“I can do that. I don’t like it, but I can do it.”

“Good. I’m not going to insinuate the two of you can’t take care of yourselves. Especially since I don’t want my balls bruised, and I’m hoping for dinner. But I’m going to say I love both of you, and I’m going to look out for you. That’s it.”

“Don’t think we’re not going to look after you for the same reason.” CiCi rose, topped off her wine. “I’m going to start doing that now by making you a hot meal.”

“Don’t cook,” he said quickly. “I’ll go get takeout.”

“Cooking’s going to rebalance my chi.” She leaned over, kissed Reed. “You’re a lot smarter than she is, and so’s my girl. I’m damn well a lot cagier.”

Simone waited until CiCi went inside. “I didn’t bring it up, all this is enough, but if Hobart comes here, she’ll go back to Portland. My sister, my mother.”

“I’ve talked to Essie, and I talked to Jacoby. They’ll have eyes on your family.”

She got up, wandered over to look out at the water. The dog, finished with the treat, now lay stretched over Reed’s feet. “I should’ve known you’d think of them.”

“I talked to Boston PD, so they’re on alert. You’ll want to talk to Mi about it. I also talked to a friend of mine who I think she has on her list. He’s in New York now. I’m sorry to bring all this here.”

“You didn’t. She did. She started it all. It was her plan, and as horrible as it was, it didn’t work out the way she wanted. Neither will this. It’s funny. I love the island, always have. But I didn’t realize how much I do, how much it’s mine, until I realized she might come here and try to hurt someone who matters so much to me. Hurt someone else who matters so much. Who could try to stain this place the way she did the mall, and Portland? I never felt completely safe in Portland after that night.”

She turned back. “I went to New York as soon as I could. I went to Italy, I went wherever I could that wasn’t there. Most of the time, though, I came here. I sheltered in place, but I kept looking for somewhere or something else. I’m not sure I knew, until you, that it was more than that for me, more than sheltering in place. It was my place, my home. Nothing she can do will change that.”

She came back, slid over the arm of the chair into his lap. “There’s more than one kind of shelter. You’re another for me. I’m going to be the same for you.”

“I looked a long time for my place, and for you. It’s damn good luck I found them both.”

“You know what I thought when I came down the stairs earlier?”

“How easy you could be replaced?”

Laughing, she nuzzled in. “Besides that. I thought, I want to sculpt them—Reed and CiCi—just like that. Holding each other in a dance and smiling.”

“Naked? Listen—”

“There’s art, Chief, and there’s weird and inappropriate. No, not naked.”

“Okay then. You looked happy when you came down.”

“I’d had an excellent day working on a fascinating new project.”

He nuzzled back. “You’re not going to let me have a look at it?”

“When it’s done. Stay tonight. Stay with me.”

“I was hoping you’d ask. I’ve got our gear, mine and my new deputy’s, out in the car.”

In the kitchen, CiCi watched them out the window. This, she thought, just this—the blush in the sky as the day wore down; the strong, good man; even the sweet-faced dog—filled all her hope pockets for her girl.

No bitch from hell would rip holes in those pockets.

*

Two days later Reed got a call from Essie.

“We’ve got a Missing Person’s out on Seleena McMullen.”

“How long has she been missing?”

“Over forty-eight hours now. Her assistant got a text that she was going to be out of town on a hot tip, but she’s missed appointments, and doesn’t answer her cell.”

“She fits the profile, Essie, but this would be the first abduction. Even killing her and dumping the body doesn’t fit Hobart’s MO.”

“There’s no sign of a breakin or a struggle at McMullen’s house or office. She got a call on her landline just before midnight on the day she went missing. Untraceable. A burner.”

“Lured her somewhere.” Reed frowned. “That’s not Hobart’s usual method, either.”

But.

“The fact is, Hobart might not be the only one who’d want to cause her harm. She’s got an ex who isn’t fond of her, and plenty of people she’s burned along her way. But I’m having officers check for McMullen’s car at the airport. That is Hobart’s MO. Right now, with no direct link to Hobart, it’s with Major Crimes—because I snagged it. If we find that link, it goes to the feds.”

