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New York City
Several Weeks Later

The two young men who came sauntering out of the Manhattan Judicial Office Building were forced to step aside for the professionally dressed woman walking towards them. Her blonde hair was pulled tightly back from her face in a clip and her navy blue pants suit and flat dress shoes reflected the same no-nonsense attitude as her confident stride. Her sapphire blue eyes shone with excitement this morning, but those same eyes could darken and bore right through anyone looking at her askance. Only the few wild curls escaping from her hair clip hinted at anything but seriousness and self-confidence. She ignored the rude ogling of the two men as she walked past the steps to the main entrance and through an unmarked door on the side of the building.

"Hey Joe." She said to one of the uniformed deputies manning the security desk.

"Hey, Detective. Congratulations on your promotion. That's really something."

"Thanks, no one was more surprised than I was." Trixie Belden removed her service revolver from its holster and placed it in one of the small lockers along the wall. She locked it and placed the key in her purse before signing the forms provided her and stepping through a metal detector. The officer handed her back her satchel after it was scanned.

"Thanks, Joe. I'll see you in a little while."

Trixie Belden walked down the hall to the elevators and hit the call button. When an empty elevator opened, she stepped in and hit "6", humming to herself, confident that this was another great day in the rewarding life she had created for herself.

Trixie, a native of suburban Westchester County, had joined the New York City Police Department (NYPD) shortly after receiving a degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of City University of New York. For the past four years she had worked tirelessly at her chosen profession, an effort that had not gone unnoticed by her superiors. She had just been promoted to Detective, something rare for anyone with so few years experience. She was on her way to visit with one of her oldest friends who recently had been hired as an Assistant District Attorney for the Borough of Manhattan.

The elevator stopped at the lobby level and Trixie was forced to the back of the car by a mix of people; police officers, both in uniform and out, attorneys, prosecutors and their clients, witnesses, jurists, city employees and four teenagers researching government class projects. She squeezed off onto the sixth floor and walked down the hallway to an office already familiar to her.

"Detective Belden to see ADA Mangan," she told the receptionist. "I have an appointment."

"Sure, Ma'am, I mean Detective. He was called into the Deputy DA's office, but should be right with you."

Trixie sat in a chair, tapping her foot nervously against the scarred coffee table. The receptionist was staring at her. She wondered why. She had met with attorneys in this office before. She picked up a magazine and flipped quickly through it. She placed it back on the table. She crossed her legs. She uncrossed her legs. She crossed them the other way. She patted her hair, wondering if it looked as bad as it felt. She picked the magazine back up.

Two women entered the office, carrying stacks of file folders.

"Have you seen the new ADA?" The younger one asked.

"The yummy one with the piercing eyes?" The other woman stopped and smiled.

"Unhuh. Do you think he's gay?"

"What in the world makes you think he's gay?"

"I've done everything but practically rape him and he acts like he can't get away from me fast enough. He doesn't wear any ring and he has no pictures in his office."

"That man has hormones oozing out of every pore. HETERO MALE hormones. You just aren't his type. Let me give you a few pointers." She laughed as they walked into the office together.

Trixie chuckled to herself. Hormones oozing out of every pore? Must be Dan and he hadn't changed a bit. Every woman in the office was probably drooling over him. She wondered if he had gotten involved with anyone since Jen...

"Trixie!"

A tall dark-haired man in a charcoal gray pinstriped suit entered the office. He is oozing. Trixie thought as she stood up and gave him a big hug.

"Leslie, do you know Detective Belden?" He asked the receptionist.

"Her reputation precedes her, Mr. Mangan." Leslie smiled.

"Well, Detective Belden is one of the oldest and dearest friends I have. She's a special person as well as terrific police officer." Dan took a step back and looked at his friend. He marveled to himself at how beautiful and self-confident she appeared.

"Come on back to my office. I have a few loose ends and then we'll go to lunch."

Dan led Trixie back through a maze of partitioned work areas and private offices. At a far corner of the building he showed her into a small partitioned office area.

"Well, it's not much, but at least I have a window," Dan pointed to a dirty square of glass. "The pay isn't much, either, but it's more glamour and prestige than I ever thought I'd see." He cleared papers off a chair for Trixie to sit in.

"Dan, I'm so incredibly proud of you. It took a lot of guts to leave that big name Washington law firm with its big salary." Trixie sat down and looked around the tiny cubicle.

