Unknown Path

Darlene swung her legs from the arm of her oversized lounge chair and planted her feet on the floor.  She squinted and leaned closer to the window but still didn’t recognize either of the suited men exiting the black Lincoln parked in front of her house.

“Amy, I have to go,” she whispered into the phone.

“What’s wrong, you sound-“

“I’ll call you later.”  Darlene ended the call.  She watched the men briskly make their way to her door and ring the bell.  She didn’t bother to answer.  Maybe they’ll just go away.  Even as she thought it, she knew that wouldn’t happen.

Darlene didn’t understand how her life got so messy.  When she stood at the altar and said “I do” without her daddy’s blessing eight years ago, she knew it would be hard but never imagined her life’s path would lead here; barely alive inside and out with a missing, and presumed dead, husband…

“Ma’am, Agents Mulroney and Haversill, FBI.  We need to talk to you.”

Great.  And two FBI agents on my doorstep.  Does life get any better than this?

Darlene’s heart pounded faster.  “I don’t know anything!” Darlene called through the window.

“We think you might.”

She wondered if they’d bust her door down like they do on TV.  A glance across the street revealed nosy Myrtle Crawford staring at the two men on the porch.  Darlene’s heart sank when she saw the crank to the rumor mill clenched in the old widow’s bony fingers.  She feared her path just got thornier…especially if Mrs. Anderson was on the other end of the line.

Darlene opened the door.  “What did Scott do?” she blurted.

The taller agent on the left showed a flicker of puzzlement.  The other agent remained stone-faced.  “Ma’am, we need to talk to you about your father, Andrew Moritz.”

“My father?”  The room shifted and swirled.  Darlene teetered until the muscles in her legs refused to hold her weight any longer.

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The scene should stand on its own, but if you want more background, you can view two previous posts here and here for events leading up to it.  This is my response to the Trifecta weekday challenge, which is to use the following word/definition in a 33 to 333 word response (mine is 327 words):

PATH:  (a) course, route; (b) a way of life, conduct, or thought

Once again, it’s a community voted challenge.  Voting begins on Trifecta’s site after the challenge closes on Thursday at 7PM Eastern time.  If you want to try the challenge, click on the tricycle picture to view Trifecta’s site.  You’ll also see all the other entertaining entries!