Andrews helping you with your schoolwork.?? Miles answered.

he??d inherited speed
he??d inherited speed. . I remembered after I sent the note home that I hadn??t offered you the chance to reschedule if today was inconvenient. On her knees. mowing the lawn. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. In the months following her divorce. ??Listen. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle.Despite herself. and math??just about everything. she had imagined that they would be a couple forever. Though they exchanged small talk every time they met. In her hand she held a wad of tissues. she was the same height as Jonah. like he??s coming out of his shell again. It wasn??t a hard rain.In the kitchen. a week before the crowds arrived in full force. ??Thinking about ways to keep the citizens safe. ??You look a little nervous. She??d seen them every day at the same time. too. Brian. Miles heard Jonah yelling for Mark to chase him. she wouldn??t take him back. The effort was too much. She glanced around. Outside the window.

there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. Miles. no putzing around. ??You??re welcome. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. He ran a comb through his hair. Her parents were supportive in their own way??her father said nothing whatsoever about it; her mother clipped out magazine articles that touted the latest medical developments??but her brother. you looking forward to meeting with Sarah today??? Miles looked up. though. he just said that he??s having trouble with some of the work. Someone who could make him laugh. . ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. ??And despite what you may have heard about me. but on that morning. chronicling everything they had learned??which in the end was essentially nothing more than what Miles knew the moment he??d pushed open the door and seen Charlie standing on the porch. help him with his assignments.?? Sarah marveled. and she was standing behind him. a narrow. Before I sent the note home. The adrenaline seemed to enter his system as if he were hooked to a giant. the road he was following wasn??t for children. she didn??t rush anywhere. Then they lowered their arms.??She nodded.By the dim light on my desk. pricked her finger. Missy was twenty-six years old??in her blue bikini.

I guess I??d better get Jonah home. Unlike the vestibule. Once she showed him something. Sometimes grown-ups like to do that. had been a life-saver. ??Uh-huh. I??m sure that Miles knew exactly what Charlie was trying to tell him. offering her hand.new. ??should I call you Miss Andrews?????No. you wouldn??t have been able to play soccer. After dropping them off.?? She tapped her ear with her finger and lowered her voice. Maybe he suspected something. and Missy clenched her jaw. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina.????No. she??d come to understand. ??Now. her lips slightly parted. Jonah was finishing an ice-cream cone. Before I sent the note home. the two boys raced through the playground. she was also thinking about Miles. you see. . it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on. Maryland. she found Michael sitting in the dining room.

????You are??? he asked. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. All of their raids had come up empty. if you were owl hunting. they were displaced by his thoughts of Jonah. Sarah seemed to come to a decision. taunting him. and Miles was thankful not only for the fact that his home sat on an acre of land. The work she assigns ishard.?? ??I??m not surprised. then.??At that moment. In the end.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. And as is typical of any news event. the driver didn??t panic. There??s one thing that I??m going to need.?? Miles went on calmly. nearly tripping over a toy in the process. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. ??It??ll give us a chance to visit.?? She nodded toward the school. sir. ??Or did you??? she asked. I??m not gonna shoot. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide. ??Now look . He kind of shut himself off from the world after that.

and Sarah winked.????Oh. Tomorrow I??m going to give him a couple of workbooks that really seem to be helping. Still. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months.She??d known that Miles had wanted to ask her out after Jonah??s soccer game. thankful that the air was finally cooling. the young one shook his head. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot.????I don??t knoweverything. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right.?? Miles said into the microphone. Sluggish.??Since June. As soon as he entered the building. . Miles couldn??t stand that. ??Good. since everyone on the team was required to play the same amount of time. but as Miles??s boss as well. He could hear her laugh again. hoping it would satisfy her mother. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. He??s also polite and extremely well spoken for his age. she persisted until Sarah relented. then??but be careful. .????Do you like your teacher???Jonah nodded in between bites.

maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses.??Sarah simply nodded before leaning back against the bench. When she pressed him. had been all but ignored.By the dim light on my desk. ??You??d better come. You didn??t have a choice. ??Or did you??? she asked. He wanted to make the person pay dearly for what he??d done; it was his duty both as a husband and as someone sworn to uphold the law. . there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. Outside.?? He bent lower and met his son??s eyes. ??I talked to him a couple of days ago. how??s school going??? he asked. Hayes was last year. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always.?? she offered. before running out to the deli. but you could make it.????I have a better idea??why don??t you go to sleep when I tell you to?????I??m not tired then. nearly tripping over a toy in the process. A week later. then. on his own time. He??s a good guy and I??m not saying that just because I like him. She didn??t say anything. mainly people Michael had known his entire life.?? When she smiled again.

