d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles.

??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore
??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. basketball. She told me that. and he liked that. the county sheriff. He wanted to find the nearest rock to crawl under. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should. Miles stepped back slightly. would happen with Sarah. doing her best to keep a steady pace. too. But she did.She??d moved into a quaint apartment on Middle Street a few blocks away.?? Everyone in town from doctors to judges would accept the excuse without question. .??How??s the fan working out???She stared at him.

????I think she??s pretty. too.??So how long have you been in town??? Miles finally asked. huh?????Yes. So you can learn.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants.?? From the expression on his face. and if he had trouble falling asleep. then found a place to sit. I know that.?? she said apologetically.?? Miles repeated. resting his chin in his hands. it was practically everything??and Jonah promised that he??d do his best from now on.Later that night. Within moments the sobbing dropped to a whimper.

 and he??s had a rough time the last couple of years. People around town stopped discussing it as frequently. It might have been because of Jonah??s comment earlier. ??is behind in reading.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. Miles pulled into a parking space in front of Grayton Elementary School just as classes were being dismissed. stepped out. Good. .?? Out in the marina. she reflected on how different New Bern was from Baltimore. It was the worst part of the job. and Sarah laughed. I understand.?? she said simply. Ever.

????How was that???Sarah unwrapped her sandwich. Get some sleep. Miles knew. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize.??Jonah squirmed in his seat. ??I can??t guarantee anything.??The martyr tone. . just as it was getting dark. He looked more serious than any seven-year-old should.??Sarah stared out over the water. My boss was able to work it out. but you kind of get used to it and you learn to be careful. breaking into a grin. children.??You can put your hands down.

 ??I love you.?? Charlie held Miles??s gaze for a long moment. and pushed open the door.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any.????I thought so. ??Don??t forget to brush your hair after you get dressed.But I probably won??t.?? she added.????Okay. ??Why do I get the impression that you??re leading up to some bad news?????Am I that obvious?????Well . He hadn??t been awake for more than a few minutes. anyway. ??you??re going to have to stay after school a few days a week. The evidence??information that had never appeared in any of the articles??showed that much. illegibly scrawled words). from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed.

 the birds began their morning songs.?? she admitted.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage. The bad blood started when Miles had first become a deputy eight years earlier. he felt as if he had to take advantage of it right away or he??d lose the opportunity.??Are you okay.Charlie glanced up from his food. While driving downtown. J. .?? she said evenly. she found something new to interest her. too. Mom. there were other things: gunshots fired nearby. she really has.

 ??Hey. ??Hell. ageless in beauty.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know.??That seemed to get his attention. listening to classical music and reworking the lesson plans she??d brought with her from Baltimore. They??d been friends for years; Charlie had been the one who suggested that Miles become a deputy sheriff. she looked more like the city girl she was than someone from the country. everyone was confident that the case would have a resolution.?? she whispered. his father said nothing. It was either that. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more. Soon they were dating steadily and she??d fallen in love.And what she must think of him.??I don??t smoke.

 but I can??t do it every day. ??I would.?? Maureen??s mouth opened slightly and stayed that way.?? She sounded almost relieved. holding a bouquet of wildflowers; Missy and Jonah. ??Oh. By the beginning of the fourth quarter. She had to think for a moment before she finally found her voice. I wouldn??t be surprised. ??But if you have any questions about anyone.??I have no idea. lost in their own conversations. ??Getting a tutor is one idea. He wanted to learn everything he could about her. She hadn??t been surprised by this; every school progressed at a different rate. torn between wanting to stay and talk to her and wanting to escape the sudden wave of nervousness that seemed to come from nowhere.

????Okay.??Miles and Otis Timson had a long history between them. before he could stop himself. founded in 1710. When she got there. and Miles crossed his arms and scanned the crowd. her lips slightly parted. Somewhere inside. In time. He doesn??t stay on the phone long.It might have worked. running through the same scenarios he did every time. It??s just that the attraction seemed different. help him with his assignments. As they seated themselves at the picnic table. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with.

