Wicked Forest (DeBeers 2)

strenath, for when we all slept we were truly alone.

And who was more alone than the three of us now,

circling like small planets searching for a star we

could call home?

When I closed my eyes. I thought I heard

Linden's mysterious voices whispering outside my

window. Were they asking me to stay or to leave? The morning light waited behind darkness like

a panther anxious to leap upon the shadows lingering

in the corners of our minds. I was grateful for that,

grateful for the new day. My hope now was that I

could get Linden to feel the same about it all. .

The next morning, my first attempts to find a

beauty salon for my mother and me were dismal

failures. One receptionist actually broke into laughter

when I asked if there were any openings that day. "We're booked for the next two and a half

months." she said. "This is Palm Beach. not Miami

Beach."'

I thought about calling Thatcher, but decided

that his receptionist or his secretary might make

something out of it, despite their ethical responsibili

ty

to maintain confidentiality.

Perhaps nowhere more than in Palm Beach was

the old adage so true: Two can keep a secret if one is

dead. I decided instead to call Mr. Ross. He had

offered to be of any assistance to me. and I didn't

think our need to act appointments with a decent

beauty salon would be too insignificant to a man like

him.

"I'll take care of it immediately." he said as