Fallen Elements by Heather McVea Read Free Book Online Page A

down onto the train platform.
Looking up at the digital clock near the end of the walkway, she
couldn’t believe it was only nine in the morning. Before putting
her coat and gloves on, Ryan slid the diary back into its envelope
and secured it in the front zipper pocket of her Samsonite bag.
    So far Ryan had found the entries
interesting. Her ancestor was clearly well versed, and during her
studies, Ryan had read other accounts of how absolutely terrified
women of the day were to give birth. If Ryan was remembering
correctly, the mortality rate was as high as four percent, compared
to current rates in developed countries of around a tenth of a
percent. Back in the day, getting pregnant was one of the more
dangerous things a woman could do.
    Winding her way through the congestion of
Baltimore’s Penn Station, Ryan felt more like herself now that she
was back home. She had never realized her affinity for the mostly
working-class city, but after the trials and tribulations of New
York, the laid back atmosphere of Charm City was much more dear to
her.
    “You made it!” Nicole Wright was standing in
the passenger loading and unloading zone next to her 1997 white,
Subaru Legacy station wagon. She was twenty seven years old, and
just shy of 5’5” tall with a classic hourglass figure. Ryan had
always admired her alabaster skin, light brown eyes, and long,
thick, chestnut hair.
    The two women had been roommates for nearly
two years. They rented a two bedroom/two bath row house in the
Canton neighborhood in the southeastern section of Baltimore. What
had started out as a convenient economic solution for both of the
cash strapped students had quickly blossomed into a genuine
friendship.
    “I barely made it, friend.” Ryan
opened the rear passenger door of the station wagon and slid her
suitcase into the backseat, taking care to avoid the stack of
paperwork and the laptop strewn across the bench seat. Nicole had
just began a new job at a local engineering firm, and in spite of
her ambition, drive, and intelligence, she was one of the messiest
people Ryan knew.
    Ryan slid into the passenger seat next to
Nicole, and latched her seatbelt. Nicole put her hand on Ryan’s
forearm, her eyes filled with concern. “Was it really
terrible?”
    Ryan exhaled. “It was nice to see Carol.
That’s about all I can say.” She had so much more to share, but had
decided on the train she wouldn’t mention the inheritance until she
knew what she wanted to do about it.
    Never one to linger in melancholy, or allow
others to, Nicole smiled broadly as she put the car into drive.
“It’s early, hon. Let’s pop over to Sip and Bite for breakfast.”
Checking her blind spot, Nicole deftly maneuvered the Subaru into
traffic.
    Laying her head back against the cloth head
rest, Ryan grinned. “Sounds perfect.”
    “You’ve got your interview tomorrow, yes?”
Nicole slipped her oversized tortoise shell sunglasses on as they
sat at a stop light.
    Nodding, Ryan kept her eyes closed. In spite
of the cold weather, it was a clear day, and the intense sunlight
was giving Ryan a headache. “Can I still borrow your car?” She had
never thought to get her own car. Parking in the city was difficult
and could be costly. There had been many frigid winter mornings
waiting for the MTA bus that Ryan envied the people who could
afford the off street parking, and the cars that went along with
it.
    “Of course.” Nicole smiled. “What time is
it?”
    “Nine o’clock sharp on Monday morning. How
alert do you think either of us will be?”
    Nicole chuckled. “You could talk community
planning three pints in and on two hours of sleep.”
    Ryan rolled her head to the side, and
squinting looked at her friend. “You flatter me.”
    Nicole shook her head. “You’re too
modest.”
    “Humble.” Ryan smiled. “It’s a rare thing
these days.”
    Nicole swerved to miss an encroaching
cyclist. “Bastard.” Muttering, she moved back into the right lane.
“Humble?