"I know, Trix. But this is what I always wanted. That firm was more dedicated to the bottom line than the law. That's not why I went to law school. And the best perk of all here is working so close to you." Dan grinned and gave a teasing wink as he sat down at his desk and picked up a stack of pink messages.

"I am upset that you didn't call. I can't believe I had to solicit you on a street corner!" They both laughed. "How long HAVE you been in New York?"

"Not long." Dan mumbled as he continued to look through the pink message slips, making notes on one and stuffing another into his breast pocket. He really did not want to discuss why he had been negligent in calling her or any of his old friends when he moved up from the Washington area. "The DA's version of voicemail." He looked up at Trixie and smiled. "Now, where would you like to go for lunch?"

Dan stood up and offered his hand to help Trixie from the chair. He got a faint whiff of something as she passed. Mmm. He thought to himself. She looks great and smells great too.

Trixie took Dan to a nearby restaurant that was inexpensive and popular with courthouse and other government workers in the area. As they waited for a table, several people recognized her and waved or called their congratulations on her recent promotion. She was clearly embarrassed by the attention.

"I didn't realize I'd be dining with a celebrity." Dan said.

Trixie blushed even more. "No celebrity. Notorious, maybe."

Dan took her arm as they were escorted to a table. He inhaled the same fruity fragrance as he held her chair for her.

"Now tell me everything," He began as he sat down. "About Honey's work at the State Lab. About Mart and Di and the new baby. What Brian is doing. I haven't heard from him in months. No, longer than that. Since I graduated. And Jim. Does he like being an Assistant Principal? I'm sure glad he wasn't around when I was doing my time in detention! And, of course, tell me about Trixie." He looked across the table at her and marveled again at his beautiful companion.

Trixie and Dan had attended Sleepyside Junior-Senior High School together where they had been members of the Bob-Whites of the Glen Club with Trixie's two older brothers, Mart and Brian, and their neighbors, Diana Lynch, Honey Wheeler and Honey's adopted brother, Jim Frayne. All the Bob Whites had remained close the first few years after high school. Diana and Mart had even married each other. Now, over a decade later, although they were scattered all over the east coast, they still kept in touch. Except Dan. When Dan had enrolled at the University of Virginia Law School five years earlier, it seemed that he had dropped off the end of the earth. Despite his Uncle Bill's objections, he had moved in with a fellow law student, Jennifer Gordon, who encouraged him to avoid contact with his former friends and family. He'd become estranged from his uncle and had little contact with anyone except Trixie's brother Mart. After living together for three years in Charlottesville, he and Jen had joined law firms in the Washington, D.C. area. However, in the past year, Dan had left Jen and his posh job and moved to New York. He wanted to reconnect with his old friends, but was afraid about how he'd be received after all this time. He was delighted when Trixie had called and suggested they have lunch. Perhaps he could "go home", after all.

Trixie wasn't sure where to begin. There was so much to tell about all their old friends. "First, let me tell you about my beautiful niece." She began, as she pulled a photograph out of her wallet. "I think she might have been a bit of a surprise for Mart and Di, but you couldn't find a sweeter baby or prouder Mom and Dad. Di quit her job at the private school and is home full-time for now. She was always pretty miserable there. Mart's stressed to the max working on his Ph.D. and teaching. But, isn't Katie a doll?" She handed over the picture. "Kathleen Lynch Belden."

All Dan saw was a picture of what looked like a tiny, wrinkled old man wrapped in a pink blanket, being held by a Diana whose face appeared a little fuller than the last time he had seen her. Standing behind her was someone who resembled Mart Belden with an ear-to-ear grin. "Thanks, Trix. I can really see they're happy." He said as he handed the photograph back to her.

"Happy isn't the word for it." Trixie nodded as she put the picture back into her wallet. "I really envy them."

The last statement surprised Dan. "So Di stopped teaching. Is she still painting or sculpting?"

"I don't think so. They're still in their tiny apartment and she's pretty busy with Katie." Trixie tried to concentrate on the menu.

"Do you think Mart will stay permanently at Cornell?" Dan asked.

"Looks like he might. He's happy with them and they seem happy with him. He should have his PhD by the end of the semester. And he's carrying a full teaching load!"

"Wow! Thats fantastic. Dr. Belden." Dan shook his head.

