Chapter 2

 

“Take a look at this, Mike.” Harvey tossed the three photographs on the chief’s desk. “I’m thinking this may be your retirement spot.”

Mike picked up the pictures and studied them critically, chewing his wad of gum.

“Where is it?”

“It’s an old lumber camp, up on Churchill Lake. You and Sharon could fix it up and run a hunting lodge up there in the fall.”

“Lake frontage?”

“Six hundred feet. And it comes with fifty acres of trees.”

Mike frowned thoughtfully. “It’s for sale?”

“Yup. And you get an all-expenses-paid trip to go look it over, starting Monday. Jenny and I are going, too.”

Mike looked up in surprise. “What’s the deal? Are you investing?”

“That’s not a bad idea,” Harvey said. “Actually, we’re just tagging along as guests of the current owner.”

“Who is …?”

“My brother-in-law.”

“Jeff Wainthrop?”

“No, Peter Hobart.”

Mike nodded, scrutinizing the picture of the boardinghouse. “Is this building structurally sound?”

“We’re not sure. Peter just inherited it from his great-uncle. He hasn’t been up there in five years.”

“Hmm.”

“You think you and Sharon could run a place like that?” Harvey asked.

“Don’t see why not. Sharon’s cousin Ranetta and her husband have a bed and breakfast in Alna. They’ve told us what we’d need for permits and all. I figure we’d start out just being open during the hunting season. We’d be right out straight for a couple of months, then hibernate for the winter.”

“Just run it a couple of months out of the year?”

Mike ran his hand through his hair. “Well, if we found a place this summer, I’m thinking we’d try it next fall. Not this year. There’d be too much to get done. But next year I’d take my vacation all in a lump in the summer to work on it, then retire the first of September. We could advertise in all the shooting magazines and open up for the bear season August thirtieth, then the moose and deer seasons, and archery and muzzle loading, too. Muzzle loading season ends December eleventh next year.”

“You’ve been doing your research. Sounds like an awful lot of work, though.”

Mike looked at the picture again. “How many rooms do you figure the main building would make?”

“Peter thought maybe twenty guest rooms, and a dining room and lounge, if you did the whole thing. That’s if you have a bathroom for every two guest rooms. If you want a private bath for every room, then twenty units. That’s not counting your own suite on the ground floor.”

Mike popped his gum. “If we decided to do it, we could renovate the first and second stories next year, and leave the third floor for later, if things were going well.”

Harvey considered that. “You could do it, I guess. You’d have to hire a contractor and run up there every weekend this fall and next spring.”

“Yes, but Sharon is really eager to find a place and get started. We didn’t want to have to start from scratch. These buildings may be just what we need. It would make a nice retreat for us.”

“For you and forty guests,” Harvey said.

Mike shrugged. “Well, sure, that’s how we’d be able to afford to live there.”

“I suppose if the building’s not sound, you could tear it down and build cottages. Start with a few, then add on as you can afford it. Would you guide people?”

“Thinking about it,” Mike said. “I’d like to get Arnie, though.”

“Arnie Fowler?”

“Yeah, he’s getting his guide’s license.”

A widower, Arnie had retired from the police department’s Priority Unit the year before and was sometimes at loose ends. He and Mike were old fishing and hunting buddies, and Harvey knew Arnie had a lot of experience in the north Maine woods.

“Arnie’d be good,” he said. “So, will you come up with us?”

“I’ll ask Sharon.”

“We’re planning to go up Monday and stay two nights. I know it’s short notice to rearrange your schedule and everything—”

“I don’t think that would be a problem,” Mike said.

Harvey smiled. Mike’s main vacation problem was always making himself take it. He hadn’t taken any vacation since he’d been made chief the year before. Sharon would probably be thrilled.

Harvey had four weeks coming, but hated to leave his unit unsupervised. Two of the four men had been on board less than a year. “I guess Eddie can handle things for me for three days.”

“Well, Jack could cover for me,” Mike said. Jack Stewart was the deputy police chief, and Harvey suspected he was targeted to take over as chief when Mike retired.

“Great. I’ll talk to Jennifer and see if Eddie thinks he can hold the fort without me.” Eddie was his best detective, but with the strain of his relationship with Leeanne, Harvey wasn’t sure it was the best time to go off and leave him in charge of the unit. That and the stress of the current case Eddie was trying to close. One way to find out.

