Scotty’s new boat, ‘Wolf Pack II’ worked flawlessly. After thirty minutes, Helen and Scotty confirmed a request for all of us to visit Catalina Island.

  We fished for about an hour and a half and filled all the coolers. The wolf pack got used to it rather quickly, Helen used a smaller fishing rig and tossed them bite sized fish, this was a great source of entertainment for the pack, even though the pups barfed a couple of times.

  We pulled into Avalon and were greeted warmly by everyone. We expressed our sadness and a celebration on the beach was a last request of Mark and James. Everything was already set up on the beach: grill, tent, comfy chairs, Tiki torches and about ten coolers and a box of Frisbees and baseballs.

  Scotty grabbed a Frisbee, sliced a fish and coated it in blood. He held it out for the wolf pack to smell as Ginger and Pete were barking with anticipation, waiting for him to throw it as they were very familiar with this game. Scotty launched it down the beach as the wolf pack looked in amazement as Ginger and Pete tore out after it.

  Ginger returned with the Frisbee and the wolves; respecting the kill, followed closely with great interest. Scotty launched another one down the beach and the wolf pack engaged. They all tore it to pieces and Jeff brought back a small piece as they waited for another round of their new favorite activity.

  Reese tended the grill quietly. Helen put sunscreen on Elaine and herself as Susan and Jillian were putting out appetizers with Rebecca as her eyes were red and swollen from crying. Paul, Sammy, Scotty and I played catch with a baseball. Susan asked all of us to please sit at the table.

  “The brief time we spent with Mark and James shows us, again, how fragile life is. We are all blessed to have one another, to share the good times and bad times. We get to share our strengths and vulnerabilities and not to take advantage of these attributes but to embrace them. Mark and James wanted to be buried, up, over there…” Susan said pointing, then continued, “overlooking the ocean so they could see us celebrating our lives with the thoughts of them, so the love could be shared.” Susan folded up the piece of paper she was reading from then wiped the tears from her face.

  “Did anybody else just see that!?” Paul asked everyone as we all looked toward the cliff edge where Mark and James are buried.

  “What? That sparkle? I see that a lot.” Sammy said as he eagerly helped himself to Jillian’s salsa.

  “What do you suppose it is?” Reese asked. I raised my right hand, holding Jillian’s hand with my left.

  “It is the earth, smiling.” I said, to no one in particular.

  “Tell us about this woman, Jen.” Reese asked me.

  “I really don’t want to talk about her right now Reese. Maybe some other time.” I said as I took a gulp of wine. Reese was concerned for everyone’s safety but reluctantly shook his head understanding.

  “We’ll be able to locate her if she is within ten miles.” I said setting down my empty glass.

  “How?” Paul asked.

  “I asked her to give me her bra and panties, she did not protest, she just smiled like we were going to f… you know.” I said looking toward Sammy as Scotty started to laugh.

  “That kinda stink, don’t wash off!” Scotty said as everyone laughed and Reese turned up the Beach boys and we all sang together at the top of our voices.

  We all watched in silence as the sun melted into the horizon. Everyone was well fed and pretty drunk except Susan and Jillian. We all made it up to the seaside villa and had coffee, tea and Helen’s Peach Cobbler. I eventually outlined for everyone the information from Jen. I did not go into the details. This was difficult enough for me to digest entirely. I did however, tell them the consequences that would face Jen if she decided to have someone visit any of us. This seemed to satisfy everyone’s resolve.

  Jillian, Scotty and I took turns doing our best impersonation of Helen and the way she said ‘Peach Cobbler’ to Jen. At first, Helen was embarrassed but, in the end, she stood and re-created the statement to everyone’s enjoyment.

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  “Are we going to save some Peach Cobbler for Jen?” Jillian asked with false sense of concern.

  “Mine will be ready tomorrow.” Reese said with a mouthful.

  “You might want to stay clear of her.” I said walking outside. “She is a master manipulator; a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’. Sorry, no offense Rosie.” I said as she heard her name and came up to me. I lit a cigar as Scotty joined me outside for a smoke in the silence.

  “You’re not giving us all the details about her, are you?” Scotty asked plainly.

  “It’s not up to us to decide her ultimate fate. I made it clear to her what would happen, she’ll be lucky to last the week.” I said.

  “What if she contacts someone… someone with some serious firepower?” Scotty asked me.

  “She barely knows how to use a can opener.” I said.

  “She will use her, assets. You said it yourself; she is a master manipulator.” Scotty said with genuine concern.

