I'll do anything scandalous. Not that there is anything wrong with older women, but she's also married to possibly a new crime boss. Don't think I need the FBI listening in on that now to keep me from hitting on her.", says Robert completely ignoring the true implication of the question.

As far as he was concerned at this point, gang power struggles and who would run the street took second to stopping the FBI or government from having a scape goat or worse an agent for hire. If the elder gangster wasn't as old as he was, Robert would almost think it was him who was the invisible killer. As it stood though the less the FBI knew the better.

"So any word on tracing back that CCTV footage to see where the invisible man came from? Perhaps sounds of an invisible motror cycle or something being reported? The more you can give me the easier it will be to see if whatever she has to tell me is true. That is if she doesn't have a crush on me and just wants to get me alone.", inquires Robert.

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

"So any word on tracing back that CCTV footage to see where the invisible man came from? Perhaps sounds of an invisible motror cycle or something being reported? The more you can give me the easier it will be to see if whatever she has to tell me is true. That is if she doesn't have a crush on me and just wants to get me alone.", inquires Robert.

"The boys on the security feeds have given me nothing thus far. I've been told they're done with all the nearby surveillance cameras available. They've moved on to the Peach Pass cameras that are located on the interstate highways leading to the area. That footage has a much large number of vehicles to scrutinize, however. I'll drop by before I go to lunch and pester them a bit. I know them personally, so they wont get too annoyed if I 'light a fire' under them a little bit."

Pak reaches into the treat-box, grabs a Mochi cake and plops it into his mouth. "Say, do you want me to have a couple of police units at the Mall just in case something goes down? They could go undercover if you want. This whole notion of the Crime Boss' wife ratting on the operation makes me nervous."

OOC: You have heard of Perimeter Mall, though you've never had a reason to go there yet. It's in the Dunwoody Area (just of the north-central interstate loop around the city). It 's a very affluent area with mixed residential and commercial zones. The Goodwill Store in the area sells barely used items discarded by the local wealthy, and it's a favorite of middle-income suburbanites who want to buy ludicrously expensive hand-me-downs at a giant discount. This area is several miles north and west of the area where the Uchiboros live and do business. It's not unlikely that the wife of a mobster would chose such a prestigious area to do her shopping.

Arachne

The night-attack on your home has left you injured and frightened. Though caught off-guard by the carefully planned assassination attempt, you were saved in part by several things: 1) by the toughness of your mutant-nature, 2) by your arachnid "friends" which swarmed the aggressors when they attempted enter the premises and finish you off, and lastly 3) by the uncanny speed by which several police units responded to the anonymous "alert"-call from a pre-paid phone. This last factor forced the antagonists to break off their plans and flee via an awaiting get-away-car.

Your ambulance was escorted to the hospital where your appearance made quite the disturbance. You were taken to your own special room adjacent to the normal Emergency room, where an ER doctor did her best to assess and treat your injuries. As if the whole attempt on your life wasn't bad enough, the ER doctor seemed at least as concerned about not getting sued as about treating your injuries. In fact she openly complained about her vulnerability to a malpractice suit just by treating you. It was not the kind of warm experience you were hoping to get by a medical professional.

Still, she was careful...painfully careful due to your "anatomical differences". Though you were struck by an initial spray of rifle-rounds, the actual damage was relegated to the surface area of your body (and not internally). A couple of the rounds struck areas where nerves were particularly dense and thus served to disorient and almost incapacitate you. Fortunately, you managed to keep your senses and rapidly crawl away.

Despite the lack of bedside manner from the physician, she does suggest that you spend at least one night in the hospital to be monitored. Tomorrow afternoon, you're to be assessed tomorrow afternoon with further medical suggestions pending.

OOC: Ok, you are no longer "staggered". You still have a -1 Toughness penalty that will be healed within the next 24 hours. You are free to dialogue and act as you see fit. Welcome back!

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

Pak reaches into the treat-box, grabs a Mochi cake and plops it into his mouth. "Say, do you want me to have a couple of police units at the Mall just in case something goes down? They could go undercover if you want. This whole notion of the Crime Boss' wife ratting on the operation makes me nervous."

Robert raises an eye brow on the offer as if thinking on it and ponders for a moment. Undercover cops wouldn't be a bad thing, but at this point he didn't want to rattle the poor woman. She was already risking death. If Uchiboro did have an invisible killer on payroll, she would likely know and be the next target at the same time if word of her message got out. Of all the people to protect her though, Robert was the one to do it. That was if this all wasn't a trap. "Whose to say she is ratting anyone out? I am pretty popular with the ladies and maybe she just wants some alone time. Even if undercover cops are around, could they really do anything about the invisible man that would likely go after her or us during the meeting?", inquires Robert after some thought.

