The Mystery at Sag Bridge

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

Cora could hardly wait to tell Cisco and Frannie about her contact with Angel and what she read in the diary. The Lemont Area Historical Society was open for only limited hours, so the building was usually vacant by mid-afternoon and was a good place for private conversation. To save time rehashing events, Cisco and Frannie had already met to bring each other up to date. Cora had not seen Cisco since he left the house early in the day, so neither of them knew about her latest encounter with Angel. Now Cora unlocked the entry door and led them to the choir loft, where they took seats around the library table, and sipped from takeout cups of coffee.

"Did you bring your pad and pen?" Frannie joked.

"Sure did," Cora said, fishing for them in her bulky purse. "Brought my favorite pen. Makes me feel confident, working with a good pen."

In spite of her brave words, Cora looked around nervously to be sure they were alone. "I know this is my problem, and I appreciate your help." She looked into one set of eyes and then the other. "I think we agree now there's good evidence Angel is real, and after this morning I don't think there's any doubt." Cisco started to open his mouth, but Cora held out a hand to stop him.

"Let me finish. She's also violent and unpredictable. I don't think she'd hurt me, but she is a danger to people around me. That includes you." Her gaze rested on Cisco. "We have to prevent that."

"I still don't know how you can feel so sure you aren't in danger," Cisco objected.

Cora didn't answer him. Admittedly the information she got from Angel that morning was scanty and left a lot to interpretation, but now she had confronted Angel, knew her better, and felt less impotent.

Frannie reached into her purse, pulled out some notes and waited for someone to begin.

"It was quite a morning." Cora rolled her eyes, then took a deep breath. "Let's see if we need to fill in any gaps before I tell you about it."

Cisco and Frannie looked at Cora expectantly, knowing she would have something in mind. They were well aware of her management skills, one of which was running meetings. Cora's mother often said she wasborn in charge, and was so headstrong it was easiest to just give up and let her take over. She liked to be in control, and management as a career choice had suited her.

"Cisco, Frannie told you what she found out about wolves and spirits?"

"Yeessss." Cisco's doubt was reflected in his shifting eyes and clenched jaw.

"Did you tell Frannie what happened yesterday?"

"That poor man-how awful!" Frannie's eyes blazed, shaking her head, lips tight with anger.

"Cora thinks something Father said made Angel angry enough to make a wolf attack him," Cisco said.