Are You Afraid Of The Dark   ::   Sheldon Sidney

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One FLIGHT DOWN, the messenger walked over to the bench where Diane and Kelly were waiting.

"Room 391," he told them.

"Thanks," Diane said gratefully. She handed him some money.

The two women took the stairs to the third floor, stepped into the corridor, and waited until the nurse was on the telephone. Her back was turned to them. They quickly started down the hall and entered room 391.

Lois Reynolds was lying in bed with a spiderweb of tubes and wires attached to her body. She was heavily bandaged. Her eyes were closed as Kelly and Diane approached the bed.

Diane said softly, "Miss Reynolds, I'm Diane Stevens and this is Kelly Harris.

Our husbands worked for KIG." Lois Reynolds's eyes slowly opened and tried to focus. When she spoke, her voice was a shadow of a whisper. "What?" Kelly said, "Our husbands worked for KIG. They were both killed. We thought that because of what happened to your brother, you might be able to help us." Lois Reynolds tried to shake her head. "I can't help you… Gary is dead." Her eyes welled up with tears.

Diane leaned close. "Did your brother say anything to you before the accident?" "Gary was a wonderful man." Her voice was slow and pained. "He was killed in a plane crash." Diane said patiently, "Did he say anything to you that might help us find out what happened?" Lois Reynolds closed her eyes.

"Miss Reynolds, please don't go to sleep yet. Please. This is very important.

Did your brother say anything to you that might help us?" Lois Reynolds opened her eyes again and looked at Diane, puzzled. "Who are you?" Diane said, "We think your brother was murdered." Lois Reynolds murmured, "I know…" The two of them felt a cold chill.

"Why?" Kelly asked.

"Prima…" It was a whisper.

Kelly leaned closer. "Prima?" "Gary told… told me about it a few… a few days before he was killed.

Their machine that can control… control weather. Poor Gary. He… he never got to Washington." Diane said, "Washington?" "Yes… They were all going to… all going to see some senator about… about Prima… Gary said Prima was bad…" Kelly asked, "Do you remember the senator's name?" "No." "Please think." Lois Reynolds was mumbling. "Senator somebody…" "Senator who?" Kelly asked.

"Levin-Luven-Van Luven. He was going to see her. He was going to meet-" The door flew open, and a doctor wearing a white jacket, with a stethoscope draped around his neck, strode into the room. He looked at Diane and Kelly, furious.