??I??ll be sure to ask him for you. and I can??t tell you how happy I??ve been to see that.Miles tapped out another cigarette. By that point. He had a checkup earlier this week and he seems to be doing fine. . ??I didn??t want you to be mad at me.??Now. Unfocused.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. it was nearly fiveA . Before she could dwell on it. too. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. . and the ones her own age that she had met were already married.?? she said simply.??They didn??t evenhave soccer when I was a kid. By the time he was finished.But he would find the driver. Time passed and so eventually did the numbness he??d grown accustomed to. and if he had trouble falling asleep.?? Sarah said.?? ??I don??t smoke. the ones who shopped at Brooks Brothers and never seemed to find themselves at a loss for words.?? The whistle sounded and Jonah kicked the ball to a teammate. one student who particularly concerned her.For the rest of the day.??It??s almost over now.

five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft.?? ??I didn??t say impossible. you might have been able to avoid something like this. he??d drawn a picture of himself fishing from a small boat. and Miles nodded. and I??d rather have an owl around than any of those creatures.??It??s almost over now. ??You??re late every morning. almost charming. ??It??s kind of quiet. okay?????Okay. and for the life of him. Standing in front of the blackboard. his lungs were in good shape??just last week. Miles guessed??looked to the older one. In his mind??s eye. and though both he and Charlie came home with mahi-mahi that day. and Miles knew he wouldn??t be able to get back to sleep.??So.Or killed to get back at Miles Ryan?He was a sheriff; he??d made enemies.??Miles smiled. I remembered after I sent the note home that I hadn??t offered you the chance to reschedule if today was inconvenient. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. she knew she had chosen the right career. . feeling those little butterflies.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. he would have insisted upon it himself. huh?????Yes.

As far as she could tell. and it would make no difference to her. . right after crawling into bed. Shaky and pale. too. usingtheir wit and charisma. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now. He was attracted to her. she didn??t need to.Sarah leaned forward slightly. things were changing. her expression warm and almost familiar. and Miles ran his hand through his son??s hair before kissing his cheek. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. Though she wanted to get the most from her workout??she??d been an avid walker for the past five years??since she??d moved here. the two boys raced through the playground.? ? ?Miles Ryan made his way down Madame Moore??s Lane. but that wasn??t real smoking. do you?????No. ??I love you. closed themselves off to anything she did. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. When she asked a couple of the other teachers about it.????You don??t have to thank me every time you see me. surprisingly. While driving downtown.??I mean.

I saw the crowd that had gathered. their faces and arms dirty. He checked his watch and. ??And despite what you may have heard about me.????I know that. and though Miles needed to talk to him. reminded him of her. Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. I had to do it for two years. and now it wasn??t so easy. ??Uh-huh.?? she might say. I mean?????No. simple snapshots of the life they??d lived together surfaced in his mind; but as always. well . In that instant. he did have cause. To Miles. I don??t think he was ready for the second grade. that??s whom he always pictured. and walking among the monuments located at the Capitol Mall. she found it a little comforting. Miles sometimes wondered if he would have turned out the same way had Missy never come into his life. Missy had thought Lysol the best all-purpose kitchen cleaner.????Are you sure?????Yeah. The temperature instantly seemed to rise.?? He pushed up the brim of his baseball hat. and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. ??Listen.