 

*****

Jennifer had her hands full that day. Instead of coming to their house to meet Harvey to run their usual Friday route, Eddie had called at six a.m. and asked him to jog down the street and meet him at the bungalow he had purchased for himself and Leeanne farther down the block. Jennifer was sure he was trying to avoid Leeanne. Sure enough, Leeanne had announced the postponement of her wedding at breakfast, then gone poutily off to work when Jennifer suggested that she was making a hasty decision. Connor fussed all morning, and Jennifer was afraid he was sick.

 At two o’clock, her mother arrived unannounced. Jennifer felt a great weight lift from her shoulders, but then she realized what had probably precipitated the visit.

“Mom! Hi. It’s great to see you.” She kissed her mother’s cheek cautiously.

“How could she do this?” Marilyn asked without prelude. “She begged us to let her marry that boy, and now she’s thrown him over four weeks before the wedding.”

“She hasn’t broken up with him, Mom.” Jennifer strove for a soothing tone.

“Ha! Your father hit the ceiling. How could you and Harvey let her do this?”

Jennifer sighed. “It’s this newspaper thing, Mom. It’s a great chance for her to advance her career. The wedding can be changed. The seminar can’t.”

“You’re standing up for her!” Marilyn’s incredulity made Jennifer realize she hadn’t fully made up her mind yet about Leeanne’s actions.

“Just calm down, Mom. She and Eddie are both confused right now. They need some time to talk things out and decide what they want to do about the wedding.”

Connor’s wails came from the bedroom. Immediately, Marilyn reverted to baby talk. “Oh, my widdle grandson is crying!” She rushed toward the master bedroom, and Jennifer let her go. Her mother emerged a few seconds later, holding the whimpering baby against her shoulder. “There, there, Connor. Wha’sa matter, sweetheart?”

“He’s been kind of fussy today,” Jennifer offered.

“Is he cutting teeth?”

“I don’t think so. It’s kind of early.”

“He must be hungry.”

“No, Mom, I stuffed him.”

“Well, something’s bothering my widdle potpie.” Marilyn felt the baby’s diaper. “Nice and dry.”

“I think he doesn’t feel good.” Jennifer sank onto the stool in the corner of the kitchen.

“You look tired.” Marilyn looked hard at her daughter for the first time. “They say the cure for a fussy baby is more rest for the mother. Why don’t you go take a nap, and Grammy will take care of Connor.”

“Oh, I don’t know, Mom, I’ve got laundry going, and I need to plan supper. I don’t know how many people I’ll be feeding. You’re staying, aren’t you?”

“Well, I brought an overnight bag,” Marilyn admitted, “but don’t worry about cooking, dear. I’ll help you with supper.”

“We’re going away Monday, and I need to pack for that. I’m working on a computer program, too, and I should finish it this weekend.”

“Where are you going?”

“Upcountry with Abby and Peter.”

“Are you taking the baby? I could keep him for you.”

“No, Mom, I’m nursing him. He has to go.”

“Of course.” Marilyn looked disappointed. “Well, I still think you should go have a nap, dear. I can pull Harvey’s shirts out of the dryer before they wrinkle.”

Jennifer smiled. “I’m all right. Just don’t blow up at Leeanne the minute she gets home from work, okay? Be patient. I’m hoping she’ll give up the trip to Hawaii when she realizes how hurt Eddie is.”

“But she called me this morning to tell me to cancel everything,” Marilyn said. “She didn’t want to waste any more of your father’s money than was unavoidable, she said. I was stunned. And your father was livid. You’d think he hand-picked Eddie for her and arranged the marriage.”

Jennifer smiled. “We all love Eddie.”

“We couldn’t wait to have him in the family.”

Her parents were forgetting their initial objections, Jennifer realized, but she held her peace.

“The invitations will be wasted,” Marilyn went on. “A hundred and fifty dollars there. I suppose the girls will wear their dresses when and if this wedding ever does come off. Leeanne said she would cancel the church, the tuxedoes, and the food.”

“She said all that?”

“Yes, she called me as soon as she got to her office.”

“She did leave a few minutes early this morning.” Jennifer’s heart ached. “Poor Daddy. I think he really likes Eddie now.”

“Of course he does! We’ve been thinking of him as our son.”

Jennifer sighed.

“Have you seen him?” Marilyn asked.

