"Okay, okay." Charlie laughed. "I'm petting you. See? Lots of pets. Ugh, why does he always lick me on the mouth?"

Lindsey laughed.

"Sorry about that," she said. "He has boundary issues."

"As in, he doesn't have any?" Charlie asked with a grin. He rubbed Heathcliff's head and said, "Love me less, little dude."

"About my errand . . ."

"Did you want to use my van?"

"Uh . . . no," Lindsey said with a shudder.

She had borrowed his van once and it had taken her three washings to get the man stink out of her clothes. Charlie's decrepit van was used primarily to schlep his band to all of its gigs, and the smell of stage sweat and stale beer permeated its shag interior.

"But thanks for the offer," she said. "This errand is actually a run to Charlene's cabin on Wishbone Island."

Charlie glanced up at her from the magazine still in his free hand and said, "Oh, so you need a boat?"

17.

"Yep." Lindsey nodded. She clutched the Tupperware tub full of pumpkin squares to her chest and tried to look the part of the concerned friend.

"You're in luck. I'm on call for the water taxi tonight, since both Sully and Ian are working on the set for the play," he said. "I'm getting double overtime. Let's go."

"Can I bring Heathcliff?" Lindsey asked.

"Sure, he loves the taxi," Charlie said.

"When did he go out on the taxi?" Lindsey asked.

"Oh, um . . ." Charlie grabbed his jacket off of a nearby chair. Lindsey already had hers on.

"Charlie," she said in a warning voice.

"Well, sometimes when I'm watching him for you, I take him down to visit Sully and we go for a ride on the taxi," Charlie said. He made a face like he was expecting her to slug him. "He missed Sully and I know Sully missed him, too, since you two-"

"Since Sully dumped me," she said. "It's fine. I'm not mad. Much."

Heathcliff's ears perked up at the name Sully, and he did a happy dance.

"No, we're not going to see him," she said. Heathcliff sat back down and gave her a sulky look from under his bushy eyebrows. "I'm not going to cave in, so forget it."

"Come on, boy. They'll get back together, you'll see," Charlie said.

"Charlie!" Lindsey protested.

"What?" he asked. "You, Sully and Heathcliff are like PB &J. You just go together."

"Whatever," Lindsey said. She knew it was pointless to argue with him.

"Cheer up, buddy," Charlie said to Heathcliff as he led the way out the door. "At least you still get to ride in the boat."

The air was cold out on the water, and Lindsey's nose began to run. She had forgotten to wear gloves and kept her hands jammed into her pockets when she wasn't blowing her nose.

Wishbone Island was halfway out into the islands, so it only took a little over twenty minutes to reach. Heathcliff loved it. He had his own spot on the boat where he stood and rested his paws on the side; he barked at the wind and tried to bite the waves that splashed up against the boat, and he never stopped wagging.

Lindsey sat in the seat next to him, keeping a hand on his leash just in case a stray wave knocked him overboard. She realized it was unnecessary, as he seemed to have better sea legs than she did, but still, he was her baby.

"Charlie, exactly how many times has he been out on this boat?" she called.

Charlie looked at her and then cupped a hand to his ear and yelled, "Huh?"

Lindsey knew he could hear her. The engine and wind weren't that loud. She shook her head at him, not buying his dodging of the question.

"Oh, look," Charlie cried. "Here we are."

He cut the engine back and turned the wheel to follow the perimeter of the island toward Charlene's cabin. Wishbone Island was named for its shape, and Charlene and Martin's cabin was at the pointy end of the wishbone.

Although the line of the island was rocky, the island itself was lush with trees. There were several cabins on it, as it was one of the few of the Thumb Islands that had electricity. Given the modern conveniences and boat-only access, it was a perfect getaway spot, especially for a local celebrity like Charlene. Lindsey knew that Charlene loved the peace and quiet that her family could get on the island, away from her life as a busy news anchor.

Charlie brought the boat right into the long dock that belonged to Charlene's cabin. Heathcliff jumped out as soon as he could, and Lindsey scrambled out to tie the boat while Charlie shut down the engine.

Heathcliff was dancing on his feet and Lindsey finally said, "Okay, go ahead."

Heathcliff took off at a run, down the dock and up the stairs that led to a large deck. From there he crossed the deck to scratch against the door, which led into the cozy red cabin with the white trim nestled against a thick thatch of fir trees.

Lindsey waited for Charlie, and together they made their way up the steps. Lindsey had just reached the landing when she saw Charlene come out the door, shutting it behind her.

Charlene was a tall, lithe black woman, who while strikingly good looking, also possessed a keen intelligence that was easy to see in the spark in her eyes. She carried herself with an air of confidence, and she was a successful news anchor quite simply because people trusted her. They trusted her to report the facts and keep them informed about their world.

Right now, she was a casual version of her usual self in jeans and a black turtleneck sweater with her shoulder-length hair tied back by a plaid scarf. She glanced at Lindsey with a worried look.

