Diet, weight loss, muscle building, and exercise are and likely always will be the subject of much debate. In a society plagued with obesity and simultaneously concerned about body image, the key to perfect weight maintenance is akin to the fountain of youth.
Many of us have come to the realization, however, that there is no one key and – much to the disdain of popular culture – no one body image to idealize. Instead, we can look at the ways that nutrients and movement combine then utilize them as tools to maximize our own body's potential. That means not only choosing what to eat, but when to eat, as well as listening to your body.
Let's walk step-by-step through the mechanics of food and exercise to empower you to make healthy decisions that will best benefit your body.
While not everyone needs to gain weight necessarily, I can't think of a (normal) circumstance where building or toning muscle is undesirable. This is part of the reason many experts are beginning to tell people to ditch the scale.
But exercise does not exist in a vacuum. We have to give the body the right nutrients in order to teach it to burn fat, and even then, when we eat, the stress in our lives, and even our hormones can stand in the way.
Yes, even carbohydrates. For awhile, fat was the enemy. Low fat diets ruled the day. Now, it's carbs that get the boot. I do advocate a lower carbohydrate method in the Advanced Plan, but note that it's refined carbohydrates and grains that we eliminate. Just as a handful of margarine is different from a handful of almonds, not all carbs are created equal.
Each person will likely thrive on different ratios of these nutrients, but by focusing on the quality of food, we can become free to enjoy each macronutrient as intended. It's another step toward getting out of our own way and letting our bodies function as they were meant to.
With this in mind, there is some validation for the Paleolithic, low (processed) carb, and grain free movements, particularly paired with higher fat intake. Even for athletes – who are traditionally coached to carb-load, no matter the quality – a high protein/high fat/low carb diet may be a viable option.
A word of caution – tripling the recommended values did not provide any extra benefit. Since excessive protein can be dangerous, there is a line to walk – a little bit more is good, but be aware of what you are doing to make sure you don't go overboard. Adults need a recommended amount of roughly 50 grams of protein per day, give or take based on age and gender. (4) For perspective, a basic hamburger contains around 20 grams. Add in a couple of other meals with the Standard American Diet's focus on meat with little else, and you can see that we're well over.
Excessive protein can be dangerous. A little bit more is good, but don't go overboard.
The question then is of quality instead of quantity, and the answer is that quality is of utmost importance. (5) If we are protecting our muscles with a food source, you'd better believe we want it to be high quality! I recommend lean meats from naturally fed, organic sources in the Advanced Plan, as do most paleo plans.
Fat intake is in a similar boat with regard to quality, but we tend to fall woefully short on intake amounts. It seems we are still struggling against the low fat stigma of decades past. In reality, current recommendations for fat consumption by athletes falls around 20-35% of daily caloric intake. (6) The benefits of higher fat intake are numerous, from protection to performance.
Completely anecdotally, my father was a marathon runner who performed exceptionally well. At sixty years of age, not only did he run a marathon, but he was the fastest in his age group – presumably in the world. The only time he chose carbs as part of his training regimen was when he'd eat a bowl of pasta the day before a 20-mile run. If he could run a marathon in just shy of three hours on high fat, high protein training and a single bowl of pasta, I have no trouble placing my confidence in studies that verify the importance of fat for endurance athletes.
Obviously, marathon and ultra-marathon runners still do carb-load for race days, and likely always will. (10) But marathons are not daily occurrences, and pre-marathon diets do not reflect daily dietary needs, even for an athlete. Think of Michael Phelps and his mounds of pancakes while he trained so heavily for the Olympics. Yes, he was burning the calories – but should that become a normal diet recommendation? Of course not! And even though he needed the energy, one has to wonder what that amount of less-than-ideal food does to his gut, immunity, and long term health risks.
Yes, during my dad's actual marathons, he would consume some refined carbohydrate gels and drinks. However, he recognized that this was abnormal intake, for an abnormal activity!
Just as with fat and protein, the source is vital. Unless you plan to win record-setting amounts of gold medals, you don't have to inhale every carb in sight. When carbohydrate intake does seem necessary, there are plenty to choose from that won't spike blood sugar, inhibit fat oxidation, or disrupt training goals.
Refined sugars and flours are absolutely off the list, and for the Advanced Plan I suggest avoiding grains, as well. By choosing vegetable and fruit sources of complex carbohydrates, you will avoid that overly-full feeling that starchy carbs bring while leaving room to bulk up your meal with fat and protein consistent with the high-performance findings we've looked at today.
Have you ever looked at the word "breakfast" as anything other than the morning meal or the most important meal of the day? It actually is the meal that breaks the fast that overnight sleep created. So it's not necessarily the most important meal because it comes early, but because it comes first and sets the tone for the day.
The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) tends to reach for a light, carb-laden, often sweet meal in the mornings, a light lunch, and then a heavy, protein and fat filled meal at the end of the day. But if food is supposed to be our fuel, that would be like trying to fill up a gas tank at the end of the road trip!
However, one should note that exercise-induced nausea may be worsened when exercising either in a fasted state and if you have just eaten a meal prior to the workout. (17) If you are prone to feel queasy after a workout, consider drinking a juiced or powdered greens drink to satiate the stomach and provide a bit of nutrition without requiring digestion.
Listen to your body! If you eat before working out, make sure it is something easily digestible.
Questions? Please leave them in the Comments section, below!


John Guest's Pex Barrier Pipe in Coils are manufactured in the UK by John Guest Speedfit.
Our PEX pipe is made of 5 layers, the centre of which is a blue coloured oxygen barrier which prevents the ingress of air into the system, reducing the effect of corrosion on metal components. Due to its low thermal conductivity, when carrying hot water, a Speedfit pipe is cooler and therefore safer to touch.


text:
DAI Services |
Events & News |
You are here: Home > About > DAI Structure > Board
Call: 01 877 6001 Email: info@dyslexia.ie
DAI Structure
How You Can Support DAI
DAI is governed by its Board of Directors (formerly called our National Executive Committee). Members of the Board are volunteers and members of the DAI. Board members are elected each year at the AGM, and they are responsible for making policy decisions regarding the structure and development of the Association. The Board is also responsible for keeping the Association solvent and for ensuring that all legal and fiscal responsibilities are honoured. Our Board is responsible for ensuring that we abide by our association's Constitution and our Governance Manual.
The current members of our Board of Directors are:
National President: Natasha Kearns
Vice President: Olive Connolly
Board Secretary: David Waldron
Hon. Treasurer: Gerard McCoy
Committee Members: Mark Harty
Therese McPhillips
Sarah McNally
Barbara Moran
Grainne O'Rourke
Gloria Rull
The Board also has several sub-committees and groups who assist the Board and act in an advisory capacity. The current sub-committees and working groups are:
Finance & Audit Sub-Committee
Communications & Fundraising Sub-Committee
Governance & Risk Sub-Committee
Education Expert Advisory Group
About Us | Contact Us | Site Map
E-mail: info@dyslexia.ie
DAI, 5th Floor, Block B, Joyce's Court, Talbot Street, Dublin 1
DAI activities are part-funded by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government (Scheme to Support National Organisations 2016-2019 administered by Pobal), the Special Education Section of the Department of Education and Skills, SOLAS and KWETB.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Alexis Prokopuik, above, ousted top seed Tracy Dong, 6-1, 6-2, in the Girls' 16/18 Champ's final on Sunday, January 15. Alexis later teamed up with Stacey Fung to overcome Tracy Dong and Rosie Johanson in the Girls' 18 doubles final, 6-1, 6-2, to claim the title.
Photo 1 (left): Tracy Dong is practicing no more than one hour per day on average and is studying more at the school. Her education has gained in importance for now.
Photo 2: In the Boys' 18 Champ's final, Alexander Day beat Patrick Walker, 6-1, 6-4. Alexander and his partner Zach Lidster topped Daniel Raw and Roy Cheng, 7-6, 6-1 for the Boys' 18 doubles title.
Photo 3: Cassie Chung, left, and Jared Maclean. They are the winners of this year's Sportsmanship Award. Cassie also took the Girls' 14 title by beating Khadija Dumas Da- Silva, 6-1, 7-5, in the final.
Photo 4: The coaches: Dimitri Penchev, left, and new Tennis Canada coach Oded Jacob. Oded, who hails from Israel, was recently chosen to run Tennis Canada' s third National Training Program following centres in Ontario and Quebec out of North Shore Winter Club. Can Oded fill the gap and help our top juniors now that Luke O'Loughlin has left Tennis BC out of frustration and, in doing so, left BC without a director of high performance? We hope so.
Photo 5: Lauren Li, left, and Oleksandra Gorchanyuk. Lauren outlasted Oleksandra in three sets, 2-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the Girls' 12 final.
Photo 6: Top seed Neel Phaterpekar, left, and Manroop Gill. Neel fended off Manroop, 6-3, 7-5, to win the Boys' 14.
Photo 7: Jerry Huang, left, and Andre Sobati. Jerry beat tired Andre, 6-3, 6-0, in the Boys' 12 final.
Photo 8: Meet the winner of the Boys' 16, Tejas Phaterpekar. Tejas defeated Felix Fan, 6-3, 7-6, in the final.
Photo 9: Sam Gouneili (left), winner of the Boys' 14 Consolation, is receiving his prize from Tennis BC's Lois Ker. Sam beat John Schriemer, 6-2, 6-1 in the final.
The Champ draws, this year, were limited to the top 16 players in Boys U12, U14, and Girls U12, U14. This format was also used for the top 12 players in Boys U18, for the Girls U16/18 combined, and for the top 16 players in Boys U16. Instead of consolations, doubles were included for these events.
All other players played in the Challenger draws.