“Not today. He wouldn’t come for breakfast today. But last night he was pretty upset.”

 

*****

When the day of the trip arrived, Harvey was uneasy about leaving Portland. He rose early and ran with Eddie, as usual, then insisted that Eddie have breakfast with him so they could go over last-minute details. At least Eddie and Tony had come up with the evidence they needed in the homicide case and handed it to the district attorney’s office.

“Harv, if I have to sit across the table from Leeanne, I won’t be any good at work all day,” Eddie protested.

“She probably won’t show her face until you’re gone.” Harvey poured coffee for himself and Eddie. “You two are driving me nuts. You wouldn’t go to the singles class with her in Sunday school yesterday.”

“Correction, she wouldn’t go with me. She didn’t wait, and when I got there she was already in the class.”

“So you stayed out with us. But then you left right after church, so she didn’t have a chance to talk to you.”

“I was upset, okay? And last night I got to church, and she was parked between Jeff and Beth, so I could tell I wasn’t wanted. What am I supposed to do?”

“Hi, Eddie,” Jennifer said cheerfully. She entered the kitchen in jeans and a blue plaid shirt, carrying Connor. “Scrambled eggs this morning?”

“Uh, I guess so. Want me to hold the little guy?”

“Sure.” She passed Eddie the baby and the burp cloth and went to the refrigerator.

“Where’s Leeanne?” asked Harvey.

“She left early.” Jennifer placed a carton of eggs and the milk jug on the counter.

“This early? It’s barely seven o’clock.”

“She was going to get breakfast on the way.”

Eddie watched them with his huge Labrador retriever eyes while he patted Connor’s back. Harvey was afraid his friend would cry if he didn’t find a distraction soon. Even Connor wasn’t performing the job.

“I’ll have my cell phone.” Harvey placed Eddie’s coffee mug far enough away so the baby couldn’t reach it. “If anything dicey comes up, you call me.”

Eddie turned Connor around on his lap, so that he faced his father. “So, Connor’s going with you.”

“He has to, but I wouldn’t go off and leave him, anyway.” Harvey smiled across at the baby. “Hey, big guy. You like Uncle Eddie, don’t you?”

Connor squealed and waved his fist, arching his back.

Eddie laughed, then sobered. “Is Leeanne staying here alone while you’re gone?”

“I told her to stay with Beth,” Jennifer said. “Jeff’s on duty both nights we’ll be gone, and Beth was anxious to have her stay over there.”

Eddie nodded. “Good. No sense both of them being alone.”

Harvey eyed him cautiously. “Eddie, have you talked to her at all since Thursday night?”

“It’s not a matter of me talking to her. She won’t talk to me.”

“So, the wedding’s really off,” Harvey said bleakly.

“Oh, yeah.”

“I’m sorry, Ed.”

Eddie shrugged, but his lips twitched.

“If there’s anything I can do,” Harvey began.

“I don’t think so.”

“Don’t give up on her,” Jennifer said softly. “I’ll try to speak to her as soon as we get home if you haven’t made any headway. She’s not being fair to you, Eddie.”

Eddie sniffed. “Thanks.” He looked at Harvey. “I’ve called her about a gazillion times, and I texted her. All I got back was a message that said, When I know what I should do, I’ll let you know.”

“That’s it?” Harvey asked.

Eddie nodded. “She didn’t write whole words, just abbreviations.”

Harvey shook his head. “She ought to be spanked.”

“Watch it,” Jennifer said.

“Yeah, yeah.”

“Wish I was going with you and Mike and Peter and Arnie,” Eddie said glumly.

“I wish you were, too,” Harvey admitted, “but our unit would fall apart if we were both gone. You call me if anything goes haywire.”

“Right.”

 

*****

Arnie Fowler, Mike’s old partner, joined the party for the trip north and rode with Mike and Sharon. Harvey took Jennifer and Connor in his Explorer. Connor seemed to have recovered from whatever had made him fussy a few days earlier and slept a good part of the way. Peter and Abby and their two boys took a two-year-old SUV Peter had selected from his car lot.

The drive took nearly five hours, but Jennifer felt it was worth it when she saw Churchill Lake. The placid water was surrounded by evergreen forests, and from Peter’s waterfront they could see almost no other buildings, just one near there she knew there was a dam. There were a few campgrounds down that way, too, but from where she stood on the dock, the wooded hills and a family of loons swimming a few yards out were the most prominent features.

