Jack Beale 00 - Killer Run

as she took the lantern out of the box. “Where did you get it?”
    “I just told you.”
    “No, you didn’t. You said something about a strange man and getting lost in the woods.”
    He took a breath. “Pol, I found the lantern, in a store in Essex, Massachusetts.”
    She looked up at him, questions in her eyes.
    “It’s right next to Ipswich where the race is.” he continued. “There are a lot of antiques stores around there. The shopkeeper was a runner so he went with me, and it’s a good thing he did because I would have been lost in the woods.”
    “That was nice of him.”
    “It was, but he was definitely a bit odd.”
    “Mm-hmm.” Clearly, she was still more fascinated with the lamp than the details. Turning back to her vegetables she simply said, “This is perfect.”

CHAPTER 25
    MAX CLOSED THE BOOK.
    “Finished?” asked Jack.
    “Yes,” was her satisfied reply.
    He had never seen her so consumed by a book. Secretly he was glad that she had finished, so he wouldn’t have to share her with the story anymore.
    “I can’t wait. Only three weeks,” she said.
    Jack looked over at her. The puzzled look on his face must have been enough because he didn’t have to say a word before she continued. “The Quilt House. Our trip up north, with Patti and Dave.”
    “Right, yeah, the trip.”
    “Jack, it was your idea, and it will be fun. Patti and I can shop while you guys run and do guy things all day.” Then she added, almost as an afterthought, “Maybe I’ll make a quilt.”
    “You’ll what?”
    “Make a quilt. This book has inspired me.”
    “You’re k- kidding?” stammered Jack. “You want to make a quilt?”
    “What’s with the look?”
    “Max, you’ve never done anything like that in your life. You don’t even like to sew. What makes you think you can make a quilt?”
    “Jack, stop being such a negative Nancy. There’s a lot about me you don’t know.”
    “Probably true, but I do know that you have never sewn anything in your life,” he thought to himself. What he said was, “You’re right, I don’t know everything about you, and that’s what I love, the mystery that is you. If you want to make a quilt, then go for it.”
    “I will.” And with that she picked up a pencil and a piece of paper and began sketching.
    He loved Max dearly and he was always the first one to encourage her to do new and interesting things, but right now he wanted some Max-and-Jack time. The past few weeks she had been working a lot at Ben’s. The summer staff had returned to their various universities, so she was taking on extra hours. Their time together was limited, and it seemed that all she had wanted to do when she wasn’t working was read that book.
    “I’m going out for a run,” he announced, hoping she’d try to delay him.
    “Okay, see you when you get back,” was her distracted reply.
    As he headed down the road, he thought, “Well, on the brighter side, I’m getting in some extra mileage and that will make Rockdog easier.”
    His intention was only to run four or five miles, just enough to feel good, but not so much as to temper his desires for Max. He fully intended to seduce her upon his return. He was in the zone when a car horn startled him. It was Max. She slowed to match his pace, and through her open window she shouted that she was on her way over to Patti’s and that she’d be back later. All he could do was exhale a “No Problem.” With that she blew him a kiss and drove off.
    As she pulled away, he considered altering his course and increasing the distance. So far he had run nearly three miles. “What the hell,” he said to himself. Then he thought, “She’ll be at Patti’s for a while; might as well make the most of this since I’ve gone this far.”
    He was feeling good so he took the next turn, knowing that now his run would be at least ten miles. “Maybe we’ll get home at the same time. I’ll need a shower …” He grinned, convincing himself that his idea would work, despite every indication that there wasn’t a chance in hell.
    * * *
    As Jack slowly walked up his drive, he noted that Max wasn’t back yet. However, Cat did come out to greet him.
    “So, she’s not back yet,” said Jack as he bent over to scratch Cat’s head.
    “Mrowh,” was her answer. She started purring as she head- butted his leg. Then she quickly backed off as she realized that he was dripping with sweat.
    “I know. I know. Come on. Let’s go in.” He stood