Orange CA offers visitors a chance to step back in time with a stroll through the Old Town District, which contains many historic homes built prior to the1920s. While these quintessentially Californian homes are certainly charming to look at, some of them might be dangerous to live in without proper renovations. In addition to keeping your older Orange CA home up to code, you also need to be on the lookout for old asbestos-containing building materials. While these materials were once thought to be safe, we now know that they are best handled through asbestos removal Orange CA.
Do You Need Asbestos Removal?
Asbestos fibers are mainly dangerous when they are inhaled. Dust and fibers coming off of broken asbestos-containing ceiling tiles, flooring, roofing materials, and insulation are common causes of asbestos-related lung problems and cancer. If you think you have asbestos in your home, you should have an expert evaluate the material before you even consider disturbing it. If asbestos is found, you must not attempt to complete the removal yourself. Instead, you need to get professional asbestos removal Orange CA. Only the pros will have the resources and knowledge needed to safely remove and dispose of the asbestos.
Once asbestos fibers enter your ductwork, it's only a matter of time before they spread throughout your entire home. Therefore, it is very important to keep asbestos-containing materials well away from your HVAC system. Asbestos-containing insulation surrounding your ductwork is especially problematic. Fortunately, you can count on the pros from AQHI Inc. to safely perform asbestos duct removal Orange CA. We can help you keep the air in your home clean and safe.
Safety is a top priority at AQHI Inc. Our employees are fully trained in safety protocols as well as industry best practices for the removal and disposal of asbestos. Our employees always wear full safety gear and they go through a decontamination process prior to leaving the work zone, to ensure that they do not inadvertently track asbestos dust into other areas of your home or business. We also seal all workspaces and filter the air during and after work to further ensure that we capture all stray asbestos fibers and leave you with a safe and healthy environment.
Our asbestos removal office for Orange CA is open Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM and closed for lunch from noon to 1:00 PM. With advance notice, projects can be scheduled for weekends, early mornings and evenings.


text:
package work.zhili.springboot2template.core.filter;

import javax.servlet.*;
import java.io.IOException;

/**
 * Title : work.zhili.springboot2template.core.filter <br>
 * Description :
 *   a sample filter
 *
 * @author chile
 * @version 1.0
 * @date 2018/6/5 10:29
 */
public class SampleFilter implements Filter {

    @Override
    public void init(FilterConfig filterConfig) throws ServletException {

    }

    @Override
    public void doFilter(ServletRequest request, ServletResponse response, FilterChain chain)
            throws IOException, ServletException {

    }

    @Override
    public void destroy() {

    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
by: Sky Rauth
Is Elon Musk covering up UFO sightings in New Zealand?
Elon Musk is back in the headlines for reasons other than Twitter. Apparently overnight, there was a mysterious formation of clouds in the skies of New Zealand. While the clouds had bystanders shouting aliens, scientists across social media were shouting "Elon".
As one of the most discussed people on the planet, it's becoming less and less of a surprise when Musk's name is in the same sentence with words like "aliens" and "swirly clouds". Nevertheless, let's take a closer look into what exactly people saw from the ground that night.
Concerned citizens
As soon as people realized not all was righmt with the sky, doors were knocked on across town with people rushing outside and lighting up social media. "Premonition from our orbital black hole," said one stargazer. "Aliens at it again," commented another. Indeed, the world has definitely had its share of exhilarating space news with the announcement of our Milky Way's Sagittarius A – a black hole that's been photographed for the first time.
However, the photographs taken during this recent skyborne event had less to do with event horizons and more to do with how fast the object raced toward the horizon. When asked about the spiral, 34-year-old Stewart Island civilian stargazer Alisdair Burns called it one of the strangest sights he had ever seen.
"It was absolutely bizarre. It was like a massive spiral. And it very, very slowly, serenely moving north across the night sky and then just sort of dissipating as it went," Burns said. "It looked like an enormous spiral galaxy, just hanging there in the sky, and slowly just drifting across," Burns added. "Quite an eerie feeling."
As unusual as it was, not everyone has their heart racing for ominous reasons. 54-year-old Māpua local Augustine Matthews was one such citizen that considered the sight with more captivation than concern. "It was really beautiful to watch," she said. "It looked like a planet or star. It was just a white dot with a tiny spiral. And within 10 minutes, it had traversed half the sky and the spiral had grown three times in size."
Earthly origins
Professor Richard Easther is a physicist at Auckland University and was quick to explain the phenomenon as "weird" but easily identifiable in the name of science. According to Easther, clouds of that nature sometimes occurred when a rocket carried a satellite into orbit.
"When the propellant is ejected out the back, you have what's essentially water and carbon dioxide – that briefly forms a cloud in space that's illuminated by the sun," Easther explained. "The geometry of the satellite's orbit and also the way that we're sitting relative to the sun – that combination of things was just right to produce these completely wacky-looking clouds that were visible from the South Island."
This is not unlike the type of cloud Burns initially guessed at after reading about a 2009 account of a Russian missile launch causing huge spirals over Norway. "None of us had ever seen anything like that before. It was spectacular."
Future missions
As far as earthly matters go, questions on whether or not Elon Musk is going forward with SpaceX's forays into space on crypto's coin remain up in the air. As discussions surrounding his multi-billion dollar Twitter deal continue to depict a negotiation held in midair, it's anyone's guess as to what Musk would actually do if his vehicles ended up not being behind mysterious clouds in the sky.
With missions aimed beyond the moon and over to Mars, the next decade could still very well see Elon Musk crossing paths with otherworldly sights and entities. Whether or not that entails more of his swirly clouds in the sky seems to be a foregone conclusion. The question is how long will it take before those same swirly clouds make their way over to American skies? An even bigger question is, will Americans be all that entertained by it?
Let us know in the comments what you would do if you saw swirly clouds in the sky!
Auckland UniversityCryptoElon MuskSpaceXUFOs
Sky Rauth
Sky Rauth is a freelance writer and pizza-by-the-slice connoisseur living in Brooklyn, New York. They spend their free time filming music videos, rollerblading, and building a cookbook out of their friends' favorite recipes.
The Twitter Files: Peek into all the salient points of Thread 2
Did Elon Musk's private jet tracker actually cause him to buy Twitter?
Which of these hot guys became millionaires last year?
Elon Musk Stated He Supports Cryptocurrencies Like Bitcoin
Why will Grimes never become the wife of Elon Musk?
Why is Elon Musk tweeting about himself as a child now?
Will Elon Musk ever find a partner? His unusual love life timeline


text:
Fool, The Fool, or Fools may refer to:

A jester, also called a fool, a type of historical entertainer known for their witty jokes
An insult referring to someone of low intelligence or easy gullibility

Arts, entertainment and media

Fictional characters
 Fool (stock character) in literature and folklore
 Shakespearean fool, an archetypal character in numerous works by Shakespeare

Film
 A Fool, a 2015 Chinese film directed by Chen Jianbin
 Fools (1970 film), an American film
 Fools (2003 film), an Indian film directed by Dasari Narayana Rao
 The Fool (1913 film), a 1913 British silent film
 The Fool (1925 film), a lost silent film
 The Fool (1990 film), a British film
 The Fool (2014 film), a Russian film

Gaming and Tarot
 Fool (card game)
 The Fool (Tarot card games)
 The Fool (cartomantic Tarot cards)

Literature
 Fool (novel), a 2009 novel by Christopher Moore
 Fools (play), a 1981 play by Neil Simon
 The Fool (novel), an 1880 Armenian language novel by Raffi
 The Fool, a 1921 novel by H. C. Bailey
 The Fool (play), a 1975 play by Edward Bond
 The Fool (fictional character), a fictional character in The Realm of the Elderlings by Robin Hobb

Music
 The Fool (design collective), a Dutch design collective and band in the 1960s
 The Fool (guitar), a 1964 Gibson SG designed by The Fool for Eric Clapton
 The Fools, a musical group from Massachusetts, U.S.

Albums
 Fool (Joe Jackson album), 2019
 The Fool (The Fool album), 1968
 The Fool (Ryn Weaver album), 2015
 The Fool (Warpaint album), 2010
 Fools (The Reason album), 2010
 Fools (EP), by Lauren Aquilina, 2012

Songs
 "Fool" (Elvis Presley song), 1973
 "Fool (If You Think It's Over)", a song by Chris Rea, 1978
 "Fool" by Blur, from the 1991 album Leisure
 "Fool" by Cat Power, from the 2003 album You Are Free
 "Fool" by Dragon, from the 1984 album Body and the Beat
 Fool (Mansun song), from the 2000 album Little Kix
 "Fool" by The Rasmus, from the 2006 album Peep
 "Fool" by Roxette, from their 2001 album Room Service
 "Fool" by Shakira, from the 2001 album Laundry Service
 "Fool" by Swans from the album Greed
 "Fool (#2)" by Swans from the album Holy Money
 "Fool (I Feel Bad for You)" by Medina, from the U.S. release of 2012 Forever album
 "The Fool" (Sanford Clark song), 1956
 "The Fool" (Lee Ann Womack song), 1997
 "The Fool", a 1971 single by Gilbert Montagné
 "The Fool" by Neutral Milk Hotel, from the album In the Aeroplane over the Sea
 "The Fool" by Camper Van Beethoven, from the 1988 album Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart
 "The Fool" by The Fixx, from the 1982 album Shuttered Room
 "The Fool" by Quicksilver Messenger Service, from the 1968 album Quicksilver Messenger Service
 "The Fool" by Luna Halo from their 2007 self-titled album
 "Fools" (Alphaville song), 1994
 "Fools" by Deep Purple, from their 1971 album Fireball
 "Fools" by Rachel Stevens, from the 2003 album Funky Dory
 "Fools" by Troye Sivan, from the 2015 album Wild
 "Fools" by Uriah Heep, from the 1980 album Conquest
 "Fools" by Van Halen, from the 1980 album Women and Children First
 Fool" (Fitz and the Tantrums song), 2017

