Once the urge passed, I steeled my resolve and gulped down the remaining contents of the cup. I thanked her and received a kiss on the forehead for my... efforts.Violet continued, “I would give you a much better kiss than that, however the medicine I made tastes absolutely disgusting. So, no offence my lovely man, but a kiss on the forehead will have to do.”I laughed and nodded, enjoying it all the same. She joined me on the bed, and, after a few moments, I surrendered to the abyss of sleep.I had. It took only seconds to reload the spent shell. I rolled back out from the alley and aimed my shotgun toward where I had last seen McFarland standing. Naturally, he was not standing there, but I had expected him to move. He was now crouched behind that water barrel, and I could see just a bit of his right shoulder poking out beyond the protective barrel. Never one to pause too long looking for an improved situation, I fired both barrels of my shotgun simultaneously. Wow, the recoil was terrific. The way the artist had portrayed the pain in the dancer’s face with but a few dark lines and smudges was amazing. ‘That was Allison’s drawing of me, of the time I injured my ankle,’ Marjorie said. ‘The way she drew it, you would think she felt the pain in her own ankle.’ ‘It is an expressive drawing, is she studying art?’ ‘Well, she was, till the money got tight, she had to get a job then, at a bookstore. We’re hoping the dancing will let us save some money so we both can get back to school.’. Thiswas going to turn out badly and Avery being away from them may be the bestthing to happen to her. If she went with her parents something was going tohappen down there that would put Avery in danger. Being in Winnisimmet wasthe safest place for her to be.Chapter 15Deborah and Sheila went upstairs to help Avery pack her clothes. Luciuscontinued to look pissed at having Valerie there but his wife was pleasedto host her. Ruth noticed the subtle messaging between Avery and Valerieand texted her,.