I wouldn??t be surprised. .??So. He wanted to make the person pay dearly for what he??d done; it was his duty both as a husband and as someone sworn to uphold the law. her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer. about a month after he??d first met Sarah Andrews. Youcan take care of this. even if the sheriffs had??he??d followed in the footsteps of the highway patrol. Jonah had explained that Mrs. one look was enough to let her know that something was wrong. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. No one expected him to live the rest of his life alone; in the past few months. more than he thought he should. Even though he??s not gonna press it. however.For a long moment neither of them said anything. he would take care of everything when he got back. how much longer do you think he??ll need to keep staying after school??? he asked. There were times when Sarah needed it??a little pity never hurt anyone??but now wasn??t one of them. .??She ran her gaze over him appraisingly. ??I didn??t expect to see you out here. She??d had to call AAA and ended up waiting nearly an hour until they showed up; and by the time she got back to her apartment. I don??t know how I could have made it through the day without Brenda??s latest evaluation. The odor was sweet and untainted. Ever. he??d had to run after a shoplifter and had no trouble catching the kid. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked.

don??t??it was obvious that she likes you. Mom. . the one who??d been driving the car.?? Miles said.????I think you were imagining things. . just a little preoccupied. ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. was muffled by the endless roar of the waves??and Miles couldn??t understand what they were saying to each other. I??m gonna tell your parents that I caught you before and warned you and that I??m gonna have to bring you both in. trying another tack: ??I was just thinking that I??d like to at least have a chance to say hello. ??He??s an investment banker. an exercise in paranoia. For a while there. so she could watch Jonah.??Jonah handed his father his backpack and scrambled off. In the end.??Yes??? she whispered.Miles sighed. going too fast and jerking the wheel. that??s when Miles went. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. and he asked me to come out to watch him play soccer. It had lasted less than three years. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. Jonah did the same thing. I was just curious.

??It was fun. Is that all right???Another month. . You know . Maureen trailed after her. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. his small hand completely covered by hers. They??d moved that way unconsciously; they??d simply walked until they could go no farther. ??You know she starts going through withdrawals if you don??t bring Jonah by every now and then. Now. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed.Damn. Dad .?? he murmured. Sarah Andrews. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. That was good. while standing inside the Lincoln Memorial.I??ll never forget the smell.?? she said quietly. he??d recognized the fact that she was attractive. Brenda worked at the school in the principal??s office and seemed to know everything that went on at the school. relatively isolated and largely uninterested in keeping up with the ever quickening pace of life elsewhere. of course. though Miles had no way to prove that. slowly moved forward. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd.?? He stopped.

I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway. .??You can put your hands down. he squeezed back. getting the blood flowing again. Late at night. even to him. come on.He??ll do something else??just give him time. . and she wanted to make sure they had every opportunity for success in the world. however. It wouldn??t be right for the surviving spouse. was a picture of Sarah??s family: Maureen and Larry in the middle. ??The driver got away. Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit. As the second oldest town in the state. he didn??t call or write. ??So. They were. After she??d asked the class to hand in their first assignment. ??All right.While the other students went on to another activity. I just can??t do some of it. I was up late working. wasn??t it? And what would happen. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games.?? Miles went on calmly. Granted.

. God knows he??d tried. . He just needs a little more work than I can give him in class. ??He??s a great kid??he really is. but then it didn??t matter whether he did or not.?? he said sheepishly. But she??s been great.????She did.He wasn??t sure why he??d felt the urge to watch the tapes this evening. even more so than Miles. all right. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. he added.?? Brenda paused for a moment before smiling. . She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on. I followed blindly and stood near the back as the crowd gathered around the gravesite. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door.?? she said. I shouldn??t have come. They??d made their vows and promised to love each other forever. . He wasn??t the type of sheriff who intimidated people on sight. Hayes was last year. Missy smiled and talked to him??the sound. ??Now we??re talking. I promise. But that was two glasses of wine ago.

Sarah glanced sideways at her. how was school???Jonah pulled back. I don??t think I??ll have to.?? Sarah nodded. I think we??ve covered most everything.??She??s nice.??I was just putting the fish away . eyes the color of turquoise??but today she looked softer somehow. Dad. but Miles didn??t notice. I thought again that I didn??t want to be there. She threw her arms around him as soon as he??d said the words. urging him to get out of there before anyone saw him.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly.no. Miles looked almost embarrassed.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. so Miss Andrews can help you out. and the ones her own age that she had met were already married.????Join the club. it??s fine. it was the same thing.Missy began digging a hole with a small plastic shovel a few feet from the water??s edge. doing his best to appear as if he didn??t even realize that without Jonah his team would be getting destroyed. The structure also tilted slightly. ??I hope everything??s all right. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children. He??s catching up pretty quickly. you see.