As soon as they arrived, Gary and Andy ran whooping around the grassy area between the old bunkhouse and the water. Gary located the outhouse on the edge of the woods near the old cook shack.

“I thought there was running water,” Sharon said tentatively.

“There’s one bathroom inside,” Peter assured her. “Last time I was here, it was working.”

“Let’s hope.” Sharon looked at Jennifer and make a tight face.

“Plumbing would be the first thing on my list if we bought the place,” Mike assured her.

“Can we swim, Dad, can we swim?” Gary asked, bouncing up and down.

“After we unpack.” Peter calmly loaded the boys down with bedding to carry inside.

Mike and Sharon walked slowly toward the building, evaluating every aspect.

“Doesn’t look in too bad shape,” Mike said.

“I’ll show you through inside,” Peter offered. “It actually looks a little better than I anticipated.”

Abby pulled a carton out of the back of their SUV. “Let’s get the food and stuff in.”

Peter walked over and put a large Tupperware container on top of the box. “Where do you want this?”

Abby poked him. “In the kitchen,” she hissed.

“What is that?” Jennifer laughed, eyeing the plastic box.

“A surprise.”

“What kind of surprise?”

Abby scowled. “If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise.”

Harvey grinned. “It wouldn’t have anything to do with our anniversary, would it?”

Abby’s incredulity made Jennifer burst out laughing.

“I thought men always forgot the anniversary,” Abby wailed. “I was going to surprise you two tonight and make Harvey feel guilty that he’d forgotten.”

“Sorry,” Harvey said meekly as they walked inside. “Where do you want the brooms and mops?”

“He really remembered?”

Jennifer smiled. “I gave him his present this morning. A new sleeping bag.”

“What did he give you?” Abby asked.

Jennifer slipped one finger inside her collar and lifted a chain out. A sapphire pendant glittered in the light from the kitchen window.

Abby gasped. “Tell me that’s not real.”

“What do you think?”

Harvey had set down his load of cleaning supplies. “Makes her eyes look bluer, don’t you think?” He winked at Jennifer.

Sharon leaned in to look closely. “Beautiful.”

“Does Mike remember your anniversary?” Abby asked.

“Every year.”

“Daddy always forgets his and Mom’s.” Abby looked to Jennifer for corroboration.

“That’s just Dad. I don’t think policemen are allowed to forget things like that.”

Mike laughed. “Now we have a reputation to live up to.”

Sharon grinned and looked around. The large kitchen looked neglected and dusty. “Where do we start cleaning?”

“Here, I guess,” Abby said. “I like to have a clean kitchen to cook in. We didn’t really know what to expect, so I brought lots of rags.”

Peter put down his boxes and tested the water faucet at the square steel sink. Water burped and then gushed out.

“Yay,” Abby cried. “I was afraid we might have to haul water from the lake.”

They all set to work, and in half an hour the bare kitchen passed Abby’s inspection and her supplies for their stay were in the cupboards.

“You want to take a look upstairs, Mike?” Peter asked. “As far as I know, the floors are safe. The third story is pretty much empty. I did some sketching, and I think you could put ten guest rooms up there. Ten on the second floor, too, although you’d have to knock out a wall or two and restructure it. Four down here, plus the kitchen, dining area and lounge. You might want to use the first-floor rooms for your personal quarters.”

Mike nodded. “That sounds good. We’d need a lift or something, though, for handicapped people and elderly.”

“Hmm,” Peter mused. “Knock out one unit on each floor, then. An elevator takes as much space as a bathroom. Still, I suppose you’ve got to have it.”

“Show him your drawings,” Abby urged.

“Later.” Peter ambled toward the stairs with Mike.

“Coming, sweetheart?” Mike called over his shoulder to Sharon.

“Let’s get supper started,” Jennifer suggested to Abby. “These guys are going to be hungry.”

“Dad! Dad!” Andy burst through the front door.

Peter paused on the stairway.

“What is it?”

“A squirrel! Where’s my bow?”

“In the car.”

Andy darted out the door.

Harvey chuckled. “Those boys are regular Indians.”

“Why don’t you and Arnie tag along with Peter?” Abby suggested.

“You trying to get rid of us?” Harvey asked.

“Yes. Take the broom, and you can start cleaning up a place for everybody to sleep.”

