Friday, August 12, 2016

What the wolf thinks while watching the sheepdog work.

A thick stack of plastic bags sat on Shane's desk. They were the kind used by most retail stores; 14 X 14 with perforated handles and a company's logo printed on the face. These bags had been prepared for a grocery store, HEB, but the lettering was screwed up and the graphics were cockeyed and overlapping. The 'E' was sideways intersecting the 'H' and the 'B' was five inches away jumbled into the confusing mess of mislaid graphics.

Shane tapped his fingers against the armrests of his chair and looked across the desk at Brian, the floor manager. Brian shrugged.

"Hell," Shane concluded and stood up angrily. He walked to the window overlooking the factory  and shoved his hands in his pockets. Below, employees carried on their work; loading raw supplies into machinery, inspecting final products rolling down conveyor belts, carting boxes and barrels hither and yon. 

"We give them this pallet, gratis," Brian said. "We messed up, but we'll correct it."

"Hell," Shane sighed. He returned to his desk and sat down.

"You know they'll still use these," Brian held up the flawed bags. "Put them in one of their League City stores where nobody gives much fucks. It'll be okay."

"I'm not worried about that." Shane scowled. "But this was Virgil, right?"

Brian lifted his eyebrows. "This was on my watch, boss. Lots of things went wrong, I should have-"

"-Don't bullshit me, Brian. Virgil screwed this up. Again." Shane brought a fist down on the bags, not violently, but with emphasis. "Hell."

Brian sat back and waited.

Eventually, Shane continued, "Don't cover for him, Brian. You won't be doing him any favors if you are. You know this."

"Look boss," Brian leaned forward. "Yeah, he screwed up. And, yeah, he's been distracted lately. But he's on time every day, his eyes are clear, his hands steady. I'm not saying I greet him with a big hug and kiss when he gets here, but we work pretty close and I haven't smelled anything on his breath. Not like I used to."

"So what's going on?"

"I don't know. Nothing bad, I don't think. He seems happy. Just a little... out of it."

Shane swiveled his chair right and left a few times then said, "Get him."

***

Virgil entered the office, whistling brightly with a grin on his face. "You wanted to see me, boss?" he said, then saw the bags on the table and his face fell. "Oh."

"Sit down," Shane said, motioning for him to grab one of the plastic scoop chairs lining the wall. Virgil did and dragged it over to the desk, legs clacking on tile.

"Damn, I'm sorry, boss, I-" Virgil started, but Shane held up a hand to cut him off.

"All I want to know, Virg.," Shane said. "All I want to know is this: Are you drinking again?"

Virgil's head snapped back and he made a wry face. "What? No! Why would you...?"

"For a senior man, you've been making a lot of rookie mistakes lately, Virg. I'm not out of line asking."

Virgil nodded his head. "Yeah, right." 

"If you are, you have to tell me now. Right now. Fuck these bags, Virg.," Shane swept them off the desk and launched them at the trash can. "You're down there working with heavy equipment, training some young folks. If you're drinking again, we have to deal with it. You understand?"

Virgil's head continued nodding. "No, I get it. You're right. Absolutely."

Then nobody said anything for a stretch of time. Virgil nodded at Brian and smiled, then back to Shane.

"So?" Shane prodded. "What the hell, Virgil?"

"Well, I got married, you see," Virgil scratched the back of his neck. "And I'm meeting my wife for the first time tonight. I guess I'm a little nervous about it."

***

Her name was Sabrina and Virgil had - surprise! - met her on-line. They'd connected over a series of digital images posted to a social media site depicting a scenic wilderness. Virgil made a comment that he'd love to camp there; Sabrina replied that it would be worth the trip. Virgil thought her profile picture was compelling so he replied back saying, well, hope to see you there!

And they're off!

In a protracted series of friendly, but not flirty, posts; Sabrina expressed a love for camping and outdoors in general. She posted pictures of herself standing in sun-drenched fields of flowers and sitting around campfires in shadowy forests; always looking super cute with her wide eyes and big smile, braided hair and tanned skin, wearing hiking pants and cotton T's. Virgil responded with gentle compliments, careful not to sound too much like a stalker or a pervert, and always thanking her for sharing.