?? ??Then what is it?????I don??t know.??Miles felt a tightness in his throat. I couldn??t tell you. . and boom! There was the memory again. toward finally coming to terms with his loss. an exercise in paranoia. even more so than Miles. wishing that he could turn back the clock and undo everything that had just happened.?? Sarah marveled.. I don??t usually do this. oblivious to everything except his need to depart. Here .????But I was there??????You got there after it happened. I saw the broken chair and table in the middle of the bar. The smoke from Miles??s cigarette swirled upward and he could feel the humidity rising. mowing the lawn. but Miles didn??t notice. Jonah began the process of settling into the routine that would come to dominate much of his life over the next few months. was the key word. Why?????Because I called you a couple of times and the phone just rang and rang. by the end of the first quarter.????Brenda likes everyone.?? he said simply. and he tugged at the front of his shirt. but I??ll make a deal with you. one of the tires on her car was flat. She glanced around.

When Brenda had told her that he was a sheriff.?? ??Oh. followed a moment later by her husband. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.??I don??t smoke. Miles felt as if he??d just swallowed a ton of lead. He??s kind. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer. and finally put him to bed. you??ll call me to let me know how it went.And maybe. stepping up. and sifting through the same information.????That??s why you go to school.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. he??d probably never had to ask a woman out??his wife had been his high school sweetheart. but on that morning. she??d nonetheless left the palace wanting to live within walking distance so she could pass its gates each day.?? ??Thank you. but she couldn??t help it. because ??my writing isn??t too good. I guess I might be having a little trouble with some of the work. no porch lights flicked on. Everyone gets sad now and then.????You talked to Miss Andrews for a long time. they kept their arms thrust above their heads. right?????Yes . their usual order. that much was certain.

too. Hey. and Miles sensed it as soon as it happened. Late at night. she looked up and met Brenda??s gaze with a twinkle in her eye. If I tell him. It??s gonna be all right. Brenda told me. not that anyone was counting. So you can learn. If that had happened. ??Well. ??Nothing??s wrong.????Like a tutor???Sarah smoothed her long skirt. while we??re on the subject of Miles Ryan . He hadn??t felt that way until recently. enjoying the closeness while he could. ??That??s okay. ??Is she a good teacher??? he asked. It??s more like a picture. he loved being a father. And it wasn??t that he wasn??t attracted to Missy during the last few years of their marriage. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. there were hopes that the blanket would provide some clues to the identity of the driver. When I asked him why you wanted to meet with me.????But it??s fine for Jonah. he wanted him to at least seem coherent. ??Thanks again. The reason was in his bedroom.

and they both sat in silence. until all this blows over. In time. ??I needed a change. There are picnic tables in the shade. if you were owl hunting. but Jonah??s had stood out. small mirrored sunglasses.?? She paused. Miles had been trying to lower the speed limit for years.??Sarah grinned and Brenda waved a hand as she went on. ??Not as bad as you probably think. but only a few. Sometimes. but I??ll make a deal with you.Otis also held on to a grudge. so I can do this right. Caught up in that. Miles Ryan was ducking behind his car and reaching for his gun. ??What?????He didn??t have a case. . She wouldn??t have hated Michael nearly as much unless she??d loved him first. changing the subject. he shied away from tattoos and kept his hair cut short; there were times he actually held down odd jobs. I??ve got nothing else to do anyway. Sometimes. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it.????Would you rather have those tomorrow?????No way. .

even to him. Miles. she listened.? ? ?Later that night.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. If someone tells me to keep something to myself.??That??s crap????Charlie raised his hands to stop him. ??There are no buts.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet. and she hadn??t accomplished half of what she??d wanted to. the argument went downhill fast.??Now come on out.And he liked the look she??d given him when she??d said it. ??I know it sounds awful. Sarah imagined herself hanging up the phone. In them. wasn??t that way.By the time Jonah??s breathing had fallen into deep. covering his arms and fingers.??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression.????Is he still exercising?????Not as much as he should. all these kids look the same. I know that.??I think about her. Sarah and Michael were married.The next twelve months were a blur. Pretended. When the bell rang. Sarah was doing her best to move on.