"Can you believe there'll be two doctors in our family?" Trixie laughed. "Makes you wonder what happened to me!"

Dan ignored the last statement. Despite what Trixie thought about herself, he knew she was just as intelligent as her two older brothers. Her rapid rise in the police department was proving that. "What about Jim and Honey?" He thought it best to change the subject.

"Honey finished her Masters and is working on her Doctorate. She's the Queen of the State Lab in Albany. She's developing quite a reputation and just got a promotion. Can you believe that Honey's becoming an expert on the criminal mind? They don't call her 'Honey' there. She's Madeleine. Can't quite get used to that."

"Nope. Sounds odd to me, too. Madeleine will always be her mother. Do you ever work with her?" Dan set down his menu and looked for the waitress.

"Not yet, I guess I might now that I'm a detective. I bet you will some day." Trixie smiled

"Wow, hard to believe we'll all be working together to solve mysteries like the old days, Trixie!" Dan grinned broadly as he teased his old friend. As kids, Trixie always seemed to find some mystery to be solved or some misdeed to be corrected. While all the Bob Whites had been involved in their adventures, Honey and Dan had been Trixie's strongest supporters and defenders. As kids, Trixie and Honey always talked about some day opening a private detective agency together and Dan talked of becoming a police officer. While none of the three were doing exactly what they had originally planned, they all were in law enforcement. "What about your detective agency? Think you two will ever?"

"Who's to say? I think we're both pretty satisfied where we're at right now." Trixie shook her head. "To be honest, we're both doing so well the only dream we haven't realized is working together, but we're developing skills that would make a first class agency. Anything's possible, I guess. Maybe we'll hire you to be our 'legal counsel' or something!"

Dan laughed. "Yep, anything's possible. At one time I wondered if I'd finish high school, much less..."

"I've always believed in you, Dan." Trixie looked serious.

Dan stared at her. "Always?" He smiled.

"Okay, okay. After the first week or two, but when you were thirteen, what would you have thought about some tough guy wearing a black leather jacket?"

"I would have thought he was one of my best friends, a fellow gang member." Dan tried to smile.

The waitress came to take their orders. There was a short uncomfortable period of silence when she left. They each sipped at their ice water.

"What about Jim?" Dan finally asked. "How's he like being 'Assistant Principal Frayne'?"

"He seems to like it alot. You know he's at the high school only. They built a new Junior High, or I guess it's a middle school in the northeastern part of town. Jim was promoted when Old Man Valotto became principal of the middle school." Dan nodded at Trixie's reference to the beloved Assistant Principal from when they were in school. Although he was a strict disciplinarian, there were few of his present or former students who didn't have deep respect for "Old Man Valotto". Dan knew that Jim had been promoted when the reorganization of the Sleepyside School District created several administrative openings. "He has big shoes to fill, but I think Jim's up to the challenge."

"Of course, everything Jim's doing is part of his plan," Trixie continued. "He has everything planned with the goal of someday opening his own school. I'm not sure what the exact time frame is, but every class he takes or investment he makes is part of his plan."

"I knew Jim would never waiver from his dream of that school."

Since he was fifteen, Jim Frayne had planned to open a school for troubled boys. An orphan himself, he had inherited a large estate from his great uncle and gained access to a trust fund when he turned twenty-one. He planned to use the trust fund to build a facility for boys like what he had needed when he was young. His adopted father had donated land adjacent to that left to him by his great uncle and Jim was beginning to make his childhood dream a reality. He was working for the Sleepyside School District to gain the experience and credibility needed to manage such a facility.

"He hasn't. Not one bit. Did you know he's engaged?"

"No kidding? Do I know her?"

"You might. She's Aggie Nolan, the Phys.Ed. teacher at the Middle School and coaches a couple sports at the High School. Tall, thin, long brown hair. Really pretty. She didn't grow up in Sleepyside."

"Aggie?" Dan stroked his chin as he tried to remember how he knew her. "Mmm...Ooh!" Dan grinned knowingly. "She was the belly dancer at Mart's bachelor party!"

"She was?" Trixie laughed. "I knew she taught dance, but I didn't know that! And to think I thought she was a bit of a prude."

"What about Brian?" Dan tried to change the subject, hoping he hadn't leaked something he shouldn't.

