Absolutely, Positively

patience with that kind of nonsense.”

    Molly smiled. “You have patience for just about everything else.”

    “Every man has his limits.”

    “I see. Well, even if you did have convincing proof that Kendall had pulled those stunts, we're not dealing with attempted murder or even real mayhem here. I doubt that the cops could do much except issue a warning.”

    “Something I can do myself,” Harry said very softly.

    Molly was instantly alarmed. “Now, Harry—”

    He picked up the drawing and examined it intently. “I wonder if Kendall is still at this address. I don't recognize the name of the town.”

    “I don't like that look in your eye.”

    Harry's head came up so swiftly that Molly was startled into taking a step back.

    He pinned her with a fierce gaze. “What look?”

    “Take it easy.” Molly spread her hands. “It was just an expression.”

    “Sorry.” Harry was silent for a moment. “My ex-fiancée used to make similar comments about my expressions. She said I made her nervous.”

    “Do I look nervous?”

    Harry studied her closely. “No.”

“Bear in mind at all times, Harry, that I am not your ex-fiancée.”

    He blinked slowly and then he smiled. “Don't worry. I won't ever confuse you with Olivia.”

    This time the amber in his eyes was so warm Molly could almost feel the heat. She cleared her throat and pulled her attention back to the matter at hand. “Now, then, what I meant to say was, I am not sure I approve of your plans to confront Wharton Kendall. What, exactly, do you intend to do?”

    “Pay a personal call on him to discuss the little matter of nasty pranks.”

    Molly pursed her lips. “He'll probably deny everything.”

    “I don't plan to give him the chance to deny anything. I'm going to convince him that I have proof that he's the one behind the pranks and that if he tries anything else, I'll go to the cops.”

    “In other words, you're going to try to put a scare into him?”

    “Yes.”

    Molly contemplated that. “Think you can do it?”

    Harry looked up from the drawing. All of the warmth had drained out of his gaze. “Yes.”

    Molly was suddenly aware of a distinct chill in the room. Instinctively she raised a hand to pull the lapels of her robe more closely together. “I'll go with you.”

    “No, you will not.” Harry went back to studying the drawing.

    Molly stopped clutching her robe. She planted her hands on the desk and narrowed her eyes. “You are not a lone crusader, Dr. Trevelyan. You are working for the Abberwick Foundation. That means you take orders from me. I will accompany you when you visit Wharton Kendall. Is that clearly understood?”

    Harry glanced up once more from Kendall's drawing. He gave her a long, thorough assessment, and then his mouth twitched at the corner. “Understood.”

    “Good.” Molly straightened.

    “There's just one small problem.”

    “What's that?”

    “Finding Kendall may take some time.” Harry indicated the cover page of the proposal. “There's no phone number. He gives his address as a post office box in a place called Icy Crest.”

    “Where's that?”

    “I don't know. First we have to find the town, and then we have to find Kendall. It's going to take at least a full day to track him down and talk to him once we've located him. You probably don't want to be out of town on a work day. I know how important your business is to you.”

    “Oh, no,” Molly said swiftly. “You're not getting rid of me that easily. I can arrange to leave Tessa in charge for a day.”

    “You're sure?”

    “Absolutely, positively certain, Dr. Trevelyan.”

    “Have I ever told you that I don't like to be called Dr. Trevelyan?” Harry asked conversationally.

    “No.” Molly grinned. “I figured out weeks ago that it irritates the heck out of you.”

    Icy Crest proved to be little more than a blip on the map. It was located deep in the Cascade Mountains, at the end of a narrow, twisting, two-lane road. It was several miles from Interstate 90, which linked eastern and western Washington.

    Molly studied the scruffy little town through the windshield of Harry's sleek car and wondered why she was suddenly consumed by a deep sense of unease.

    The tiny mountain hamlet possessed the usual accoutrements of small rural villages everywhere, namely a single gas station, a dreary-looking grocery calledPete's , a café, and a tavern. A small sign in the dirty window of the grocery store declared