Food
 Fruit fool, a dish made with cooked fruit such as gooseberries or bilberries
 Ful (pronounced "fool") or ful medames, a Middle Eastern dish made from fava beans

Other uses
 Léon-Mba International Airport, Libreville, Gabon, ICAO airport code FOOL
 The Motley Fool, a financial advice company (fool.com) nicknamed "the Fool"

See also

 Folly (disambiguation)
 Foolish (disambiguation)
 Foolishness, the unawareness or lack of social norms which causes offence, annoyance, trouble or injury
 FoolishPeople, a British theatre collective
 Fools Guild, a social club of comedic performers
 Foolscap (disambiguation)
 List of jesters
 Clown
 Harlequin
 Jester (disambiguation)
 Joker (disambiguation)
 Magic (illusion)
 Stupidity
 Tomfoolery
 Yokel

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


John Neal, son of George and Martha Neal, was born at Docking in the county of Norfolk, November 15, 1805; was converted at Flitcham in 1830, and died at West Newton, May 3, 1835, in the thirtieth year of his age.
He was, as he often said, the subject of conviction from a child. But as-he grew up he gave proof of having been conceived in sin and shapen in iniquity; and during the greater part of his life he continued a stranger to God and to real happiness. But happily he was blessed with a praying father, who ceased not to cry and wrestle for the conversion of John, in connexion with the rest of his family, until an answer was sent from heaven.
It pleased God to make the conversion of a younger brother, a means of awakening John to a sense of his danger. He was deeply convinced of his being a sinner; and, out of the depth of his misery and distress, he besought the Lord to have mercy upon him; and his cry was not in vain. He attended a preaching at Flitcham, a village about two miles from West Newton; and in the prayer meeting after, while calling upon God, the Lord set his soul at glorious liberty; and from that time to his death he kept the promised land in view; and prosecuted his journey to the skies with unwearied diligence.
After some time he was called to fill the important offices of class leader and local preacher; in which offices he laboured affectionately, acceptably, diligently, and successfully.
In November, 1834, his mother having been dead about twelve days, he was visited with an inflammation; and intimated an opinion of not recovering, it having been impressed on his mind as he stood by his mother's grave, that he would be carried out next.
The inflammation was followed by a consumption; a disorder to which the family was liable, and by which it had been greatly desolated. He was the seventh who fell a victim to the consumption; but they all died happy in the Lord.
His wife weeping much, he exhorted her to trust in the Lord, saying he knew the Lord would provide for her, for all her kindness to him. And then with great composure he chose three hymns to be sung at his funeral; and also selected his bearers.
Hymn 485, large book, he wished to be sung at his grave. And when his wife read, "Sweet truth to me, I shall arise, And with these eyes nay Saviour see," he joyfully anticipated the time when he should be freed from the body and behold his Saviour without a veil between.
Primitive Methodist Magazine, 1838. Pages 91-92.


It's the story of Alexandra Holzer and, as she is the daughter of the famous ghost hunter Hanz Holzer, publishing it is definitely a great way to launch our "Paranormal" category.
Those of you who read the old version of 'Forward and Share' might remember some of Bill Knell's articles... They were great additions to our UFOs Related topic and were very popular among our readers (Good news: We have managed to salvage some of them and will definitely publish them again in a near future) so being able to publish more articles from him is like an early Christmas present for us.
about her parents, so we'll begin there.
communicates a sincere interest in spirit investigation.
happens to be the subject of demons.
a couple of times, she agreed that the anomaly was a face.
That's when the orb fight began."
"My mother, sister and I went to show the photo to my father.
that rivals her father's when it comes to spirit investigation.
batch of toast and strawberry jam."
smiling again, and devising a plan to haunt me I am sure!"
proof positive that Extraterrestrials were visiting our planet.
what we got him, but was excited to watch him open the present.
and with a smirk continued to open the package."
and the look on his face went from a smirk to a serious grin.
into my room announcing he would be on television that evening.
coast ghost researchers called New York's Pretty Paranormals.
Ghost Hunter. You'll be seeing a lot more of Alexandra Holzer.
available and more on the way.
What is Your Visual Ghost Apparation Experience?


Peppermint is popular in countless forms, from toothpaste to chewing gum.
The peppermint plant is a hybrid of watermint and spearmint and was first described by Carl Linneaus in 1753. A high menthol content—like that found in the doTERRA Peppermint essential oil—distinguishes the best quality Peppermint from other products. Peppermint is frequently used in toothpaste and chewing gum for oral hygiene. Peppermint continues to be one of the best-selling favourites among doTERRA essential oils.
Use a drop of Peppermint with Lemon in water for a refreshing mouth rinse.


Curtin University is ranked in the top 1% universities worldwide (ARWU 2018 and QS World University Rankings 2019), and is placed 20th in the world for universities less than 50 years old (QS Top 50 Under 50 2019). Curtin is WA's most preferred university, with highly engaged industry-facing partners. Curtin University is a major global player, with well-integrated campuses in Singapore, Malaysia, Mauritius and Dubai.
This rare opportunity will allow the successful candidate to play a leading role in managing a team of Post-Doctoral Fellows, PhD and Masters Students. You will be involved in the recruitment of these positions. This position will be research focussed with some teaching requirements.
Lily Dewse - People Capability Consultant, Faculty Science and Engineering.


Need a Dumpster Rental in Sellersburg?
We have the commercial and residential dumpster service you need in Sellersburg.
At RateDumpster, we strive to bring you the best service at the best price available. We have a wide selection of dumpster sizes in stock in Sellersburg, IN, with flexible & timley pickup and delivery. Give us a call today for all your dumpster rental and roll off needs.
Your roll-off dumpster in Sellersburg, IN is only a phone call away. Don't delay!
Dumpsters are available* in Sellersburg.
Most Sellersburg dumpster rental companies will take care of securing this permit for you if you rent from them. Make sure that if you're planning to put the dumpster on the street, the company has made the appropriate arrangements. You should also ensure that you get the permit in a timely manner and at the correct cost. If you thought the dumpster company was getting a permit and they did not, you will be the one who will have to pay the fine that is issued by the authorities.
That old woodwork, gates, carpeting, etcetera., can be placed inside the dumpster you rental. With ease the actual contractor are able to keep your family place and garden looking neat by using a overnight rent a dumpster. Your carpeting as well as other items will have packaging around them. Your contractor can easily throw all of the garbage right into the dumpster. Once everything is installed, you can now put your items again onto the brand new wood shelving, your new flat screen TV, pieces of furniture, etc. That old furniture is long gone in the next time dumpster that you rental. Now it is here we are at you and your family to unwind and enjoy your brand-new family room. Many family memories will be created in your secure and lovely living room area.
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Plastics, metals, lumber, yard throw away, glass and will all be placed into one package. Items that are far too large being handled as part of your regular garbage can just become thrown in without having to worry about the dimension. And this makes it possible to get your job done quickly when you don't have to deal with separating the many various items that will be required whenever they were taken care of as recyclables.
In case you have a large undertaking you are trying to complete in McLean, Vienna, or perhaps Tyson's Corner with Arlington County, Veterans administration you will need to rent any dumpster.
The trash cumulated for longer period of time is polluting both oxygen and terrain making it dangerous for the individuals to survive. The garbage generated through these projects should be cleared instantly. If you choose standard mode for cleaning trash such as self cleaning to be able to dispose the trash then it normally takes pretty period of time and the waste being cumulated for such a long time will dirty the air as well as contaminate surrounding areas growing many infectious diseases.
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text:
Harry Reid's shadow looms over Nevada Senate race
CRISTINA SILVA, Associated Press
LAS VEGAS (AP) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid isn't on the ballot this year, but he's very much in the game.
With Republicans clamoring to take away his majority, Reid is helping Democratic Senate candidates across the nation raise money and demonize their opponents. Nowhere is his hand more visible than in his home state, where Democrats can capture a seat from Republicans.
Reid, who had an arduous race of his own in Nevada two years ago, has loaned his former campaign staff to Rep. Shelley Berkley, Las Vegas' representative in the House for the past 14 years.
Berkley is Reid's hope for taking Nevada's other Senate seat away from Republican Dean Heller, who was appointed to it a year ago when GOP Sen. John Ensign resigned in anticipation of a highly critical Ethics Committee report about his affair with an aide.
"It's reasonable to make the argument that I have two opponents, yes: Shelley Berkley and Harry Reid," said Heller.
Republicans need to pick up a net four seats to take over the Senate and Reid's job as majority leader. Key to that is holding onto the seats the GOP already has, and Heller's is among the most vulnerable.
The race won't be easy for either Berkley or Heller, both longtime politicians facing questions from angry voters fed up with a devastated housing market and stagnant economy. Nevada's unemployment rate of 11.6 percent is the highest of any state.
Heller, who represented Nevada's conservative northern half in the House for three terms, needs to woo swing voters in the urban centers of Las Vegas and Reno. Berkley is facing her first competitive race in more than a decade as she also fights off ethics allegations that she used her office to advance her husband's medical career. The two candidates are nearly matched in campaign dollars; each has more than $4 million in cash on hand.
It's unclear whether Reid's string-pulling will help or hinder Berkley. Nevada is divided between Republican and Democratic voters, leaving independents to decide elections with often unpredictable results.
Democrats have a stronger party organization in the state, but Reid is surprisingly unpopular in view of the clout he wields. Conservatives blame him for the struggling economy and oversized federal deficits and are incensed about him butting in on this year's Senate contest. Sensing opportunity, Heller has used Reid's attacks in fundraising emails.
"Every time Harry Reid opens his mouth he just annoys me. I don't believe he is honest," said Barbara Teixeira, 71, a former Democrat and volunteer in Heller's campaign against Berkley. "Harry Reid doesn't care about her at all. All Harry Reid cares about is keeping the Senate majority."
Reid's support also won't help Berkley with voters who claim she hasn't done enough to challenge other Democrats in Washington.
"Shelley Berkley is one of those people who follow the crowd," said Robert Rickly, 49, a Republican business owner in Las Vegas who supports Heller. "She just kind of votes along party lines."
But Berkley may benefit from Reid's ability to force Republicans into unpopular votes on some issues while protecting Democrats from them on others. Berkley is following the game plan.
She has held more than a dozen news conferences in recent months to portray Heller as anti-women, anti-veteran, anti-small business and anti-Hispanic. She is running an aggressive ad campaign with TV spots and mailers circulated across the state.
Heller has largely refused to talk about Berkley. His first TV spot aired Sunday and is broad in its approach. It features Heller criticizing Congress for not passing an annual budget. "They do a lot of talking, but they haven't done their job in over three years," Heller states. "It's time Washington delivered on something."
Heller's campaign has argued that it doesn't need to run defense or offense while Berkley is doing both.
Berkley is being investigated by the House ethics committee for allegations made by the Nevada GOP that she tried to influence federal reimbursement rates for dialysis providers and lobbied to save a kidney transplant program in Las Vegas administrated by her husband, Dr. Larry Lehrner. Heller also had backed the program.
"If that kidney transplant center was closed, patients would have had to travel hundreds of miles out of state in order to get their care," Berkley said. "That would have been unacceptable to me."
The ethics committee is to decide on or before July 9 whether to conduct a full investigation. But American Crossroads, a group formed by prominent Republican strategist Karl Rove, is already airing TV ads in the state accusing Berkley of "using her office to enrich her family." Berkley calls the ads "relentless smears."
The race's outcome could depend on how Republican Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama perform in Nevada. Obama won the state in 2008, but Republican George W. Bush carried the state in 2004. Five months from the election, Nevada is now viewed as a toss-up in the presidential race.
Before he went to Washington, Heller was a popular secretary of state known for his moderate views. He nearly lost his first House bid in 2006 against tea-party favorite Sharron Angle, who portrayed him as weak on conservative issues.
Since his appointment to the Senate, he's held frequent campaign appearances across the Las Vegas Valley, where the majority of citizens live. Some of his outreach efforts have foundered. Last year he canceled a meeting with the Latin Chamber of Commerce at the last minute, then alienated Nevada' large Latino constituency by saying he didn't support the DREAM Act to provide a route to citizenship for illegal immigrants who arrived in the U.S. as children.
Heller recently announced a group of Hispanic Republican supporters and has been working to restore his image within the community. He's also targeted veterans and business groups.
"No doubt I have work to do in southern Nevada," Heller said.
Berkley said she isn't shying away from Obama or Reid's help. She called Obama's campaign "an asset" and suggested she wasn't worried about turning off voters by teaming up with Reid. "This is a race between me and Dean, and Dean may try to pretend it's a race between him and somebody else. It's not," she said.
Berkley is better known than Heller in the Las Vegas Valley. Voters praise her constituency outreach efforts. "Shelley is always there for the people," said Carolen Tabor, 70, a Las Vegas retiree. "I can see her at Costco and she will hug me."
Robin Joyce, a Republican pastor in Las Vegas, said he is leaning toward Heller. Still, he praised Berkley for her work in the community, support for Israel and efforts to help small businesses.
"She is just a good lady," Joyce said. "She has always stood for Nevada issues."


