Blaine sighed a little. Its only been a couple of days, but its amazing how fast I start missing her.
It was all Riley could do not to start crying all over again. Shed known all along that Blaine was a wonderful father. What might it be like to be in a more permanent relationship with him?
Careful, she told herself. Lets not rush things.
Meanwhile, she had almost finished her raspberry cheesecake.
Thank you, Blaine, she said. Its been such a lovely evening.
Gazing into his eyes, she added, I hate to see it end.
Gazing back at her, Blaine squeezed her hand.
Who says it has to end? he asked.
Riley smiled. She knew her smile was enough to answer his question.
After all, why should their evening end? The FBI was guarding her family and no new killer was demanding her attention.
Maybe it was time to enjoy herself.
CHAPTER FIVE
George Tully didnt like the looks of one patch of ground over by the road. He didnt exactly know why.
Nothing to worry about, he told himself. The morning light was probably just playing tricks on him.
He took a deep breath of fresh air. Then he stooped down and picked up a handful of loose soil. As always, it felt soft and luxurious. It also smelled good, rich with nutrients from past corn harvests husks and ears plowed back into the soil.
Good old black Iowa dirt, he thought as bits of it trickled down between his fingers.
This land had been in Georges family for years, so hed known this fine soil all his life. But he never got tired of it, and his pride in farming the richest land in the world never waned.
He looked up across fields that stretched as far as he could see. The earth had been tilled for a couple of days now. It was ready and waiting for corn kernels dusted purple with insecticide to be placed where each new cornstalk would soon appear.
Hed held off on the planting until today to make sure of the weather. Of course there was never any way to be certain that a frost wouldnt come even this late in the year and ruin the crop. He could remember a freak April blizzard back in the 70s that had taken his father by surprise. But as George felt a breath of warm air and looked up at some high clouds streaking across the sky, he felt as confident as he could hope to feel.
Todays the day, he thought.
As George stood watching, his field hand Duke Russo came driving a tractor that dragged a forty-foot-long planter behind it. The planter would seed sixteen rows at a time, thirty inches apart, one kernel at a time, deposit fertilizer on top of each one, cover the seed, and roll on its way.
Georges sons, Roland and Jasper, had been standing in the field awaiting the tractors arrival, and they walked toward it as it rumbled along one side of the field. George smiled to himself. Duke and the boys made a good crew. There was no need for George to hang around for the actual planting. He waved at the three men, then turned to head back to his truck.
But that odd patch of earth near the road caught his attention again. What was wrong over there? Had the tiller missed that patch? He couldnt imagine how that could have happened.
Maybe a groundhog had been digging there.
But as he walked toward the spot, he could see that no groundhog had done this. There was no opening, and the soil was patted down.
It looked like something had been buried here.
George growled under his breath. Vandals and pranksters sometimes gave him trouble. A couple of years ago, some boys from nearby Angier stole a tractor and used it to demolish a storage shed. More recently, others had spray-painted obscenities on fences and walls and even cattle.
It was infuriating and hurtful.
George had no idea why the kids would come out of their way to give him trouble. Hed never done any harm to them that he knew of. Hed reported the incidents to Joe Sinard, Angiers police chief, but nothing ever got done about it.
What have those bastards done this time? he said aloud, tapping the soil with his foot.
He figured hed better find out. Whatever was buried here might wreck his equipment.
He turned toward his crew and waved for Duke to stop the tractor. When the engine was off, George yelled to his sons.
Jasper, Roland fetch me that shovel in the tractor cab.
Whats wrong, Pop? Jasper called back.
I dont know. Just do it.
A moment later, Duke and the boys came walking toward him. Jasper handed his father a shovel.
As the group watched curiously, George prodded the soil with his shovel. As he did, a strange, sour smell met his nostrils.
He felt a wave of instinctive dread.
What the hells under here?
He turned over a few shovels full of dirt until he struck something solid but soft.
He shoveled more carefully, trying to uncover whatever it was. Soon something pale came into view.
It took a few moments for George to register what it was.
Oh, Lord! he gasped, his stomach churning with horror.
It was a hand a young womans hand.
CHAPTER SIX
The next morning, Riley watched as Blaine fixed a breakfast of eggs Benedict with fresh squeezed orange juice and rich, dark coffee. She reflected that passionate lovemaking was not limited to ex-husbands. And she realized that waking up in comfort with a man was something new.
She felt grateful for this morning, and grateful to Gabriela, who had assured her she would take care of everything when Riley had phoned her last night. But she couldnt help but wonder if a relationship like this would survive, given the many other complications of her life.
Riley decided to ignore that question and focus on the delicious meal. But as they ate, she soon noticed that Blaines mind seemed to be elsewhere.
Whats the matter? she asked him.
Blaine didnt reply. His eyes roamed about uneasily.
She felt a flash of worry. What was the problem?
Was he having second thoughts about last night? Was he less contented with this than she was?
Blaine, whats wrong? Riley asked, her voice shaking a little.
After a pause, Blaine said, Riley, I just dont feel safe.
Riley struggled to make sense of what Blaine had said. Was all the warmth and affection theyd shared since their date last night suddenly gone? What had happened between them to change everything?
I I dont understand, she stammered. What do you mean, you dont feel safe?
Blaine hesitated, then said, I think I need to buy a gun. For home protection.
His words jolted Riley. She hadnt expected this.
But maybe I should have, she thought.
Sitting across the table from him, she could see a scar on his right cheek. Hed gotten that scar last November in Rileys own home, trying to protect April and Gabriela from an attacker bent on revenge.
Riley remembered the terrible guilt shed felt at seeing Blaine unconscious in a hospital bed after it was over.
And now she felt that guilt all over again.
Would Blaine ever feel safe with Riley in her life? Would he ever feel that his daughter could be safe?
And was a gun what he really needed to make him feel safer?
Riley shook her head.
I dont know, Blaine, she said. Im not a great fan of civilians keeping weapons in their homes.
As soon as the words were out, Riley realized how patronizing they sounded.