"Lindsey! Charlie!" she cried when she saw them. "When Heathcliff showed up at the door, I didn't know what to think. Is everything all right?"

"It's fine," Lindsey assured her. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to check and see that you are doing all right?"

"So you came all the way out here in a boat with your dog?" Charlene asked. "Cell phones reach the islands, you know."

"I know, but I wanted to see you for myself," she said.

"Well, as you can see I'm fine," Charlene said.

Lindsey glanced at Charlie and he shrugged. Charlene was definitely not herself. Lindsey had expected her to be sad or distraught; instead, she seemed stressed and slightly irritated.

Lindsey held out the Tupperware tub she'd brought with her. "I made you pumpkin squares. I thought the kids would like them, and they're somewhat healthy."

Charlene's shoulders slumped. "I'm sorry. This was so nice of you and I'm, well, I'm just out of sorts."

"That's okay; you're grieving," Lindsey said. "It's perfectly normal to feel angry, scared, sad, all of that."

She reached out and hugged her friend around the tub of cookies. Charlene gave her a firm squeeze back, and Lindsey pressed the tub into Charlene's arms.

"How are the kids? Are they doing all right?" she asked.

A squeal of laughter sounded from the open window of the cabin, and Charlene glanced over her shoulder at the house.

"Yes, I haven't really told them anything," Charlene said in a low voice. "I've been waiting."

"Kids are tougher than people think," Charlie said. "They'll be okay."

"Maybe," Charlene said. "How are you doing, Lindsey?"

"Me?" Lindsey asked.

"Yes, I know that you and Robbie seemed to really hit it off," she said.

"Oh, I-" Lindsey glanced at Charlie and saw his outraged look. He had been very clear over the past few months that he fully expected her and Sully to get back together.

"Explain," he said.

"Well, Robbie certainly was a charmer. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't flattered to be noticed by him and I was very sad about, well-" Lindsey's throat got tight and she realized she didn't even want to utter the words that he was gone. She shook her head. She had a purpose here more than just to check on her friend.

"You cared for him a lot, didn't you?" Charlene asked.

"Yeah," Lindsey admitted, ignoring Charlie's huff of indignation.

"I understand," Charlene said. Her voice was so sympathetic that Lindsey was afraid she would burst into tears.

"Look, I don't want to keep you," she said. "I'm sure the kids must be getting ready for bed, but I feel better now that I've seen you. Will you please call me if you need anything?"

"I will absolutely," Charlene said. She took Lindsey's hand and squeezed it in hers. "You're a good friend."

"Thanks," Lindsey said. She turned to Charlie and Heathcliff, who was busily sniffing all of the corners of the deck. "Charlie, why don't you take Heathcliff down to the boat? I'll be right there."

"All right," he said. "Good night, Charlene, and I'm sorry for your loss."

Charlene gave him a small smile. "Thank you, Charlie."

Lindsey waited until they had started down the stairs before she turned back to Charlene.

"What is it, Lindsey?" Charlene asked. "What's on your mind?"

"Charlene, did you know that Robbie fathered a child?" she asked.

Charlene's eyes went wide and she blew out a breath. "Did Robbie tell you that?"

Lindsey lowered her head. "No, I was reading some old articles about him and it was mentioned in an old Times interview."

Charlene put the tub of pumpkin squares on the table and crossed her arms over her chest. She did not look happy.

"Why are you digging into Robbie's past?" she asked.

"Because I'm a buttinsky?" Lindsey suggested.

The sound of laughter came from the cabin and Lindsey cringed. She sincerely hoped that was from the television and not because the kids were eavesdropping and laughing at her.

"Yes, you are," Charlene said. "But given that I'm a reporter, I can't really fault you for it. You need to stay away from this situation, however."

"I promise I'm not getting involved," Lindsey said. "It's just that someone was out to get Robbie and that someone is still out there, and I'm worried-"

"Worried about what?" Charlene asked. She was watching Lindsey closely under the yellow porch light, and Lindsey wished she had just kept her mouth shut. Charlene had enough to deal with without getting all riled that her mother might be a target, too.

"Nothing," Lindsey lied.

"Oh, no, you started to say something," Charlene said. "You need to finish it."

Lindsey blew out a breath. She was going to go for vague and hope that Charlene didn't put it together. "All right, I'm just worried that Robbie wasn't the only target."

"Meaning you think my mother might be next?"

18.

"Well, you weren't supposed to get it that quick," Lindsey said.

"It's nothing I hadn't thought myself," Charlene said. "Mom, of course, refuses to listen."

"Of course," Lindsey agreed. "That's why we've all agreed to keep watch over her. She won't be allowed out of our sight."

Charlene smiled. "I might have known. Meanwhile, I've been nagging Emma to assign an undercover officer to tail her twenty-four-seven."

"Excellent. Between all of us, she should be safe."

Charlene nodded. She looked as if she wanted to say more but she held back.