Wasing Park is an exclusive and idyllic exclusive use wedding venue near Aldermaston, West Berkshire.
Close to London and within touching distance of the Hampshire / Berkshire border Wasing Park is a hidden gem in the wedding venue industry. Approached by a long, tree lined avenue, surrounded by extensive parkland and gardens Wasing Park has become one of the most exclusive wedding venues in the South of England.
Often a venue of celebrity weddings, it offers an extensive range of places to get married within the grounds of Wasing Park itself; A parish church, an outside wedding area and a traditional barn wedding are all options and catered for beautifully by the staff at Wasing Park.
Wasing Park is at the centre of the 4,000 acre Wasing Estate, which was established in 1759 and has been under the stewardship of the same family since then. It is set in beautiful parkland, providing many opportunities for those romantic wedding photographs.
Wasing Park is licensed for Civil Weddings and Partnership Ceremonies.
From a wedding photojournalist point of view Wasing Park is an incredible venue to work it. The grounds and varying wedding ceremony locations make it a wonderful place to explore and photograph the story of the wedding day as it unfolds. It really is a venue that has everything, whether you want a traditional English Church Wedding or a wedding in the barn or even a wedding in the grounds itself. It's all here at Wasing Park.
Having shot at Wasing before, it's a venue I very much look forward to working at. So, if you are considering a wedding at Wasing Park in the near future, please don't hesitate to contact me to discuss your wedding photography requirements.
Don't forget to search my website to see blog posts and photos from other weddings at Wasing Park.


Bellona was an Ancient Roman war goddess. She is believed to be one of the numinous gods of the Romans (without a particular mythology and possibly of Etruscan origin), and is supposed سے طرف کی many to have been the Romans' original war deity, predating the identification of Mars with Ares. She accompanied Mars into battle and is taken variously as his sister, wife یا daughter. She is also (as at her temple in Ostia) syncreted with Magna Mater.
Bellona's attribute is not a sword and she is depicted wearing a ہیلمیٹ and armed with a spear and a torch.
a pop quiz question گیا دیا کر شامل: Which Goddess is the goddess of the hunt, moon , chastity , & wild animals?
Which Goddess is the goddess of the hunt, moon , chastity , & wild animals?


The determination of damages is a critical part of any patent case. As a plaintiff, maximizing awarded damages, whether financial or injunctive, is the ultimate objective of the patent case. As a defendant, minimizing or preventing any awarded damages is the ultimate objective.
Multimillion dollar verdicts in patent cases are now the norm and hundred plus million dollar verdicts are becoming more frequent. A lawyer who fails to devote sufficient time to this critical component of a case does the client a disservice.
There are generally two types of damages in patent cases: lost profits and a reasonable royalty. A patent owner may seek either lost profits or a reasonable royalty, or a combination of both, as long the recoveries do not overlap. The determination of patent damages awarded is a question of fact, and numerous damage theories exist within the broad categories of both lost profits and a reasonable royalty to help answer that question.
King, Michael H. and Evans, Steven M. (2005) "Selecting an Appropriate Damages Expert in a Patent Case; An Examination of the Current Status of Daubert," Akron Law Review: Vol. 38 : Iss. 2 , Article 3.


text:
Our Captious Critic, May 21st 1898. : "The Medicine Man," at the Lyceum Theatre.
Shop Home > THEATRE > Our Captious Critic
For Sale is a Full Page from the illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News, May 21st 1898, showing "Our Captious Critic," with a Review for the Play "The Medicine Man," at the Lyceum Theatre.
Illustrated by Alfred Bryan.
Reverse side shows an Article called "How to Succeed as a Tourist." By W.F.B.
Condition is Good, with No Foxing.


