1950

"What were you three just talking about in the kitchen?" wonders Matthew, as he gets up to pour some coffee from the sideboard. "Stuff", says Carl, following him there. "And?" "Is there any part of none of your business you don't understand?" "We were talking about the police investigation and the search here tomorrow morning", says Melissa flatly. "There are human remains concealed under this house", says Tron. "I beg your pardon?" "Everyone here is exonerated. And you do not have to worry about our father. Naomi was telling the truth..."

1949

It is only natural that given Tron's incandescent good looks, and both Michael and Matthew being gay, that they would certainly notice him, but here they appear fixated and also captured in a thrall of holy awe.  They seem already to have guessed who he is, and even if they do both have a clear memory of meeting him, or that their visit to the Refuge was anything but a strange dream...yes, on some level they're going to know...they must know... but here, now, and to all of us, Tron is Ethan, a random young dude lost in the toolies on his mountain bike. "Very glad to meet you", says Matthew in a reverant whisper, but not approaching to shake his hand. "The pleasure is mine", says Tron, smiling beneficently.. Melissa brings out a dish, one of the crimson and gold art nouveau plates, with an extra large portion of chocolate orange cake smothered in an excess of melting ice cream.  "Ethan, I'm sorry to have forgotten to ask, but have you had dinner.  We still have tons of leftover vegetarian shepherd's pie...I hope you don't mind it's vegetarian, she adds demurely, "but it contains lots of lentils and a mixture of Jaarlesberg and Parmesan cheese..."  and, is she nervously fussing over him?  I have never known Melissa to do that, not with anybody.   "Thank you for asking, Melissa, that is very kind of you, but I did stop to eat something on the way over, and besides...we don't want the ice cream to melt..."

1948

"I imagine that Naomi knows about him?" wonders Carl. "She doesn't just know about him", says his sister.  "He happens to be her uncle." "You don't say!" "Naomi's mom is his de facto sister in law." "That really seems to complicate things", say I. "Don't it though", retorts Carl. "I imagine we should check up on the others", says Melissa. "Yeah, they might think we're talking about them", says Carl. "and vice versa.." Everyone seems very snug and cozy, and the conversation appears rather relaxed and listless.  Tron is at the head of the table, silently watching over the others.  Melissa says, "I just made a big pot full of coffee.  Any takers?" "Is there any more of that splendid cake left?" says Tron. I could bring you a dish right now.  Ice cream too?" "Thanks, that would be great." "Any others?" "We're all pretty full", says Sheila. "Oh speak for yourself, Mumsy", and the voice belongs to her son Michael who has just come in with Matthew from outside. "You guys know where the dishes are, and Ethan is having some more", says Melissa. "Ethan", echoes Matthew, and Melissa vaguely gestures towards our guest..

1947

"Naomi would have the answer for that", says Mel. "Then we should ask her.  Will she be here tomorrow?" "There is one little complication.  She ain't telling.  I was going to ask her then she totally shut up and backed off, like she knows more, maybe a lot more than she's gonna say." "Do you think someone from the Stolo Nation did it?"  I ask. "Oh I'm sure they know", says Melissa, "I'm sure they already know." "Do you reckon Sven Lindstrom might be the one." "Oh poor Mr Lindstrom", says Melissa, sighing, "Always the easiest target in the universe, and now there is no way we can reach him, and that holy adolescent sure ain't gonna let him out of his sight." "Nor us, but yes, he is, as it were, under special custody.  What about Cosme?" Whose name I once borrowed, "Where does he fit in?" "According to our half sister, Cosme, who is now eighty-one, has long enjoyed a friendship with the Stolo nation, including a lengthy common-law arrangement with a woman there by whom he has fathered three kids.  He has voluntarily given himself up to the authorities, and apparently there is a lot he knows that is not in the diary."

1946

"Okay." "Yesterday I was chatting with our half-sister Naomi, who came over for coffee between her nursing rounds. Can you guess what she told me?" "Only if you are so kind as to enlighten me ." "As I'm sure you are also worried, like me. that one day they would find his body back there, trace everything to us and then the shit would really hit the fan." "It's been a recurring nightmare, Mel." "If Naomi is telling the truth and I have no reason not to believe her, then from now on we can both stop worrying." "You mean?" "Just after you and I left, basically running for our little lives, Carl, people from the Stolo Nation came, dug up the body and moved it to an undisclosed location." "You mean..." "I mean that we are off the hook. For now anyway. But that also complicates things." "By the way, Mel, where did you get this coffee, it is just wonderful" "There's a new coffee roaster and café in Chilliwack. It is their house blend. Now if we could remain on topic." "So what else is new?" "There is some question, according to Naomi, who has some pretty good sources with the band, that the remains they are wanting to track are going to be here, in this house..or should I say, under the house." "Huh." "And that Spanish guy who left that journal here in Spanish? He is the principal suspect, they have found and detained him for questioning, and he has agreed to help in the search tomorrow." "And", say I, "There is also the question of how did people in the Stolo Nation know that your dad was buried here..."

1945

I did not see this coming, and bodily I am instinctively backing away from the table while still remaining in the chair.  "What do you mean?" "Did Carl tell you that years ago, when we found our dad lying dead with a bullet wound in his head out in the back, did he tell you that we buried him there, him and I?" "Yes, he did." Melissa takes a premeditated sip of coffee, then, turning her face to the door, shouts, "Carl.  Get in here at once." It isn't long before her brother appears at the table.  "You bellowed?" he merely says, a quirky little smile adorning his face as he seats himself at the end of the table.  She gets up and without asking first brings him a cup of coffee, to which she has added cream and a spoon. "Table service from none other", he comments, pulling toward him the mug and beginning to stir. "You're welcome" she says flatly, seating herself. "Thanks Mel.  To what purpose have I been summoned?" "I just heard from Christopher that you told him you and I buried dad...no, don't worry, you're not getting scolded, but there is something i was meaning to tell you, and I couldn't do it on the phone, so now you are here, but so far, only Christopher needs to know, so we can talk about it right now..."  She is speaking rapidly, with quiet urgency...

1940

There is a loud persistent knocking on the front door.  Carl gets up.  "That couldn't be the cops already", mutters Sheila. ,"They're coming in the morning". mumbles Melissa, getting up and stacking together all our dirty dessert dishes.  "Christopher is going to help me with the dishes.  Just as I am getting up to follow her into the kitchen, Carl comes in with Tron at his side, only he is not dressed in robes, but a bright green T shirt and golden beige coloured shorts and sneakers. "Hey everyone", says Carl, "This is Ethan.  We saw him riding  his bike on the road.  He is going to be an overnight guest." "Offer him some cake", says Melissa. "Thank you", says Tron, or Ethan, sitting down with Carl. Before following Melissa into the kitchen, I lean down and whisper to our guest, "Does anyone else know you as Tron?"" "They will find out soon enough", he says with a small knowing smile.  And to you and Kenny I am Ethan.  Now I believe you are needed elsewhere." I cross glances with Kenny, who reveals to me nothing  but changes his seat to put himself right next to Ethan.  They are just entering into a discreet conversation as I turn my back and head into the kitchen...