Harvey laughed but accepted the broom.

Jennifer smiled at him. “You’ll want to be in on this with Mike. Go ahead. We’re going to be domestic here. Chili and cornbread for supper.”

“Romantic canoe ride later?” He bent to kiss her.

“What do you think?”

 

*****

It was difficult to sleep in the creaking old building. Jennifer and Harvey had pulled mattresses off two bunks and laid them on the floor, and she kept Connor between them, her arm protectively encircling him. Harvey began to breathe softly and evenly soon after the light was out, but Jennifer lay listening to the snaps and groans of the old lumber and the muffled snores of at least three people in other rooms.

Andy and Gary were up at dawn, chasing red squirrels with their bows and arrows. When Connor was fed, Harvey offered to take him out for a walk.

“You rest, gorgeous.” He stooped to kiss Jennifer. She drooped gratefully back on the mattress and closed her eyes.

“Missed him!”

“Hush, Gary,” Abby said sternly in the hallway, but it was too late. Jennifer rolled over and reached for her clothes.

When she reached the kitchen, she found Sharon stirring a large pot of oatmeal on the woodstove.

She yawned. “What’s all the excitement this morning?”

“Gary shot at a red squirrel, but he missed it,” Sharon said. “Are you okay? Harvey said you were exhausted.”

“I’m fine.”

“He took Connor down to the dock. Have you seen the drawings Peter made of this place? He should have been an architect.”

“I think he would have, if his father hadn’t owned a car lot. He’s very intelligent.”

“Does he like selling cars?”

“I’m not sure. He left college to take over the business when his father died. He’s doing pretty well. It’s security for them and his mother, I think.”

“I hope he likes it,” Sharon said. “I hate to see someone doing something they hate. Look at Mike. His parents wanted him to farm.”

“I never knew that.”

“Oh, yes. His dad was furious when Mike wouldn’t stay and take over. Being a cop was a step down, as far as the Brownings were concerned.”

“Wow. Are they still alive?”

“His mother’s living.”

“He’s chief of police in the biggest city in Maine now. I’d think they’d be proud of him.”

“I think she is proud,” Sharon said. “But she still talks about the farm.”

 

*****

“How far did you follow the tracks?” Harvey asked Arnie.

“Not too far. I showed the boys where a buck made a scrape on a tree. Then I told them they can never, ever go off in the woods alone, even if they see a porcupine riding on a deer.”

Harvey chuckled and patted Connor’s back. They stood together on the small beach while Gary roved over the front of the property, looking for more evidence of wildlife.

“Peter and Abby took Andy out in the canoe,” Harvey said. “Gary will have the next turn.”

“I guess they don’t get much chance to run wild like this, living in the city,” Arnie said.

“So, Mike says you’re getting your Maine guide’s license.”

Arnie glanced over at him. “Yeah, I passed the test last week.”

“Great.”

“I hope Mike buys this place, but it might be a little too rustic for Sharon.”

“Mike knows he’d have to put a lot of work into it before they could open for guests. He was talking last night as though he was seriously thinking about it. And Sharon sounded as if she’d like it, being so far away from Portland. How about you? Think you’d like spending months at a time up here in the woods?”

“I’d love it.” Arnie huffed out a big breath.

Harvey stooped, holding Connor carefully, and picked up the flattest rock he could find. He skimmed it out over the water and watched it skip four times on the surface before it sank. “See, Connor? See it splash?”

“How come you’re so calm now?” Arnie asked.

Harvey puzzled over that. “What do you mean?”

“You never get mad anymore,” Arnie said. “Not even when Abby spilled that coffee on you this morning.”

Harvey shrugged. A light breeze came off the lake, ruffling his hair, and he pulled the flannel blanket up over Connor’s head. “It’s not worth getting mad.”

“At first, I thought it was marriage that calmed you down,” Arnie said, “but I’ve been watching you, and I decided it’s more than that.”

“The Lord took my temper away, Arnie. Not all at once, but gradually. I noticed I wasn’t swearing anymore, and then I realized one day I didn’t even want to swear.”

“You used to swear a blue streak at Eddie,” Arnie said.

Harvey chuckled. “Well, Eddie was a trial. But I didn’t know the Lord then. Now, Tony Winfield is a challenge. I tell you, Arnie, that boy’s smart, but sometimes—well, sometimes, he’s Eddie, The Sequel.”

