Read Shrouded in Silence for Free Online Page B

little filet will strike a note of romance in your heart tonight. Hmm?" He forced a chuckle again.
Michelle thought his laugh to be a bit nervous. He hadn't bought such beautiful clothing just on a whim. Some unexplained situation was unfolding, and he clearly didn't want to tell her what it was. Not that romance wasn't in the air, but more was going on than Jack had explained. He didn't generally hide things from her, but she intuitively sensed when more was going on. He hadn't picked out this festive restaurant because perfume floated through the air.
"Look, dear," Michelle used the most thoughtful and kind voice she had, "I think we're here because something more than a full moon is out tonight." She leaned over the table. "Did you get a speeding ticket?"
"Oh, no! No. No. Nothing like that."
"Then level with me. Why are we really out on the town tonight."
Jack took a deep breath. "Well . . . I . . . I . . . just thought you might have been bothered because of the bombing in the subway system." He rubbed his chin nervously. "I was concerned because I know how upset these incidences make you."
His answer hit all of her panic buttons. It wasn't what she had expected. Suddenly, Michelle couldn't catch her breath, and her head felt extremely light. An uncontrollable urge surged up from within and her heart started to pound. His explanation completely flipped her.
"I know that fear is bumping around these streets like a runaway motorbike. Everywhere I turn, I hear people talking about the terrorist attack, and I know that has to be highly upsetting to you."
Michelle tried not to respond, but her hands had started to shake, and she immediately pulled them under the table.
"Maybe you don't want to talk about the incident," Jack said. "I only want you to know that I'm willing to listen if you're struggling with the impact."
"You certainly outflanked me," she sputtered and cleared her throat. "Yes, you certainly did."
Jack was intensely studying her face. Not a good sign.
"You're getting a little pale, dear. Are you all right?"
"Jack, just because I get nervous when bombs go off doesn't make me into a freak." Her voice raised a notch. "Sure, I was only a child when that awful event happened to my family, but I'm OK. Don't worry so much." She could feel her hands becoming wet. "Really."
"I just don't want you to get overanxious," Jack said.
Michelle could feel her knees becoming wobbly and knew she must get out of the chair quickly. "Honestly, I'm fine, Jack. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'll be right back."
"You're not OK," Jack said. "Let me call—"
"I'm fine," Michelle said more dogmatically than she intended. "I'll be right back."
Her first steps away from the table felt so uncertain than she feared she might fall, but the bathroom wasn't that far away. Michelle stared at the door and knew she had to get inside that small room before she exploded. Once inside the bathroom, she dropped the toilet lid and sat down. The room began to whirl around her.
Jack had been more than right. The subway incident had triggered terrible emotions she had to fight. In the middle of the night she had tried to pour her anxiety into a secret container she tried to store deep in her unconscious. Although she had partially succeeded, Michelle knew a confrontational stimulus could pop the cork. For reasons she couldn't grasp, that had happened tonight.
Michelle watched her fingers start to shrink and her hands change into the shape of a five-year-old child's. The wall, only feet in front of her face, was becoming a window. In the background, she could see the city of Cerignola and the road sloping up toward the rolling mountains. Her sharp-pointed shoes disappeared and shiny, black-patent leather, little-girl shoes took their place. The wall vanished and Michelle could see the back of her father's head in the front seat ahead of her.
"Thank you for a wonderful weekend," her father told her mother.
"Of course, my love," Maria said back and