Several wolf whistles greeted my appearance on the playground.

I laughed. "Good grief, guys. I'm probably your mothers' age."

"Terrific, guys. You've worn out an old man. Have mercy," Geoff said teasingly.

"Yeah, right, man. You've wiped the court with us," one of the boys said in respect.

"I can hardly believe that you are 'Monsignor''s brother."

"Will shot a mean game of hoops when he was your age. In fact, he was All-State for the last three years of High School. And he was All American in college. If he hadn't been called to the priesthood, he would have probably gone pro."

The teenagers absorbed that bit of information in silence. I could tell that the boys had never thought of 'Monsignor' Will in that light before.

"h.e.l.lo, beautiful," Geoff said to me.

"h.e.l.lo, yourself."

"So, you finally decided to rejoin the land of the living."

I laughed. "Sure did. Now, why don't you go get cleaned up. I want to go shopping at Marshall Field's."

"Trying to empty my wallet?" Geoff asked teasingly.

"Trying to fill my closet."

Geoff nodded as he slid his arms back into his shirt.

"Okay. Let me go get a shower."

"Take your time."

He laughed. "What you don't think that I should go as I am?"

"Not unless you are going as a fumigator."

*Chapter 20*

'Diary, May 8'

I have Sister's overnight case. It was incredibly easy to steal it from the airport. In fact, it was almost too easy. Soon, the next stage in my plan will begin.

Very soon, she will continue to pay for the harm that she has done to me with her lies and her murderous actions. The law can't touch her, but I can. I can. I've already proven that. Bye-bye car, bye-bye house. Soon, soon, she will have nothing left. Not her business ... not her sanity ... and not her life.

The law can't touch her. But, I can. I have. And I will.

Soon, all my waiting will be over, but not before I make her suffer, not before I destroy everything that she loves, the way that she did to me.

I can almost see her face as she opens the case. I only wish that I could actually be there to see her reaction. Still, I'll hear it. That's the next best thing.

It will be a surprise to her, maybe but probably not a lethal one. That's a calculated risk. I'm not done playing with her, yet. I haven't yet given her back all the pain that she caused me. I would hate for the game to be over before I've had my satisfaction. I will have justice. I will make her pay. There's really no one else who can extract the vengeance for her murderous acts.

Then she will be helpless, at my mercy. She'll beg. She'll plead. But no one will listen to her. No one will want anything to do with her. Everyone will know her to be the lying murderess that she is.

The religious school where she teaches will have no recourse except to terminate her contract. After all, they won't be able to afford to keep a cold-blooded murderess on faculty. It would be bad for their image.

It's just a matter of time.

Like the drop of water that erodes a stone as it drips, I will be wearing her down, cutting a groove into her, until finally she breaks in two.

It's just a matter of time. I have all the time in the world. Too bad that Sister doesn't yet really realize that her time is limited. Not yet. But she will.

The thought of making her sweat, really sweat, makes me happy. But not as happy as the thought of seeing her brought to justice.

*Chapter 21*

'Geoff'

I stood back watching Alicia shop. Heaven help anyone who stood in her way, I thought. In the hour that we had been in the store, she had selected four business suits, three daytime dresses, two dressy dresses, a half dozen blouses, and five pair of slacks which coordinated with the suit jackets. "Are you planning on buying out the store?" Alicia laughed. "Me? I thought that you were buying?" I laughed in return as I crossed the distance between us. "I think that it is good that I found out just how extravagant you can be before the wedding." "Afraid that you can't keep me in the style to which I have become accustomed?" "You could probably buy and sell me a dozen times over, woman." "Not quite." "Aren't those a lot of things for a woman in your condition to be buying? You aren't going to be in them for very long." Alicia smiled at me. "I don't intend to spend the rest of our marriage pregnant. And I won't be letting myself go. I'll be the same size after the baby comes." "You are sure about that?" "If I have to starve myself after the baby is born, I'll be back in a size eight. Trust me." "That's my girl." Alicia raised an eyebrow. "Girl?" she echoed disdainfully. "Oh, please, you aren't going to go militant on me, just now, are you?" "Sweetheart, I haven't been a girl for decades." "You're as young as you feel, darling." Then I kissed her forehead. Alicia laughed. "I certainly hope not. On second thought, maybe that isn't so bad.