"He's finished his residency and post-doctoral fellowship at Johns Hopkins and will be joining a practice in Richmond. In addition to his work in Pediatric Oncology he'll be on faculty at the Medical College of Virginia." Trixie paused. "At least he's...oh...pretty certain he's taking the MCV position."

"MCV? I didn't know he was moving to Virginia." Dan seemed excited. He had enjoyed his years in law school there.

"Yeah. I think Vanderbilt made him a little better offer, but I don't think he wants to go that far away. He's driving down to Richmond one day this week or next to find an apartment I think."

"Makes sense. MCV's a great school. And Richmond's a neat city, despite what you see from the interstate."

"I know. I have friends there." Trixie looked away. She wished she hadn't said that. The friends were an old boyfriend and people she had met through him.

"I didn't know that."

"Oh, What else? Bobby's at SUNY-Albany." Trixie quickly changed the subject. "Can you believe little Bobby in college? I thought Moms might go through some kind of shock with all of us gone, but she's doing great. She's gone back to school to study--now brace yourself--Far Eastern Culture. She's always been interested in Eastern Art. And Dad's still busy at the bank."

The waitress brought their meals and they made small talk about the food while eating, catching up on their mutual friends but avoiding a lot of details about each other.

"Trixie," Dan finally set down his fork and looked directly at his companion. "You haven't said anything about yourself. I know without asking that you're thrilled to have made detective, but what else is new with you?"

"That's all there is. I love my work and it loves me. This really is what I was meant to do." Trixie continued to eat without looking up.

"You look great, Trix. Contented. Self-assured. And I've already heard some great things about you in the office." Dan hesitated before continuing. He wanted to know, but would he be prying? "Are you seeing anyone?"

Trixie thought about what to say. She wasn't seeing anyone other than the occasional blind date. After her failed relationship with Jim Frayne, and an attempt at a long-distance relationship with Christopher Anderssen that ended miserably, she'd had numerous suitors, none who were worth dating more than once or twice. For now, she was determined to focus her energies on her career. She believed there was no room and no need for romantic entanglements at this time. But how could she relay this to Dan without his thinking that she was either a cold prude or making silly excuses for a failed social life?

"If we're confessing about our love lives, you confess first." Trixie finally replied.

"I asked you first." Dan wasn't laughing. He now wished he hadnt brought up the topic but something inside him was burning to know.

Trixie hesitated. "No, Dan. I'm not dating anyone. Frankly, I'm too happy the way I am to get involved with someone. I'm young and right now my career is my top priority. Does that sound strange?"

"No, Trixie," Dan turned and gestured for the check. "I feel exactly the same way right now. I'm totally satisfied with my life the way it is."

"No Jen?"

"That's over. Over completely." Dan's tone made it clear he didn't want to discuss it.

"I need to go." Trixie looked at her watch.

Despite objections from Trixie, Dan paid the check. Trixie waited and they walked out of the restaurant together. She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and promised to give him a call, soon, before she took off in the opposite direction from which they had come.

Dan stood and watched her until she disappeared around the corner, totally unaware of the people bumping into him and squeezing past on the crowded sidewalk. "Peaches. That's what it was. She smells like peaches." He mumbled as he turned and headed back to his office.

"Do you know who they are? " A young woman asked the maitre'd as Trixie and Dan left the restaurant. He shook his head. "He's about the most gorgeous creature I've ever seen. And that woman with him. They were incredibly striking, don't you think?"

x x x

"Madeleine Wheeler?" The young man asked as he walked into the office of the newest Forensic Psychologist with the New York State Crime Lab in Albany.

A slender woman with short, honey-colored hair looked up from her desk. Her large hazel eyes stared right through him. "Yes."

"Hi. I'm Victor Scott, your new assistant." The man offered his right hand.

"Oh! Welcome." the woman stood up and shook hands. "Have a seat, Victor."

"It's Vic."

"Vic then." Maddie Wheeler took a file from the top of a tall stack of multi-colored folders. "So tell me, what do you know about..."

The young man didn't hear a word she was saying. He recognized her as one of a team of people who had interviewed him before his being hired, but he hadn't realized that the young woman on that panel was the infamous Madeleine Wheeler. He'd heard she was extremely talented and a real task master, expecting nothing less than perfection from anyone, including herself. But this woman, why, she was no older than he, and looked so kind and gentle.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" He returned to reality.

His new supervisor stared at him suspiciously. "Never mind. Let me show you around."