text:
Booyong Mountain
Lois Kay
Fiona, who was casually leaning her shoulder against a tree, cast a concerned look at Robin.
"Are you falling asleep?" she asked with a hint of worry. It was possible the other woman, when she had slipped and fallen, had bumped her head a lot harder than she was willing to admit.
"No, I'm not," Robin sighed, opening her eyes. "But I admit that I'd love to doze off."
"I'm sorry about that," Fiona responded. "You must be very uncomfortable, not to mention in pain."
"I am," Robin answered, letting out a soft moan when she tried to change her position. Her sore body was rapidly going stiff, adding to the already almost unbearable discomfort. "But you could tell me a story," she joked weakly.
"I'm a lousy storyteller," Fiona chuckled. "You'd be asleep in minutes."
Robin smiled and cast a look at the tall, slender woman in front of her. Fiona McDonnell certainly was as attractive as her beautiful sister Lucy and the charming part about her was that Fiona could not care less.
"How long have Sam and Jody known each other?" she asked curiously. In the few hours she had been able to observe the couple, she had been intrigued by the obvious deep connection the two women shared.
"A lifetime," Fiona slowly answered, smiling when Robin's eyes opened wide.
"No, not literally. They have known each other ever since Jody was eighteen years old. I was only six at the time. So that's fifteen years ago."
"Have they been together all the time?"
For a brief moment, Fiona's face clouded over and Robin watched with interest when a flash of pain darkened the photographer's eyes.
"No, unfortunately not. Something happened and they were forced apart, until Sam came back about five years ago," Fiona related, not aware of the happiness that radiated from her expressive eyes.
"They married and now they'll live happily ever after," she concluded.
"Married?" Robin echoed. "You mean a commitment ceremony?"
"No," Fiona shook her head. "That's what Lucy and Trishia had. No, Jody and Sam are legally married, according to the Dutch law."
"Sam is Dutch?" Robin asked with surprise..
"Yes, she is, although you wouldn't know when you hear her talk. I've heard her curse in Dutch though, once or twice. It was funny. I asked her to teach me, but she refused to," Fiona grinned.
"They seem very happy together," Robin spoke softly, staring in the distance with a faraway look in her eyes.
"They are," Fiona nodded. "The day Sam came back was the best day in my life."
What's the matter with you, McDonnell? What's with the openness?
"It was, huh?" Robin drawled, noticing the almost embarrassed way Fiona avoided her eyes. She suspected the photographer had just accidentally revealed something she'd rather keep to herself. Interesting.
"My first impression of Jody is that she's a wonderful person. Warm and loving. No wonder you wanted to see her happy," Robin guessed, knowing by Fiona's barely visible blush that she had discovered a major soft spot in the cynical photographer's armor: Jody.
"You know, Fiona McDonnell," Robin continued, resting her head against the tree and closing her eyes again. "I think you are a softie."
She smiled when she heard Fiona softly snort and, without looking at her, she knew Fiona's face was sporting an indignant frown.
"Well, Miss conservation biologist turned manager turned psycho-analyst, don't tell the world. They might not believe you."
"Is it the reputation thing?" Robin teased lightly.
"What else?" Fiona grinned, still feeling a little unsettled after Robin's words. They had been so true, it had given her an eerie feeling. How was it possible that somebody she had known for just a little over a day, could read her so well? Maybe it had been a lucky guess.
Fiona nibbled her bottom lip and observed the woman who was leaning against the tree. Robin's face had been cleaned up and Fiona had neatly used two butterflies to close the gash over her eyebrow. But the manager looked tired and, even with her eyes closed, she seemed to be in pain.
Fiona wished there was something she could do to help the other woman feel better. She knew the walk back up the steep hill would be very difficult for Robin and she was determined to support the other woman as much as she could.
That would be the right thing to do. It wasn't Robin's fault she was dragged into one of the McDonnell-Stevens' adventures and Fiona decided she felt somewhat responsible for the situation they were in.
Helping Robin and trying to be nice would be the right thing to do. Besides, it was what Sam and Jody expected from her. Right?
"What the heck?"
Trishia quickly, but carefully put her long legs to good use and with a few strides she was at Sam's side, following the blonde's gaze. As soon as her eyes noticed the discovery that had Sam frozen to the spot, she sucked in a breath.
From under one of the bushes something that suspiciously resembled a leg stuck out from under the branches. Only part of a shoe and what appeared to be a foot was visible, the rest was obscured from view.
Trishia looked around and bent down to pick up a long, thin branch. Stepping closer to the bush, she carefully put down her feet, trying to avoid trampling the scene. Using the crooked stick, she pushed aside the lower branches, so she could take a better look at what was dumped on the forest floor.
Sam followed Trishia's every move and she let out a shaky breath when the rest of her discovery came into view.
"Oh, thank goodness, it's just a shoe," she said with obvious relief, mentally slapping herself for the fact her imagination had gotten the best of her, at least for a brief moment.
"Actually, it's not," Trishia objected in a low voice. "It's covered in what seems to be blood. And there's a sock stuffed in there, also pretty bloody." Trishia cautiously moved a little closer. "I can't wait to see the lab results on this one," she mumbled. "I smell a rat."
"I guess it's not very likely for a person to lose a shoe like that in an overgrown part of the rainforest, huh?" Sam sighed.
"Not really," Trishia answered. "Especially, not this far away from any path or track. No, Sam, this was put here for a reason and I'm very eager to find out why."
"To get rid of...evidence of some sort?" Sam guessed.
"You'd think we'd find a whole body, if that was the case," Trishia replied, stretching her back and turning around to face her friend. "But then, we still might," she added somberly, looking around the dense area.
It would be hard work to find anything else that could give them a clue about what was going on. The forest was so dense, she could hardly see a couple of meters in front of her. She knew Fiona and Robin were close by; if she strained her ears she could hear their voices, but it was impossible to see them.
If somebody had tried to hide a body, Trishia knew they would definitely find more clues. She would need to get more of her people to the mountain, so they could do a thorough search of the grounds. Meter for meter.
"So much for a nice relaxed weekend," she sighed. "I need to get more people in here, Sam. And I'll need to seal off the area. I'm sorry, but until we've completed a search, I can't allow anyone up here. I'm afraid your restoration schedule will be completely messed up now."
"Yes, that's for sure," Sam sighed, raking her fingers through her hair. "How long do you think it will take?"
"At least a few days, maybe longer. It's a huge area, Sam, and the terrain is anything but easy. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, Trish," Sam answered in a tired voice, in her mind already going over the list of contractors she needed to call. This was going to cost the company a lot of money. Her brother and dad would not be happy.
Sam straightened her back and tried to ignore the dull pain in her leg. When she had seen Robin fall and roll down the hill, she had tried to reach the woman as fast as she could, but the steep, uneven forest floor had taken a toll on her leg. She had stumbled a few times when her feet had stepped on a slippery tree root and only her quick reflexes and a large dosage of luck had prevented her from sharing Robin's fate.
"Are you alright, Sam?" Trishia asked with concern. She knew her friend could be very hard on herself, pushing herself to the limit. But the last thing Trishia wanted was Sam being in pain.
"I'm okay," Sam answered with a weak smile. "Years ago, my orthopedic surgeon told me I had to give up mountaineering. I guess he was right," she added with a wry grin. "But I'll live. I'm sure Robin is in worse shape."
"I'm sure she is," Trishia agreed. "We need to get her back up there, so she can go to a hospital and get checked out. She really slammed hard into that tree. I'm worried about her."
"Do you need Fiona's camera before we leave?" Sam asked softly. "I can walk back and get it for you."
"You think she'll part with it?" Trishia smiled, knowing how precious the sensitive equipment was to her sister-in-law. Only on very rare occasions did Fiona allow somebody else to touch her cameras.
"I can try," Sam grinned. "I'll just use my 'Innocent Baby Blues routine'."
"Good luck on that one, mate," Trishia chuckled. "As far as I know, that only works with Jody."
"I'll be right back," Sam grinned, turning around and making her way through the dense bushes to where Robin and Fiona were waiting for them.
She found them both leaning against a tree, seemingly lost in thought. Robin had her eyes closed, her right arm was pressed against her stomach and was supported by her left arm in an effort to immobilize the hurt shoulder. Her face was drawn and pale and Sam realized she had to be in pain.
As soon as Sam had made her way through the bushes, Fiona had looked up and eyed her curiously.
"Did you find anything?" she asked softly.
Sam nodded and stepped closer.
"Yes, we did and Trishia wants some pictures. We need to go back up, so Trish can arrange for a search party, or whatever they call that. This area needs to be sealed off."
"What did you find?" Fiona frowned. "A dead body?"
Robin opened her eyes and sent Sam a tired, but inquisitive look.
"Did you?" her husky voice sounded.
"No," Sam shook her head. "Not yet anyway," she added dryly, telling them about the blood stained shoe and sock.
"Creepy," Robin mumbled, carefully rubbing her forehead where a big lump had appeared.
"At least, I'm glad I didn't drag you all out here for nothing," Fiona remarked, casting a guilt-filled glance at Robin. Turning her attention back to Sam, she nodded at the tall blonde and let her camera bag slid from her shoulder.
"You know how the thing works, don't you?" she asked, looking up with a puzzled expression when there was no answer. "Sam?"
"Oh...um...yes, I do. But...don't you want to...?"
Fiona shrugged her shoulders and tried very hard to look nonchalant.
"Nah, go ahead. I'm sure Trish doesn't want all the evidence ruined by my big feet. I trust you with my baby," she added with a grin.
"Um..sure, alright," Sam nodded, still lost for words after Fiona's suggestion. She had prepared herself for a discussion in which she would have tried to convince the stubborn photographer to let her or Trishia use the camera. Instead, Fiona had flabbergasted her by simply handing her the camera.
I've just witnessed a miracle.
"Great, thanks Fi. I'll be careful. I won't drop it, sit on it, or get it full of sand and bugs," Sam joked, glad to have regained her ability to string a few words together.
"If you do, you'll be the one taking it apart and cleaning it," Fiona threatened with a wink. "I'll need it for that pageant next week."
"It will be pampered," Sam promised, turning around and heading back to the patiently waiting Trishia.
"Oh, right, the pageant," Robin softly chuckled. "Do you think it's too late for me to sign up for that? I might have a chance in the 'horror' category."
"I don't think they have a category like that," Fiona answered. "But maybe we can suggest it and start a whole new trend. Can I be your manager?"