I'm in pretty good shape for a hundred and ten year old." "Idiot." But that was a term of affection. "I've got a few more things to pick up."

"You aren't finished?"

"Not hardly. I need shoes, a new spring coat, some lingerie..." She stopped as my eyes lit up.

"Stop drooling," she warned in a teasing voice.

I laughed. Then I kissed her forehead, again. "Go shop."

"You know, I wouldn't be this extravagant if my wardrobe hadn't been lost in the explosion. I'm so sick of living in jeans, and sweats like I have been for the past weeks."

"I know, Apple Juice."

"And I am buying my own things. I was only teasing you about letting you pay."

"Sure, 'Licia."

"Why are you being so agreeable, all of a sudden?"

"Would you rather that I be disagreeable?"

She smiled broadly. "Of course not."

"It's good to see you enjoying yourself. I haven't seen you smile, really smile, when we are alone, in what seems like forever. A man could become addicted to your smiles and laughter."

"I'm sorry, Geoff."

"You've had a lot on your mind. Now, shop until you drop or your credit limit makes you stop."

"I've never pushed my Field's card to the limit. I doubt that I'll do so today. But, the thought is tempting. This is the only time in my life that I will be a.s.sembling a trousseau."

"Then by all means, don't forget the lingerie. Make sure that it doesn't have scratchy lace."

Alicia smiled, and laughed genuinely. Her laughter always sent a thrill up my spine.

"Ah yes, but scratchy for which one of us?" she asked, mischief in her eyes.

"You never let me get by with anything, do you?"

"Never."

I looked at the rear of the borrowed station wagon. Alicia had filled it with packages.

"How in the world are you going to get all of this home?"

"Ever heard of UPS? I'll take the crucial items with me. The rest, I'll box up and have your brother send them downstate via UPS."

Alicia smiled as she leaned back against the seat.

"What are you thinking?"

"Just how good it feels to be loved."

"I do love you, 'Licia."

"I know ... I've not been fair to you, lately, have I?"

"Life hasn't been fair, lately."

"We are going to have a good life together, aren't we?" she asked with a shade of desperation in her voice.

"Of course we are. We wouldn't dare do otherwise."

*Chapter 22*

'Alicia'

The rest of Sat.u.r.day pa.s.sed entirely too quickly.

Geoff and I went out on the town Sat.u.r.day evening. Dinner and dancing in Chicago were too much of a temptation for us. Especially so, since the only restaurant in Fieldsburg which offered dancing did so to the music of a Country band. We returned to the rectory at two a.m.

Even after that late night, we were both awake and dressed in time for ten thirty ma.s.s on Sunday.

Laughter filled the dining room at the rectory. Sunday lunch was simple: homemade bread, sliced cheeses and meats, a.s.sorted raw fresh vegetables with a feta cheese and walnut dip, and an array of fresh fruits.

"You've got to let me have the recipe for that dip."

Sister smiled at me. "Of course, Alicia. I'll write you with it."

Will glanced at his watch. "I hate to be a nag. But, you two are going to miss your flight unless we get moving."

"Flying out of O'Hare?" Brother Louis asked.

"Meigs."

"I hate small airplanes. I never feel safe," Brother remarked.

I sighed. "But, then again, I've never found much about life which was safe."

Will looked pointedly at his watch. "Come on, people. It is past time for us to get going, if I am still driving you to the airport."

Geoff and I made a simple dinner working together in his kitchen, after we returned to Fieldsburg. We ate by the light of the fire blazing in the fireplace in the living room.

When the grandfather's clock rang off nine, I yawned.

"Tired?"

"A little."

"Then go to bed, 'Licia. I'll lock up before I come up."

"Geoff?"

He smiled at me.