He followed her out of the office and into the laboratory area.

x x x

Jim Frayne locked the door of the Assistant Principal's office of Sleepyside High School and put his keys into the pocket of his overcoat. Checking his watch he saw that it was just about time for the field hockey team to be finishing practice. He buttoned his jacket before leaving the building and walking over to the hockey field. It was unusually cold and windy for early September.

The coach saw him as he crossed the parking lot and waved at her handsome fiancé.

"Hi, Jim. We're almost finished here." She called to him.

"Big game tomorrow!" He called back, marveling at the beautiful woman waving and calling to him.

"You bet. We win tomorrow and we should have a straight shot for states. Sleepy Hollow is the defending state champ."

"Hey Dr. Frayne." One of the girls called as she ran by.

"Okay girls, three laps!" Aggie Nolan cupped her hands and yelled to her team. She turned to Jim and brushed the hair from his eyes. The brisk wind blew it right back.

"How about dinner tonight?" Jim asked. "We could run up to Horsefeathers or I have some frozen lasagna at my place."

"Lasagna sounds fine. I want to get to bed early tonight."

"Great. I know you need your rest for tomorrow. How about wine?"

"Just a little."

"Okay. I'll head over and get it started. See you soon."

"Okay, Jim. Love you," Aggie called as she directed her girls towards the locker room.

Jim walked back across the parking lot and got into the Mercedes CLK convertible parked in reserved space number 2. He beeped his horn at the team and their tall, attractive coach as he headed for the wine store and home, feeling totally satisfied with himself.

x x x

Trixie Belden sat with her feet up on her desk in the Detective Bureau of the 19th Precinct, laughing and joking with the detectives sitting at desks around hers.

"Yep, this is exactly..." she kidded.

"Detectives!"

Trixie and the others jumped to their feet as the Captain entered the office.

"Belden, Lane, in my office."

Trixie and her new partner, Erica Lane, followed him into his office.

"I'm sorry, sir, we were only..." Trixie started to plea.

"Belden, I don't want to see that kind of behavior again," the Captain said, smiling to himself. He demanded a professional demeanor from all his employees, but recognized that with work as stressful as theirs, he had to allow a little slack, even though he'd never admit it publicly. "Lane, I hope you've shown her around, familiarized Belden with the office routine and exactly what's expected of her?"

"Yessir." Detective Lane responded.

"And she's been assisting with routine calls and reports?"

"Yessir." Erica responded, knowing the Captain was well aware of their recent case load.

"Good. I want you two to head over to Lexus Towers."

Trixie could barely keep from jumping up and down.

"Just got a call on a young woman who has been assaulted. Looks like it might be related to a similar attack last week in the same area. Martin and Clinton responded to that one and haven't come up with much. I thought you two might look at them from a little different perspective." He handed them a stack of files.

"Where's the girl from last week, Captain?" Trixie asked as she took the stack.

"In the morgue." The Captain turned his chair around as dismissal.

"Is this girl, ah?" Trixie could barely verbalize the words.

"Not yet."

Trixie and Erica took the folders and started to leave.

"Oh, you need to take that box also," he pointed to the corner. "And close the door behind you."

"Yessir."

Trixie could barely contain herself. Her first case. She hurried over to her desk and got her jacket before following Erica out the door.

x x x

Aggie Nolan used her own key to get into Jim Frayne's apartment at Hudson View Condominiums after walking over from her own place. She lived in a smaller unit in another building of the same complex and they visited back and forth regularly. "Jim? Where are you?" She called. Delicious smells were coming from the kitchen and Mozart was playing on the stereo.

Jim came out of the kitchen carrying two half-filled wine glasses. He had removed his tie and jacket and looked ready for a comfortable evening at home. He kissed Aggie before handing her one of the glasses.

"That smells wonderful. It's frozen?" She asked as she followed him back into the kitchen. "That can't be Stouffers."

"No. My parents' cook keeps me well supplied with frozen dinners and such. Her skills are grossly under used since Honey and I left home.

"Ah, the privileges of the filthy rich."

"Aggie..."

"I know. I have to dig occasionally." Aggie sat on a stool and sipped her wine while Jim finished putting together a salad.

Jim poured dressing over his creation and began tossing. He turned and looked at the tall slender woman watching him. "You're beautiful. You know that?"