She pressed Virgil to post some pictures of himself - because his profile image was actually of his beloved dog, Fido, who'd died a few years back. I don't even know what you look like, she'd written. Virgil figured that would be the end of it. After all, he was bland, bald, on the wrong side of 40, and had never gotten around to losing the post-alcoholic thirty pounds. Ah well, he thought, I shouldn't be doing this type of nonsense anyway. Not fair to Sabrina either; a doll like her wasting time on a creepy old troll like me. So he sent an image from one of the office retreats when Shane had taken the whole crew fishing - Virgil sitting in a deck chair with a rod in one hand, a bottle of seltzer in the other, and a stupid, floppy Gilligan hat covering his head. It had been a good day and, in the picture, he was smiling and happy. It may not have been flattering, but it was honest.

I guess I should have warned you I'm old and ugly, Virgil commented when he sent Sabrina the picture.

Shut up! she replied. You look adorable!!!

Kind of her to say, Virgil thought, but he didn't expect Sabrina to maintain the frequency of their communication going forward.

However, it didn't stop; it didn't even slow down. Sabrina continued contacting Virgil many times a day; mostly to share something fun, but occasionally asking for his opinion or advise. You're so smart, she'd write, and; I really value your friendship. 

She inquired about his life - where he worked, what else did he enjoy besides camping? Why wasn't he married? But don't answer if you don't want to! 

Before long, Sabrina knew everything there was to know about Virgil Templeton:

Divorce is hard, I'm sorry you had to go through that.

I'm so proud you were able to quit drinking. My father never did and it killed him in the end. Please, stay strong for me!

That's a long time to be with one company! You must be very good at your job!

And so forth.

Conversely, Virgil learned an awful lot about Sabrina Achari:

She said was in her mid-thirties and worked as an administrative assistant for the government where she lived - a small island nation in the Indian Ocean called Macnas. A pretty place - she'd really love for Virgil to see it some day! - but it was poor and mismanaged. Not much tourism because it can be dangerous, especially after dark.

But you don't need to worry about me! I'm pretty safe because of where I work. 

At one point during this 21st century courtship, Sabrina went silent for days. She didn't respond to Virgil's posts or even emails sent directly to her account.

Virgil worried about her intensely; but he also wondered if it was just her way of getting rid of a bothersome old man.

So he stayed up all night crafting an email insisting that she contact him, if she was able, just to let him know she was safe. As long as he knew she was okay, he wouldn't mind saying goodbye forever if she had grown tired of him.

He read it over and over again, making sure the tone was right. Then, with the first rays of sun spilling through the window, Virgil finally steeled his nerves enough to click Send.

And he waited. And waited. And despaired. And spent another long night writing an email he wouldn't send, because the next morning she finally responded.

I love you so much, Sabrina replied. I would never just stop talking to you!

I love you. 1.4.3. For the first time, it was said (written, posted, texted, commented, whatever) between them.

And, having read those words, Virgil felt, well, he felt.... He felt drunk. Happily drunk.

However, the rest of Sabrina's reply was worrisome. The reason she'd been off-line so long was because the government had to move its offices suddenly and it took a while for them to get their internet connection back. She made it sound as if it was no big deal, but, reading between the lines, Virgil could tell. She was scared. Governments don't just pack up and move in the middle of the night. Not even shitty little third world governments.

Virgil wanted to respond quickly, so he didn't waste any time firing off a reply. In it, he gushed about how happy he was to hear from her, how much he'd prayed for her safety, and how he loved her too.

And he wrote that she would have to come to America as soon as possible. She couldn't stay there any longer.

Honestly, Sabrina wrote back, I wouldn't mind leaving. This is my home, and I love it here, but it's become so different these past years. Unfortunately, I can't manage to move now. Soon, hopefully, but not now.

Is it money? Do you need money?

It's complicated.

If it's just money...?

I love you, Virgil, but I'm not taking any money from you. I couldn't do that. You have to understand.

I have enough money, it's not a problem. I love you so much - I need you to be safe.

Let's not talk about it anymore. I'm okay now. Thank you very much, however, you're very sweet.

If we were married, it wouldn't be my money. It would be our money.

...

Can you Skype?

***

One month later and Virgil was a married man with a wife he'd never actually met in the flesh en-route somewhere over, oh, probably New Jersey by now.

Being men of the world, Shane and Brian circled around the elephant, trying to find safe landing, but Virgil grounded them first:

"I know it might be a scam, guys. Marrying a woman I only know from the internet? I can't believe I'm doing it myself. But what if she is just like she says? What if she really does love me? Guys, this could be my last chance."

