As the sun rises to lift another day above the horizon there are some who do not see the splendor oh a glorious Maine sunrise . . .rather for them it is a time to make haste and find themselves a haven a so as not to see it’s spectacular dawning . . . Nicole Collins is such a one, one who can not see the light of day and yet as the golden orb rises this morning she finds herself making her way through the woods in order to ascend a tall hill where a solitary cabin resides . . . Nicole Collins has news she longs to share . . . but can she do so before the sun traps her . . .
As she had to stay and assure members of the Shining Ankh Interfaith Ministries of her adherence to their “lessons” so as to maintain their donations, Nikki Collins had not been able to see Esther Friedman during the night has, and so longing to share with her recent decision she stood at the foot of then hill ascending to Esther’s cabin. Aware of nature’s early warning system, the sound of birds just beginning to sing, Nikki was knew their chirping was but the prelude to the rising of sun. Nikki hurries to Esther’s cabin.
Through the window, Nikki can see Esther lying with her head on the table, asleep. In front of her is a teacup, but the chances are unlikely that there is any tea to be found in the entire house. The clock just visible on a small end table indicates that it is 6:09 just flipping over to 6:10. Sunrise today is 6:31. Nikki looks back to the horizon, she is cutting this too close, but then hasn’t she been taking everything at a risk of late.
Nikki knocks on the cabin door, “Esther.” Inside she can see that Esther has not stirred and so she less than lightly raps upon the wooden door. “Esther? Wake up?”
Esther awakes with a start, nearly knocking the teacup off the table. “Wha! Whazit?”
She looks bleary eyed out the window
Through the opaque to the dirt and grime, Nikki looks through her window, “Hello, sorry to awaken you, it’s Nikki.”
Esther gets up and uses her hand to find her way to the door, “What the Hell are you doin’ here at this ungodly hour?” She fumbles with the lock. Slowly she opens the door, eyes almost all shut, one hand on her forehead, the other on the doorknob.
Nikki looks to the horizon, aware she still has a good 19 minutes before the sun rises too high. “I’m sorry, I wanted to show you something.”
Esther sleepily asks, “ya wan’ sho me..?” She stands in the doorway, still peering out at the world, mouth hanging open.
“May I come in?” Nikki asks aware she can cross the threshold on her own.
“Sure, sure . . . Esther shuffles back to the table, motioning with her hand inwards, “Come on in.”
“Oh, thank you.” Nikki steps into the cabin and closes the door.
Esther returns to the table and sits her head in her hands and moans … “have a cha-”
“Bad night?”
Esther looks at as if say, and what do you think?
The chair that Nikki pulls back from the table to sit on has an uneven leg and lists to the left, “Well – what I wanted to see you about was to let you know that I did it.”
Esther motions to the empty chair, but sees that Nikki has already sat down. She looks to the floor, “D*** raccoons . . . . Did what?”
From a side pocket of her dress Nikki removes a small leather fold – which for a moment Esther thinks Nikki is going to produce a business card . . . explaining why she’s always going to Rockport, or Bangor, or some such place. Only looking more closely she thinks again: “‘s a wallet…”
Nikki opens it to reveal an official looking license, which Esther knows immediately isn’t for hunting or fishing, as she peers closer at it. “I did it, Esther. I went last evening, before the City Administrator’s office closed and I am now officially a Private Investigator. Rather easy actually, filled out some forms, showed them by dual citizenship, paid a fee, and here it is.”
“Sure that Collins name there helped a bit,” she said too quickly taking a moment to let the license and what Nikki and said to register. “Private invest…oh! good job then.”
“We were talking the other night, you and Samantha, and I and you said I should apply, and so–i did!”. Nikki looking at the state license, “I am official now. And so — that’s why I wanted to come and see you as soon as I could.”
“Way to go…C’n I offer y’ somthin’? this calls for a c’lbration. we got…” glances over to her bedside table, “Jacks…an…manischewitz…”. But seeing the smile on friend’s face adds “:..I n’ ta restock…but good on ya. ‘ll by ya a rink at th’ whale.”
“Oh, now thank you every so much — ” Nikki says looking out the dirty window, “So sorry I can not stay longer, but I do have to hurry away in a bit, have to make a trip to Bangor this morning — But I wanted to see you first.”
Women was always on the go – just that the f**k did she do on all ‘hem trips?
” But, The Whale, yes, that you be wonderful, tonight -”
Esther looking over to squint at the clock, “Well..thank you for wakin’ me up to tell me. ‘s good news. ‘s. mazletov.”
Esther expecting Collins to dash off like she normally did sits and rubs her face.
Only Collins is still there sitting on the wobbly chair, “There is another reason that I had come by to see you.”
“Oh?”
