"I guess the one thing I'd really like to know? How you managed to dash in at the last minute, just in the nick of time, and save my life. For which I'm grateful, by the way."

"My pleasure." He covered my hand with his. "I'm so sorry, Aggie. I know how you got into this. But I'm just so sorry you went through what you did."

"Hey, it could have been worse. You cut it close, but you got there."

"I was on my way to see Maura. I finally came to the conclusion our marriage was over and I had to take my chances with the legal system. There were enough people who would vouch for me as Tyler's primary caretaker. I thought I had a good chance of getting custody. So I went home to tell her. I decided to knock on the front door, because I didn't want to let myself in and give her a nasty surprise. I got up to the porch, and one of those dolls she loved so much was in the way. I think it was dressed as a jockey, probably because the Preakness was coming up. Anyway, I knocked up against it, and the doll fell in front of the door. I bent to retrieve it, and while I was there I heard Maura call upstairs to Tyler. She said she was going out for a little while, and he could watch television until she got back."

He looked away, as if he was visualizing the scene. "The house was lit and I could see Maura through the sidelights. As I watched she filled a hypodermic from the supply of insulin we kept in the hallway table for emergencies. I was actually pleased. I thought she had finally started helping Tyler take care of his diabetes, and she was getting the insulin ready for him before she left. I remember thinking that was great, Tyler would finally have two parents who could handle things in an emergency, that maybe we could actually share joint custody."

He turned back to me. "Then she put the needle in her pocket. She got her purse and started toward the front door. I was confused. I thought about confronting her once she got away from the house and trying to have our talk somewhere private, but the needle bothered me. I wondered where she was going with it and why. So I stayed in the shadows, and when she left, I followed her. She went directly to your house and used a key to unlock your door, which seemed strange. I was pretty certain that if anybody in your house was diabetic, I would have been told, so the insulin made no sense. I didn't know what was going on, but I became increasingly uneasy. After a few minutes pa.s.sed I decided to knock and confront her, and about then, I heard you scream. The door was unlocked. You know the rest."

"Man, that story is filled with a lot of 'almosts' isn't it?" I shuddered.

"She can't hurt you or anybody else where she is now. Although I guess that's not really true. Even when everybody else has forgotten her, Tyler never will."

"You'll help him through it."

"That's one responsibility I'll take on willingly."

Joe got to his feet, and I joined him. I heard a noise in the side yard and turned to see Tyler and Deena just far enough away that our conversation couldn't have been audible. As I watched, Tyler leaned over and kissed my daughter.

I heard the shrill whistle of years rushing past me. I was afraid Deena had just entered adolescence. She might be ready, but I sure wasn't.

I managed to pull myself back to the present and Joe, but it wasn't easy. "Are you heading to Boston tonight?"

"We just came to get a few things and talk to some Realtors."

"I've got a good one for you, if you haven't found another you like." As we walked down the steps I told him about Lucy, then I told him about everything Rube had done for Junie.

"The crew? Those are my nephews. The last time I saw most of them they were in diapers. But they're all in the family business. I have a lot of catching up to do."

We stopped at the bottom of the steps, and Joe whistled for Tyler.

"Ed's at the parsonage making one more trip with Junie's boxes," I said. "You'll stop and see him?"

"You bet. I want to say good-bye."

I leaned over and kissed his cheek. I thought Maura Wagner was the worst kind of fool. I wondered if Cilla would get herself to Boston once Joe had recovered a little. I certainly hoped so.

"You know," I said, before Tyler could join us. "There's just one more question..."

He smiled a little. "Go ahead. I knew it was coming."

"What about the p.u.s.s.ycat Club? Will you be performing there again? Because I heard you were really, really good."

"No, my days at p.u.s.s.ycat are over. It served its purpose."

"I know they'll all be sorry. Dorothy's going to feel like the Wicked Witch just flew in on a broom."

"Not to worry. I called her and told her she could have the coat. She'll recover."

Tyler came scooting around the house. Deena followed, and I thought that my confident, rational daughter looked like lightning had struck.

Joe and Tyler said good-bye, and arm in arm Deena and I watched as they headed for their car. Joe got to his door and turned.

"Aggie?"

I c.o.c.ked my head in question.

"Did I mention that the little theater down the road from our new house is doing La Cage Aux Folles next fall?" He winked at me.

Deena and I watched them drive away.

"Life sucks," she said. "I mean, it really sucks! How come he has to leave?"

"I think you'll see him again."

"No way. Tyler says they're never coming back here."

I didn't elaborate. But something tells me our family will need to schedule a trip to see Nan in, say, September or October? And while we're there? Well, let's just a.s.sume, I plan to take in the sights.

And the entertainment.

Berkley Prime Crime t.i.tles by Emilie Richards.

LET THERE BE SUSPECTS.

BLESSED IS THE BUSYBODY.

BEWARE FALSE PROFITS.