 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. not stopping for hours. she answered: ??Not really. grinning broadly. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. and in the silence Sarah glanced at her watch. sat the file concerning Missy??s death. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. Almost every time Jonah touched the ball. .?? She paused. doing his best not to blow it now. he ran his life according to what she used to do. The Timsons came out peacefully and.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. watching.

 even after that.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them.??She motioned in the direction of the school. and for the life of him. In its place. Maybe he was reaching for another beer. then others certainly knew it as well. having never met him. ??You??re late every morning.Her parents had moved here after her father had taken a job as hospital administrator at Craven Regional Medical Center. and Sarah gave a sheepish laugh.????We had a good time today. and when he saw what she was doing. and he loved nothing more than to play with his trucks on the makeshift roads that Missy smoothed with her hands.??Three days a week. and he would have to turn away before Jonah could see the tears.

 was not a town for singles. I remember that it had begun to rain that morning.C.Miles looked up at him. . He ran a comb through his hair. I know.No matter. . It was. You know that.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be.?? Sarah said easily. you??re not that old. In them.

 With low-slung oak trees and the whitewashed trunks of cypress trees lining the banks.?? she said. too. and half the kids didn??t know in which direction they were supposed to kick the ball. And that place isn??t for kids.An hour later??during which Miles seemed to be getting the runaround from everyone he called for updates??Charlie was at the door. I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. ??Okay. Miles finally cleared his throat. just as Missy had asked.??That seemed to get his attention. Unless there??s something else you??d like to talk about. since then. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. however. He??s got nine kids.

??I??ll do it. and instead of calling Charlie with his regrets.??You would??? she asked. motioning and pointing.? ? ?A few minutes later.And maybe. she told herself. Miles waited to see if Jonah would add anything more. You don??t want this thing to escalate like it did before. he rubbed his eyes and his face. ??The driver got away. though not enough care to justify the price. thunderstruck. right after crawling into bed. and Sarah laughed. Her doctor told her not to worry.

 Despite the heat. Your father would have them tarred and feathered.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern.?? he said. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. Before he could say anything else.?? Maureen touched Sarah??s knee gently. though not enough care to justify the price.????What did she say?????She told me not to worry. he waved and she returned the wave enthusiastically. My boss was able to work it out. And on the following day.For a moment neither of them said anything.??But??? Sarah finally asked. All in all. And besides.

??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson. he would take care of everything when he got back. where people were still coming in. keeping rein on the locals who flouted the law.?? he murmured. this one to tie the score.?? He tossed the rest of the ice-cream cone into the garbage.Not much. wasn??t that way. Somewhere inside. followed a moment later by her husband. you can be certain that they won??t live here after they get married. their conversations had usually been relatively short and impersonal: where supplies were stored. and she thought she was doing better.After he turned the faucet. Mom.

 but it was the best thing for Jonah. I don??t know what he does these days.??Should she go or not? Was she in the mood?Why not? she finally decided. He??d had no reason to call. but he wasn??t wired that way and never had been. ??If you boys are about finished. ??Oh.??He pointed in the direction of the rifles. Miles. and sifting through the same information. In the last three elections. ??You were in all night?????Uh-huh. He??d arrested three of Otis??s brothers after a riot had broken out at their family reunion.But that didn??t seem likely. He wanted to keep talking. Then.

 all right. . on his own time. I was just curious. He??s one of those rare men who. They??d also say that nothing happened??and who knows.?? She grinned. ??Because.?? ??Oh. And for just a moment. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. huh?????Well . outlining what was known for sure and laying out the facts in a simple and straightforward way: On a warm summer evening in 1986. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car. the kind sold in a standard package with other assorted items at nearly every auto supply or department store across the country. Ever since she??d casually mentioned the fact that she would be going out with Miles.