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she could live her green life.”
    “Did you tell him what happened?” asked Ray.
      “No, I didn’t want to get into it. The guy is a troglodyte. How does he get elected year after year?”
    “So the truck is still missing?” Ray pressed.
    “No, it’s been found deep in the woods at the end of a seasonal road down in Benzie County.   Someone poured gas in the cab and set it ablaze. I checked it out late this afternoon.   It’s just a burned-out hulk.”
    “Damn,” said Ray. “It looks like we’ve got someone who’s focused on not leaving any evidence.”
    “How’s the salmon?” Sue asked.
    “Terrific. Thank you.”
    “I should’ve left you to enjoy your meal and then come back to talk business.”
    “No,” said Ray. “We do this all the time. It’s the norm.”
    “And there’s one more thing,” said Sue. “You had a date tonight.”
    “Damn, I completely forgot. How did you know?” he probed.
    “I guess Sarah left a couple of messages on your voicemail today. When you didn’t return her calls, she called your office and asked for your secretary. We women know how to get information. I got the impression from Jan that Sarah will probably be visiting you this evening.”
    Ray turned his attention to the salad, carefully pouring on the olive oil, then adding part of the small container of vinegar. He looked over at Sue. “How about the dog? Did you turn it over to animal control?”
      “No,” said Sue. “She’s really sweet and very upset. I’ve been feeding her and walking her. She’s in the car.   I’d like to look after her until this all gets settled. She has been completely traumatized.”
      Ray thought about it for a moment. “It’s okay with me. We’ll just deputize her. Does she have a name?”
    “Simone,” said Sue. “Molly says the dog is named after Simone de Beauvoir.”
    “A literary dog,” Ray observed. “Thank you for this,” he said, gesturing toward the now empty food containers,   “I didn’t know I was so hungry.” He paused, then asked, “Will you pick me up tomorrow morning?”
    “Sure, give me a call when you know you’re getting out.”   Sue came back to the side of the bed and patted the back of his hand affectionately. Then she was gone.

6.
     
    Ray was still sleeping soundly when Sarah James arrived. He woke with a start and pulled her into focus as she stood at the side of his bed. Ray had met Sarah in the early fall when he was investigating the murder of a faculty member at Leiston School, a small private prep school. Over the ensuing months they had started to become a couple.
    “How are you?” she asked.
    “Okay, I just need a little rest. Sorry about tonight, sorry I didn’t….”
    “Like you had the opportunity to,” she said, smiling and reaching out to touch his arm, moving against the side of the bed. She bent forward and kissed him gently.
    “You’re a hard man to love, Ray Elkins. I’ve only known you a few months and twice now I have stood at your bedside and looked at your battered body.”
    “How was your trip to Chicago?” Ray asked, changing the subject.
    “Why are you shifting the subject to me. I was talking about”…
    “Sarah, this is anomalous. I’ve never had anything happen like this before.”
    “How many times do….”
    “It was a random event.”
    “And when Denton Freeler shot you, that was random. The bullet just fell out of the sky and struck you while you were out kayaking in Lake Michigan?”
    Ray remained quiet, letting her question hang, knowing the tone of her voice and her body language reflected her anxiety. “It’s been an unusual time,” he finally commented.
    “It’s hard for me to see you hurting,” said Sarah, brushing away a tear. A long silence followed. She moved closer to the bed and took his hand.
    “Chicago,” she finally said, “that’s something I need to talk to you about. I had hoped we’d be doing that this evening, over a good dinner and a glass of wine