“Jacoby’s all right.”

“I agree. But, Reed, if we find that link, it means she’s back in the area. Watch yourself, partner.”

“I will. You, too.”

He hung up, thought it over. McMullen, yeah, that could fit. But coming after Essie now—way far up from the opportunistic blogger—didn’t fit. And coming after him right after sending the card? No, that didn’t fit, either. She had more to say first.

So, if Hobart grabbed or killed McMullen, came back to Portland for that? Why?

He had to think about it.

Two days later, the turnover crew for the cabin found McMullen’s body. Essie sent him a report on the rest.

A camera tripod, two theatrical lights on stands, food and drink enough for several days, traces of makeup on the floor, on two chairs, a number of cut zip ties.

And Hobart’s prints all over the cabin.

Why did someone kidnap a reporter/blogger with her own local show and hard-core Internet following?

It seemed to Reed that somebody had a story to tell.

Between the kidnapping/murder and the card, he decided Patricia Hobart wanted some attention.

He’d be happy to give it to her.

*

With Jacoby and Essie coordinating on the McMullen case, Reed concentrated on his own. He found a deputy badge charm on the Internet and, amused, ordered two. One for Barney, one for Puck when Essie and the gang came out.

He bought the dog a bed, and had to start out with it right next to his own or Barney ignored it and slept on the floor. Strategizing, Reed moved it away an inch or so every morning.

When he tried throwing the red ball he’d picked up, Barney looked at him without a clue.

They’d work on it.

April edged toward May, and flowers began to bloom. In a peace offering, he bought a pot of daffodils and took it, and Barney, to Ida Booker.

She came out, kept the cat inside.

“He’d like to apologize for the trouble he caused you.”

Ida folded her arms. “That dog’s a menace.”

“He’s being rehabilitated. Ms. Booker, when I took him to Doc, he had infections and all kinds of physical issues. He’s scarred from where somebody choked him with one of those chain collars.”

Her fierce frown deepened. “Somebody choked that dog?”

“Yes, ma’am, Doc and Suzanna said that’s what happened. He was so scared of people because somebody’d caged him up and hurt him. Doc said he maybe chased your cat because he wanted to play. Now, I can’t promise that, and I won’t bring him around your cat—or your gardens—off the leash. He was half-starved, Ms. Booker.”

“He looks better now.” She cursed under her breath. “I’m not much on dogs, but anybody who’d treat an animal that way isn’t worth spit on a skillet. I heard you were keeping him.”

“He’s Barney now, and he’s coming along. We’ve just come from Doc’s, and he’s on his way to a clean bill of health. He’s put on a few pounds, too. There’s not a mean bone in him, but he could be a habitual cat chaser. He runs at birds on the beach, too.”

“I guess that’s just the nature of things. I appreciate the flowers.” She huffed out a breath, took the pot. “I was on the side of those who thought it was a mistake to bring in someone from off-island to be chief. I may have been wrong about that. Time will tell.”

Reed drove back to the village, stopped off to watch the ferry come in. He had the two part-timers on that duty, but a look for himself didn’t hurt a thing.

Some families with kids young enough not to be in school, a couple of islanders coming back, delivery trucks, a couple of hikers who walked off.

Satisfied, he drove back to the station.

“What did Doc say?” Donna demanded.

“Barney’s back in tune. He’s cleared for active duty.”

She snorted. “You keep him from nosing in the trash or I’ll give him some active duty.”

“He was just looking for clues.” His desk phone rang, so he went back with Barney at his heel. “Chief Quartermaine.”

“Special Agent Jacoby. I’m in Louisville, Kentucky, following up a lead. We’ve got a witness—former cop—who’s followed the case. He swears he spotted her.”

“‘Kentucky’? She backtracked? How reliable’s the witness?”

“I’m buying what he’s selling.”