“Esther — I am truly excited about this and how it is going to be so good to help me keep so many other things off my mind — something to keep give me a reason . . . Oh, I sorry, it’s so early to be just prattling on . . . but, the truth of the matter is, I am going to be in desperate need of — an assistant.”
Esther looks at her still vaguely asleep.
“So, i am here to ask, will you please be my assistant?”
“An assistant?” Esther holds up her hands in protest. “Now-now, y’ know I’m no good at solvin’ no mystery’s…”
“I know this is doubt coming all as a surprise and all — and maybe even a shock — but — you would be perfect.”
Hands up, “Never read any of ’em hardy boys novels or anythin’… Still thinking a bit over the remark from Nikki, “I would?” Then shakes her head, “I dunno… ”
“Oh, yes, you see, I am going to need someone who is very familiar with the community, the town, the whole region here and around Collinsport . . . As you well know I am from England and all.”. Nikki explained, still looking out the window at the passing time, “You are wonderful with a gun and I know nothing about them — you will be so excellent in a tight situation, as you were just the other night at the Whale.”
Esther smiled: “Well . . . I know this forrest l’k th’ front on m’hand . . . .and …I c’n sober up real quick if th’ situation calls for it…”
“There you see it’s all decided, I can do the mystery — as you said the Hardy Boy’s stuff — And you can be my — I think they call it ‘right hand man’, no offense, ‘girl’.”
Esther thinks over Nikki’s suggestion for a moment.
“And there are of course those days — when I can’t be around, until night — trips to Bangor and Rockport — business you know.”
“Yah…” A growing mystery that she and Sam had begun to think about.
“I do so think this is a excellent opportunity for you Esther. — I am going to see If I can find us some small office in Collinsport — as i don’t see wanting to have clients having to come out the Old House”
For a moment Esther looks about her cabin, “Or here.”
Nikki reaches out and takes Esther’s hand, “It would mean so much to me — I mean, I can’t think of anyone I have met here I can trust as I feel I can you.” Nikki looks into her with those seemingly fathomless blue eyes, “Not that sam isn’t wonderful, but she’s an artist at heart.”
Silent for a long moment, Esther looks at the hand toucher hers for a long moment. “I’ll give ‘t a shot. But let me put some more wood in th’ stove. your freezing.”
“Oh, never mind me, I seem to stay that way — I freeze in the summer.”
Concern for Nikki’s week being, Esther arises and wanders over to the woodpile and places another log on the fire.
Nikki looks out the window at the wonderful view, aware the sun is ever rising.
“I see’, pauses for a moment taking note of Nikki’s expression as she looks out the window. “Well then boss..” returning to her seat. “When do we start?”
With a smile Nikki replied, “Well we might soon have a case — Sam told me there is this new woman, a Natasha Snow, in town who was asking about local investigators, and Sam of course told her she just might know of one.”
“So,we gon’ meet this Snow lady at th’ whale tonight?”
“Oh, wait a moment — ” Nikki distracted you the sound of birds outside the cabin has just registered Esther having call her, “Boss — so you’re accepting?”
“Yeah. Huntin’ ain’t a 9-5 job. I can still sell some animal carcus along the side.”
Nikki smiles, she hands coming to rub together, something Esther has noticed she does when she is happy or in deep thought, “Oh that is Wonderful!”
“Besides. This sounds a bit fun t’ be honest. yea. I make shure you aint killed, an’ you find out who’s shootin'”
All to aware of the hastening clock, Nikki’s face grows more concern, “Now, I am sorry, but I do so dreadfully have to run — must make a trip to go to Bangor. So, would you go to the Whale and talk to Sam about this Snow woman?”
“Sure, I’ll head on down there later t’night.”
“Perfect.” Nikki arising as she knows she can just out race the sun to the Old House, the hidden room, and her coffin.
“but ya better catch ya tain or whatever. Pity. th’ sunrise is alwase so beutaful ’round here.” Esther states as she looks out her dirty window, and then strangely sighs.
Nikki looks at Esther as if she had read her mind and the sigh was her’s as she had not seen the sunrise for quite some time, “I know, I never seem to have the time to watch one anymore.” Her attention once more turned to the still sleepy Estsher,”Thank you Esther! I shall see you tonight.”
“No problem collins. See you tonight. Boss.”
Nikki gives Esther a hug. and then she just quickly slips out the door.
From her window, picking up a coffee cup to take a drink, and then quickly spits out the old liquid within, she watches the young Collins decent down the hill from her high cabin — only, for a brief instant she is there and then she is gone.
Esther blinks her eyes and wonders just how she pulled that trick? But then shrugs and lies down in her bed, her hangover only having been delayed for a few moments.
Cue Music End of Episode