Shane used the opening to ply his employee with contact information for a smart attorney, a good doctor, and a worldly priest. Virgil promised he would call them, all of them, when the time was right.

As a man of the world, it was the best Shane could do.

***

Standing at the window overlooking the factory floor, Shane said, "Look at your boy."

Brian laughed. "Right?"

Below them, Virgil Templeton was dancing with a broom, swinging the handle around like it was Ginger Rogers. He handed it back to the janitor who shook his head, laughing. Virgil went over to the line where he told some jokes and slapped some backs and made all the workers there smile. He back-stepped away from the heavy equipment towards the hallway where he had an office in the admin wing, throwing a salute. People waved at him as he left.

"What it is?" Brian continued. "For the first time in his life, Virgil's gettin' sum on a regular basis."

"God bless 'im," Shane said, returning to his desk. "God bless her, too, I guess. Maybe she's not a scammer after all."

Brian sat across from his boss. "Only time will tell."

"True." Shane collated some papers, arraigned some folders, and looked at the photograph of his own family - wife and three children in a gold frame. "Have you met her yet?"

"Not yet," Brian replied. "He says soon. They're still getting settled." He made an obscene gesture with a finger pumping through a thumb/index circle.

"Nice. What are you, twelve years old?"

"Hey, I'm just trying to keep up around here. You know what Virgil told me the other day? He said, 'You need to find yourself an Island girl. They're different!' He didn't actually wink wink, nudge nudge, but I got the drift."

"He didn't really say that? Our Virgil?"

Brian nodded.

"Well, God bless 'im."

Shane slid some papers across the desk for Brian to read. Both men studied the sheets for a while until Shane lifted his head and said, "Still. I'd like you to keep an eye on him."

"Yeah. I know."

"When she breaks his heart, that bottle's going to call him out by name."

Brian nodded solemnly. And these men of the world returned to their work.

***

Brian burst through Shane's office door and said, "You will NOT believe this!"

Shane, water glass raised to his mouth, held up a finger for Brian to wait.

But Brian did not wait, instead he said in a rush, "Virgil just ate a pubic hair sandwich!"

Somehow, Shane managed to set the water down without spilling a drop. "You asshole," he said. "While I'm drinking? You couldn't wait?"

Brian threw himself in the chair. "We're sitting together in the break room and Virgil pulls out his sandwich and starts laughing, for no reason I can see, so I ask him what's funny. Then I notice all these curly black hairs on the bread."

Shane blew his nose, motioning for Brian to continue.

"We're all alone in the room, but he leans forward and whispers like the walls have ears, 'Sabrina's hair', and the way he said hair...."

Shane made some sounds and shook his head. "What? Why?"

"Well, apparently they were talking after sex - that part's implied - and she asks about his ex-wife. He tells her how, when they were first married, his ex had been real sweet and all - putting love notes in his lunch and stuff - but that it didn't last very long.

"So Sabrina apologizes because she's never put any kind of note in Virgil's lunch, and then he tells her 'It's okay, you're not that type of wife, thank God!'"

"And today she put a note in his lunch?"

"I guess so!"

Shane looked at Brian meaningfully. He arched an eyebrow.

"Well?" Shane asked.

"What?"

"Did he actually eat it?"

Eyes wide as saucers, Brian nodded Yes!

***

"I'm suing this company for sexual harassment," Brian said, closing Shane's office door behind him.

"Fuck you." Shane responded. "Suck my dick, too."

"You're the one told me to keep an eye on Virgil. You're responsible."

"For what?"

"Today," Brian sobbed comically, "he made me feel inadequate."

"What the hell are you talking about?"

Brian sat down, hooked a leg over a knee, leaned back and asked, "Have you ever had a threesome?"

"Are you making an offer?"

"No, that's what Virgil asked me today. Have I ever had a threesome."

"Oh Lord what now?"

"Well, Goody Sabrina has found a small community of immigrants from her paradise island home and, occasionally, they like to get together to talk about the motherland. As immigrants do. Anyway, Virgil came home last night just as the party was breaking up and his loving wife introduced him to a very special friend - a girlfriend she'd known since childhood."

"Do I want to hear this?"

"I didn't. Anyway, one thing leads to another and today Virgil asks me if I've ever had a fucking threesome. Do you know any good lawyers? I'm suing this dump."

"He must have been joking."

"You know Virgil better than that."

"That's right, I do. He'd never swagger around bragging about something like that."