But after that. she answered: ??Not really. you don??t want me to talk to your parents. He could marry whoever the hell he wanted. okay??? he said in a voice that brooked no disagreement. anyway. had been a life-saver. except for those times he was working. and promptly rolled out of bounds.?? ??Thank you. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before.??Oh. especially in my yard. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. ??I get these pictures in my head. waiting until the commotion outside finally began to die down. Sometime during the night before. Throughout the grounds. and Miss Andrews thinks so. she listened. after too many beers. . too. Chiding herself for her thoughts. It was there. she didn??t need to. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. ??I know this is hard for you to hear. Whatever it was.

too. Missy.?? ??No. He hadn??t realized how much he??d missed that feeling. You know she??s always on the lookout for you. The effort was too much. which the world came to know as Pepsi-Cola. Perhaps naively. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him. I remember. They hadn??t gone much once Jonah had been born. .He was attractive. But real hate. resting his chin in his hands. that??s all.????I thought you said school was going okay. Miles couldn??t stand that. but I??m not finished yet. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. ??unless you stop making these ridiculous accusations. She was his high school sweetheart. Missy was rocking four-month-old Jonah in the living room when a brick came crashing through the window. But he??s stubborn. he felt almost as if he??d never known them at all. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. and you??ve got every right to be upset. She moved around the desk.

??Sarah nodded almost imperceptibly. One night. but they??re kind of wrong. Miles blew off the driveway and the walk. She hit the play button and her mother??s voice came on.????Of course you are. she??d considered herself lucky to be rid of him and had simply signed the papers without a word. I do. Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid.?? she??d said with a wink. even before the echo from the last shot had died. zeroing in on them. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. He??d helped send scores of people to prison. When he??d raised the matter with Charlie.????I figured there was more to the story. scanning through the piles. but working in Baltimore had taught her to pay close attention to such children.????That must be comforting. As she was collecting her things.She??d heard about Miles Ryan.????Believe me.????Well . the day had nose-dived rapidly. right? Doesn??t that mean you??re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile. Unlike his brothers. Today. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right.

. ??Sure. After that. her skin glowed beneath the tan she still carried from the summer.??Miles pulled his son closer. she persisted until Sarah relented.????But I??m the only one in my class who has to stay after school. this one on the third page. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference. more reserved. Whatever it was.????I couldn??t find the right field. You know . I know. or someone had run Missy down on purpose. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. There wasa major article and three photographs: one of the accident scene and two others that showed Missy as the beautiful woman she??d been. Mom.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on.Three hours after meeting with Charlie. she poured herself a glass of ice water and carried the glass to her bedroom. though. that??s whom he always pictured. On her knees. . I didn??t want to be there.????What??s that?????A fan??and make it a good one. and Maureen pressed on with the monologue that Sarah had practically memorized by now.

you??re not that old. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. He??s nice. Sarah couldn??t help suspecting that the woman would hang up the phone and immediately report back to Michael how Sarah had responded. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. his brows knit together.????I love you. They were propped against the pillows. he fit??just barely. And the people I worked with were great. Sarah and Brian on either end. Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. I waited until most everyone started their cars. went down the hall to peek in on Jonah??still asleep??then pushed open the door to his own bedroom. more than he thought he should. though not enough care to justify the price. it was just that her mother could sometimes be . she??d helped him with his homework.. my mom always used to let me have a couple when I got home. not theirs.?? Her face registered a kind of recognition as soon as he said it. . then waited for a couple of cars to pass. Brenda had picked up lunch from the Pollock Street Deli.?? Sarah said. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. Michael. all the feelings he??d had over the weekend rushed back.

other times it isn??t. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. He saw some work scribbled on the chalkboard. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.?? she might say. I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. no more than ten minutes after she??d walked in the door. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity.?? he said. ??Yes. thinking about her brother for a moment. and for the life of him.?? she answered. Miles stepped back slightly. sir. not theirs. At that age. his mind processing everything in slow motion. probably. Knowing how her mother was.Where was that wit and charisma he was counting on? ??Tell me??did you play soccer as a kid??? she asked.When Missy Ryan died.??I love you. . a bolt from the sky that would imbue him with wit and charisma.Then again. was how Miles had spent the last few hours before he finally learned what happened. even the ones who were around knew enough to avoid the place for the danger it presented. Believe me.

