The Wizard of Terminal City
Stave One
6 pm on a Tuesday found Juliet O'Hara relaxing on her couch catching up on the news with her 15-pound mutt Ci Ci. She had been expecting Shawn at about this time but he had called to tell her his racquetball game with Gus was running long and to swear he would be there as soon as he could. Juliet turned her attention back to the news just as the weather came on.
"The Southern California coast will be experiencing an extremely rare tropical storm with driving rain and wind gusts exceeding 90 mph. The cyclone is expected to make landfall within minutes and residents are advised to remain in their homes. More on this storm as it develops."
In no time at all Juliet could hear the rain pour and the wind howl. "Perfect" she grumbled. "If I wanted to sit through weather like this I would've stayed in Miami." Ci Ci yapped at the thunder while Juliet moved to shut the windows. She paused to observe the water run down the glass in sheets as the sky beyond darkened every minute. What she couldn't see was the wind threatening to rip apart the tree in her neighbor's yard. Before she had a chance to react, a limb as big as herself snapped and was hurled through the window straight at Juliet's head. She staggered back as fireworks of pain shot out from the injury. Her world faded to black as her body collapsed to the floor. Bark as she might, Ci Ci could not wake her mistress up.