"Who said bragging? No, he was being serious. He wanted to know how to handle himself." Brian leaned forward. "Shane, he was asking for advice."

"I don't want to hear this."

"Yeah? Tough shit. I had to," Brian pointed a finger for emphasis. "You have to."

***

Virgil smiled and nodded to the small gang of Macnas-ites as he passed them entering his house while they were leaving. As a people, they were brown and short with big smiles and bright teeth. Most of the gaggle coming out of his house were girls, but two petite men blended in with the crowd. All of them giggling and tugging each other on their way.

A happy people.

Sabrina greeted Virgil at the door with a deep kiss and her hand on his buttock. He reciprocated enthusiastically.

"Come see," she said, taking his hand and pulling him inside. "This is unbelievable!"

She led him to the living room where she presented one of her countrymen. Or, more apropos, country-WOMAN: A very pretty girl with long black hair and a trim figure who bowed her head and spoke in broken English.

"So happy to meet you, Mr. Virgil sir."

***

The girl's name was Shubra and she had been Sabrina's best friend growing up in Macnas. They sat on the couch and chattered back and forth in their native tongue, of which Virgil understood not a word. Every once and a while, Sabrina would explain something to him, but it didn't take long for Virgil to realize he was a third wheel in this reunion, so he offered to go and bring back food. Of course Shubra would stay for dinner! Virgil exclaimed. He couldn't let such a lovely lady leave his house hungry.

Oh, how they giggled at that one.

***

Later, after food and drink (wine for the ladies, seltzer for Virg.) they rested in the sitting room. Virgil took the sofa while Shubra and Sabrina sat smooshed together on the love-seat, arms circling each other.

They were, apparently, very close friends.

And they mostly spoke to each other in Macnas-esse (if that was such a thing) for Virgil spent the evening cocking his head like a confused dog - unable to follow any of the conversation between the two women.

At one point Sabrina howled with laughter and their voices rose to a level of near hysterics. Sabrina caught her breath and explained to her husband:

"Shubra wants to know if it's true about the white man," she said. "The size."

Virgil, bless his soul, didn't get it at first, until he noticed both of the women gazing at his crotch.

"Macnes men are small," Sabrina explained. "It is a well-known problem on the island."

The best-friends howled and hugged on each other more and Virgil blushed until his hair turned red, then Sabrina launched herself from the love-seat and yanked him standing. 

"Show her!" she demanded, fiddling with his zipper.

 Virgil liked to die.

But, a testament to his stamina, he didn't even pass out when Sabrina tugged him lose and hung America's Pride over the crotch of his khaki Dockers. 

Both girls laughed and it sounded like screams.

Then Sabrina said something in the foreign language and translated to English, "Wait, it gets better!"

And she took Virgil in her mouth.

Then, it was very possible Virgil did die for a petite moment. Certainly, his heart briefly stopped. Also, his vision failed. When he regained control of all his senses, he discovered Shubra had taken a knee next to Sabrina, both women laughing as they passed his rod between them; each taking a taste in turn.

***

In the bedroom, on the bed, Virgil was worse than useless. He'd lost his tongue and his muscles. He couldn't contribute at all to the unraveling events. His wife and her best friend caressed each other, kissed each other, licked each other; and he just sat there on the corner of the mattress like a dork; hand's folded like a peaked tent over his aching dick which, honestly, didn't give a shit. It just wanted to get in the game, man!

But when the women tried to coax Virgil into the pile, he went hesitantly, and only with intentions for Sabrina. When she tried to guide him toward Shubra, he rebelled and retreated to his corner. At one point, he harshly pushed Shubra's ass away when she'd thrust it at his face. The women laughed about that, and Sabrina went to work calming the situation, but the damage had been done.

Sadly, Virgil just didn't know how to handle himself at an orgy.

***

Shubra snored in her sleep. She was on the far side of the bed between Sabrina and Virgil.

Sabrina carefully unraveled herself from Shubra, rolled over and placed her hand on Virgil's heart and said, "You're awake? ... You're mad?"

"...no..."

"You didn't like it?"

"...nuh..."

"You didn't?"

"Sabrina, I...."

"I'm sorry."

"No, don't be. I'm sorry."

...

"The island is different," Sabrina nuzzled against her husband. "When we're young girls.... We have to take care of each other. We have to teach one another. It is like a tradition, yes? We survive together."

"Okay."

"I hope you're not mad."

