“I, I, I,” stammered Mary-Anne. She looked like a proverbial deer in the headlights.
Katrina’s fear morphed into rage. “I asked you, what the HELL are you doing?” Chris remained halfway up the stairs. Katrina’s anger was so unstable, he didn’t want to get in the way.
Mary-anne straightened and brushed her jeans off. “Well, I saw someone sneaking in the gate and well, I’m just glad it’s you and not some burglar.”
Katrina straightened her hunched back and uncurled her fists enough to seem about as less hostile as a dog ready to playfully beat a rabbit to death. “Why didn’t you try the front door?”
“well, I did. It’s locked.”
Chris started down the stairs, “uh, sorry, that was my fault. Habit I suppose.”
Katrina looked at him, processing some information. She turned back to Mary-anne, “Why did you have to break the window?”
“Sorry, I’ll replace it. I just, “ she looked at Chris and back to Katrina. “I have something that I guess you should know. In private.”
“Well, if it has anything to do with the infection, Chris can know too. He is writing that article after all.”
“Right.” She walked towards the sofa behind chairs and sat, curled into the corner as if that was her normal spot. Katrina followed her and sat in her mother’s chair leaning over the arm to the sofa. Chris stood guard behind the couch. “well, ever since we got back there’s been things going on.”
“What kind of things?” Chris heard himself ask.
Mary-anne glanced at him and continued talking to Katrina. “People are going missing. And not being found.”
“Who?” Katrina asked.
“Well, the butcher’s son. He goes hunting in the woods. He went hunting a couple days ago. Well, you can’t really call it hunting. He goes shooting.” Mary-anne chuckled at herself. “They searched for him, but found nothing.”
“What’s his name?” Chris asked, remembering the young man he saw in the woods, licking the tree.”
“Foster Briant.” Katrina answered. Chris was relieved: Not the same guy.
“So, anyways, they’re still looking for him. But another person has gone missing. I don’t know their name, but it’s some guy who was last seen last night at the bar.” Katrina and Chris cringed at the thought. “There’s more people missing, but no one will give details. The rumor going around is that the infection is getting stronger now that we’re back.”
“That’s absurd, “ Katrina scoffed. “We’ve been treated. We still treat ourselves everyday.”
Mary-anne rolled her eyes, “yeah. I know.”
“So what does this have to do with you breaking and entering into my house?”
“Well, I afraid that one of the two of you was going to murder the other.”
“And you were going to what, apprehend them by yourself?” Chris asked.
“mary-anne glared at him. “No, that’s what the brick was for. Dual purpose.”
Katrina stood up and walked through a door. A couple seconds later she came back with a broom and dust pan. “well, there’s nothing we can do but clean up and get this window covered with plastic until I can get it fixed.”
Mary-anne jumped up and headed towards the door, “well, I’m glad that it’s just you guys and I didn’t have to kick any asses today. I’ll see you later, gotta meet Mary-jo.”
Katrina rolled her eyes and started brushing up the glass. Chris walked over to help. “Where can I find a tarp or plastic bag or something?”
