“Hello Shane.”

“Tina is that you. Girl Bette has been going out of her mind with worry. Where are you?”

“Shane look I don’t want to answer any questions right now. But I am safe I spent the night at Al’s place. I need to know if Bette is at home right now.”

“Look Tina…I don’t know what’s going on between you and Bette but I have never seen her this stressed out. You really should give her a call and talk to her.”

“Shane I am to angry to talk to her right now. In fact, I don’t know when or if I will ever talk to her again. Please just answer my question is she at home now?”

“No Tina she left for work early this morning same as usual.”

“Thanks Shane bye I got to go.”

Hanging up the phone she grabbed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from her bag and headed to the bathroom. Showered and dressed she was putting on her shoes when Alice came into the living room.

“Morning Tina where are you headed to so early?”

“Al I am going by the house to pick up some more of my clothes while Bette is at work. I’ll be back in a little while. There is fresh coffee in the pot and I made you some breakfast it’s in the microwave. It should still be warm. And thanks for letting me stay last night Al. I don’t know what I would have done without you.”

“Your always welcome here Tina. Has Bette been blowing your phone up?”

“Yeah she has Al but I’m not ready to talk to her yet so I’m keeping my phone turned off for a while. I don’t know I may even cancel my service for a while.”

“Wow Tina…for once I don’t know what to say.”

Something didn’t feel right to Alice about this conversation. What was she missing? Her reporter instincts did not kick in this early especially with out coffee to start her day. As she shuffled toward the kitchen she heard Tina reply, “yeah me either Al” just before she closed the door.

Chapter 2