Previously… Dr. Makeda works with younger patients. Kids who are neglected, abused, witness to unspeakable violence. Most of the children have difficulty articulating what they've seen or what has been done to them in their affluent suburban homes or low income high-rises. Evil doesn't care where it lays its head. Some of Dr. Makeda's patients…

Previously… There is no identification found at the scene of the single-vehicle accident. The driver, a young woman from what the medics see through all the blood and crushed metal, is unresponsive. Internal bleeding from blunt trauma. The ER team at County General do what they can. Dire situation. The doctor on duty calls the…

Previously… It's really hot in here. Here. Not sure where that is. The windows are all steamy like I'm in the shower. Or a terrarium. A terrarium with leather seats. I think I'd like to wipe off the glass but … Well that's something. I can't feel my arms. Come to think of it ……

Previously… The remainder of the drive to the drive-in wasn't easy. Traffic-wise the going was good. Darla pulled into her favorite parking stall next to the food truck that served exotic burgers (ostrich, boar, elk, bison, chickpea) just fine and with plenty of time to set-up Boothby. Emotionally, however, Darla was sweat-soaked, shaky, and tunnel…

Previously… Ort hopes they'll do. His friend Buford is in the reclamation business and just got done demo-ing a rundown outbuilding and fence over at some guy's mom's place. Ort selects a dozen of the best boards and stacks them in the back of his step van. He's hitting opening day at the Prairie View…

Previously… I wish I had something other than these stupid overalls to wear. The color is awful. I don't hate red, per se, but this shade reminds me of blood clots. Disgusting. One of these days she'll learn how to mix paint. At least she gets the flowers right. I'm glad she gave me a…

Previously… "You know I don't have room. The house is what, 850 square feet or so? I'm talking cozy for one plus all my stuff and I can't see the walls anymore. And I'm not making that mistake again with the storage unit. A caterwaul to wake the dead you guys make when you get…

Previously… Darla's truck was hum-rumbling over patchy asphalt. 35 was her comfort zone through this bumpy stretch to the Prairie View, but she went for it anyhow, got the speedometer up to 45, and caught up to the rest of traffic that eschewed the Interstate. Darla whistled nonsense notes as she honed in on the…

Previously… Housework helps put one thought in front of the other, then I can focus on what needs to get done in a nice, logical way. You know, stay on top of bills, run errands, complete all of my art projects. One step at a time but boy does it make the day fly. I'm…

Previously… And was that pickup ever loaded down. Tail pipe scraped the driveway as Darla eased into the car-lined side street. It was early. Pinkish clouds punctured the slate-grey sky. Darla's wet tangle of curls was gathered at the back of her head with the thick blue elastic that held together last night's broccoli. Her…