Day 31/366

Pastor Ernie and Estrella lived in a small rural community in the foothills of California.  Silver Falls was large enough to have its own fire station and postal service, but small enough that if you didn't know what you were doing, someone in town always did.  So it was no secret that the beloved pastor and his wife struggled with infertility.

The small community also had a grocery store, a gas station and convenience store, a pizza parlor, a café and a handful of other local businesses.  Silver Falls wasn't far from the larger towns of Marysville and Yuba City, all in northern California.  If people needed something that couldn't be obtained locally, then would go "down the hill" to one of the larger towns.

The call came in on a night fraught with thunder and a heavy downpour.  All the captain of the firehouse said was it was urgent and Ernie needed to bring his wife.  They traveled the few minutes to the fire station, both silently praying for whatever was to come.

It seemed someone had taken advantage of the safe haven statute and abandoned a baby girl at the station.  One of the men on duty had noticed a bundle of clothing just outside the firehouse door and went to investigate.  He was startled when the bundle made noise, and found the baby wrapped snuggly with a note fastened to the blanket.

The couple took one look at the baby girl and fell in love, and since they'd been approved for foster care several years ago, it was not a stretch to place the infant in their home.  Before long, adoption papers were filed, and after a lifetime, Genevieve Nunoz became a part of their little family.

At least, that was the story she'd been told all her life.  Ernie and Estrella didn't keep the fact that Gen was adopted a secret.  Instead, they told the story often, praising God for his blessing of their little girl.  When Gen would ask why she didn't have any brothers or sisters, she was told that God filled their hearts with a little girl and they were content.

Gen never had a desire to find her birth mother.  She'd received ample love and support from the Nunoz family, and felt like she'd always belonged with them.  When her mother passed away, a huge hole was left in her heart, and life changed dramatically for her father.  Until recently.

Just over two months ago, Ernie had sparked back to life.  Something had taken hold of him, and he was working day and night on a secret project that he kept from Gen.  She didn't mind.  As long as her dad was back to his optimistic and active self, he could have his privacy.  It seemed a bit odd, but life had been odd for some time.

One night, after work, Ernie called Gen and told her he needed to share something with her, but he wanted to do it in person.  By this time she'd settled in her own apartment down the hill and was saving money for a return to college.  They agreed on a time and place to meet, and it was at the local pizza parlor near Ernie's house.

Unfortunately, someone didn't want that meeting to take place

All words are property of Deena Peterson and are not to be used without permission.

Day 30/366

"Oh, I wish I'd never found that stupid key!" She was so angry and so overwhelmed.  Angry with God for taking her dad, her rock and her sounding board.  Angry with her parents for keeping secrets that impacted her life.

And angry with herself for not walking away when she had the chance.  "I wish I could talk to you, Dad.  But, if I could talk to you, none of this would be happening.  I'm so scared, Daddy," she whispered.

Her mind dredged up the last day she'd had with her father.  He had never returned to his usual optimism after his wife died.  Gen remembered thinking he was slowly fading away, just biding his time.

But the two months prior to his death he'd seemed much more focused and intentional.  Her dad insisted on dinner together at least once a week.  He shared stories about her mom: how they had met, when he knew he loved her, their early years together.

Pastor Ernesto Nunez was such a faithful man of God, and a loving husband to his wife, Estrella.  Her name meant star, and he called her the most beautiful in all the galaxy.  They were passionate about the Lord and about each other.

Unfortunately, a rare cancer robbed Estrella of the chance for a baby.  While both Ernie and his wife wanted a child, they were content with life and poured themselves out for their congregation.  Life was good.

And it was about to get even better.

All words are property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.

Day 29/366

How did she end up here?  An intense investigation and desperate need for closure collided with opportunity and manipulation to create a perfect storm of chaos and danger.

Funny how something as innocent as a key to a discovered storage locker could lead to multiple felonies.  One wrong step and losing her position as a law clerk would be the least of her worries.

Genevieve seated herself on a relatively clean park bench near the fountain.  Spray cooled her heated skin, and the movement of the water calmed her racing thoughts.

She longed for a free weekend, knowing how the sight and sound of the ocean always helped center her soul.  Something about the power and the majesty of the waves crashing combined with the rhythm of the tide gave Gen a true sense of peace.

The Creator and the creation: God was the first and she was the latter.  Observing the careful thought He'd put into that one aspect of creation assured her of the truth shared by her pastor/father.

"God's got this."  Dad's answer to any and every situation.  She had one question she longed to ask.  Even though He had this horrid situation in hand, was she capable of messing everything up.

But the one person she could trust with her question was the very reason for the blue envelope that demanded a decision.

All words property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.

Day 28/366

She tried to focus on the legal brief that was on her desk, but her mind kept wandering.  Finally, she slammed her hands down on the desk and pushed her chair back.  Gen grabbed her purse, then headed for the lobby of the office building.

"Hey, Julia, I need to clear my head for a bit.  Mark me out of office for the next 30 minutes or so," she announced to the receptionist as she breezed by.  Directionless, Gen stood outside the door and just looked around.

"I didn't realize we'd hired a doorperson," someone smarted off as they maneuvered past her.  That startled her into motion, and she made her way down the block, deciding to head to the park.  Maybe hanging out with the pigeons would give her something to think about...

...besides the blue envelope waiting for her back at her apartment.

All words property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.