Robin smiled and through her thick eyelashes she glanced at the dark-haired woman, who was leaning against a tree, twirling a twig between long, slender fingers. She seemed so relaxed and at ease in the forest, it didn't surprise Robin she was a good photographer of nature. The photos she had seen in Sam's office were a testament to that. She wondered if Fiona would give her a tour of her studio. She really wanted to see more of the young woman's work.
"Doesn't your job keep you busy enough already?" she asked.
"I've a lot of energy," Fiona explained. "But yes, it might be a little too much. I have enough going on at the moment. I'll have to turn in a paper as well next week."
"A paper?" Robin asked with raised eyebrows.
"Yes, I'm wrapping up some stuff. This last paper should get me my degree in software engineering," Fiona answered casually. She noticed the look of surprise on Robin's face and chuckled.
"I'm more than just a pretty face, you know." she joked.
"Yes, I've noticed," Robin answered, delighted to have unraveled yet another piece of the 'Fiona McDonnell' puzzle. "I'm impressed."
"Don't be," Fiona answered in a serious tone. "I'm just me."
"Yes, but since you' re only twenty- one years old, you must have been really young when you started this study."
"What can I say? I'm a fast reader," Fiona grinned. "It really bugs you I'm twenty-one, doesn't it?" she teased, effortlessly changing the subject.
"Not really," Robin answered, shaking her head, which made her wince in pain. "I'm just amazed that you've accomplished so much already. I admire that."
"You've not done so badly yourself," Fiona replied, stuffing her hands back in her pocket and crossing her ankles. "You' re a conservation biologist, hired by Sam to run the new resort and you're...what? Twenty-five?"
"Oh, you flatterer," Robin smiled, amused by Fiona's attempt to divert the attention away from herself. "I'm a little older than that. I'll be twenty-eight in a few weeks."
"Cool, I like parties," Fiona smiled.
"Who says you're invited?" Robin shot back.
"Who else would take pictures on a professional level for just a piece of cake and a cup of coffee?" Fiona quipped.
"I think you have a point," Robin nodded, enjoying the light banter that distracted her from the pain in her bruised body.
"Of course I do," Fiona smiled brightly, sending Robin a triumphant look. Out of sight, but close enough to hear them talk softly, she heard the voices of Sam and Trishia and the expression on her face darkened.
"Do you think somebody was killed here?" she asked, feeling a shiver run down her back.
"I don't know, Fiona," Robin answered in a soft voice. "But if the shoe Sam was talking about is any indication, we might have a serious situation on our hands here."
"That sucks," Fiona mumbled. "I thought we've had our share of murder mysteries."
"Really? How so?"
Fiona shook her head and slowly exhaled, before shrugging her shoulders and pushing away from the tree she had been using as a backrest. She could hear Trishia and Sam approach.
"It's a long story," she answered. "I'll tell you some other time."
"I'll hold you to that," Robin replied, which earned her a small smile from the tall photographer.
"Alright, girls, we need to get out of here," Trishia greeted them, handing Fiona her camera back. "Are you alright, Fi?" she asked, looking at the younger woman with a mixture of concern and curiosity. It had been hard to believe Sam, when she had told her Fiona had just handed her the camera without a word of protest. It was weird and she wondered if the lack of sleep was catching up to her sister-in-law.
"I'm good," Fiona answered, taking over the camera and putting it back in the bag. She missed the puzzled glance Sam and Trishia exchanged, but Robin had noticed and, in spite of the pain she was in, she suppressed a smile.
The interaction between the different family members was definitely interesting.
"Okay, Robin, do you think you can walk?" Trishia asked gently, eying the manager with concern. The hike back up the hill was steep and slippery and there was a real risk of falling, for all of them.
"I have no choice," Robin answered calmly. "I'll have to grit my teeth and keep going."
"We' ll help you," Sam promised.
"I appreciate that, Sam, but I'm sure you'll have enough trouble getting back up," Robin answered, having seen the gradually worsening limp in the tall blonde's gait.
"We'll help," Fiona decided, putting her camera bag on the ground. "And the first thing you'll need is a sling to keep that arm from moving."
Before anyone had a chance to respond, Fiona had pulled her t-shirt over her head, leaving her clad in only a pair of shorts and a black sports bra. When she noticed the astonished looks she was receiving, she just shrugged her freckled shoulders and stepped closer to Robin.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm sure there's more to see on the beach and I'm sure the two of you see a naked woman every day. For heaven's sake, it's only a bra."
"And a nice one too," Sam chuckled.
"I'm sure Lucy has the same one," Trishia grinned. "It looks familiar."
"She probably has," Fiona nodded with a grin. "I bought this one on a rare shopping trip with mom and the sisters. Alright, Robin, carefully lift your arm a little, so I can slip this underneath."
Robin silently obeyed, very aware of the scarcely clad woman standing next to her. Breathing suddenly became a lot more difficult when her arm&; accidentally touched Fiona's bare skin. But the photographer, concentrating on her task, did not seem to notice and Robin slowly exhaled.
"You'll be covered in scratches before we get up there," she finally managed to say.
"I'll be fine," Fiona answered. "I'm used to scratches, leeches and sand-flees." She carefully tied a knot in the makeshift sling. "Not necessarily in that order," she added dryly.
"Yes, Fiona spends a lot of time crawling through the dirt," Sam provided helpfully, grabbing Fiona's camera bag and hanging it around her shoulder. Fiona, who was about to object, silently nodded when Sam shot her a warning look. Her sister- in-law was right. She would need both hands to help Robin.
"Alright, let's go," Trishia encouraged, walking in front of Robin so she could clear a path through the dense foliage, careful to bend back the branches that could swipe Robin's face or shoulder.
As by silent agreement, Fiona was walking behind Robin, quick to put a hand on the other woman's back when she threatened to lose her balance. The first time she felt her foot slip away from underneath her, Robin closed her eyes in horror, waiting for the painful thump when her body would hit the ground.
But a warm hand around her left arm provided the support she needed and with a sigh of relief, she shot Fiona a grateful look.
"Thanks,"she breathed.
"No worries," was the calm reply. "I live to serve," Fiona added with a grin.
"It's appreciated," Robin mumbled, staring at the hill in front of her and wondering how she would ever make it back to the car.
"Hang in there, Robin," Trishia encouraged, having noticed the look of despair. "We'll get there."
"Sure, sure," Robin muttered. "The question is: when, though."
They continued their slow walk uphill, every now and then pausing to give Robin a chance to catch her breath. The breaks were short, because Robin knew the longer she would stand still, the harder it was to continue moving. Her head and ribs were throbbing in sync with the pumping of her heart, while every unexpected movement caused a sharp pain to shoot through her shoulder.
"Keep going," Fiona softly encouraged, aware of Robin's struggle. "I'll be right behind you, but I need to tie my shoelace," she explained, already kneeling down to put a new knot in the long, mud covered laces.
Keeping an eye on Robin, Fiona made quick work of tying her shoelaces and just when she wanted to get up, she became aware of a soft, hardly audible noise behind her. Experiencing the same sensation as the previous day, after having spotted the lone, dark figure in the forest, Fiona felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up and she had to fight the urge to turn around. Goose bumps erupted all over her skin when she became aware of the eerie feeling that somebody was watching her. And that someone was close enough for her to hear the occasional rustling of leaves and footsteps, trying not to make a sound.
Feeling her heart pound in her chest, Fiona fought the urge to panic. Instead she took a deep breath, straightened up and quickly followed her companions, catching up with them after just a few seconds.
Walking very close behind Robin, she put a hand on the other woman's arm, seemingly supporting her in her difficult climb.
"Don't ask me why and don't turn around, but you'll have to ask Trishia to take a break for a moment," Fiona urged in a whisper.
Robin had only known Fiona for a short time, but the tone of her voice was deadly serious and she realized the photographer was not joking. Wiping her damp forehead, Robin looked up at Trishia, who was a few meters in front of her, bending back some thorn covered branches.
"Trish," Robin called out with a hoarse voice. "I need a break."
"Sure, Robin," Trishia immediately replied, casting a look at Sam, who was standing next to her, rubbing her right calf.
Fiona and Robin continued their climb, until they had reached the other two women. Staying behind Robin, Fiona looked at Trishia and when the police woman noticed the expression on her face, her eyes lost all fatigue. In an instant, Trishia Waters was in full police mode, alert and sharp.
"What's wrong?" she asked softly, scanning the bushes behind Fiona with clear, inquisitive eyes.
"There's someone following us," Fiona whispered. "I heard it when I was tying my shoelaces."
Trishia just nodded and cast a look at the distance they would still need to cover. She estimated it would take them at least another fifteen minutes to reach the path that lead back to the car. She wondered if their cell phones would work. They hadn't when they had been taking pictures of the shoe and the area they had found it in. Trishia had tried, but the forest had disturbed the signal. Maybe being higher on the hill would make a difference. She knew she had to try, preferably without their stalker noticing.
Moistening her dry lips, Trishia wondered if the person following them was the same one who had fired the shot the night before. In that case, he could be armed. And dangerous.
Softly muttering a curse, Trishia wished she would have given in to her instincts that morning, when she had debated whether to take her gun with her, or lock it in its drawer. Since they were going to Sam and Jody's, she had chosen to leave it at home.
Looking at Sam, her eyes traveled to Fiona and then to Robin. It was obvious to the other women that Trishia was in the process of making a decision.
"Alright, Robin. May I?" she spoke in low tone and the other woman nodded, reaching underneath her shirt, pulling out a small, but serious looking gun.
"What the heck?" Fiona almost exclaimed.
With wide eyes, she looked at the weapon Trishia was holding in her hands and she had to fight the urge to take a step back. Her gaze traveled to Trishia, who quickly checked the gun, taking it off safety, to Sam who looked worried, but not phased at all.
"I didn't know carrying a gun was part of the job description," Fiona coolly remarked, sending Sam an accusing look.
"I can explain, Fiona," Trishia answered calmly, keeping an eye on the trees and bushes behind them. "Things are not exactly what they seem."
Pulling a face, Fiona sent the tall police woman an angry stare.
"Well, duh!" she almost sneered, feeling completely betrayed by the other three women. "Apparently, I am the only one who wasn't aware of the fact that we were on an official X-files mission. Silly me," she added cynically.
Fiona was angry and disappointed at the same time. She knew Trishia often was involved in things she could not talk about, but she understood and respected that. It came with the job. But discovering that Sam was involved as well, somehow, was a little more upsetting. And the knowledge that Robin, whom she had come to like and appreciate, had been able to fool her completely, was infuriating.
