While I thought about what Abby had said, I glanced around her kitchen. Stacked in the corner were placards.

"Hey, what are the signs for?"

"Oh, those," she said, glancing at them. "They're for the demonstration tomorrow."

Great, another demonstration. I'll be bailing her out of jail yet.

"What demonstration? You're not doing another sit-in at the four-way, are you?"

"No. I don't think Edna could handle another sit-in. She barely made it to her feet last time," Abby said, smiling. "We're picketing PP International's farrowing operation. The news media both here and in Des Moines have been notified and we hope to get coverage. Hopefully, it will help educate people to what's really happening in these units."

"Such as?"

"The fact that the sows spend their entire lives in crates, only big enough for them to either lie down or stand up; that the baby pigs are weaned after only ten days and the breeding process starts all over again. You know the animals can't handle this forced reproductive cycle. After only two or three litters, they're worthless. And it's off to the sausage factory."

"The operation sounds like an a.s.sembly line for the production of pork."

"It is. Confinement setups aren't operated like farms. Their goal is to produce large quant.i.ties of meat in a short amount of time. But these corporations are hiding behind laws made to protect the family farm. It's one thing we want changed." She looked down at her hands, folded on the table. "I'd like you to go."

I placed my hand on her shoulder. "Of course, I'll go."

She reached up and patted my hand. "Thanks. I know this is a difficult time for you."

I sat next to her. "You know, I thought about everything that's happened all the way home from Iowa City. I did call the police station about the van I saw in the dream. Maybe that's all I needed to do? Maybe they'll find the van, find the clue they need to lead them to the killer? It could happen, right? And I haven't had any more dreams since the one with the van."

Abby shook her head and smiled. "You sound desperate, dear."

"I am am desperate. I don't want to face Brian's killer. I'm not ready." desperate. I don't want to face Brian's killer. I'm not ready."

"Guess you'd better get ready," she said with a quick nod.

"Thanks. You're a lot of help. Oh, and you were wrong about meeting two men. The only men I really talked to were Comacho and Beasley and I already knew them. I did meet some guy Darci was dancing with at the club, but it was a 'Hi-got to go' kind of a thing."

Abby shot me a stubborn look. "I know what I saw-two men, both dark, one good one, one evil."

"But was it Brian's killer?"

"One killed for pleasure. And you've felt a connection with his killer in your dreams."

"Okay, I met three men in Iowa City. Comacho is dark, Beasley's bald, and Darci's friend was blond. Except for Comacho, and he's a cop, none of them fit your description. Did you see their faces?"

"No, only sensed their presence."

"You couldn't describe them?"

"No."

"And this is supposed to help me how how?" I said, arching my eyebrow.

"I don't know," Abby said, standing up. "I'm as frustrated as you are, Ophelia. I've tried and tried to see past the veil, but all I see is darkness and you alone."

My heart caught in my throat. Alone Alone? I grabbed her hand. "What do you mean, alone? You told me you'd always be here for me?"

Abby squeezed my hand. "I will, but I've already told you, I've got a feeling I'm not going to be helpful this time. And I don't care for it. It's as if my gift is failing me."

I understood. I felt the same way when I saw Brian's murder but arrived too late to save him. Looking at Abby, the fine lines seemed deeper now. She was worrying too much about everything.

The urge to protect her from my problems overwhelmed me. I stood and hugged her. "Don't worry. You're the one always telling me to trust I'll be guided at the right time. I guess you need to have a little faith too." I stepped back and looked at her. A faint smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"This is a switch, you telling me to have faith, isn't it?" she asked.

"Yes, it is. And it'll be okay. After all, I've had the best teacher in the world, right?"

"I don't know about best, but I've tried." She nodded once. "You're right. The solution will come when it's supposed to. There is a pattern. All we have to do is follow it."

Follow the pattern. And at the same time, protect Darci, protect Abby, and find a killer. Piece of cake, right?

Chapter Eleven.