Day 27/366

The lack of sleep was catching up with her.  Genevieve poured her third or fourth cup of coffee, loading it with sugar and five little cups of creamer.  Returning to her desk, she swirled the brew with the plastic straw she'd grabbed from the counter, allowing the blending swirl to mesmerize her for a moment.

"I'd ask if you're into tea leaves, but I can smell the difference," an amused voice whispered near her shoulder.  She startled and nearly knocked her very full cup over.  "Sorry, didn't mean to sneak up on you like that."

Gen turned in her swivel desk chair and looked up into the ocean blue eyes of her coworker and office friend Jeremy.  "No worries.  Just kind of tired today."  She attempted a smile, but read the concern in his gaze.

"Late night?" he asked, propping himself on the corner of her clutter desk.  He casually glanced down at her case files, then back at her.

She shook her head, blonde curls swinging loosely.  "Just couldn't sleep."  She punctuated her statement with a jaw cracking yawn.

Jeremy chuckled.  "Guilty conscience keeping you up?" he teased.

Gen froze in place, her features a stone mask.  "Why would you say something like that?"  Wrong reaction, based on the shock in his gaze.  "Sorry.  Like I said, tired."

"Hey, wait a minute," he hooked the arm of her chair with his index finger and swiveled her back to face him.  "Somehow I accidentally touched a nerve.  Want to talk about it?"

She tucked a curl behind her ear and maneuvered an expression of innocence before she returned his look.  "Nothing to talk about.  Now, if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to work."  She directed her gaze to his hand on her chair, then looked back up at him.

Jeremy frowned.  They hadn't worked together long, but he had always been able to read Gen before now.  Something was definitely troubling her, and he didn't like the stress he read in her body language.  She'd seemed like a very relaxed and easy going woman; this was not like her at all.

She sensed more questions coming, and stalled them with, "Seriously, just one of those kind of nights.  Now, I really need to get back to writing these briefs."  A half smile and a nudge with her foot to move the chair back around to face the desk was all it took.

"You know if you ever need anything---"

"You're just two cubicles away," she teased, trying to inflect a bit of humor.  Instead, her words came out with a bite to them.  "Jer, I know.  Okay?"

He sighed, then gave her his two finger salute and turned to go back to his desk.  Genevieve sighed as well, wishing she could take advantage of a friend's listening ears.  But no one would believe her story.  No one would see her as the victim any longer.  Especially after tonight.

All words are property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.

Day 26/366

She parked her jade green Nissan in her designated parking spot, then trudged up the stairs to her second floor apartment.  Key inserted in the lock, Gen took a deep breath, then pushed the door open and flipped the entry lights on.

There, on her creamy tile entryway tile, was a powder blue envelope.  Standard in size, it weighed heavy in her hand.  Almost like the boulder that lodged in her chest after that solitary meeting.  She dropped her purse and keys on the beige sofa, then made her way into the kitchen.

Gen grabbed a diet cola from the fridge and placed it and the envelope on the granite counter.  She braced her hands on the counter's edge, her head hanging down.  "I can't do this...I cannot do this."  She whispered, but her words seemed to echo inside her head.

Her thoughts raced back through the events of the previous weeks, racing back to the very beginning of her waking nightmare.  When he'd swooped in and taken something that did not belong to him.  All to get her to do his bidding.

How he found her, Gen didn't know.  She was active on Facebook, but had her settings on private.  No Twitter presence, never used Craigslist.  She lived alone, but had a good security setup, and she changed her unique password on a regular basis.

Gen had even attempted to record one of the mystery man's calls to see if she could remember him by voice only.  Nothing.  She had no deep dark secrets in her past, only the most lame of skeletons in her closet.

Somehow, he'd known what was most important to her, and that was what he took.  Now, she had to do his bidding one last time--yeah, right!--and then she'd get it back.  She planned to leave and never look back.

Thinking was merely a stalling tactic at this point.  With a heavy sigh, she opened her utility drawer and withdrew a pair of scissors, then picked up the envelope.  Jaw stiff and a headache beginning behind her eyes, Gen slit the envelope open and tilted it.

Its contents slipped out onto the counter.  At first, Gen was clueless...but then the contents registered in her mind.

Her breath vanished.  "No way.  No, no, no...."

All words are property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.

Day 25/366

"Genevieve, do not look so discouraged, my pet," the voice admonished, echoing in the empty room.  Bare metal walls, cement floor, and absolutely empty...just like her heart.  "Simply one more task, and our terms will be met."

"That's what you said last time," she fired back, more strength in her voice and fire in her eyes.  "How do I know I can trust you?"

"Simple.  Fail and see what happens next."  The chill in the voice sent a shiver of fear down her spine.  Perspiration beaded along her hairline, even as her mouth went bone dry.  "You will find your directions in a blue envelope, tucked under the front door of your apartment.  Follow them to the letter, or..."

"I know, I know," she responded.  Maybe this time it would be simple.  Maybe this time the man who possessed the chilling voice would keep his word.  Maybe this time...no one would get hurt.

Gen pushed to her feet, wiping her palms on her denim pants.  "How do I get in touch with you when it's done?"

An unnerving chuckle bounced off the walls of the room, causing her to cover her ears and to tremble.  "Oh, you don't worry yourself about that.  The entire world will know when you've finished what we've started."

Genevieve glared at the tiny camera eye embedded in the far wall.  "Fine."  She turned to leave, grasping the steel door knob in her hand.

"Remember, Genevieve.  Tell no one."

She sighed as she opened the door.  "No one would believe me even if I tried."

All words are property of Deena Peterson and not to be used without permission.