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first time since the day had begun. He was normally on the way to the office by seven a.m. For security reasons a driver and bureau car were provided now that he ran the Chicago office. He started his workday in the back seat, reading the overnight brief that came to his home by secure fax. Catching half an hour of normal time with Ann when he got home each night was something he treasured.
    “What cold case did you bring home?”
    He curled a strand of her hair around his finger. “What makes you think I did?”
    “We solved the last one.”
    She might be a retired homicide cop, and he’d managed to get himself promoted too high for the rewards of hands-on running a case, but they both could keep their hand in. He dropped a kiss on her hair. “Baby Connor.”
    “I wasn’t a cop yet, but I remember it, the funeral.”
    “Of the cases I considered, this one stood out for its sadness. A three-month-old baby boy taken from a stroller at a shopping center, the note left says We’ll be in touch . The father gets a call on the fourth day from a local pub telling him how to find where his son is buried. The case needs solving. I brought a copy of the call home with me. The audio guys cleaned it up with today’s equipment; they were able to separate several of the background conversations.”
    “Anything useful?”
    “A busy pub on a Wednesday night.”
    “I’ll enjoy working on it with you.”
    “Nineteen years old. It’s ice cold.”
    “We enjoy a challenge. It’s open. That’s what matters.”
    Paul reached into his shirt pocket, pulled out a small archive-quality, clear plastic sleeve. “I also stopped by to see Bryce for a couple minutes. He thought you might enjoy this one.”
    The coin inside was a silver-capped Bust half-dollar, one of the 1834s she favored. Paul knew she would enjoy it, and Bryce had assured him it was in better condition than most Ann had handled during the years she had dealt coins.
    “You’ve got good taste,” she said, turning the coin over.
    “Bryce helps with that. Have you heard anything more about why Charlotte is in town?” Ann’s sources were better than his on some matters.
    “Her business with Bryce is simply selling the coins fromher grandfather’s estate. Probably where this one came from. But the rest of it—she’s got the kind of decisions ahead of her I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I touched base with John. He seems . . . well, not worried but cautious, watchful. She really needs a quiet few months.”
    “After seeing Bryce, I phoned the office to have them pull the Bazoni file.”
    “You’ll need a big room. Look at how it ended.”
    Paul smoothed hair back from her face. “Know something?”
    Ann simply shrugged.
    “Yeah.” The two women shared a history of having been snatched. Ann would know Charlotte’s story. “I think she’s got Bryce a bit flustered,” Paul mentioned.
    “Really?” Ann smiled. “There’s a first for everything. I’ve never seen the man flustered.” She tucked the coin back in his pocket. “Ginger Nyce said yes to coming to dinner.”
    Paul was pleasantly surprised at the thought of Bryce and Ginger together as a couple. If they clicked, it would be a very good fit. “Ginger Nyce. That’s an interesting choice.”
    “She’d be good for him. Going to go running with Bryce this weekend?”
    “If the weather cooperates.”
    “Mention Ginger likes to travel and shares his taste in music.”
    Paul smiled. “I’ll see if I can work it in.”
    Black came back carrying his dinner bowl.
    Ann leaned down to take it. “Black, you had dinner.”
    Her dog dropped his head on her knee.
    Paul watched the quiet conversation between the two of them and let his wife up when she gave in to Black’s plea. He could remember the days he didn’t have a wife and dog, but he wouldn’t trade anything to have those days back. This was simply too entertaining. “You’re a pushover.”
    “You share your breakfast. And I saw you give him