Chapter Three

With the top down, Lacey Whitelaw felt the morning-chilled wind tug at her hair like a schoolyard full of invisible seven-year-old boys; behind the wheel of the late model Porsche, her former faculty advisor, current wanderjahr guide and future cautionary tale, drove with a studied concentration intended to leave no doubt that the car was a reflection of personal traits.

“We have ten minutes to get to Eibigen Abby,” as if to provide a visual aid, the road crested and, in the distance, clutching the rolling pastureland like a hornet’s nest of brick and half-digested souls, their destination; “Do not speak unless spoken to and watch me, these people are lethal if they feel threatened,” Elias Thunberg looked at his former grad student with what he thought was endearing affection; Lacey was coming to appreciate that condescension mixed well with lust.

“My former husband, Elias,” Leanne paused to smile into the bone china cup as if approving of the future arrayed at the bottom of the mist-covered amber fluid,  “Is a guy’s guy, to borrow some slang, he’s a multi-doctorate ‘bro”; that my breakfast companion would be as challenging (and demanding) a client as she was a bedmate, was useful in convincing myself to refrain from interrupting her story.

The postmaster stared at the girl trying to complete the overnight delivery shipping label, the ferocity in her eyes was offset by fresh bruises on her upper arms; with eyebrows raised in a mute signal of being a non-combatant, he gently took the pen, Lacey whispered in gratitude, “Dr. Leanne Thunberg… Radcliffe University”; tearing off the Senders Copy, he looked up and said, “Here is your…” the words fell to the floor of the empty lobby.

“We both joined the faculty at the same time, he became department chair before I received tenure; despite his brilliance he fell into the oldest trap in the human experience, yet he is not merely after women, he believes he can find Her, the very first woman; he has disappeared and I need your help to find out what has come of him.”