Conservation biologist. Yeah, right!
"Well, I'd love to hear all the explanations, but I'm afraid we have more pressing matters," she continued in a voice, void of any expression. "What's the plan, Trish?"
Robin had heard Fiona's voice change from anger to sarcasm to, finally, cool detachment and inwardly she cringed. Things had not been going according to plan, at all and the unexpected events had been upsetting to Fiona, who, Robin had discovered, was more sensitive than she cared to admit.
A quick glance at the photographer's face showed a pair of eyes that were dark with anger and Robin feared that the tentative friendship that had started to develop between herself and Fiona had come to an untimely ending.
"I'll walk behind Robin," Trishia's voice interrupted Robin's musings. "Keep going, Sam."
In a tense silence, the women continued their climb up the hill, unconsciously trying to increase their speed, fighting the urge to run or look over their shoulder. Trishia, holding her small cell phone in the palm of her hand, kept checking for a signal, but, to her utter frustration, the display showed her there was no signal yet.
"We rely on modern technology too much, anyway," she muttered, aware of the gun she had tucked in the waistband of her shorts. The feel of the weapon against her skin was both reassuring and chilling. She really hoped she would not be forced to use it.
Concentrating, Trishia discovered that Fiona was right. Not that she had been doubting the young photographer. The dark-green eyes had been deadly serious. At a small distance behind her, she could hear the soft rustling of leaves and the occasional heavier footstep, probably when their stalker's feet slipped off the root of a tree or a rock.
Trishia looked up and noticed how Fiona reached out to put her hand on Robin's left arm, so she could lead the woman around a big boulder that was blocking their way. Fiona's face was uncharacteristically drawn and Trishia noticed how she carefully avoided eye-contact with Robin.
With a small sigh, Trishia wondered if they had done the right thing. Maybe they should have told Fiona a little more about the situation, but then, nobody had expected things to get so out of control. She could imagine it must have been a shock for the youngest McDonnell to suddenly see Robin pull out a gun, while Fiona didn't know any more than that Robin was a biologist.
Trishia slowly exhaled. But Robin was. Among other things. It had not been a lie, but she realized Fiona felt like she had been deceived. And basically she had been, sort of, anyway.
Casting another look at the two women in front of her, Trishia decided she had to do some damage control. As soon as they got back home.
Robin bit her lip, while she winced in pain. The branch Fiona had carefully pulled away had suddenly slipped out of her hand, bouncing back and grazing Robin's shoulder.
Trying to catch her breath, she told herself how lucky she was it had not hit her with full force. She was convinced she would have passed out if that had happened.
"Oh crap! I'm sorry," Fiona's voice penetrated the foggy haze of pain. "I'm sorry, Robin."
Glancing up, Robin saw the shock and guilt in Fiona's eyes and she nodded carefully, ignoring the pain in her head.
"It's alright, Fiona," she answered with a hoarse voice. "It was an accident."
Fiona did not answer, she just extended her hand, making sure Robin would not slip and fall. They were nearly there. Fiona could tell by the flattening of the hillside where the path was and she knew it was only a few more minutes.
Glancing aside at the silently struggling Sam, she felt a lump rise in her throat and she swallowed hard. She wished she had not snapped at Sam. Her rational mind told her there had to be a reason for all the secrecy that seemed to surround the events of the last two days. She loved Sam deeply and knew the tall blonde always had a reason for the things she did. She trusted Sam. She always had and her sister's wife did not deserve the harsh words Fiona had spoken.
Fiona sighed, not aware of the sad look in her eyes. Trishia had not deserved it either and, come to think of it, neither did Robin. But she had felt like such an idiot, not knowing what was going on, not even knowing there was something going on in the first place. She knew Sam and Trishia well enough to know there had to be a good reason for their actions.
Fiona had reached the path and absentmindedly she reached out a hand to help Robin with the last, steep step. Then she turned her attention to Sam, who had put the camera bag on the ground and had bent over to massage her aching leg, softly muttering to herself.
"Is it a cramp, Sam?" she asked with concern, knowing how much they could hurt. Sam just nodded and limped to the side of the path where she had spotted a tree stump that could serve as a seat.
As soon as she sat down, Fiona knelt down in front of her, grabbing Sam's right foot and gently pressing the toes upward, like she had seen her sister do so many times before.
"Thanks, Fi," Sam breathed, feeling the cramp slowly subside, leaving her leg throbbing and tired. She smiled at the young woman and playfully ruffled the dark hair, immediately seeing the somber look disappear.
"About earlier, I...I'm sorry Sam, I shouldn't have..."
"No worries, Red," Sam smiled, having seen the genuine regret on Fiona's face. "You were upset and I understand. I would have been too, if it had been me." Looking at Trishia, who was checking her phone again, Sam continued. "When we get back home, we'll need to talk. I don't want to leave you in the dark completely. You' re too smart for that, anyway. What were we thinking, huh?" she smiled.
"Obviously you weren't," Fiona shot back, relieved beyond words that Sam was so understanding.
"Inspector? It's me, Trishia. I need your permission..." Trishia lowered her voice and while she kept an eye on the hillside they had just climbed, she had a quick conversation with Carol Wong, her superior officer. When she was done, she tucked away the phone and cast a look at the three women who seemed to be in different stages of fatigue, with Fiona being the most energetic of them all.
The dark-haired photographer had jumped back up when she noticed Robin was trying to get her injured shoulder out of the makeshift sling.
"What are you doing?" she frowned.
"Getting you your shirt back," Robin answered, letting out a muffled moan when a sharp pain shot through her body.
"Leave it," Fiona replied. "You'll still have to walk to the car."
Robin opened her mouth to object, but a warning, yet sympathetic look from Sam stopped her.
"Come on, Robin, let's get you to the hospital," Trishia spoke loudly, gesturing the other three women to walk ahead of her on the path. Again, the police woman would bring up the rear, knowing that whoever was stalking them, was still there. But she had a plan. Carol Wong would send in a few more teams and had told Trishia she would inform the dog team that was still on the mountain. A patrol car had been at the office building of the resort and Trishia knew that any moment now, she could expect a few police officers to come running down the path. As soon as they would arrive, she would go back and try to figure out who had been following them. Hopefully, the element of surprise would be to their advantage. For now she wanted to give their stalker the impression they were not aware of his company. But soon, that would change.
"Sam," she called out softly, watching as the tall blonde turned her head and looked at her. Trishia gestured her to come closer and Sam half-turned to let Fiona and Robin pass.
Putting a hand on her friend's shoulder, Trishia encouraged Sam to keep walking, while she tried to divide her attention between the women she felt responsible for and the stalker who was still behind them, somewhere, hidden from view.
"Listen, Sam, there'rereinforcements on the way. As soon as they're here, I want you and the girls to keep going. Get into my car and get Robin to a hospital," she said, pressing her car keys in Sam's hand. "I'll get a ride home, don't worry about me,"she added, when she saw the expression on the other woman's face. "Just make sure that Robin and Fiona are safe."
"I will, don't worry," Sam nodded. "Give Lucy a call as soon as you can though. She'll only believe you're alright when she actually hears you say it. You know how she is," Sam added with a smile.
"I know, believe me," Trishia nodded, remembering the weeks and months following her shootout with Martin Coles. She had been shot in the shoulder and chest, but had been very, very lucky. The bullet had entered and exited without doing too much damage.
Lucy had been frantic with worry the first day Trisha had to return back to work, after a few weeks of intense rehabilitation. She had spent the day at home, pacing the livingroom, waiting for Trishia to call her every few hours, which the police woman did dutifully. Trishia's patience had paid off, because after a few weeks, Lucy's fear had subsided enough for her to talk to her partner rationally.
She had also talked to Sharon Jones, the wife of Trishia's police partner, who had been enormously helpful. The older woman had been able to help Lucy to find ways to channel and control her fear that would never disappear completely, but, at least, had become more manageable.
"Alright, Sam, here they are," Trishia spoke, hearing the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. "Fiona, Robin, do as Sam tells you to do, I'll see you later." She looked Fiona straight in the eye and nodded. "We'll talk then."
Before Fiona could open her mouth to respond, four uniformed police officers suddenly came running around the corner and with a mixture of surprise and shock, Robin and Fiona watched Trishia turn around to head back into the forest, the police officers close behind her.
The sound of snapping twigs and branches made it clear to them that their stalker had decided to head in the other direction, back down the hill again, this time followed by five determined police officers.
"Alright, let's go," Sam sighed, wrapping an arm around Fiona's shoulders to give her a quick, one armed hug. "How are you holding up, Fi?"
"Pretty good, especially compared to the two of you," Fiona answered dryly. "I'm only half-naked, you two are in pain."
"I'm fine," Robin spoke up, but the tone in her voice belied the words.
"No, you're not," Fiona answered curtly. "You' re pretty banged up and we need to get you to a hospital."
"Not before I give you back your shirt," Robin replied with a stubborn expression on her face.
"I told you I don't need..."
"Yes, you do," Robin interrupted the photographer in a tone of voice that should have been a warning. The manager was tired and hurting.
Without saying another word, Robin started to ease her arm out of the makeshift sling, wincing when she jarred her injured shoulder.
"See? You need the thing," Fiona's voice immediately sounded, making Robin clench her jaw in frustration. Did the photographer never give up?
"I don't need it as much as you do. Unless you want to walk into that hospital attracting all sorts of attention."
"Maybe I like attention," Fiona responded in a cool voice.
"That wouldn't surprise me," Robin mumbled in a tired voice, using her left hand to lift the t-shirt over her head and hand it to Fiona. "Here, take it." And for crying out loud, put it back on!!! "Thanks for letting me use it. I really appreciate it, Fiona," she added softly.
Fiona, who was about to make another of her trade-mark cynical remarks, changed her mind and mentally slapped herself. No matter how disappointed she was in Robin, the woman was injured and in pain. Going into a verbal sparring session with her would be very inconsiderate.
"Alright, since you' re so sure you don't need it anymore, " Fiona sighed, untying the knot in the shirt and quickly putting it back on again. It was wrinkled and damp and she detected the lingering smell of Robin's perfume. It was a light and fresh scent that reminded her of a crisp winter morning when the sun had just come up, painting the world in shades of orange, while nature was covered in morning dew, preparing for the day, waiting for the chill to be chased away by the comfortable warmth of the sun.
