Burden of Truth

by Terri Nolan

  “No.”

  “Does Ron?”

  “I doubt it.”

  Birdie let go. “For a divine man you don’t know much do you?”

  Frank smoothed a wave from her face and gently traced the scar on her cheek. “I’m sorry, my child.”

  Birdie pushed up and sat back on the couch, crossing her arms in a sulk. Her priest, her friend, her moral barometer could not offer the solution. She understood the burden of truth. How hard it is to know everything. All the secrets. Bound by covenants.

  Ron called out from the kitchen, “Dinner in five.”

  “That’s my cue to wash up,” said Frank, picking up his wine glass. “See you in a few.”

  Birdie sat for a moment more, then cracked her neck and stood up. She grabbed Frank’s sweater and draped it over her arm. On the couch lay a cell phone that must’ve slid out of the pocket. When did Frank begin carrying a cell phone? She picked it up off the couch and noticed it was cheaply made. Like a burner. Yes, thought Birdie. Just like that. She greedily clutched it to her belly and looked over her shoulder. She checked the phone log. There had only been one call—incoming from a blocked number. She felt a rush of excitement. There was no way to track the number, but she might be able to track the phone. Find out where it was purchased. She quickly punched her own cell number. When it began to vibrate on the desk, she answered it and quickly disconnected the call. Now she had a record. Then she erased the outgoing call on Frank’s phone. She had just finished putting the phone into the sweater pocket when Frank returned. She placed the sweater over his shoulders.

  “Thank you,” he said. “Shall we eat? I’m so looking forward to Ron’s meal. He’s such an excellent cook. You are one lucky woman.”

  As Frank escorted Birdie to the dining table, her heart beat with a silent hopefulness. She knew one thing for certain. There was no way to disappear in a technological world. There are traces. Electronic fingerprints. She’d begin tomorrow. Because sorry simply wasn’t good enough.

  the end

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Failure is private. Success is not. My team is right here. Thank you all for your support, guidance, and expertise.

  LAPD: Robert Bub, Dominic Licavoli (Ret.), Peter MacDonald, Victor Marin, Larry Nolan (deceased), Steve Rose (Ret.), and Scott Smith. Latin: Ilona Thompson (too bad most of it got cut). Legal: Ron Bowers. Medical: Rebekah Halpern PA-C, Dr. Eva Heuser, and Dr. Greg Thomas. Spanish: Robbin Ward. USMC: Richard Barry (Ret.). I am solely responsible for stretching or altering the facts in service of the story.

  To my drinking group with the writing problem: Linda Cessna, Anna Kennedy, Kurt Kitasaki, Doug Lyle, Rob Northrop, and Theresa Schwegel. I am grateful for you all even when you ripped apart my favorite passages.

  Editor Kristen Weber forced me to break down the process, rethink, and dispose of waste. Lessons I’ll never forget. I am indebted to my literary agent, Kimberley Cameron, who loved the novel and became its advocate. Thanks to Terri Bischoff at Midnight Ink for signing an emerging novelist. Thank you also to the helpful staff at Llewellyn.

  Sue Ann Jaffarian’s no-nonsense advice and counsel gave me hope during times of despair—of which there was plenty. The wisdom imparted by Melissa Orcutt gave me the courage (and permission) to pursue my dream and passion. Without her, I would not have taken the opportunity to recreate my life.

  My parents, Pat and Margie, were forced to listen to a daily regalement of my nightly dreams. They encouraged me to turn that creative recall into stories. My son, David, is always quick with a hug to condole or celebrate. David hugs are a good thing. My daughter, Brenna, is my first reader and editor; her pencil is sharp and she wields it deftly. My husband, Scott Bozanic, always has my back with unconditional love and support. It hasn’t been easy, but he never lost faith.

  And to my future self: You’re a lot better than you’re allowing yourself to be.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Terri Nolan lives in her native Southern California. She earned a B.A. in Radio/Television from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a freelance crime reporter, and her short fiction has appeared in the anthology Murder in La La Land. Visit her at www.terrinolan.com.

  Author photo by © Tanni Tronsen.