"Not that I'm not worried, but if she shows up we'll get the information she has. If she doesn't all the undercover cops won't make a difference because shes probably dead or worse. I've kept you in the loop so far. If this leads to something I'll let you know. Besides, rich areas always have good police presence. Way of the rich after all.", adds Robert before getting up. "I should go get ready to meet up with her. Let me know if the guys you have watching Uchiboro see anything. Seemed to me someone was watching him, so I guess it's you. Don't know who else would.", finishes Robert.

[Spectrum]

Arachne

It had become a long day, a very long day. Time passed not as normal people do, nor even by the standards of an artistic soul such as Arachne, rather it passed by the standards of medical science. The hurry up and wait, the poking and prodding at all odd hours of the night and day, leaving little room for proper rest.

But all that being said, the hours had been filled. News of the attack, and the resulting injuries, had passed by quickly throughout the social networks. Unfortunately, not all news had been equally balanced. There had been tales of murder and betrayal, death and even, well... cannibalism is not something that polite people spoke of.

And then there were the flowers, the room filling with them, even overfilling.

Or the nice letters of well wishing. The threats and disparaging remarks were best ignored.

Gruesome photos of the spider woman on deaths door had begun to spread as well.

The waiting room had become crowded, too many people, not enough room for other families. The police eventually needed to step in, letting people that word would go out as it was available and not before.

And that brought us to the here, and the now.

Arachne gazed up with her many eyes with a pained fondness to the wizened man as he gazed deeply into the scintillating orbs.

Doctor Ezekiel Chanus, professor of insect studies at the University of Georgia, College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences gently patted his patient upon the arm, giving it a little squeeze. "Well, young lady, you've given us all a bit of a scare." another pat, "But not much that we can do for you at the moment other than continue to monitor and take action as things evolve. I'll recommend that you be released into the care of your assistant tomorrow morning." but his voice drops, "But if there is somewhere that you could get away for a while, that could be safer." An anxious eye as he looks up towards the police guard at the door.

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

OOC: You may take any equipment with you that is reasonable for a law enforcement official of your standing to have.

From the downtown police dept., you take highway 400 north to the 285 Interstate "loop" that encircles the city. From there it's a very short drive to the well-to-do "Dunwoody" area. Perimeter Mall -though in a nice area- is subject to an abnormally high number of car break-ins. The MARTA transit system allows easy access from the "inner city" areas where crime is substantially higher. You're surprised when the only additional piece of advice from Pak regards your car: "When you go in to the mall, leave your car just the way you bought it...empty."

Macy's is huge dept. store. Without knowing for sure, it's probably the largest store in the entire mall. With over 200 stores, that's saying something.

The dressing room area stands squarely in the middle of the men's and women's clothing section. Just as your were instructed by Kana Uchiboro, you have arrived a good 20-30 minutes before her. The mall has been open for just over an hour and it's a weekday, so it's not too crowded. Of course, you get the courteous "May I help you find something sir?" From the young, twenty-something woman sales-clerk, but other than that you are free to browse the clothing prior to entering the dressing rooms.

You do notice that all the dressing rooms are lumped together in one location. There are no separate men's and women's areas. After picking out a suitable pair of khaki pants and several shirts, you enter a room and patiently wait. You do not have to wait for long. As you sit silently, you hear several dressing room doors near you open and then gently close again. Then the handle to your own room slowly turns and an aged, Asian woman peers inside.

She looks back to make sure that no once sees her entering your room. Once inside, she speaks with a hushed tone so soft that you can barely hear her yourself. "It took a while, Detective Murray, but my husband and I finally recognized who you were. You played a great role in dismantling the Russ family. It is embarrassing that we did not recognize you before now. Nevertheless, I still wish to work with you."

She pauses thoughtfully for a moment before continuing. "My husband says you have a reputation as an honorable man. If that is so, then I feel I can make a deal with you. I can give you information that will help you catch this...assassin." You can tell that there is a tone of contempt in her voice.

"You must promise me that you will not come after me or my family. I give you the information and you refrain from implicating me and my family in any way. Otherwise...no deal."

You look the old woman over. Even at her advanced age, she is looks unnaturally younger. You have no doubt at one time she must have been a very pretty woman. But those years are well behind her. Now, she looks much like a stereotypical Japanese grandmother. Well kept perhaps, but still elderly. She waits in silence for you to respond.



Arachne

OOC: Since you have the Advantage "Connected" I'll allow for the arrival if an Entomologist to aid in your health care. Normally, I'd control the narrative of who, when, and how, but in this case it actually keeps the narrative moving faster for you to do so. So...bottom line...I'll let you do it this time.

As Dr. Chanus works with the ER physician to get you patched up, his presence sets her at ease, and it helps that your wounds are not as bad as they first seemed. Still, the two doctors agree that you should be allowed to stay in the hospital for several days to insure that you are perfectly healed and that a plan for your security can be coordinated with the police.

