Black Locust Letters by Nicolette Jinks Page A

a fraction of it.
    She'd met him upon graduating high school, when she'd gone to
the wedding of her friend the evening after. He was the groom's
brother, and she and Pearl were thrilled that she was getting on so
well. Pearl and Betty could be sisters, if all worked out. Betty
had just started as an intern at Alpha Bravo Charlie station, a
glorified way to say that she wrote copies and made
coffee.
    Slim
was an aide for her father's office; it hardly surprised her that
she didn't know him earlier since she avoided her father's office
at all costs. She'd immediately fallen for him, for his easy smile
and perfect turn of phrase. It had been easy to fall in love, and
Slim proposed within the year.
    Her
father encouraged the match. That should have been her first
warning sign, but she'd taken it as nothing more than a paternal
reflection of her happiness and approval of a match
well-made.
    Wedding plans soon were in order, and when her superiors at
the station found out, they threatened to cut her loose. The
General had spoken to them, and soon she had reassurances that her
immediate supervisor was mistaken. He still did not approve of
having a soon-to-be married woman working for him, though, and
within a month of the wedding, he fired her.
    Next
day, a g-man on her doorstep begged her to return to Alpha Bravo
Charlie. Her superior had been reassigned, and only she knew what
he had been working on prior to his leaving. She assumed the
position, of course. But within the week, she found notice of her
former-boss's obituary hidden with all the others, and within the
next two weeks, Slim began to ask her to write in things for the
host to say. Simple messages, which she at first did not
understand.
    Then
over the next days, she noticed strange events in the news, and
began to put together the code he was using her for. Burnt toast resulted in
a building fire. On the wharf made someone go missing. The song final countdown meant
car accident.
    When
she confronted her father about it, he not only knew that Slim was
sending these messages through her, he said he was sending them
through Slim. Pearl's husband was implicated as being in the
ordeal, as well. She had already started to move in with Slim, and
was already ruined by his cunning words and sensuous
hands.
    When
she told Slim she no longer wanted to be part in the murder gang,
he'd demanded to know where she would go and who would have her now
that she was deflowered. The whole base knew of their evenings.
He'd told them. Bragged about it. Besides, her father had given her
her post. If she didn't do her job, he'd take it away.
    For
a few days, she played the submissive lamb and did as they said,
but every news post sickened her. Betty knew this would not work.
She'd gone to Tango Lima Romeo station and secured work as an
intern there. Yes, a step down, but a much-needed move, and then
she'd spent two days walking the streets of Sunny Glenn, a suburb
near Tango Lima Romeo, and found a house to rent.
    So,
she waited until the night when Slim was out on maneuvers. She
packed up all her things and moved out of his life three days
before the wedding.
    Tonight, Betty reluctantly recalled events with Slim. How had
he seduced her? When had he first showed signs of wishing to
manipulate her position to his agenda? She couldn't be
sure.
    What
about Clarkin? Where his intentions merely an honest interest in
her, or did he want to use her, as well? Had she been too harsh on
him? Had she been inviting him one second and scorning him the
next? If her body would conform to her will, then this wouldn't be
so difficult. Why couldn't she just accept the truth: He was a
demon.
    She
couldn't be with him.
    Ever.

Chapter 8
    That morning a
letter waited in her window box, propped up at an angle amidst the
frosted remains of a thyme plant. Betty smiled upon seeing it, and
the smile warmed her heart when she saw a familiar handwriting
across the top addressing 'The Beauty of Sunny Glenn'.
    She smelled