She dyed her hair, trimmed it, put in green contacts, and switched her ID before walking out. Though the junker coughed and shimmied, she managed to get to a decent-size town fifty miles away. She parked the junker, walked the half a mile to the car dealership she’d spotted.
She paid cash, did the paperwork, and got back on 64 inside an hour. With her things once again transferred, she drove off in a freshly washed secondhand Chevy Tahoe with fifty-three thousand and change on the odometer.
Carrie Lynn Greenspan, with auburn hair and green eyes, drove north.
She had a stop to make in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Essie brought her family to the island for a pre–Memorial Day cookout. The Memorial Day weekend didn’t rate as the island’s biggest day, but it started them off. Reed would have his full team on the entire weekend, including himself.
He gave himself the weekend before to mark his second entertaining venture in his new home.
His first, earlier in the month with his family, had gone just fine.
His second looked to follow suit.
After an intense sniffing introduction, Barney fell in love with Puck. He romped with the other dog, romped with Dylan, and accepted the boy’s hugs and squeezes with eyes filled with bliss.
He accepted Essie; she probably carried scents of the kid and the dog—and maybe something of the baby inside her.
With Hank, he trembled and cringed.
“I think it’s the beard,” Reed told him. “My brother’s got one, and Barney wouldn’t come near him. I’d say whoever abused him has a beard.”
“Kids and dogs flock to me,” Hank claimed. “I’m a kid and dog magnet. I’m going to win him over before we get back on that ferry.”
Hank walked to the rail of the back deck where Reed had the grill heating up, looked out into the woods. “This is a hell of a nice spot. A hell of a nice house, Reed. I like your lady, too. Or should I say your ladies?”
“I plan to keep all of them.”
“I’d love to see CiCi Lennon’s studio. And more of Simone’s work.”
“You’ve got the weekend for it.”
Dylan, his deputy badge pinned to his T-shirt, raced over, leaped into Hank’s arms. Barney stopped dead, bellied down.
“Watch me win him.” Hank sat down on the top step of the deck. He found his son’s tickle spot, sent the boy into happy giggles.
Puck trotted over, shoved his pug face under Hank’s arm.
“Daddy!”
“That’s my name.” Hank kissed and cuddled—boy and dog—listened with apparent fascination to Dylan’s rapid-fire talk about dogs and fish and going to the beach.
“Why don’t you call Barney over?”
“Hey, Barney. Hey, Barney.”
The dog whined, bellied an inch back.
“Try this.” Reed pulled a biscuit out of his pocket, gave it to Dylan.
“Cookie! Get the cookie, Barney!”
Puck took that as an invitation, rushed right in for it.
“Try another.” Reed pulled out a second.
“Your turn, Barney!”
Obviously conflicted, Barney edged a little closer. He wanted the biscuit; he wanted the boy; he feared the beard.
“It’s a good cookie. Yum, yum, yum!” After feigning taking a bite, Dylan belly laughed at his own joke.
The laugh did it. Barney ran forward, snatched the cookie, ran back. Eyed the man as he ate it.
“Just the first step,” Hank claimed. He set Dylan down, watched him run off. “Are you thinking of having any of those? Kids?”
“I’ve got to talk her into moving in with me. Just the first step.”
Hank got up, retrieved the beer he’d set aside. “My money’s on you.”
*
“Your boy’s a charmer,” CiCi said as she walked with Essie into the kitchen.
“One of the nurses in the maternity wing swore he winked and smiled at her. It wouldn’t surprise me.”
“He told me I had pretty hair. He’s going to have girls sighing over him. Have a seat while I shake up these vegetables. Are you hoping for a girl or a boy this time?”
Taking a seat at the counter, Essie lifted her eyebrows. “How did you know? I’m not showing … much.”
“Aura,” CiCi said wisely, and shook the chunks of vegetables marinating in a sealed bag.
