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it’s a violent painting but the third image is just a jolly roger from the
pirate ship with a bloody sword through its skull.”
    “That isn’t the third
image at all. It’s Carl with blood flowing from his eyes. I can’t look
anymore.” Scrambling up from the floor, Sara ran for the bathroom and dumped
her stomach into Cass’s toilet.
    “Sara, are you all right?
Can I come in?”
    “Wait a minute, Cass. I’m
sorry; I lost that wonderful dinner you made.”  Sara flushed, and turned to
wash up and rinse her mouth.
    “What happened back
there?” Cass asked when she walked through the unlocked door.
    “You said it was a pirate
flag with a sword through the skull?”
    “That’s not what you saw,
is it?”
    “No, I guess all these
nightmares have been wreaking havoc with my sanity.”
    “Let’s not forget Carl
died on the rocks at Odiorne Point. Your mind saw the first picture and
superimposed your nightmare on the third. It’s understandable with the pressure
you’ve been under.  I’m going to give the painting back to Jordie. I knew it
was bad karma.”
    “He’s a talented artist.
There’s no doubt about that. I would like to have one of his paintings in my
new place once I get settled, something with the soothing affect of the lady in
the shallows you have in your living room.”
    “It’s funny you say it
that way. That’s the title of the painting, Lady in the Shallows .”
    “When he has his show,
I’ll come down and pick something out. I should get on the road.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay
to drive? I’m worried about you.”
    “I’m fine. I just need
some decent rest. The sleeping pills I picked up from the pharmacy should
work.”
    “Well, let me pack up
some of the stuffed shells and half of the cheesecake for you to take along.”
    “Cass, I’m in a hotel.
How am I going to keep that stuff cold? And where would I heat up the pasta?”
    “I’ll loan you my small
cooler with ice packs in it. When you get to the new place tomorrow you’ll have
a fridge for the food and a place to heat it up. You said you’re moving to a
suite, right? You’re going to be hungry when your stomach settles down.”
    “Thanks for everything,
Cass.”
    “Thank you for being my
friend. I’m just sorry I ever showed you that painting.”
    “It’s not the painting.
I’ve been spooked for several months. With lack of sleep, I’m starting to feel
like I’m being stalked in my dreams and now during the day. I could swear I’m
being followed everywhere. My reaction to the painting is just another example
of how stressed I’ve been. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
    “Drive careful; sleep
well.”
     
    ***
     
    I’m sorry I scared you.
I didn’t mean to. I just wanted you to know I’m still here. You saw me awake.
That’s good. I guess I need to fix my appearance before I try that again. I
love you, Mom.
    “Wait! Don’t go!”
    Eyes wide open, Sara
thought, okay just another dream. Good one this time. If they were all like
this, she could deal with it. Carl said, ‘I love you, mom.’ HE SAID, ‘I LOVE
YOU, MOM.’ He said it in her head.
    “Carl? Are you here? Or
have I finally gone over the edge?”
    Silence.
    “Carl? Can you hear me?”
    Silence.
    “Okay, I’m certifiable.
It’s two a.m. and I’m talking to an empty room.”

CHAPTER 4
     
     
    “Break off tailing the Stafford woman,” the boss man spoke into his phone while he looked through his office
window at the heavy traffic down below. “She’s a smart bird, and if she hasn’t
realized she’s being followed, she’s seen enough of your vehicle to become
suspicious.”
     “When she went to Ocean Park,” the man on the other end said, “she walked around a vacant house with a for sale
sign out front. She appears chummy with a woman living next to it.”
    “I’ll get a second team
dogging the Dove. I want you back in Massachusetts. The disk has to be down
there somewhere. Search the shop.”
    “It ain’t in the