After being moved from the ER to your own room, a female police detective is waiting to speak with you. You can sense her unease as you so often can, but she is professional and treats you courteously. "I'm Detective Morris of the APD. Do you prefer Miss Yoder or Arachne?"

"I'm the detective who is assigned to investigating the "ricin" package sent to your business. I'll also be investigating this latest case of attempted murder against your person." She lays her card down on the table next to your bed; it's complete with contact information. "It's been suggested that you be moved to room at Emory University. From there you can receive further treatment, if necessary, and be offered an extra level of protection by a dedicated police detachment. This would be done secretly with very few people knowing about your change of residence. It's not a perfect security measure, but it at least offers a temporary respite from those who would try and harm you. Your friend, Judith, will be allowed to visit you this afternoon. Perhaps she could help gather any necessary belongings from your business and home."

The detective then pauses as she reaches into her coat for a pen and notepad. "Would you be willing to answer a few questions about the attack? If it's too soon, I can come back when you are able to speak about it."

[Spectrum]

Arachne

Oh, it was time for this conversation. How sudden. It was the time to start making decisions about how to move forward with this.

A delicate hand offered out, "Detective Morris, wonderful to see you. Unfortunate that it is under such circumstances. Please, whichever you prefer. Rebekah Yoder is my legal name but I am more commonly known as Arachne. Thank you for looking into the matter so far. Any good news?"

After waiting for the response, however brief, she sighs a bit, wistfully really. "Have you handled investigations when it comes to personages in the public media? Those that have made a name for themselves? I've heard that it adds extra layers of delicacy."

"Oh, of course. Yes, I'll be happy to answers your questions, with my lawyer present. Just a formality of course. Between the medications and the trauma of the situation, I want to actually be helpful." she smiles carefully, though still sweetly, "I'm sure that if I sent you after ten foot tall giants with glowing eyes it wouldn't be terribly helpful."

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

Heeding the warning, Robert made sure to take his gun and leave a tracer tucked under a seat just in case someone decided to steal the car. He wasn't expecting any theft, but it wasn't like he had lojack on his car just in case someone tried to take off with it. In addition, he hid an audio recorder to make sure if someone did ransack his car he would hear them doing it. The FBI so far was being hands off, but it was only a matter of time. Soon, the higher ups would expect results and the military/CIA/NSA/who knows what might be looking to hurry the capture of the invisible killer.

Rich malls weren't exactly his scene. Back growing up, he hung around malls, but those were a bit different and it wasn't like he was a shopper so much as a mallrat. So, he harkened back to those days and just browsed a bit to not draw suspicion. Naturally, browsing lead to floor sales people trying to make a sale on a slower day which he partially indulged. The leather jacket and shirt he was wearing did look its age, something most of his girlfriends pointed out before being charmed in other ways than fashion.

Safely nestled in one of the dressing rooms, Robert didn't even bother trying on the blazer, jeans, and polo shirt that had been suggested. Instead, he waited. Waiting was eventually rewarded with the person he was here to meet showing up. Once she finished, he nodded. "I'm not interested in bringing down your family. If you go down, someone will just come up to replace you and the same will happen again and again.", begins Robert in an attempt to soothe the woman. Even if she looked for it, there was no deception in his voice to be had. He truly didn't care to bring down another crime lord with bigger issues at play.

"If I do bring in this assassin with your help, what is to stop him from implicating your family for a better deal and using you as leverage to work for the government? With everything going on, I'm sure he could make them an enticing offer. An invisible soldier could help the CIA or military quite a bit. All I can promise is not to go after your family for his activities, but I can't speak for him. Some who abuses their powers for the sake of killing for hire isn't the most honourable.", asks Robert deciding to show his true concern while flipping the script a bit.

Leaving the tracer and and audio recorder tucked between the seats of the car.
Insight 15 to get a read on the woman for anything useful to the situation

[Supernaturalist]

Robert Murray

The old woman listens to your response and stands quietly in thought for a few moments. Her eyes stray from yours, and your gut tells you that she is hesitant to tell you anything. Regardless of her reticence, she finally finds the resolve to speak.

"I shall not bore you with elaborate details of the politics and struggles of my family, detective. I shall only say that a great change is unfolding. Our family has faced troubled times for nearly a decade, and it has been unclear if we would survive it all. But there is new leadership; and that is for whom this new enforcer, Tantan, works. He is one of those mutant "things" that we all hear about in the news."

"All the branches of the family will resume their tribute and play by the rules of the new leadership. Those that refuse will be replaced by family who will. That is the trouble my son...", her lips tremble and her eyes begin to water, "...my son created when he was so belligerent with this Tantan fellow."

