Marv Lander and Fran Penner took in the sky as Marv drove toward the edge of town.

A clear morning, the sun was rising.

Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” flowed through the SUV’s radio. Marv hummed along, annoying Fran.

They worked for Roy Tullock at the Prairie Winds Farm Equipment Center. Marv, his top manager, had been with the company twelve years. Fran, who’d joined ten years ago, handled the finances. Marv’s wife, Gloria, was Fran’s sister.

Small town life.

Marv observed Fran clasping and unclasping her hands.

“What is it?”

“I’m nervous about today.”

“Right. You don’t like flying, do you?”

“No, I don’t.”

“You can get something at a pharmacy in Winnipeg. You’ll be fine.”

Marv resumed humming.

Fran rolled her eyes.

Today was a break from their usual routine. Today, they were picking up Roy Tullock at his house, driving to Winnipeg, then flying to Edmonton for a business meeting the next day. A group of investors was impressed with the Farm Equipment Center’s model and how it performed. They wanted to discuss a franchising proposal. Roy wanted his best people with him. He’d also arranged for an Edmonton lawyer he knew to join them.

Roy had stressed that he wanted to get to Winnipeg early so he could work in a visit with his daughter, Torrie. Marv and Fran were among the few people who knew that Torrie was being cared for in a private facility. She’d had a history of what Roy had called “disturbing episodes.”

Today Marv and Fran would spend time at one of Winnipeg’s big malls while Roy visited Torrie. Roy would then take a cab and meet up with them at the airport.

That was the plan.

The Tullock property was west of town on Old Pioneer Road. They drove up the twisting paved driveway, bordered with tall trees. Marv never tired of admiring the grand house with its four-car garage, in-ground pool and the vast, perfect lawn and gardens.

They parked and got out.

Marv rang the doorbell and they waited, listening to the sound of chirping birds.

When they got no response, Marv shrugged. They were about five minutes early. He pressed the button again, hearing the chime echo in the house.

Nothing happened.

“Awfully quiet,” Fran said.

Marv knocked hard but still nothing.

“They went to Regina for the weekend, right?” Fran asked.

“Yeah but they were supposed to return yesterday.” Marv surveyed the Tullocks’ vehicles parked outside: Roy’s SUV, his Cadillac, Connie’s Mercedes. “All their vehicles are here. They’re home.”

“Everything seems so…still,” Fran said.

Marv took out his cell phone and called the Tullocks’ landline.

“Maybe he’s in the shower, or they’ve got the TV going?” He shrugged.

Phone pressed to his ear, his call rang. They could hear it ringing inside the house, ringing until it went to voice mail and Marv hung up.