Aggie laughed. Her life was truly the story of the ugly duckling. Standing well over six feet in her stockings, she had towered above every boy in her junior high, most of the boys in senior high, and had been the butt of many cruel jokes throughout her adolescence. If they weren't laughing about her height, it was her size-12 feet or the cursed name, "Agnes". Her first date was her sophomore year in college when a football player invited her to a party and then, assuming she'd be flattered by his attention, attempted to rape her. It turned her off to men for years--at least until she met a handsome redhead who showed her what a gentleman truly could be. Popularly considered the most eligible bachelor in the community, he was taller than she! She now was considered one of the most enviable and eligible young women in Sleepyside, but she wouldn't be eligible much longer.

Jim placed the salad bowl on the table as Aggie got plates and utensils. It was obvious that they had spent many other evenings like this and they worked comfortably together.

"Any news about a replacement for Mrs. Grim?" Aggie asked. Jim was having difficulty finding a substitute for the Art teacher who would be taking maternity leave any time.

"Nothing. You'd think there'd be an abundance of unemployed Art teachers out there, wouldn't you?"

"I'd help if I could."

"Okay, we'll spend a semester teaching the art of field hockey. Or better yet, how about basketball in water colors?" He laughed. "You stay where you are. You're doing a great job at the middle school. That's all I ever hear. And now, a championship for field hockey."

"We haven't won yet." Aggie interrupted.

"Not yet," Jim kissed her on the cheek and turned to check the lasagna. "But I have total confidence in the coach and her team. He took the dish out of the oven. Done!"

Jim carefully placed the casserole on a trivet in the center of the kitchen table and the couple sat down to enjoy their meal, just as they had done many times in the past and hoped to do many more times in the future.

"I'm a little tipsy from the wine." Aggie admitted later as they finished cleaning up the kitchen.

"Maybe you should stay the night." Jim suggested, smiling suggestively at her.

"Why, Dr. Frayne, what do you mean?" Aggie put her arms around him. "What would your students say?" She stepped back. "Seriously, much as I'd like to, I have to go home tonight. I left my papers there and we, well..."

"I know. Appearances. Then let me walk you home."

"That sounds good. The air will clear my head and I'll enjoy a few more minutes with you."

Jim pulled Aggie close. "Are you sure I can't convince you to stay?" Aggie shook her head before pulling away and opening the door. They both made lots of noise walking down the stairs, leaving no doubt for Jim's nosy neighbor, Mrs. Shields that Aggie was going home. Jim would be certain to make just as much noise when he returned home, alone.

x x x

Mart Belden lay flat on his back in bed, staring at the ceiling. He could hear his wife and baby daughter in the next room. Katie was crying while Diana tried to soothe her with a lullaby.

"Lullaby and good night..." She sang softly.

Less than fifteen minutes earlier, the young couple had been arguing with each other. There had been so many fights recently Mart had lost count. Once again, Diana was too tired or bored, and Mart, in his frustration, had punched his fist against the wall, waking the baby. Mart wondered how Diana could be so angry and shrill with him one moment and soft and gentle with their daughter the next. As he lay there, guilt began to overwhelm him.

How can I be such a jerk? Mart asked himself. I'll destroy everything. He knew it had to be so difficult for Diana, stuck in a tiny one-bedroom apartment with the baby while he spent endless hours in his office on the campus of Cornell University, teaching, working on his research grant, and completing his dissertation. And the worries about money placed stress and stain on both of them.

He got out of the bed and went into the next room. Diana was sitting in the dark, holding a tiny pink bundle and rocking back and forth.

"Di?" he asked softly. "I'm...I'm so sorry." He got down on his knees and hugged his wife and daughter. "I love you. I love you, both." His voice cracked as Diana continued to rock.

"I'm not going to live like this Mart. I can't. You might think so, but this isn't love," Diana spoke the most difficult words she'd ever said. "Go back to bed. You need your rest." She continued to rock in silence.

Mart knelt beside her for a while longer before standing up and walking silently back into the bedroom. He shut the door behind him. Diana watched and rocked. Once she was certain the baby was asleep, she placed her back into the crib. She walked over to the sofa and stretched out, exhausted.

THIS isn't love, Mart. THIS isn't. She cried herself to sleep.

x x x

Brian Belden had overslept that morning. He'd planned to get an early start in order to look at as many apartments as possible in one day. After quickly showering and dressing he had rushed out to his ancient Subaru station wagon and headed south on I-95. With such a late start he feared he would be lucky to see half of those on his list.

