In the Ashes

In the Ashes Chapter of Beneath Cold Boughs
Chapter 9 of Beneath Cold Boughs
Chronology
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The Fire and the Fury	-

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What Happened

Heading Home

(Set before the Epilogue of The Fire and the Fury)

Morris regained consciousness sore and so very hungry, balancing at the very edge of the uncontrollable ravenous need that had started all this business with the Aryan Legion. Rather than fall into that pit again, he decided to head to the hospital, because at this time of night there would certainly be someone he could unleash himself on. He tore a Pathway into the shadows of the hospital carpark, right by where the drains were backing up for the fifth time this month. Stanton General had one of the main Emergency Rooms in the south of the city, filled to bursting with the usual Saturday night mix of injured drunks, gunshot victims and addicts trying desperately to get another prescription for Vicodin. Perfect. One of the addicts, a gangly man with a straggly beard and bad teeth, was hassling a nurse a head shorter than him who looked like she had other people who really needed her help more and security were being kept busy elsewhere.

That did nicely. Morris picked the man up by the scruff of his neck, asking the nurse politely if the guy was bothering her, and, when she nodded, proceeded to carry him out of the building. Then the idiot decided to do a stupid thing and pulled a stolen scalpel on Morris, and that just gave him an excuse to properly hurt the guy. Eh, at least they can’t say he didn’t need the drugs now. With that dealt with and feeling a little bit better about cleaning up the city, Morris found his way to Diana’s room only to find her leaving and not even having the decency to talk to him. Cold shoulder the whole way down in the elevator until they were outside and away from whoever she thought was listening to them. She seemed happy the job was done, which was something, but he figured he’d have to keep the PI on the job. He might turn up some more Nazis that needed dealing with.

They killed a little time waiting for Jane to get there with the car to pick them up and get them all home. Linda was up waiting for him, worrying herself despite everything he said. He’d even got some candy for the kids on the way back but they were already in bed. Maybe it was time for a family day tomorrow, away from Nazis and vampires and weird stuff.

People Appearing (in order of appearance)

• Morris Mayfair: Engaged in a little violence to sooth his Soul, then got to play the good husband to stay out of the dog house.
• Clare Harmon: ER Nurse at Stanton General. Fresh out of training, in over her head.
• Leo Sharp: Seen trying to get opioids out of Nurse Harmon, removed and given a reason to need them by Morris.
• Diana Graves: Finally closed the sales in Presidents Row, now awaiting a meeting with Blackmouth PD.
• Price: Recovering in Stanton General, appreciating the wonders of fentanyl.
• Frank McCallen: Temporary bodyguard for Diana, hired on short notice. Too quick to pull a gun.
• Carter: Happy that things in the PR are resolved. Uneasy that someone knew he had been working there for Diana.
• Joe Halligan: Now former owner of Halligan's bar in Presidents Row.
• Clive Jackson: Owner of Five Circle Cargo, happy to have made more selling than it was worth.
• Manny Farelli: Son of the (former) owner of Farelli's barber. Going to set up his own place in Harton. Avoided questions about any connection to Peters.
• Tony Paulsen: Former owner of Paulsen Loans. Tried is hardest to resist Diana's will only to sign in tears.
• Lucille McGrath: Former owner of Lucy's bakery. Lovely old dear, knew Peters as Jacob, has known him for years.
• Tom Samuels: Former owner of T Samuels Gardens. Athletic older man, carved trees in wood and sold in his shop, including images of The Tree and Moth Park's Old Sycamore.

Locations

• Stanton General Hospital: Morris came to visit Diana and got to do a little community service.
• Presidents Row: Contracts are signed. The deals are done.

Notes

• Another primal pathway opened to Stanton General. There may be consequences.