Time frame.

It was December 23rd. The last call out of the town was a single call placed on December 20th. Before that, nothing for two days. Vivian more than likely died on December 21st.

Was the last call for help, to say good bye?

With the lack of communication out of Hartworth between the 18th and 20th, that told Edward the town was sick and dying, Everything was normal, phone communications, bank transactions, all normal until the 18th.

The first ones probably started getting sick on December 17th.

To set up an aid station took knowledge that it was coming and of an incubation period to perch a guard on every access road, a fast incubation.

Why did they keep it a secret?

Allowing a one- to two-day incubation period, combined with the fact that someone had knowledge of the bug, Edward pinpointed his ground zero day.

The day it all started. But what? Was it released? Was there an accidental experiment?

Edward would solve this mystery. He was bound and determined to find out what happened out of the ordinary in Hartworth, Montana, on December 16th.

Chapter Five.

Hartworth, Montana

December 16th

"Thank you, Vivian, thank you so much." Roman was excited and rightfully so. Everything was falling into place, and Vivian Morris was the final piece he needed to put it together. Three employees other than him worked for his father. Vivian was the only person available to cover for him.

Enthusiastically he sent a text to Heather, his fingers fumbling and making spelling errors. He couldn't help it. They both wanted to see the concert in Billings but couldn't afford tickets when they went on sale. When they had the money, the concert was sold out, all 22,000 seats. The concert was huge, three bands. So when he won those tickets from the radio station, Roman was through the roof. He had tried six times a day, day and night, for a week to win them. Problem was, he had just won them, and the concert was tonight.

He needed his shift covered for the evening and for the next morning, because he and Heather would stay overnight in Billings, and Vivian Morris pulled through.

Heather's mom would watch the baby, another dilemma solved.

His father was fine ... sort of ... with him going, he just had to make sure all the work was done and ready for the morning.

Roman set down his phone, grabbed a tablet, and started making a list. The clinic door opened and he looked down to his watch as he stood behind the reception window.

"Hey, Mr. Rudolph, you're a little early." Roman said.

"I know. I know. The wife had to shop," the older gentleman said as he hung up his coat. "I'll wait."

"No problem. Relax." Roman had all the charts pulled for the day. He grabbed Mr. Rudolph's chart, tucked it under his arm as he walked to the back, placed the chart in the basket of exam room one, and headed to his father's office.

"Dad," Roman knocked on the door and opened it. The room was empty. "Where the heck did he go?" The clinic wasn't that big. He headed back down the hall. That was when he noticed the bas.e.m.e.nt door was ajar. He opened it slightly and called down the steps. "Dad? You down here?"

"Yes, Roman, I am."

He took a few steps downward. "What are you doing down here again?"

"The temperature has dropped," Val replied. "I am just checking my storage things. I will be moving them after the holiday."

"Really?" Roman reached the bottom of the stairs and his father stood before a closed trunk. "I thought you said this was just all old junk."

Val nodded.

"Why are you worried?" Roman asked.

"Because it is junk that has been with me for years. Just because I called it junk does not mean I want it to be ruined."

"Ah, okay. Mr. Rudolph is here."

"Fine. Thank you. Please leave."

Roman c.o.c.ked back some at the harsh dictate of his father. After a shrug, he walked up the stairs. He looked back as he reached the top and closed the door.

Odd. He found his father's behavior odd. It was the third time in a week his father had gone down to the bas.e.m.e.nt to check on those items.

For something so worthless, his father was acting as if he held a priceless secret down there. But to Roman, it couldn't be all that important if it was just stuck in a bas.e.m.e.nt.

Lincoln, Montana

Like he did every morning, Stew perched himself in his favorite booth at Bonnie's diner. He was already on his second cup of coffee after dropping Richie off at school. He called Heather and asked her to join him, and she said she'd be right down. That was forty minutes earlier. Stew would wait.

His work was done for the day, having started before dawn.

He adored his granddaughter. He loved Richie, but Heather always held that special spot with him.

He watched her walk in, brush the snowflakes from her head; she wasn't wearing a heavy coat and that irritated Stew.

"Sorry for taking so long, Pap."

"Where's your coat?" he asked. "You're gonna get sick."

"I'm fine." She waved him off. "It's not that cold. Just snowy. Did you hear me?"

"I don't pay attention when you or your mother are late. That's who I was with."

"She wasn't in the hole, was she?"

"Nope. Not ... you know ... yet."

Stew grumbled.

"She did say seismic activity was up for Yellowstone. It's based in reality."

"I agree," Stew said, "but not reality in her lifetime. Is she gonna watch the baby?"

"Oh, yeah, that isn't the problem. The problem came when I asked."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I made the mistake of saying Roman's father offered."

Stew exhaled. "Why would you do that? You know she hates him."

"I know. I still think Mom's the reason he took the job in Hartworth."

"Well, she picketed the man's home, for Christ's sake. Even I called the cops on her."

Heather laughed and looked up when Bonnie approached. "Morning, Bonnie."

"Hey, Heather, does doc still have evening hours tonight?"

"Late hours, till six. What's up? You sick?" Heather asked.

"No." Bonnie poured her a coffee. "My knee is overdue for a shot of cortisone. Was hoping to squeeze in sometime after four."

"Hold on," Heather pulled out her phone and her fingers flew as she punched in letters.

"Couldn't you call?" Stew asked.

"Easier this way. Val hates when the phone rings." Heather's phone beeped and she looked. "Five thirty good?" she asked Bonnie.

"Perfect, thank you. Extra order of bacon on me." She winked and walked off.

"I didn't order." Heather said to Stew.

"It's breakfast, you don't need to."

"Ok," she shrugged. "Hey, is that my dad in the corner booth."

"Yep." Stew didn't turn around.

"He's up early. Is that the Gray Grocer checkout lady from Hartworth?"

"Yep."

"Hmm. He dates the strangest women."

"Heather," Stew snapped. "You aren't that nave, are you?"

"What do you mean?"

"Never mind." Stew shook his head. "So you have this concert."

"Oh it's gonna be so great, Pap. The Yards, Don Simmons, and Ace of Hearts."

Stew nearly choked. "My G.o.d, those bands are from decades ago, those people gotta be my age."

Heather nodded.

"Who the h.e.l.l wants to see old rockers?"

"It's not age, Pap, it's music, and it's good. And ... my dad is leaving ..." Her head turned as Del walked right by her. "Maybe he didn't see me."

"I'm sure," Stew said. "Now let's talk about this concert."

And they did. Heather called it life changing and that the night was gonna be like no other. Little did she know how right she was.

Cody's fingers were tiny, and Emma was amazed how she moved them and controlled them with ease. Although her little droplet of icing on the cookies for a face were a little skewed, Emma was proud.

"Good. Good girl. Ain't that good, Andy?" She looked up to Andy who was working on his own cookie creation.

"G ... great."

Emma smiled. "Andy's jealous. Man of little words, that's how you can tell he's jealous," Emma told the little one. "But it's nice of him to come over and play today."

"Yes, Gam. It is," Cody said with excitement. She tucked her growing hair behind her ears, smoothing it from her face. She took her task at hand very seriously.

"Maybe with Gam being in charge tonight," Emma said, "Andy can come over and play tonight?" She winked.