"I'm not."

"I love you, only you. But Shubra...? She is part of me. She is very much like me. When I touch her, I touch me. Do you understand? When you touch her, you touch me. Yes?"

She hiked a leg over his stomach. He felt her wet sex pushed against his hip. Her breasts against the side of his chest.

"...okay..."

"Don't be mad." Her tongue found his ear.

"I'm not. It was just.... Unexpected. Better stop. You'll wake her."

"You're upset. It won't happen again. I'm so sorry."

"No. I'm okay. It's okay. It was just.... Unexpected."

"If she wakes up...," Sabrina didn't finish the sentence; she just rolled on top of her husband and reached for his stiffening dick.

***

"He wanted to know if all young people today partake in the ménage," Brian concluded. "He was worried that he'd been too... what's the word he used?... fuddy-duddy about the whole thing."

"So what did you tell him?"

"Nothing, man! I just hemmed and hawed and said whatever like a hundred times before making some excuse to run away."

"Maybe I should talk to him," Shane said. "After all, I do have more experience with that sort of thing."

Brian made jerking-off motions with both fists. "Switching hands doesn't count."

"Oh, never-mind then." Shane sighed. "How concerned should we be about this?"

"Yeah, well, it's going to end badly," Brian said. "That's plenty obvious. I just don't think there's anything we can do right now."

"I could call Archer. He could run a background check."

"And what would that accomplish? No matter what he found, Virgil wouldn't listen. And he would resent the hell out of you for doing it, too." Brian shrugged. "Look at it this way - maybe Virgil is being taken for a ride, but what a ride!"

***

Time passes. Virgil's work performance remains steady, but his bonhomie demeanor starts to fade. There are days where he's just checked out; still doing his job, but otherwise disengaged. At first these days are rare, and then they become more frequent. By the end of the third month, his co-workers start to talk. They can't remember the last time anybody saw Virgil smile.

***

"Hey Virg." Brian said, entering the break-room for a cuppa. Virgil, at the corner table, didn't return the greeting. He sat there, gazing blankly at the coffee, hands on his lap, a furrow upon his brow.

"Heeeeeeey," Brian tried again. Again, nothing.

"Yo! Virg!"

With that, Virgil snapped out of it and jerked to attention. His knees whacked the bottom of the table, knocking over his cup. Coffee went everywhere.

"Oh, man, I'm sorry." Brian grabbed some paper towels. When he got there, Virgil was standing, coffee dripping off his pants. A puddle at his feet.

Brian held out the towels, but Virgil didn't take them. "Virg?"

Brian then noticed tears welling up in Virgil's eyes. Almost spilling over.

"Virg? You okay?"

"What?" Virgil aggressively wiped his face. "Yeah. Yeah, sorry. I'll clean it up. Sorry."

Brian went for more towels and came back to help, kneeling on the floor next to Virgil.

"What's up, man? You look bad."

"No, I just.... Late night is all. My wife's brother is staying for a visit."

"Oh?"

Virgil nodded. He wiped his nose. "She says her brother."

***

Sabrina called him Jimmy and, from the moment he'd entered their house, she was never an arm's length away from the boy; constantly taking his hand, squeezing his narrow shoulders or fussing with his long black hair. 

"My loving brother!" she exclaimed. "He's going to stay with us a few weeks - isn't that great!"

Jimmy didn't say much. He smiled a lot, but spoke infrequently and when he did his voice was soft and barely above a whisper, so Virgil didn't catch much of what was said.

The brother seemed nice enough, though. A very small man - shorter, even, than Sabrina - with delicate features. Like his sister, he had big, dark eyes. 

But sometimes Virgil would sense those eyes on him, turn and see a thin-lipped smile spreading across the boy's unnaturally handsome face, and he would feel.... Uneasy.

***

Virgil normally liked to announce his return from work with a boisterous call or a suggestive comment, but since Jimmy had been staying with them, he'd been more subdued. 

He unlocked the door, stepped into his house, and went to the kitchen where he got a bottle of seltzer. "Babe?" he called out, heading for the living room. "Jimmy?"

In the master, he found Sabrina reclining on the bed halfway under a thin, white sheet; breasts exposed, the form of her dark pubic triangle visible. She held out her arms for him.

"Mmmm," her voice was sleepy. Dopey. "You're home."

