Yesterday's News

all sense but refuse to acknowledge that she killed herself.”
    “A derelict, the one who saw Coyne get killed. He died last night.”
    “They often do that, drunks.”
    “The cops think he drowned in three inches of rain water.”
    “Dangerous stuff, water. Thanks for the warning.” I got up and turned to leave.
    “Cuddy?”
    When I looked back down at him, the boozy cheer was all gone, replaced by the leaky eyes of an old man who’d been crying hard and knew he was about to start again.
    Peete said, “Allow me to reciprocate in the warning department. I told you I could smell the messiah complex? Well, my lad, you come across like you bathed in it, and I’m sick at heart from covering funerals this week.”
    “Thanks.”
    “Didn’t think it would help,” said Peete, lifting his glass.

    I walked around Nasharbor for a while to clear my head enough for driving. In that acute accessibility to suggestion that alcohol can trigger, I realized just how sick I was of Dykestra’s city “perched on the edge.” Deciding to leave it, I stopped at a pay phone to call Liz Rendall to see if I could help her out by giving Ida a ride to the airport. Someone in the city room at the Beacon said she hadn’t returned from the funeral, and there was no answer at the tugboat.
    Next I tried a travel agent I knew in Boston . He said there were no direct flights to Gainesville on the weekends, but there was a seat available on the Sunday flight to Jacksonville . I could then rent a car for the seventy or so miles to Gainesville itself. I asked him to set it up, including a room for Sunday night at any motel that had a swimming pool.
    Last, I dialed Nancy at the DA’s office. Her secretary said she was still on the rape case. I left a message that I would see her at home that night.

    “Checking out?”
    “Afraid so, Emil.”
    Jones appeared forlorn. “Figured you might be staying on, you been here so long already.”
    “Not much else I can do.”
    He dug out my bill, worked on it with a ballpoint, then slid it over to me. “No extra charge for the message services.”
    Taking out three more twenties, I said, “I appreciate that. And your backing me up with Schonstein and Cronan.”
    “Wasn’t nothing. Good to have some company I could talk to.”
    After counting my change onto the counter, he extended his right hand. “Stop back now, if you can.”
    I shook, his grasp thorny. “I will.”

    “Not a good week, kid.”
    Nasharbor didn’t live up to your expectations?
    “Just the opposite.”
    I straightened up, my left leg still stiff. Mrs. Feeney’s tulips huddled against each other on the grave. The air was colder in Boston , only about sixty with a stiff breeze coming off the water. Still, it felt like heaven.
    Hey, remember me?
    “Sorry, Beth.”
    That’s alright. This case really bothers you, doesn’t
    it.
    “No more than any other.”
    Right.
    “Okay.” I told her about Liz Rendall.
    They say everyone has a double.
    “That’s not what gets me. What gets me is that I found myself attracted to her because she looked like you, not because I found her attractive. See?”
    But nothing happened.
    “Nothing.”
    John, you may have been attracted to this woman because of me, but nothing happened because of Nancy .
    I didn’t reply. Sometimes you get tired of telling people they’re always right.

    * * *

    From where I was parked, I could see her before she saw me. Alighting from the red Honda Civic, she juggled a bag of groceries while shaking her key case at the front door of the three-decker.
    I got out and called over. “Can I get that for you?” Nancy turned. “Among other things.”
    Walking to her, I took the keys and unlocked the deadbolt. “How’s the trial coming?”
    “It’s been rough, but we should close to the jury on Tuesday.”
    “Does that mean you’ll have to work all weekend?”
    “That means I’ll have to work part of the weekend.” More quietly, she said, “How are you?”
    I stared at her, perhaps a little too long, because her expression grew worried. “John?”
    “I’m fine now.”

The Jacksonville airport seemed a relatively small and friendly place, although it could just have been that spending Friday night, Saturday afternoon, and Sunday morning with Nancy lifted my spirits. The garment bag and I made our way to the Hertz booth.
    A bronzed young woman with hair the color of honey greeted me. “How’re y’all doing today?”
    “Fine so far. My name’s