2.

A full day passes without incident; a day like most others where Gus does nothing out of or away from routine though on the following day again, Gus does do something out of character. Maybe he is still rocked from the television news report telling of the finding the body of a young lady with whom he had met not all so long before viewing the report or perhaps it is something else. The playing of the piano at the new town center is certainly out of character for him after all. Perhaps there is something more to recent form.

Instead of getting up, ready, and out to Crew's Chemist early in the morning as he usually would do, Gus decides to rest a little longer and he allows one of those who work for him to open the store. When he does rise, his choice of breakfast is quite different to his regular choices for breakfast. This may not seem like a big deal, but Gus is taking on change, no matter how big or small that change is, and this in itself is unusual.

Closing in on midday, Gus is ready to make his way back to the pharmacy but before he can leave the house, a knock comes to his front door. Gus answers and before a word can be spoken, the first thought that Gus has is to question what is wrong with the world for the head of hair on the man standing before him is something which has been trending quite a bit during this decade that is not all so far away from coming to an end, and this is something he finds difficult in getting a grip with.

'Yes, can I help you?' asks Gus.

'Sorry to bother you sir. I am constable Pierce Rowan. Do you mind if I come in?'

'I am actually on my way out.'

Constable Rowan makes his way into the house anyhow, for he was not about to allow the lack of an invite, or the statement of intent given, stop him making his way inside the house. Gus closes the front door and follows the constable into the kitchen. Times being what they are, this is not unusual police behaviour, still it is unappreciated behaviour.

'I'm sorry but is there something I can help you with?'

'I do apologize for barging in like this, sir, we are doing door to door inquires this morning and afternoon ...'

'In regards with what?'

'You may be aware that a young lady has been discovered the evening before last'. The constable takes out a photo and shows it to the man before him. 'Do you recognize this lady?'

Gus took a look at the photo. 'No, not really ... kind of.'

'What do you mean by that, sir?'

'I don't know her, but I did actually meet this lady on the evening in question.'

'You did what sir? Day in question sir? What do you mean by that?'

'Isn't that the girl reported on the news to have been discovered dead?'

'It is sir, yes.'

'I did meet her briefly on the day she was found.'

'You did? ... Can you tell me the circumstances to your meeting with this lady?'

'Well, I took a trip to the new town center. There is a Grand piano there right in the open. For some reason or another I decided to play it for a moment or two. Soon after I stopped playing this lady approached me to comment on my playing?'

'... And what happened then?'

'Nothing really, I thanked her and left.'

'Left the town center?'

'Yes.'

'Alone?'

'Yes. This lady and I did walk for a moment or so, but I left her within the town center, and she was fine and well when I did.'

'And you didn't report that to police?'

'There was nothing to report. I know nothing of her or of what happened to her.'

'You didn't happen to catch her name, did you?'

'She told me her name was ... let me see ... Ester ... Lindsey ... no; her name she told me was Evelyn.'

'And a last name?'

'No, I didn't get that, she just told me her name was Evelyn.'

'Did she mention as to where she is from or as to family or friends?'

'No nothing like that, our conversation really was brief.'

'Well thank you sir, if you remember anything else, please don't hesitate to visit the police department, we may need to speak again if that is alright with you.'

'It is indeed, I am glad I could be of some assistance. If I am needed more and am not here, I most likely will be down at the Chemist at the corner of the old village.'

'Oh, I know it, what's it called .... Crew's Chemist, right?'

'Yes, that is right. My name is Henry Crew but call me Gus ... people call me Gus.'

'Well alright Gus, thank you once again.'

The two men shake hands and the constable leaves as Gus smiles that smile of his which is so unique, he could nearly paten it. On this occasion however, his smile is more a smile of uncertainty rather than of anything else.

Out and about, a moving car with mega-phone like display of speakers on its roof grabs the attention of not only Gus but also that of other people near-by as it moves through toen. With the current year being well into its second half, a voice speaking through these speakers advertises discounts on all 1979 model cars which are on sale at the local town car dealership. There had been no town car dealership prior to a few months before this point in time.

Gus doesn't own a car; neither does he have any interest in acquiring one, sure where would he be going that he would need one? That question gets him thinking; maybe it is about time he did at least think about heading off to somewhere that he has never been before. Maybe he is at a point where he is free to be anywhere or to go to anywhere, he would like to go. He never really cared for such things before but now, routine always took precedence but now ... perhaps.

The working day once more comes to an end and once again instead of heading straight home, Gus wanders for a while taking in his surroundings on a more than pleasant evening. With the night-time sky having arrived and this clear sky displaying a near full moon and the multitude of stars in all their glory ... Moonlight Sonata once again plays out. In this moment it is something Gus hears in his own head rather than anything being playing on an actual piano.

Once home Gus begins to fix himself a meal while his radio, being fixed on a classical music station, gently sounds out a tune or three as he does so. A local news report interrupts the broadcast close to the top of the hour and that news reports of another death. This one is that of a police officer, a constable Pierce Rowan. The circumstances of his death are not announced, safe to say that this absolutely stuns Gus, and he has no idea of what to make of it.

Two brief comings together with strangers within days of one another, strangers who themselves are both apparently dead soon after coming into contact with Gus ... this is most unusual to say the least.