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driver was the most handsome man she’d ever seen. He was funny, he was sexy, he was Baxter McGruder, the man with whom she would have an affair that would precede and outlast the marriage. The same man who would one day make her his wife and then set out to seduce every other female in the Metropolitan Boston area.
    Bogie looked at his sister and said, “Not to be a stickler for details, but did she forget Bud has a wife?”
    “Mother has pretended that Jeannie is off getting rehabilitated for so long, it sticks in her mind. Now, as far as she’s concerned, Jeannie’s off somewhere, God knows where, just not here. I can’t tell you the last time we saw her.”
    “Have you talked to her?” When she shook her head, he asked, “She knows, doesn’t she?”
    “Of course! While Matt was here, a couple of cops went next door to tell her. I think they had a chaplain with them. ”
    “Matt MacDonald?”
    Ann nodded. “He’s the one who found Bud. He identified….” She took a deep breath and sighed. “He brought Mother home.”
    “What do you mean he brought her home?! Where was she?” Bogie asked.
    “Out roaming the streets again. She’s been doing that a lot lately.”
    “Can’t you stop her from leaving the house?” Bogie asked.
    “No!” Ann answered with an edge to her voice. “She gets up in the middle of the night when we’re all sleeping and then starts walking around the city. Sometimes she doesn’t know where she is and gets scared.”
    Bogie held her hand. “It’s that bad?”
    Ann McGruder shook her head. “No, it’s worse!” She looked at Rose then at Bogie. “Mother was out walking in the storm when Bud was killed. She wandered onto the scene…where Bud…” Her voice trailed off as she was overcome with emotion. After regaining her composure, Ann said, “When Matt brought her home, she was soaked. I helped her out of her coat and found a gun in her pocket.”
    Bogie and Rose stared wide-eyed at Ann.
    Ann continued. “Last night she got up, took one of the guns from the den, loaded it and went outside yelling and swearing. She started firing through Bud’s kitchen window. I think Jeannie fired back and told her to go home. Somebody called the police. I heard a raccoon was blown to pieces in the alleyway.” Although Bogie and Rose were speechless, Ann continued, “The police came later, and James told them everybody here was sleeping. He reminded the cops that this was Bud McGruder’s mother’s house and they left. This morning, Mother got up complaining that someone had smeared dirt on the bottoms of her feet again while she was sleeping.”
    “Annie, show Rose where the guns are so she can get them out of here. Do you have a list of the serial numbers?”
    Ann nodded but added, “Some of the guns are missing.”
    Bogie considered this then said, “Make sure they get all the ammunition. Guns are no good without bullets.” As they stood up, Bogie could hear Elizabeth talking to Amanda. “Are they in the den?”
    Ann nodded.
    Bogie looked at Rose. “Trudie is fixing something to eat. When they go in the dining room, Angel can get the guns out of the den.” Bogie turned to Ann. “Go in there with him to make sure he takes whatever’s there. You can give me the paperwork later.” Bogie called down the hallway where he heard Angel talking in the kitchen. “Angel!” When Angel walked toward him, Bogie said, “Bring that case in now and don’t let Herself see you!” He gestured to the den with his thumb.

7 HERE COMES THE BRIDE
    The two small figures huddled again on a couch surrounded by moving boxes in a house eleven miles outside of Boston. The little redhead held the Cambodian woman’s hand. “I’m scared, Kim,” she said softly.
    Kim shook her head. “No, you must be brave and strong like her,” she said pointing to Lucy Liu on the TV screen. They studied Lucy playing the part of O-Ren as she lopped off a crime boss’ head with her sword. O-Ren held up the