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can’t rule him out until the ballistics report comes back. So what else did Vanessa have to say?”
    Kurt stifled a yawn. “Just that she and Ethan were hanging out with Drew for a while to make sure he was okay.”
    “She has a final next week. She’s supposed to be studying.”
    “Actually, she did a fair amount of studying earlier today, and Emily took charge of Carter the minute she got home from school.”
    “Well, that’s good. Who would’ve ever guessed that Vanessa would finish her junior year without missing a step?”
    Kurt smiled. “We make a good team—the four of us. It helps that Carter’s been such a good baby.”
    “He’s a joy. Sometimes I wonder what we did before we had him. I thought I’d be eager for Vanessa to get her own place, but now I’m almost dreading it. I can’t imagine how Emily will react.”
    Kurt rose to his feet. “Well, that’s not going to happen for at least another year.”
    “It’s hard to say what could happen between now and then, what with the way Ethan and Vanessa can hardly take their eyes off each other.” Brill chuckled. “Listen to me. I sound like Tessa Masino.”
    Kurt held out his arms and pulled her to her feet. “Come on, Chief. Let’s go to bed and leave the matchmaking for another day. You need to focus all your attention on this case.”

    Tessa Masino stood at the window in her bedroom and saw the lights go out at the Jessups’. There hadn’t been a murder in Sophie Trace in almost a year, and this was bound to dredge up memories of Brill’s encounter with the ex-con she had helped put in prison.
    “Come to bed, love,” Antonio said. “It’s late.”
    “Tell that to my brain.” Tessa let go of the curtain. She climbed into bed and nestled next to Antonio. “I’m wide awake. I don’t know why I come to life just about the time everyone else goes to sleep.”
    “Probably so you can pray about all that meddling you do. I’m sorry— intercession.” Antonio smiled and kissed her cheek.
    “It’s certainly intercession when the Lord nudges me to get involved.”
    “I know. I just like giving you a hard time.” Antonio brushed the curls out of her eyes. “It is the ideal ministry for a night owl.”
    “I suppose you’re right. I probably won’t be tired for hours. I might as well get up and do something useful.”
    Antonio looked at her knowingly. “It won’t do any good to worry about Brill.”
    “I’m not exactly worried. But tonight’s shooting probably stirred up some unpleasant memories for the Jessups. They seem to be doing so well. I just don’t want to see anything change that.” Tessa studied the shadows on the ceiling. “It’s been a privilege watching what God has done in that family. And I’ve never seen Emily so happy. She adores that little baby.”
    “She sure does. But the one I’ve had my eye on is Vanessa. She was downright depressed when she came home from college pregnant, knowing the baby’s father wasn’t going to help her raise him. Just look at her now.”
    “Some of that sparkle has to do with a certain someone. I wonder if she and Ethan are getting serious.”
    “Is this meddling now, or intercession?” The corners of Antonio’s mouth twitched.
    “I’m not sure.” Tessa smiled in spite of herself. “Maybe a little of both.”

    Ethan sat on the front porch swing at Drew’s parents’ house, his arm around Vanessa.
    “Thanks for being so nice to Drew. He’s really on the edge.”
    “I’m not surprised, after such an earth-shattering experience,” Vanessa said. “At least he was able to fall asleep.”
    “It was thoughtful of you to bring food.”
    “There’s enough for lunch tomorrow—for both of you. I thought it might be nice not to have to worry about fixing something.”
    “You’re reading my mind. It’s late. You really should go home and get some rest. Carter will be up bright and early, and you’ve only got tomorrow and the weekend to study for your last