Virgil took a step towards the bed then stopped. The master bath was open and he saw movement through the door. Jimmy, naked, appeared in the doorway. He spread his arms to grab each side of the frame and stood there with his slightly aroused penis dangling freely and that thin, sinister smile on his face.

"Come," Sabrina beckoned, curling her fingers. 

Once again, Virgil's body failed him. Unable to move, he made a low noise and one knee buckled, causing him to teeter. Sabrina was out of the bed in a flash, grabbing him around his waist, leading him to the sheets. She made loving noises. Her hands and mouth were all over his face, smothering him with kisses, stroking his cheek then the back of his head.

She moved down to his neck, kissing and nipping at his throat. Her hands unclasped the few buttons on his Polo short-sleeve. Virgil felt another set of small hands reach around from behind. They pulled his shirt un-tucked and then went to work on his belt.

Virgil twitched, tried to move away, but there was nowhere to go. Sabrina, on her knees now, pushed his head between her breasts, cooed at him like a child. Called him "baby". Told him to shush.

Now his shirt was off. Behind, thin lips pressed against his shoulder blades. Hands moved up his stomach and tweaked his nipples.

Before him, Sabrina laughed and rose up, standing precariously on the mattress. It was just the right height and she guided Virgil's face towards her sex. Jimmy whispered, "yes," and Virgil felt the hot breath on the back of his ear.

She says her brother....

***

Virgil asked for medical leave to have voluntary hernia surgery. Shane gladly signed off, telling him to take all the time he needed. The man looked bad. In conference with Brian, they concluded that this was it - Virgil's bizarre marriage must finally be coming to an end.

They resolved to keep tabs on him; make sure he didn't do anything too stupid. Shane knew a very good lawyer who would handle the divorce; still, it would certainly cost Virgil a ton of money to get away from this vixen. Nevertheless, Shane also knew how much Virgil's stock options were worth. He could absorb a hit and still manage retirement.

As long as he didn't do anything too stupid.

***

Two weeks leave turned to a month. Six weeks. Two months. Throughout, Shane and Brian made frequent phone calls and sent numerous emails inquiring about Virgil's health. The replies were always vague and grew increasingly hostile:

I'm still sick. You can fire me if you want. I'll see you in court.

That's how Virgil responded to Shane's last email inquiring if he and his wife would be attending the Company's Fall Picnic.

***

No other cars were parked around the house when Shane pulled his Lexus GX into the driveway. He worried that he'd made the trip in vain. The yard hadn't been attended to in a while; it was covered by fallen leaves with clumps of weeds growing through. Shane picked up two of those nuisance freebee newspapers on his way to the front door.

It was a nice, one story red-brick in a peaceful suburban neighborhood. Upper-upper middle class. Shane pushed the buzzer and waited.

He listened intently, but heard no sounds coming from within. He buzzed again. Time stretched. He muttered a profanity under his breath and turned to leave.

The door opened a crack. Virgil's face appeared and he asked, "What are you doing here?"

A week's worth of dirty, patchy stubble clung to the pallid skin of his cheeks. He'd also neglected to shave the ring of hair lining his scalp and it grew over his ears, grey and stringy.

But worse, his eyes: they had sunken into his skull, creating two deep, black pools on his face.

"Christ, Virg.," Shane said. "You look like shit."

Virgil had a hard time processing that information. He just shook his head, scowling.

"Hell," Shane approached the door. "Let me get a look at you."

Virgil closed the crack, peering out with only one eye. "Go away," he said.

"Virgil, buddy," Shane pressed. "You gotta come with me right now to go see a doctor. Come on."

"I can't," Virgil said. "You need to leave. Sabrina will be home soon."

"Bullshit," Shane took another step and Virgil slammed the door. "Virgil!" Shane pounded. "Come on, man, open up!"

A muffled voice through the door said, "Leave or I'll call the cops."

"And tell them what? Come on, Virgil, let me in." Shane pounded some more. "Virgil!"

Shane gave up on the front door and jogged around to the back. That door was locked, too, and he got no response when he hammered on it. "Virgil! Goddamn it!"

He cupped hands around his eyes and peered through the kitchen window. At the other side of the house, a skeletal shape crossed the entry to the bedrooms' hallway. "Virgil!" He rapped knuckles against the glass.

Another shape appeared in the hallway; short and dark in the internal shadows of the house. Shane had difficulty making out any features, but it looked like a man - or maybe a boy? - standing there naked.

Then it was gone.

Shane backed away. "Hell," he said.

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