She takes a Kleenex from her purse and wipes her eyes as she continues. "This...emissary...from the clan-leader offered my husband control of the local family back. He said my son was too volatile. He promised that my son would be spared in return for loyalty. But...he lied." Suddenly her sad expression turns to one of quiet rage.

"I know that you are no murderer, detective. But you have the resources and authority to at least capture this bastard. And if he resists arrest and you must kill him...so much the better." Her vengeful tone contrasts with what otherwise seems to be a mild-mannered old woman. As she wipes her eyes again, she adds, "He leaves for Boston this Friday. He'll cull another unruly branch of the family there before reporting back to his superior in Tokyo. He flies out from Hartsfield-Jackson sometime in the evening. As for appearance, well, I know that one of your police officers wounded him in the arm, but you won't be able to see that. I have pictures of him when he was dining with my husband."

She pulls out her phone and shows you several of what he looks like. As far as you can tell, he's a fit, young Asian male. She shows you at least a dozen pictures of the man. He always seems to have a serious look on his face. In none of the pictures does he show the slightest hint of a smile.



Arachne

OOC: I'll incorporate your Expertise roll into this post

"Very well, Mrs. Yoder, I'll wait until until your lawyer is present. He should be here within the hour. I'll be waiting outside. Please don't be alarmed by the armed police outside your door, they are here for your protection."

As Detective Morris leaves the room, a young, black nurse enters the room. She -like so many others you meet - greets you with a slight sense of anxiety "Mrs. Yoder, might I get you something to eat?", she says timidly.

You reflect about what you've heard of Emory University. You seem to recall rumors that there is a mutant community there, how 'open' they are about their identities is unknown to you. Still, it is a university setting, and those are typically oases of tolerance above and beyond other parts of the country. In the past, you've always thought it interesting to meet other mutants, but you've never had a urgent reason to do so. Your work and success have largely kept you busy. The world seems to be changing. Perhaps Dr. Chanus might know something about these rumors, after all he's suggesting that you be sent there.

Your lawyer must be running late, because a couple of hours have passed and he still hasn't shown up. When someone comes knocking at your door, you think he's finally arrived only to be surprised. It's Judith. When she sees you lying in the bead, she cannot help but break down into sobbing. She hurries over to give you a hug.

[mrdent12]

Robert Murray
CND: Fine
HP: 1

The womans tale was sad, but reminded Robert of the old adage of live by the sword and die by the sword. Her family had chosen a life of crime and now was paying the price for it. Still, Robert wasn't completely not caring. "I'm sorry to hear about why your son was killed.", says Robert sincerely. "The internal workings of your family won't be shared by me except as is needed to capture Tantan. Crime families are as old as time and have some rules, but introducing someone like Tantan into the mix will only turn out bad for everyone.", continues Robert partly trying to console her and partly to shift the focus on the killer.

Robert was a bit hesitant at the thought of bringing in someone like Tantan who could potentially work for the highest bidder, but the alternative were he remain working for the new bosses or be killed. Neither was a better option. He was going to have to trust the government in this case. "While I can't speak for the others, because Tantan is a cop killer after all, I will what i can to bring him in alive. The information you provided will be helpful. I know you risked a lot coming here to meet me. Whatever I can do to keep your name out of the reports I will.", says Robert nodding in appreciation.

Barring any sign the woman has anything else she wants to divulge he looks around his surroundings. "Do you want to head out first and I will leave after giving enough time to not look like we were meeting? My interest in al of this is catching Tantan. So, given what he can do I wouldn't want to put you in harms way by even having the suspicion of you meeting with me by him or his bosses.", inquires Robert.

[Spectrum]

Rebekah Yoder

1 Corinthians 10:13 New International Version (NIV)
13 No temptation (a) has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted (b) beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,(c) he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

An amused smile towards the nurse, "Mmm, could I have some more of that green gelatin dessert? I'm afraid that my jaw is still aching." One hand absently reaching up to brush across her cracked and bandaged mandible.

It was a long time in waiting and Rebekah began to wonder, trying to remember more details of what took place. She still didn't know how things ended up. Her works, her clutch, her shop, so many questions.

A more difficult choice was coming, one that she had not yet deliberated as much. Was it bravery or foolishness that she was so seriously considering not going into protective custody, that she could stand against those that wished her harm and inspire others? Dare she put her friends into such danger out of her own foolish bravery? She was just one woman, one woman that was bearing a great weight. And so she closed her eyes and prayed for wisdom, for guidance, at this most troubling time.

A weight can be felt entering the room, lidless eyes fluttering back into awareness.

A tender hand is placed upon the back of Judith's neck, a silent greetings, a simple gesture conveying so much tenderness and affection.

She waits to be asked a question first, quiet, patient, loving.