Fiona liked it.
Sam carefully put away her cell phone and turned around to walk back into the hospital again. The hallway leading to the waiting area of the emergency room was long. At the moment, almost too long for Sam who could feel the throbbing ache in her leg get worse with every step she took. What she needed was a soak in the jacuzzi she had installed when she and Jody bought the house. The tub was big enough for her to stretch out her legs and the combination of warm water and massaging bubbles always made her feel better. Especially, when she was accompanied by her partner.
Sam smiled when she replayed her conversation with Jody in her head. Her partner had been understanding, but worried. And even though she had just met Robin, she was in full mother-hen mode.
Sam almost chuckled. People who had just met Jody often were mistaken about the redhead, always complimenting her about her domestic abilities, not realizing Jody's mind was as sharp as Fiona's. In business, Sam never made a difficult decision without talking things through with her partner. She respected and valued her opinion more than anyone else's. Sam knew that Jody was her strength. In so many different ways.
"Hey, Red," Sam greeted Fiona, sinking next to her on the low, uncomfortable looking couch in the waiting room. "Did you hear anything yet?"
"No," Fiona shook her head. "That bloke said they could be a while. You'd think taking a few x-rays would be done in no time, huh?"
"Well, we don't know whatever's going on behind those doors," Sam replied, shifting in her seat. "They might have a hefty workload."
"I guess," Fiona shrugged her shoulders. She quietly looked around the waiting area. She detested the place. The last time she had been there was when Trishia had been shot. Fiona cast down her eyes and sighed. Talking a walk down memory lane was not always entertaining. They had feared for Trishia's life and only the surgeon who had repaired the damage, had been able to lift that constricting band of fear around their hearts.
"I know," she suddenly heard Sam's voice close to her ear, while a long arm wrapped around her shoulders. "I remember it, too. I'm so grateful we all survived that."
"Except for the bad guy," Fiona answered.
"Except for him," Sam repeated, knowing she would never be able to forget the image of Martin Coles and the madness in his eyes when he advanced on her and Trishia. The policewoman had done the only thing possible to stop him. She had shot him.
"Do you think we'll end up in a situation like that again, Sam?"
"I sure hope not," Sam sighed with a frown. "I hope Trish can get a hold of the person who was stalking us and solve this...situation. End of story. I hope."
"I bet it's a lot more complicated than that," Fiona answered, leaning against Sam. "It has to be." She glanced up at the tall blonde. "Sam, who and what is Robin?"
Sam, who had been expecting that question, dropped a kiss on the top of Fiona's head and pulled her closer. To her, Fiona would always be Jody's little sister.
"Robin Adams is who she says she is, a conservation biologist, whom I hired to manage the new resort," Sam answered softly. "I know there's more to it, Fiona, but you'll have to talk to Robin about that. And to Trish."
"Police business?"
"Part of it is, yes."
"Is Robin some kind of undercover agent?"
"She's a conservation biologist, Fiona," Sam repeated gently. "That's why I wanted her on board."
"I get it," Fiona sighed. "You' re sworn to secrecy. But I felt like an idiot, Sam, when she handed Trish that gun, like I was in some sleazy B-movie, or something. For a moment. I didn't know what to think, or to believe. I still don't," she ended softly. "Not really."
"Samantha Stevens?" a voice called out and immediately both Sam and Fiona looked up to see an elderly man standing in the doorway. His glasses were balancing on the tip of his nose, while the bright hall light was reflected by his shiny, bald head.
"Yes, doctor," Sam answered politely, slowly getting to her feet.
He shot her a startled look when she towered over him and looked positively stunned when Fiona had risen to her full length as well.
"Um...oh, yes, yes," he stammered. "I...um...I'm Doctor James and I just received the results from the x-rays of your...um..employee, Miss Adams. Fortunately, there are no fractures of any sort. Her ribs on the left side are bruised and due to the blunt impact on the right shoulder, Miss Adams most likely received, what we call an AC sprain, which is an incomplete tear of the ligament between the acromion and clavicle," Doctor James explained, seeing Sam nod in understanding, while Fiona looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "Um...it's painful, but not serious. We'll give her a sling to immobilize the arm. I gave her a list of range of motion exercises she can do. The sooner she starts with those, the better. She received a prescription for some mild pain medication as well. She can take those as needed."
"What about her head?" Fiona asked, frowning at the doctor.
"We cleaned the laceration over her eye, but it did not need any stitches. I don't have the impression she sustained a concussion, but if she has any dizzy spells, nausea and vomiting, I'd like to see her come back here again. And to stay on the safe side, I'd suggest waking her up every two hours to check her level of consciousness."
"She'll love that," Fiona mumbled, remembering Robin's first reaction when she had woken her up the previous night. It had not been one of delight
"Anyway, the nurse is helping her with the immobilizer right now," the physician continued cheerfully. "She'll be ready to go in a minute."
"Thank you, Doctor James," Sam smiled, shaking the smaller man's hand.
"It was my pleasure, Miss Stevens," he answered, smiling brightly. He gave Fiona a nod, turned around and disappeared behind one of the many doors in the long hallway.
Sam let out a breath. "Well, that's good news. Nothing broken."
"Does the tree count?" Fiona joked. "It might not be broken, but I'm sure there's a dent in it somewhere. That was quite a blow."
"It's very comforting to know you're so concerned with the tree," a tired, but cool voice sounded behind them.
Fiona mumbled a curse and turned around to face Robin. Why was it that she always managed to either to insult or aggravate the other woman? Unintentionally.
"I didn't mean it like that, Robin. It was a joke," Fiona tried to explain, but Robin just weakly raised her left hand and shook her head.
"I'm not in the mood, Fiona. Let's give it a rest, alright?"
And to Sam's amazement, Fiona shrugged her shoulders, stuffed her hands in her pockets and stepped aside, waiting for the other two women to head towards the exit. Robin had noticed the darkening of Fiona's eyes and she was about to apologize, again, but the photographer avoided her eyes intentionally, her face firmly set into a neutral expression.
With a small sigh, Robin followed Sam towards the exit, only wishing for one thing; to be able to lie down and go to sleep. The sooner the better.
Knowing she was in the company of four well-trained police officers, Trishia put her long legs to good use, dashing down the path, the others close behind her. Without saying anything, she jumped off the path into the bushes, wanting nothing more than to capture the person who had been stalking them. She had a lot of questions and was hungry for some answers.
"The pursuer pursued," she thought grimly, dodging a branch that almost slammed into her face. In front of her, she could hear the tell-tale sound of rustling leaves, snapping branches and running footsteps while the stalker tried to stay out of her reach.
Trishia's eyes were focused on the area in front of her, where she had seen a flash of a dark-green shirt. Determined to capture the owner of that piece of clothing, She knew she was getting closer, because every now and then her ears picked up a groan or a muttered curse. Obviously, she wasn't the only one who had trouble keeping her balance.
Running down the hill as fast as she could, Trishia tried not to think about Robin's fall. It would be so easy to slip and lose her balance. The speed with which she was moving would surely crash her into the first solid obstacle in her way. And that would be really painful.
"This is the police. Stop!" Trishia yelled, avoiding a tree root, by jumping over it, which made her almost slam into a bush.
She came to a skidding halt when all of a sudden the loud sound of snapping branches and a muffled yell reached her ears. Cautiously moving towards the source of the sound, Trishia rounded a few trees. There, in a shallow gully that was created by a small stream, she saw the person in the dark-green shirt lying on his side, gasping for breath. His khaki- colored pants were ripped in several places and Trishia saw a trickle of blood seep through the cotton, just below his knee.
"Police," she announced again, after taking a deep breath.
The other police officers were standing beside her, their hands on their weapons.
"Put your hands in the air," Trishia commanded.
"Okay, okay," a pain- filled voice answered. "Don't shoot. I'm unarmed, I swear. I only have a Swiss army knife."
Trishia raised a brow when she heard the youthful voice and cast a questioning look at one of the officers who was standing next to her. He nodded and cautiously stepped closer to the person on the ground.
"Stand up, son," he advised, not unfriendly.
With difficulty, the figure pushed himself up slowly and, when he finally stood at full length, Trishia's other brow joined its mate. In front of her stood a young boy who could not be older than twenty. Staring at her with obvious fear, he hardly reached Trishia's shoulder. Slightly disappointed, she realized their stalker could not be the one who had been captured by Fiona's camera. He was too slender and not tall enough.
"Who are you?" she asked in a no nonsense tone of voice and the boy swallowed hard.
"K...Kevin Swanson," he answered, still out of breath.
"What are you doing here, Kevin?"
"I...I can't really tell you, because...," he stammered in a hoarse voice.
"Because what?" Trishia asked, suppressing a sigh. Chasing a teenager down a steep hill on her Saturday off was not her idea of a good time. Not if she could spent the day in the company of her partner, who needed her.
"How do I know you're the police?" the boy asked hesitantly. "Anyone can wear a uniform like that," he said, pointing at the police officer standing next to him.
Whatever happens, don't trust anyone!!
The other police officers chuckled and Trishia shook her head. The boy was no fool, she had to give him that.
"Here's my ID," she said, opening her wallet and tossing it into his direction. He caught the leather casing and took his time to study her identification. After a little while, he nodded. Just when he was about to hand her back the wallet, a picture fell out and landed on the ground, face down.
The boy mumbled an apology and bent over to pick up the photo. He was about to hand it to Trishia, when his eyes fell on the photo, making him freeze in mid-motion.
His fingers trembled and his brown eyes were wide when he finally handed Trishia her photo of Lucy back.
"You know Fiona," he whispered.
To be continued in part 7
Feedback is welcome at loiskay@cox.net


My latest for Motorsport Week, inevitably, is about the halo.
It's lingered for a while; been resisted at least once. But the FIA confirmed in the week that it's happening. Next year's F1 cars will feature them.
Few seem happy with this, and while I can understand to some extent how we've got here, there remains on this plenty we can question the FIA about.
Not least why after years of cockpit protection investigation the halo is the only show in town? And more broadly, why don't we go the whole hog and enclose the cockpit, rather than wrestle with halfway house solutions?