Arnie laughed. “Still, I recall the night Chris was shot. You remember?”

“I’ll never forget it.”

“I thought you were going to tear that bird’s head off. What was his name? Hanson?”

“Hanscomb,” Harvey said.

“Right.” Arnie sat down on a big rock and folded his arms.

Harvey looked out over the calm surface of the lake. Peter and Abby had gone out early and were paddling toward them in the canoe, a hundred yards out from shore. Andy sat between them, his orange life jacket bright against the green beyond. Peter looked right at home, stroking confidently. He had on a canvas vest with a lot of pockets—L.L. Bean issue. Harvey figured Peter was a guy who actually had stuff in the pockets. Abby flipped some water at him with her paddle, and his laugh carried across the quiet water. Harvey was very glad, in that moment, for Abby and Peter, but his heart ached for Eddie. He was finding it more difficult every day not to takes sides.

“Awful hard when your partner gets killed.” Arnie tossed a pebble in the air and caught it. “When we got there, you looked like death yourself. Like you wanted to kill Hanscomb.”

“I did want to.”

Gary spotted his parents in the canoe and ran toward the dock. “Dad! I saw two grays!”

“Why didn’t you just shoot him?” Arnie asked softly.

Harvey didn’t really want to think about his partner’s death. The clouds were puffy and full, the trees all around the lake were brilliant green, and the water was very blue. It was hard to think about Chris, even after all these years. “The grace of God,” he said at last. “He held me back.”

“You could have. They would have cleared you.”

“No, Arnie, I couldn’t do that. Anyway, I wanted him to go through the system. I wanted Marcia to know we’d done everything right, and we got justice.”

“Justice,” Arnie said. “Is there ever justice for murder?”

“Maybe not,” Harvey conceded. “I was in shock that night, but I went by the book.” He flicked a glance at Arnie.

The older man was watching him intently. “That’s a good thing, I guess.”

Harvey nodded. “I wasn’t the one who took him in, you know. I . . . I stayed with Chris until the ambulance got there. Now, the next day. That’s when I was really mad. Wished I’d beat that guy to a pulp.”

“Still, you’re in control now.”

“By the grace of God.”

Arnie nodded slowly. “I wondered, when they promoted you. But you’ve proved yourself this year. Even when your house got robbed.”

“Now, I was angry that day,” Harvey admitted.

“You didn’t pound that guy, though.”

“No. Training, Arnie. That’s what keeps me from acting out what I feel in a situation like that. But lately, the feelings have changed. I’ve quit taking it personally.”

Arnie stood up beside him. “There were times when I was really tempted. That one guy, Buzzell, that beat the old lady to death on Brighton Avenue, remember?”

Harvey nodded.

“Mike and I chased him down. It was him and me in an alley. I could have dropped him right there.”

Harvey eyed him, wondering where Arnie was going with this. “You didn’t.”

“Nope, I didn’t. Course, Mike came along right about then. I’ve thought about it lots of times since. That guy was preying on the elderly, and he killed that woman. I don’t think my conscience would have bothered me a bit. And then the jury let him off. It was senseless. At least Hanscomb is going to stay put for the rest of his life.”

Harvey didn’t know what to say.

Peter was tying up the canoe, and Abby climbed onto the dock, holding her hand out to steady Andy.

Sharon appeared at the boardinghouse doorway. “Breakfast is ready!”

Harvey walked slowly up from the shore, happy to be there with Jennifer and Connor and other people he cared about. He glanced at Arnie. “I think Mike needed this.”

“Sure. A couple of days away from the office. I told Mike, once he makes the break, he’ll wonder how he stayed cooped up so long.” Arnie nodded in satisfaction. “He and Sharon are going to love it here.”

 

*****

“I need to talk to Leeanne,” Jennifer said that evening. She sat beside Harvey on the dock, her bare toes skimming the water.

“What about?” Harvey asked.

“If she’s not talking to Eddie yet, I’m going to give her what for.”

“I don’t know if that’s the best approach.”

Harvey, Peter, and Mike had repaired the dock that morning, fixed a loose step, and made a list of broken windows and other items to be taken care of before winter. Jennifer, Abby, and Sharon had done a little more cleaning, but spent most of the day outside, enjoying being away from the city in the July sun, canoeing and watching a family of beavers.

“You have a better idea?” She looked anxiously at Harvey.

