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Kirk’s not what she needs? He’s a good man, a hard worker.”
    â€œJust because you like him doesn’t mean she should marry him. There’s no spark there or they would’ve married long ago. They act more like buddies than lovers.”
    But Kirk had been around for so many years, he’d already found his place in the family and was unlikely to disturb the delicate equilibrium of relationships. “She needs to do something. She’s thirty-six years old.”
    Allie chuckled. “So are you. That’s hardly ancient.”
    â€œShe’s still talking about having a large family.”
    â€œShe’ll find the right man.”
    â€œKirk’s the right man,” he insisted. “She should marry him, have a family and forget the past.” His mood darkened as he folded his arms. “Instead, she’s spending good money on a P.I.—a P.I. who could ruin her life.”
    â€œGuilt, responsibility and curiosity are all powerful motivators,” Allie said. “You, of all people, should understand that.”
    â€œWe’re not talking about me,” he grumbled.
    Her smile was back. “If you only knew what a good man you are.”
    He shoved the hair out of his eyes. It was getting long; he could use a cut. “It’s enough for me that you think I’m good.”
    â€œMaybe if Maddy still had her mother, the situation would be different,” she said.
    â€œOf course it would. Then my mother wouldn’t have married Lee Barker. He had nothing nice to say about his first wife, but you know he never would’ve divorced her. That wouldn’t have reflected well on him.” He heard the bitter note in his own voice. “He was all about appearances.”
    She bent over to kiss his cheek. “You’ve done your best with what you were given, done your best by Maddy. You love her just as much as your other sisters.”
    â€œBut it’s probably not the same for her,” he said. “She belongs, and yet she’s the only one who doesn’t really belong. That’s got to be hard.”
    â€œNot as hard as it could be if she ever finds out the truth.” Allie walked over to get the phone. “So call her.”
    â€œAnd say what? Hey, Maddy, take it from me—you don’t want to know what you think you want to know?”
    She tugged playfully on his hair. “ No. Tell her the case is too old, that this P.I. won’t uncover anything new, that it’ll cost her a lot of money for nothing. And if that doesn’t work, just let her know you don’t approve.”
    â€œI can’t come on too strong,” he said.
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œBecause it’s a miracle folks around here haven’t poisoned her against me.”
    â€œShe’d never turn on you.”
    â€œShe could if this P.I. comes to town.”
    â€œWhich is why you have to convince her not to bring him here,” she pointed out.
    â€œI doubt that anything I say will change her mind.”
    â€œIt’s worth a try,” Allie insisted and handed him the phone.
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    The phone in Madeline’s office had been ringing all morning. It seemed as if everyone in Stillwater had something to say about the discovery at the quarry, which came as no surprise to her. People in this town had been talking about her father’s disappearance for years, and the knowledge that his car had been found renewed public interest.
    Fortunately, most were well-intentioned calls, friends and acquaintances who, after hearing the latest, wanted to give Madeline a kind word or a little encouragement. But there were a few who used this latest development to try to undermine her faith in the Montgomerys.
    Madeline would rather have skipped every one of those calls in favor of some peace and quiet. It was difficult enough writing about her father without so many interruptions. But she was anxious to hear from Chief Pontiff, to