scored a couple of decent seats for the last half of the
season with the help of Karen Prince, a former client
who now worked in the Hurricanes ticket office.
“The drive back and forth to Raleigh will give you
and Cal a chance to be alone together and talk. Kids
open up in a car,” I told Dwight when he questioned
why I hadn’t badgered Karen for three seats.
I really did think they needed the time and space to
help Cal cope with all the changes in his young life,
but it wasn’t unadulterated altruism. Put myself where
I couldn’t read a book or catch up on paperwork? Get
real.
15
MARGARET MARON
Dwight laughed and gave me another quick kiss as
Cal came back ready to go.
“Have fun,” I said and when the door had closed be-
hind them, I happily contemplated the evening’s syba-
ritic possibilities.
“So what do you think, Bandit?” I asked the dog.
“Popcorn and a chick flick video, or a long soak in the
tub followed by a manicure?”
Or I could bake a cake to take for Sunday dinner at
Minnie and Seth’s house. Seth is five brothers up from
me, the one I’ve always felt closest to, and his wife has
acted as my political advisor from the day I first decided
to run for a seat on the district court bench.
I unzipped my high heel boots and had just kicked
one off when the door opened again. Dwight had the
phone pressed to his ear and there was a glum look on
Cal’s face.
“Tell Denning and Richards I’ll meet them there in
ten minutes.” Dwight flipped the phone shut. “Sorry,
Cal, but I have to go. It’s my job.”
He headed for our bedroom where he keeps his hand-
gun locked up when he’s off duty and I followed.
“What’s happened?” I asked as he holstered the gun
on his belt.
“They’ve found two legs in a ditch near Bethel
Baptist,” he said grimly.
Bethel Baptist Church is on a back road about half-
way between our house and Dobbs, Colleton’s county
seat. My mind fought with the grisly image of severed
limbs. “
“White male’s all I know for now.”
16
HARD ROW
And it was clear that he didn’t want to say any more.
Not with Cal standing disconsolately in the doorway.
