Dead Willow by Joe Sharp

into Willow Tree. Maybe, she needed to stop washing away the evidence.
    Annabel turned off the water and brought her wet hands to her face. The droplets helped sooth the nerves that were still running hot. She grabbed a cheap cotton towel from the bar next to her and swaddled her raw hands tenderly in it, giving her reflection a once over.
    The night was winding down, and the face in the mirror was starting to wake up. A warm shower would feel good. Somebody’s warm hands on her would feel better.
    Looks like Mr. Motor Inn was getting a visitor tonight.

Doctor, October 7th
     
    Dr. Paula Crispin polished her wire-rimmed spectacles with the hem of her long skirt and kept an eye out for her new protégé.
    Lifting her hem, she was showing a bit of ankle and she didn’t care. The men could gawk and the women shake their heads. She hated these costumes! She didn’t care how many generations this frock had been in her “family”; it was still a costume to her and always would be.
    Judging by the glares of disapproval, Paula wasn’t wearing enough petticoats to satisfy the other ladies of the council. Strange. She had never heard a complaint from the male members. If any of the offended parties wished to share their opinions, she would be happy to tell them to kiss her frilly ass!
    Of course, they would never resort to such crude verbiage when a disapproving glare was guaranteed to frost a windowpane. The gentility of this place was sometimes more than she could bear. If any member of this body ever said what they really felt, the council would probably implode.
    She would pay to see that show.
    Backs straightened in their comfy seats as the chamber doors creaked open. Only one person ever entered by the door at the front of the council hall.
    Eunice Louise Pembry.
    The door opened as if by magic and out she came, gliding as if on a cushion of air. She was effervescent in a blue dress with deep blue lace up the front and a white lace collar and cuffs. Her golden blond hair was pulled back severely into a bun, capped by a white knit hair net.
    It was an unwritten rule that every woman on the council wear a bonnet, except for Eunice. Paula had no doubt that Eunice wore the requisite number of petticoats under her frock. Eunice, after all, was the rule by which all others were measured, even if she did say so herself.
    The magic behind the door-opening scurried into the chamber right behind - Colonel William Morgan Davis. He hurried passed Eunice and pulled out her giant leather chair. If it had been a pillow, he would have fluffed it.
    Eunice took her seat, taking time to arrange the fullness of her dress. When every inch of fabric was in place, Colonel Davis eased her chair forward until she was firmly planted. Then, he scampered to his seat at the end of the council table, where he sat like an obedient pup. It was a tedious display, but the meeting wouldn’t start without it.
    Paula glanced at the clock on the back wall of the chamber. It was just now 7:00 in the morning and another festival day was about to start. Where was that girl? Paula craned her neck around, scanning the faces in the assembly. This girl was going to be late for her own funeral if she didn’t hurry up, because Paula would see to it.
    She was weary of dealing with these neophytes. Where was it written that it fell to her to educate the newborns? She was the town doctor! She had more important matters to deal with! None came to mind at the moment, but she would think of something.
    “Doctor Crispin?” came the tiny voice from beside her. Paula’s head jerked around to see a young wisp of a girl in a pale blue dress, with a frilly bonnet that didn’t match. Costume, no doubt. The real thing was getting harder to come by. Paula pulled her down into the seat next to her.
    “Miss Cole, I presume,” said Paula impatiently.
    “Lacey, please,” said the girl demurely. She smiled for effect. Paula was in no mood.
    “You do realize we were to meet in my