Late, late, I'm late, I thought while I rushed up the steps to the library. I stopped on the seventh step. Oh G.o.d, I'm beginning to sound like the White Rabbit in Oh G.o.d, I'm beginning to sound like the White Rabbit in Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. I've got to get a handle on all the stress, or soon I'll be I've got to get a handle on all the stress, or soon I'll be seeing seeing white rabbits white rabbits. Shaking visions of rabbits from my mind, I proceeded up the steps.

When I shoved the door opened, and I hurried in and saw Darci hanging over the counter, talking to a man. It appeared she was having a great time flirting with him.

Something about him seemed familiar, although I couldn't see his face. Blond hair, slight build. Charles.

I stopped while I felt my face flush with pleasure. Charles's quick defense of Abby's cause at the meeting had impressed me. Even some of the neighbors Abby had known for thirty years hadn't had the courage to speak up. They'd sat back and let Abby do the talking. Charles, a stranger, had done more for her. His att.i.tude was, well... endearing.

I did a mental shake. Jeez, Jensen, get a grip. You do not know this guy. Get behind your wall and stay there until you learn more about him Jeez, Jensen, get a grip. You do not know this guy. Get behind your wall and stay there until you learn more about him.

While I stood there arguing with myself, Charles turned toward me and gave me a big smile. Darci gave me a wink. Lord, what had she been telling him?

"Ophelia, I'd hoped to catch you," he said as I walked over to him. "I stopped by the library last weekend, but the lady with the gla.s.ses told me you weren't in."

Returning his smile, I moved behind the counter and stowed my backpack. "That would've been Claire. I hope she didn't peer at you over the top of her gla.s.ses."

Charles laughed. "Well, yes, she did. A little. It was disconcerting."

I chuckled. I'd heard that statement before. Claire, president of the Library Board, had a habit of looking at people over the top of her gla.s.ses. Usually when she was annoyed. And I'd seen grown men shiver like schoolboys when she gave them the look the look. Charles must be made of strong stuff if he only found Claire's look disconcerting. My opinion of him went up another notch.

I gave Darci a sideways glance. Her mascara-rimmed eyes watched me with interest and I shuddered to think what might be going through her mind. The small nod she gave me confirmed my suspicions. Before the day was out, she'd have a hot romance between Charles and me manufactured in her mind. I shot Darci a warning look.

She answered the look with a slight shrug. Picking up a book, she flipped the cover open and checked the due date.

"Are you going to be in Summerset long?" I asked to try to cover the sudden lull in the conversation.

"I don't know." Charles traced his finger along the counter. "Darci said there's going to be a demonstration today."

"Umm-yes," I said, glancing at Darci again.

Darci gave me a quick smile.

"The demonstration will provide a good photo op. A small group fighting a large corporation. A David and Goliath kind of a thing. I also dabble with writing. It would make a good story." Charles frowned. "I've seen the effects firsthand of what careless stewardship of the land will do. Unfortunately, my family was careless. I've spent a lot of my time trying to correct the damage our factory caused."

"How admirable, Charles," I said.

"Not really," he said, his face turning a light pink. "I felt a responsibility. If everyone protected Mother Earth, we wouldn't have the pollution we do now." He blushed again. "I'm sorry. I tend to get carried away when I talk about the environment."

"Don't think a thing of it, Charles," Darci said. Turning to me, she said, "Has Abby met Charles yet?"

"No," Charles spoke up. "I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her, but I'd like to."

Darci shifted to face Charles. "You should. She's going to love you. You have a lot in common with Abby. Hey, I've got an idea." Her bright gaze settled on me. "Ophelia, why don't you introduce Abby to Charles?"

"I'd consider it an honor." Charles's blue eyes stared at me openly. "May I escort you and your grandmother to dinner? I'd enjoy talking to her about the situation she's facing. After the demonstration, of course. And if she isn't too tired."

"I don't know," I said, hesitating. "I suppose. I'll ask Abby after the demonstration."