  “We are not murderers Roy. Justice will be delivered to her.” I said as I turned to see everyone standing near the sliding glass doors eavesdropping on our conversation.

  “She is responsible for the death of humanity!” Reese said in a low volatile tone.

  “Not true. We, are still here.” I said.

  “You can’t tell us that you didn’t think of putting a bullet in her head.” Rebecca said with strong emotion.

  “Actually, the look on her face at her cousin in pieces at her feet was satisfaction that turned to remorse, for about five seconds. Surprised me as well. Then I thought of what she said; “The world, is still mine.” This statement really bothered me…and still bothers me. No one should ever think that they need to own the world. Anyway, it was then that I thought it would be best to let her face her one true fear; of being alone. She has never, ever been alone. All of us experienced this. You cannot tell me you all were not afraid.” I said looking at the group. “I know I was.

  To her, camping is a two- or three-star resort. When she was ten years old, she and four of her cousins, including Lloyd, put up a tent in the backyard, a sleep-over. She stayed up all night absolutely terrified from the sounds of the night life. Tree frogs, the distant sound of a dog barking, rustling sounds in the nearby bushes. She actually convinced herself she could feel the bugs in the ground beneath her. It’s… ten-thirty-eight.” I said looking at Jillian’s wristwatch. “She is probably sitting on the roof of a house with a baseball bat.” I said.

  “If she’s alive at all.” Jillian added.

  “Can you tell?” Helen asked me as everyone waited for an answer.

  “I would need total silence, focus, concentration and not to be buzzed.” I said dismissing the possibility of trying. Rebecca, Susan, Paul and Reese wanted to know her current status. Everyone else just wanted to see if I could actually do it. I looked around at everyone and Helen’s negative energy of ‘You can’t do that” caused me to actually consider it.

  “I get the last piece of peach cobbler for breakfast.” I said to everyone. Reese was the most disappointed on this contingency as I went inside the villa and washed my face with cold water then returned outside and took in the fresh air. It was very distracting having everyone watch me.

  “I need everyone to ignore me and close the door, please.” I said turning around looking at everyone gawking at me. Everyone complied.

  I stripped off my clothes and thought of Blake and his weather prediction method. I was immediately presented with the image of him sitting on Joan’s lap as she read “Goodnight Moon’ to him. Image cloudy, however her voice was just inches from my ear, clear and soft.

  I opened my eyes and the wolf pack were all sitting in front of me, complacent. I sat on the ground and placed my hands, palm side down on the cool bristly grass. After five seconds I moved six feet west and nine and a half feet north and sat down. I don’t know why, but this location felt better. Like tuning a guitar string. Because I was sitting on the ground the pups automatically assumed play-time. Rosie grunted and they stopped their approach. I closed my eyes and recalled touching Jen’s hand. The image of a hand axe appeared. Very dark, I could hear her heavy breathing and the sound of her stomach grumbling. The sound of a small twig cracking in the stillness caused her to panic, then everything stopped and faded.

  “I will forever be in your debt if you come save me.” Jen’s voice.

  “We have nothing to gain from that proposal.” I said out loud.

  “Please help me.” Jen pleaded, sobbing.

  “You have only been alone for a couple of hours, what do you think next month is going to feel like? You have not even thought that far ahead, have you?” I asked. Nothing was said for a while. Jen just started crying.

  “You should not be afraid of the things you hear. Be more afraid of the things you cannot.” I said as I opened my eyes and stood up. Rosie, Becky, Jeff and the pups were all still sitting patiently. I stretched and laid back down on the grass and summoned the pack as they approached and laid down next to me gently and affectionately playing as Ginger and Pete barked from inside the villa. Jillian opened the sliding glass door and Ginger and Pete joined in on the bonding session.

  “Well?!” Helen asked with hands on her hips already knowing the answer. One by one everyone came outside.

  “Can you lick your balls like Pete yet?” Rebecca asked.

  “Dogs can do so many things better than humans; ball licking is just a perk.” I said as Reese stood with arms folded waiting for an answer to Helen’s question as Jillian handed me my clothes and the dogs switched their affection toward her.

  “She is alive, alone, in a kid’s tree house, a real nice one. Very hungry with a hand axe and scared out of her wits.” I said.

  “Good.” Reese said.

  “I’m exhausted. Breakfast then some baseball tomorrow?” I asked with a heavy sigh and a yawn as Jillian and I went to bed.