36
EMERALD LAKE
It was mid-October, and the air held a chill that brought the promise of what was to come. The Centre was empty at the moment. Wenner’s mother and brother had stayed for five days and returned to Woodview with an assurance from him that he’d shut the Centre down for a few weeks to return to his old hometown and visit with his father and family. He’d followed them to Woodview three weeks later and was due home in a week’s time. Chelsea planned to take in any critters she was capable of looking after, just as she had back in June. So far, nothing had come in, which gave her ample time to finish her first-semester studies. Her final exam was in November, and Chelsea felt the pressure.
Her computer clock read 3:00 p.m. She decided to take a break from her laptop and walk to
