Carolina Moon

nothing compared to Deborah Purcell. I can’t for the life of me figure what Cade sees in her. A man in his position could have his pick of women. God knows I’ve tried to steer him toward plenty of them.”
    Dwight said “Hmmm” and “Uh-huh” and “Yes, honey” a couple of times as he got the casserole dish out of the car. It wasn’t necessary to actually listen to his wife when she started on one of her ramblings. After several years of marriage he had her rhythm down so that he managed to punctuate her statements at the appropriate times without having a clue what she was talking about.
    The system served them both well.
    “I imagine he’ll get tired of her before much longer and they’ll drift apart the way people do when they don’t have a real bond like we do.”
    She fluttered at him, gave his arm a little pat, and he read the signal correctly. He glanced down and gave her a warm and loving look.
    “Once he’s shaken loose again, we’ll have him over for dinner with, oh, maybe Crystal Bean. I might even be able to find some nice man for Tory, more her kind. That’ll take some doing as I don’t think there’re many men who’ll be willing to take on such a strange one. I swear, sometimes she’ll just look at me and give me the shivers, if you know what I mean. Tory!”
    She exclaimed it when Tory opened the door, and immediately opened her arms. “Oh honey, I’m just so sorry about your mother. Dwight and I came the minute we heard. You poor thing. Now, why aren’t you resting? I was sure Cade would have you lying down at a time like this.”
    The embrace was smothering and hot. “I’m all right.”
    “Of course you’re not all right, and you don’t have to pretend with us. Old friends.” She flapped her hand against Tory’s back. “Now, I want you to sit down, and I’m going to make you a nice cup of tea. I brought you a casserole here. I want you to have a hot meal, keep your strength up during this painful time. Cade.”
    She released Tory to turn her attention on Cade as he came in from the kitchen. “I’m glad you’re here, seeing to Tory. A time like this she needs all her friends. Now, you come on with me, honey.” She slipped an arm around Tory’s waist as if to support her. “Dwight, you bring that dish on back to the kitchen so I can warm it up for Tory.”
    “Lissy, that’s very kind of you,” Tory began.
    “Nothing kind about it, not between friends. I know you must be half out of your mind right now, but we’re here for you. Whatever’s said or done, you count on us, isn’t that right, Dwight, honey?”
    “Sure it is.” He gave Cade a pained looked as Lissy pulled Tory toward the kitchen. “I couldn’t stop her,” he murmured. “She means it for the best.”
    “I’m sure she does.”
    “It’s a terrible thing. Terrible. How’s Tory holding up?”
    “She’s coping.” Cade glanced back toward the kitchen where Lissy’s voice ran on and on. “I’m worried about her, but she’s coping.”
    “They’re saying it was Hannibal Bodeen who did it. Word’s spreading fast. I figured you’d want to know that’s what’s being said. It’s going to get worse, I expect, before it gets better.”
    “I don’t think it gets any worse. Chief Russ give you any updates on the manhunt?”
    “He’s playing it close. I guess he’s got to. Haven’t had anything like this around here since you lost your sister, Cade.” He hesitated, then shifted, the dish still in his hands. “It can’t be easy on you, either, bringing all that back again.”
    “No, it’s not. But I’ll tell you the way it’s starting to look, and that might close this off once and for all. It’s starting to look like it might have been Bodeen who killed Hope.”
    “Killed—” He took a long breath, blew it out again as he, too, glanced toward the kitchen. “God almighty, Cade. I don’t know what to say. What to think.”
    “Neither do I. Yet”
    “Dwight, come on and bring me that casserole, will you?”
    “On the way,” he called back. “I’ll move Lissy along, soon as I can. I know you don’t want company.”
    “Appreciate it. And I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mention Tory’s father’s connection to Hope. To Lissy or anyone just yet. Things are hard enough on Tory right now.”
    “You can count on me. I mean that, Cade. You let me know what you want done and when, and I’ll see to it.” He managed a smile. “You and me and Wade, we go back. All