“‘Aura,’” Essie repeated. “Since the cat’s out, I’m hoping for healthy, and I’d be satisfied with half as happy as Dylan. He wakes up happy.”
“Some of that’s his nature, and some of it’s a testament to you and your man. You’ve been a steady compass point for Reed. His parents raised him right. They’re good, loving people, but you crossed paths with him at a defining moment, and you helped him look down the right turn.”
“I think crossing paths helped both of us. You know, I would never have imagined him here, chief of police, a house like this. But when he talked about it, I could.”
“Because you know him, and you love him.”
“I do. And seeing him here? I see a really good fit. You must know he’s completely in love with Simone.”
“Oh, I know it. She’s in love with him, but she’ll hold that back for a while. My girl’s strong and smart, but not as confident in some areas as our Reed is. They’re just exactly what the other needs.”
“A really good fit,” Essie said with a smile.
“Yes, they are. I saw that before Reed and I had finished our first stack of cranberry pancakes.”
At home, CiCi went to the refrigerator for a jug. She’d taught Reed the process and the value of sun tea, and refilled Essie’s glass with it.
“I’d say these vegetables are ready to grill.”
“Reed grilling vegetables.” Essie rose. “Something else I never imagined.”
“He’s a good boy, and ordered the grill basket I told him about. Now we’ll see if he makes good use of it.”
He made good use of it, and enjoyed seeing everyone dig in to a meal he’d put together. With some help, sure, but he’d actually pulled off his second entertaining experience with adult food.
“You’re officially a man,” Hank told him.
“I’m relieved to hear it.”
“A man is not a man, my friend, until he can grill steaks and grill them right,” Hank added.
“I believe Shakespeare said: A man’s worth is oft proved by the grilling,” CiCi countered.
Hank laughed, toasted CiCi. “The Bard’s never wrong. I wonder if I could see your studio while we’re here. I’ve still got the poster of Guitar God I pinned to the wall in my college dorm.”
“It’s now framed on the wall of his office at home,” Essie added.
“Come by tomorrow.”
“Really? A thrill of a lifetime. I’m not exaggerating. Simone, any chance I could see your studio while I’m there?”
“Sure. Not you.” She pointed at Reed. “I’m working on a sculpture of Reed. He doesn’t get to come into my studio until it’s finished.”
Essie nearly choked on her tea. “You got Reed to pose?”
“She vamped me.”
“Whatsa ‘vamped’?” Dylan wanted to know.
“It’s, like, if Pink Power Ranger got mind-control powers.”
“That’d be awesome!”
“It really is,” Simone agreed. “The power of the mind’s a strong weapon against evil, like the wicked Rita Repulsa.”
Reed sat back, stared. “You know Power Rangers?”
“Why wouldn’t I? I was Pink Power Ranger for Halloween when I was five or six.”
“She vamped me into getting her the costume,” CiCi confirmed. “I have pictures.”
“I’ve gotta see. I absolutely have got to see.”
“I’m adorable.” Simone stabbed the last grilled pepper on her plate.
“I just bet.”
“Can we go to the beach now?” Dylan tugged at his father’s arm. “I finished all my vegables.”
“Ta-bles.”
“I finished my ta-bles. Can we?”
“I vote for it.” Reed’s phone rang in his pocket. He hitched up, took it out. After a glance at the display, Simone saw his gaze cut to Essie. “Sorry, I need to take this. Don’t worry about the dishes. Take the kid to the beach. I’ll catch up.”
He started out of the room. “Chief Quartermaine.”
Simone put an easy smile on her face, rose. “Go ahead and head to the beach. CiCi can show you the best way. I’ll wait for Reed.”
“Yay! The doggies, too. Let’s go.”
Essie gave Simone a subtle nod. “Dylan’s personal paradise, dogs and the beach,” she said. “Yes, let’s go.”
As they left, Dylan and the dogs in the lead, Simone carried dishes inside. She’d keep busy, she thought, try not to think too much, just clear the picnic table, load the dishwasher, and wait.