"You're not comfortable with the idea?"

"Ahh, well..." I struggled to think of an explanation.

A quick glance at Darci didn't help. She didn't seem to be paying attention, but I knew her att.i.tude was an act. She'd soaked in every word.

Biting my lip, I moved my attention back to Charles.

"It's okay, Ophelia," he said gently. "I won't be offended if you don't want to have dinner with me."

"It's not that," I said, fl.u.s.tered.

Why didn't I want to have dinner with him and introduce him to Abby? I admired the way he spoke at the meeting. He was attractive, polite, and it seemed we had a lot in common. But something was holding me back. What?

Charles watched me closely. "You don't know me well enough to introduce me to your grandmother."

It wasn't a question. It was a statement-and he'd described exactly what I was feeling.

My eyes flew wide in surprise. "That's astute, Charles. How did you know?"

"I noticed at the meeting how protective you are of her. Comes with my job, I guess. Noticing things," he said shyly. "A freelance photographer is trained to look for subtle nuances and sometimes it's hard for me to shut the radar off."

Boy, could I identify with his statement. I'd spent my life trying to shut my radar off, not allowing my sensitivity to others to intrude into my life. I had never considered others might have the same problem, but in a different way.

"It's not that I don't think you're a nice person-"

He held up his hand, stopping me. "I understand. But I would like to talk with you more. May I call you?"

"My number's not listed," I said abruptly.

"Oh," he said, his voice full of regret.

A sharp jab in my ribs from Darci showed how closely she had been paying attention.

It was my turn to blush. I felt the heat spread up my neck and into my cheeks. I slid my eyes over to Darci.

She lifted her eyebrows as if to say: Give him your number, dummy. Thanks, Darci Give him your number, dummy. Thanks, Darci, I thought and looked back at Charles.

"Ahh, well, ahh, I suppose I could give you the number," I stuttered. Slipping out a piece of paper from under the counter, I scribbled my cell phone number and handed the paper to him.

"Thank you, Ophelia," he said, taking my hand again. He looked over at Darci, but still held on to my hand. "It was nice meeting you again."

"You too, Charles."

"I'll look forward to talking to you soon," he said, his eyes meeting mine. He gave my hand another quick squeeze, pivoted on his heel, and left the library.

Darci was the first one to break the silence. "Boy, I thought for a minute there, he was going to kiss your hand."

"Darci did you-"

She held up her hand, stopping me. "Want to go out with him? Nope. He's not my type. He's cute, but too aesthetic for me. You, on the other hand-"

"Hold it. I'm only going to talk to him," I said, picking up the library cards to be filed. "That is-if he calls." he calls."

She chuckled. "Oh, he'll call. And I bet you wind up having dinner with him too."

"So," I answered with a shrug, "it would only be dinner."

"But who knows?" Darci tapped her chin. "Ned doesn't trip your trigger, but Charles might. That's why I told him about the demonstration and suggested you introduce him to Abby."

I dropped the cards. "The idea of introducing him to Abby wasn't spur of the moment? It was a setup?"

"Sure. I knew you wouldn't introduce a stranger to Abby without checking him out first. I'd hoped, after you said, 'No,' Charles would follow through and ask for your phone number." Darci fluffed her hair and gave me a satisfied look. "But you almost spoiled my plan when you didn't give it to him right away."

I rolled my eyes. "Honestly, you are are the biggest manipulator." the biggest manipulator."

"You bet I am. If you're not going to take care of your love life, somebody has to," she said with a smirk.

And to think, I once had typecast Darci as a dumb blonde. Boy, was I wrong.

Looking down at my watch, I said, "Dang, look at the time. I have to work on those files in my office. I told Claire I'd have them done before I left for the demonstration."

"She didn't care you're taking today off?"

"No," I said, sticking the books Darci had checked in under the counter. "I called her last night to ask if the Library Board would have a problem with my partic.i.p.ation. She said since most of the board agrees with Abby, it shouldn't be an issue."