He shook his head. “I’ve been praying about it. We tried reason, and your mother tried shaming her. Eddie’s done everything but grovel.”

“I’m glad he won’t beg,” Jennifer said staunchly.

“Call her at Beth’s.”

“My phone’s inside.”

Harvey shifted Connor to his other arm and reached in his pocket. He handed her his phone, and Jennifer pushed in the code. Leeanne didn’t answer, so she called Beth.

“Leeanne’s not home yet,” Beth said a moment later, her voice holding a touch of concern.

“She’s not home from work? It’s six-thirty.”

“I know.”

“Has she called?”

“No. I figured she went shopping or something.”

Jennifer pushed the mute button. “Harvey, she hasn’t come home yet.”

Harvey reached for the phone.

“Beth? Hi. Listen, will you give me a call if she’s not there in thirty minutes?”

“Sure,” Beth agreed readily. “I was getting a little worried.”

“I’ll give her office a call,” Harvey said. “Just get back to me immediately if she shows up.”

Jennifer shivered. “You don’t think something’s happened to her?”

“Not really, but that girl should be more responsible. This past week she hasn’t been acting like a Wainthrop, I’ll say that.” Harvey passed Connor to her and punched a few buttons. A minute later he lowered the receiver and gazed at Jennifer. “She left at five.”

He hit star-three on the keypad.

“Eddie? It’s me. Have you talked to Leeanne today?”

Jennifer listened, rubbing her bottom lip lightly against Connor’s fuzzy hair.

“Are you at home?” Harvey asked. “Let’s not get alarmed, but she hasn’t showed up at Beth’s tonight. You want to go over and check my house? Sure. Can you think of anyplace else she would be? I hate to call George.”

Jennifer stiffened. She would hate to get her parents upset, too, if Leeanne had decided to stop at the mall. But perhaps her younger sister had headed up the interstate for home, on a whim.

“All right, keep me posted.” Harvey closed the connection. “She’s got to quit yanking his chain like this.”

“You think she did this to upset Eddie?”

“No, not that. He left a message at her office today, and she never got back to him.”

Jennifer sighed. “Someone needs to sit her down and talk turkey.”

“Yup. About time.”

“You want to go home tonight?” Jennifer asked timidly.

“Let’s see what Eddie finds out.” He looked at his watch. “We could be there by midnight. Still …”

They sat silently watching the moon rise above the treetops, very full and orange.

“It’s so peaceful here,” Jennifer murmured.

Harvey slipped his arm around her, and she leaned against him, cuddling the baby close.

“Mike’s open to a silent partner,” Harvey said.

“He needs capital?”

“He’s got enough to buy it, and Peter’s not being greedy. But this place will need massive renovation.”

“It’s up to you.” Jennifer raised her face to look at him. “You’re the financial wizard in this family. If you think it’s a good investment, let’s do it.”

Harvey kissed her forehead. “Moonlight looks great on you, kiddo. It’s Mike I trust, more than the property.”

“You think he could go bust with it?”

Harvey shrugged. “It’s pretty far from civilization. But with the right advertising and careful supervision of the renovators, I think he can make it profitable. He talked to the forester over at the dam today, and it sounds as though the hunting’s great.”

“Let’s invest in Mike, then.”

“In Mike’s retirement.”

“Hmm,” Jennifer said.

“Yeah.”

“You hate to see him leave the P.D., don’t you?” she asked. Connor stretched and gave a huge yawn.

“I’ll really miss him,” Harvey admitted. “Mike’s been there my whole career. Twenty years we’ve worked together. It won’t be the same.”

“Still, he and Arnie will be working together again,” Jennifer reflected. “Now that Mike’s saved, he might have a great influence on Arnie.”

“That’s true. I got the feeling earlier that Arnie’s softening up a little. And some days, I think I’ll almost be glad when Mike retires. Like when he gets talking about that Labor Day Challenge he and Mayor Weymouth are so wound up about.”

Jennifer smiled. “Have fun with it. Your team will win. You know that.”

“Do I?”

The phone in Harvey’s hand beeped, and he quickly raised it to his ear.

“Eddie?”

“No, it’s me, Leeanne. Beth said I should call, because you were worried.”

“Leeanne!”

Jennifer reached for the phone. “Please,” she whispered. Harvey gave it to her and took the baby tenderly.