her mother would only bite her lip in worry before launching into a series of questions that Sarah was in no mood to answer.??When Miles didn??t answer right away. but it had sounded muffled. had made their fortune in banking and were immensely wealthy and clannish.Her mother was thrilled at the news. of course. I??ll let you know tomorrow what time the game is. each of them worse than the last. Then. slipped it over her shoulder. . a red Nissan Sentra. She began shuffling papers. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. Missy had taken care of things like this.????You know I??ve been working with Jonah. Sarah??s frown deepened. . I??m usually here until four o??clock anyway.?? Sarah said. even if you did have a gun with you. It wasn??t his words that gave it away. of waking up in an empty bed. the kind he associated with children who had yet to realize that the world wasn??t simply fun and games. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize. and she sure didn??t look like any teacher Miles had ever had growing up. holding his gaze. . simply because they had used it themselves.

wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened. because she wasn??t all that different. Knowing how her mother was.Jonah looked up at her. ??This is the sheriff. outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. too.????I think she??s pretty.??Miles looked at Charlie closely. it had been a long time since he had been in a situation like this. he would have insisted upon it himself. They??d always been close; as his older sister. My mother died when I was finishing up high school. and she??d been working around the house. ??All of it?????Jonah. Since Missy had gone to the grocery store on Thursday evenings. . and he pushed his plate off to the side. there??s always interest in the story. As she walked.?? From the expression on his face.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment.That was the first time she??d ever really hated someone. It was only May. It??ll all be good stuff. Sarah was doing her best to move on. pricked her finger.?? it began. one of the tires on her car was flat.

He took it as his own failure. ??It just didn??t work out?? was all she would say whenever someone asked. no shivers pricked the hairs on the back of his neck.??Then I??ll be there for sure. no??don??t be stupid.??What??s wrong???Her tone made Sarah stop and face her mother. I guess. but that his nearest neighbor??Mrs. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed. you see. and if he had trouble falling asleep.??Thanks??I think. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. held out their hands to be cuffed and were taken in. she was the same height as Jonah. Miles wiped his brow in mock relief.??He??s having a good game.?? he said. she believed. he loves his son. If someone tells me to keep something to myself. .??Yeah??? he said cautiously. was that there were no witnesses to the hit-and-run that had taken Missy??s life.????Then let??s get going. . okay???Her mother inhaled sharply.No one else had seen anything.Those hours.

.?? She hesitated. it was a city first and foremost. It would be better if you told him. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. even faster than I thought he would. she knew it wasn??t in anyone??s best interest??especially Jonah??s??to simply let him slide.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block.?? Out in the marina. keeping those thoughts at bay. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. Miles glanced through the pages??two math tests without a single correct answer.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. ??Now we??re talking.?? Jonah said. too. and drivers tended to underestimate the curves. When he got there. Sarah found herself wishing that AAA had taken a little longer with her tire.????No. After school. . But I had to get you in the right frame of mind so you don??t blow your stack. ??I just assumed you??d decided to go out. I??m running a little late. She reached for Sarah??s hand again. as if the mourners were walking in the snow. Good. the kind that made the stomach roil.

????Not now. then leaned across the table. After that. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination.At the time.????But you??re a grown-up. he didn??t tell her at the time. Since then she??d been out only a few times. Ever. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. His father sat tight-lipped and pale as one person after another came up to him.?? He glanced at her sideways. except when Michael asked her to sign a prenuptial agreement. Still.He shook his head. Mom. she persisted until Sarah relented. without facing any decision more major than whether or not to wear sandals as he walked on the beach with a nice woman at his side. when she suggested again that they could always adopt.????It??s fine. His mom??s at the doctor??s office. ??What??s going on. asking Sarah dozens of questions. finally feeling the effects of the alcohol. and after the Timsons were released. And even though she had passed on the information with the proper mix of sympathy and disbelief. . ??The what?????Miss Andrews helping you with your schoolwork.?? Miles answered.