Five Days in Summer

nice and rested, with his precious offering that he wasted more precious time to go and get ignited Amy like dry air on a flame. She hadn’t realized how far gone she was until she heard the snap of her own voice. “What the hell is that, Al?”
    Snow ignored her and walked to the long table, where he set the coffee and doughnuts down at the end. The room was hot with Amy’s anger and no one made a move toward the tray.
    She felt her teeth grinding, felt herself making possibly the biggest mistake of her career. Losing her temper in front of Kaminer, Sorensen, Geary... just when she was on the cusp of seeing Mr. White scuttling across the map. They were all watching her and she imagined what they were thinking: she couldn’t handle it, or maybe she’d had her period. Well, she could and she didn’t — that wasn’t the point. Snow had sabotaged this investigation from the very beginning, and he was still doing it. They needed everyone 24/7 at this point, everyone, even the weakest links.
    Coffee. Doughnuts.
    She walked over to the cardboard tray and box, and in one quick gesture swept them onto the floor.
    “That’s enough, Detective!” Kaminer stood up. Then he actually chuckled. “I could have used that doughnut.”
    Nervous laughter rippled through the room.
    She felt it coming: booted off the case, suspension or, worse, demotion back to the squad car. She should have talked to Kaminer about Snow two days ago before she let herself get this twisted up. Should have, could have, would have. It was too late now.
    “We’re all a little delirious,” Kaminer said. “I slept two hours at home before and I’m sharper now.” He glanced over at Sorensen, who was right up close to the map, staring into it.
    Sorensen turned to face the room. “Alert the Coast Guard.” He turned to Amy and she felt herself sinking like a deflated buoy. “Detective, go home and get some rest.”
    She couldn’t believe it — that was all? No reprimand? Just a time-out to catch a little sleep in her own bed? She didn’t want to leave, but knew better than to argue.
    “Thank you, sir.”
    “I don’t want you driving, Detective,” Kaminer said.
    “I’ll be fine, sir.”
    “Snow, drive her home. On your way back” — he winked — “pick up some more of those doughnuts.”
    Amy felt a swell of resentment, but kept her eyes down as she walked across the room and out the door with Al Snow right behind her.

Chapter 28
    As they glided into Shoestring Bay, Marian was surprised to see another boat tied at the dock. It was a small white cabin cruiser with a scripted blue name so chipped it was impossible to read. She had never seen anyone else here before but surely this dock belonged to someone; this just confirmed her feeling that they were trespassing.
    “Maybe it’s time to find a paying berth, Henry,” Marian said.
    Henry steered them forward. “Let’s make this quick.” He docked just long enough for Ted to carry their suitcase off the boat and Marian to help Daisy onto solid ground.
    Daisy windmilled her arms in the moist summer air in a swashbuckling good-bye to her uncle Henry, the now-repaired and shortened charm bracelet dinging like noon bells on her fragile wrist. Henry saluted and ahoyed as Everlasting Love drifted off.
    Marian hated to see her reverie on Martha’s Vineyard end, but such was life. It was time to step back into civilization.
    “Come on, ladies.” Ted picked up their suitcase and started up the hill. Marian pulled Daisy along, behind Ted, to the path that cut through bramble at the footof Simons Narrow Road. At the first hint of pavement, Ted set down the suitcase so he could pull it on its wheels.
    “It was a good visit,” he said. “Relaxing.”
    “I surely could have used another day, though.”
    “Why did we have to leave?” Daisy pulled away from her mother’s hand and turned back toward the bramble. “I want to stay forever.”
    “Well, we’ll see you then.” Marian joined Ted at his side and kept walking. They chuckled as they heard Daisy’s feet pattering up behind them.
    “What time’s the bus?” Ted asked.
    “Four o’clock. We’ll have lunch at the Mute Swan like always.”
    “Yay!” Daisy now ran on ahead. “I’ll have fish ‘n’ chips! Yahoo!”
    The roadside restaurant was just a few hundred feet up the road. It was a ramshackle place, perfect with a noisy kid like Daisy. Marian thought she’d ask the waitress if there was some kind of lost and