“Leeanne, where have you been?” Jennifer tried to put her mother’s outrage into her voice.

“Relax, Jennifer, I gave one of the photographers a ride home, and we decided to stop at Burger King.”

“Tell me this photographer was a girl.”

“She was. Is.”

Jennifer was somewhat mollified. “Well, you ought to have called Beth. She was very worried, and so were we. And now Harvey’s got Eddie looking for you. We didn’t know what to think.”

“Eddie’s looking for me?”

“Of course! What did you expect? The people who love you want to know you haven’t been in a wreck or something.”

“You’re overreacting.”

“No, I’m not. You have no right to treat people this way. You’ve been wiping your feet on Eddie for nearly a week, and—” Jennifer stopped and stared at the cell phone. “She hung up on me. I don’t believe it.”

Harvey sighed. “You were pretty harsh. For you, I mean. But I think I would have given her a few choice words myself.”

“Maybe I should have just told her how scared we were, and that we’re so happy she’s all right.” Jennifer’s voice quavered.

“It’s okay, babe. Call Eddie, though.”

Jennifer held the phone out in the dusk and pushed star-three.

“Eddie? It’s Jennifer. Leeanne’s home.”

“Where, at Beth’s?”

“Yes. She’s okay.”

There was a pause. “Thanks.”

“Are you going to call her?” Jennifer asked.

“I don’t think so. I don’t want to be told that she doesn’t want to talk to me again. Goodnight, Jennifer.”

She sighed and leaned against Harvey’s shoulder. “Why is she doing this?”

Abby and Peter came from the boardinghouse with a tray of dishes.

“Apple crisp,” Abby announced. “Sharon and I made it in the woodstove.”

“I’m impressed,” Harvey said.

Jennifer gave him the telephone.

“Who were you talking to?” Abby asked.

“Beth, Eddie, Leeanne, and Eddie, in that order.” Harvey took a bowl from the tray.

“Everything all right?” Peter asked, lowering himself to the edge of the dock beside Harvey.

“Oh, the usual.” Jennifer didn’t even try to keep the bitterness from her voice.

Abby set the tray down and sat cross-legged on the planks. “Don’t be so rough on her, Jenn. If she’s having second thoughts, isn’t it better that she has them now, instead of later?”

Jennifer sighed. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Where are the boys?” Harvey set his bowl on the dock and juggled Connor to the other arm.

“Here, give him to me.” Abby reached for her nephew.

“Arnie’s got them roasting marshmallows in the fireplace,” Peter said. “You want some?”

“No, thanks.” Harvey laughed. “I’ll stick with the apple crisp. It’s great, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

“Almost as good as the anniversary cake you served last night.” Jennifer squeezed Abby’s shoulder.

“You know,” Abby said, managing a spoonful while she held the baby, “I haven’t been a Christian very long, but I know there are things in the Bible about being a good wife. I studied it out some before Peter and I were married.”

“And you’re living up to them all.” Peter slid closer to her.

“Thanks, but I was just thinking maybe Leeanne hasn’t studied that yet.”

“That’s a good point.” Peter reached out and tweaked Abby’s braid. “I think sometimes people are ready to learn things at different stages.”

“Well, she’s not married to him yet,” Harvey said.

“True.” Abby frowned. “I’m not saying she should be a good little housewife. I believe in independence for women. But if you’re going to commit to a man for life, you need to consider his feelings, too.”

“Nowadays, people are raised to think women are equal in everything,” Harvey said.

“Aren’t they?” Abby smiled at him in the moonlight.

“Most things,” Peter said.

“Our mother’s not a feminist,” Jennifer protested. “We weren’t raised that way.”

“No,” Peter replied, “but think about Leeanne’s environment, beyond the home.”

Abby nodded. “Public school, state university, and now she’s working in the newspaper office. Journalists are notoriously liberal. She may be getting an earful from the other women in the office, and we have no idea.”

“I’ll bet she is,” Peter said. “If she’s told anyone there about her situation with Eddie, they’re probably encouraging her to dump the chauvinistic lout and enjoy her freedom.”

Alarmed, Jennifer looked at Harvey. “What can we do?”

“Keep praying. I’m not a Bible expert. I don’t suppose she would talk to Pastor Rowland.”

“If they’d only gone for their premarital counseling,” Jennifer mourned. “Their first session was scheduled for Friday, but she canceled it.”