Traffic wasn't too bad at least. By leaving late he had missed most of the commuters. I wonder what the traffic is like in Richmond each morning? He thought as he headed down the interstate. For the first time in a decade, Brian would be working almost normal hours. He wondered what he would do with all the free time--although he assumed he still wouldn't ever have much of that! But he would have fairly normal office hours. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Brian had completed his final residency in Pediatric Oncology the prior month and was working only part-time while finishing requirements for a fellowship at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. He had interviewed with several university hospitals and medical practices before narrowing his selection to the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond, and Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Both offers were to join an established practice and serve as a faculty member with the university.

It was no surprise that Brian was being offered positions with such prestigious medical centers. For the past decade he had worked and studied diligently, earning honors and recognition at each level of his education; as an undergraduate at Columbia, in medical school at Johns Hopkins, and while completing his internship and residency at the same university. To his credit, he had earned his honors while juggling part-time jobs and research grants to fund what was not provided in scholarship.

Brian believed that Vanderbilt University had the better reputation of the two schools, but he was favoring MCV. In fact, he had decided that if he found a place to live that day, he would accept the MCV offer while still in Richmond. It was closer to his family in New York and he had numerous indirect ties to the state as well. His brother's in-laws, the Lynches, owned a home about thirty miles from Richmond. His sister, Trixie, had lived in Virginia for a short time while serving as an Intern with the Secret Service. One of his oldest friends, Dan Mangan, had attended law school at the University of Virginia. Most importantly, his significant other, Joyce Mitchell, was a native Virginian.

Brian noticed a sign for Wilderness Battlefield, Stonewall Jackson Memorial. There were a lot of Civil War battlefields in the area that his new career might allow time to explore. He thought about the exciting adventure he'd shared with the other Bob-Whites near Williamsburg when they were in high school. There's so much history in Virginia, maybe even more than New York. He thought to himself. He was anxious to learn more.

Traffic was picking up a little as he came into the Richmond suburbs. Lets see. He thought. There are several places off of I-64 West. He followed the signs out I-64 and to Glenside Drive. Just off the Interstate, he found two pleasant apartment complexes. The buildings were fairly new, but old enough to have established landscaping. He pulled into the first one.

After several hours of looking at empty apartments and discussing lease terms, Brian had narrowed his choice to the first one he'd seen and a large, airy apartment that was half of a converted Victorian row house in the Fan District. Oh heck. He decided. I've been living in old houses my whole life. He decided to find MCV and clock the commuting time to Glenside Drive. From the MCV area downtown, he found that by using the Downtown Expressway and I-64, he was out to the apartment complex in almost no time.

Perfect! He'd decided. He didn't think it would be so easy, but he pulled up to the rental office. Good. It was still open. He decided all this was an omen. He had made the right decision to come here and he would make a good life for himself in Richmond. He locked his car and went into the office.

x x x

Mart Belden got up that same morning, dressed and left without speaking to his wife. He knew how desperately she needed to sleep when the baby did and he feared another confrontation like the one the night before. By noon, he thought enough time had passed for things to cool off and tried to call. There was no answer. He had called several more times and each time the answering machine had cut in. Now that he had finished all his classes, he was calling again, but, again, there was no answer. He hung up the phone. Where could Diana have taken Katie? It was dark out. It had been raining and foggy all day so he knew they hadn't gone for a walk or any excursion that wasn't absolutely necessary. He hoped Katie wasn't sick or anything. And since Katie was born, Di always waited for him to come home before she went to the grocery store or ran similar errands.

"Dr. Belden?"

"Hi Jessica. And it's Mister, not Doctor quite yet," Mart welcomed one of his students. "What can I do for you?"

"Sorry." She entered the small office he shared with another instructor. "Could you go over last week's assignment with me? I was kinda' surprised at the grade and I don't want to make the same mistakes on this week's assignment."

"Sure. Come on in."

Jessica Hiller closed the door behind her. Mart wondered if it would be too obvious if he got up and opened it, but he was just too tired to bother. Despite policy, the building was pretty empty this late and who'd notice?

Jessica brought a chair around his desk and dug her C-minus paper out of her bag. She pushed her long straight hair behind her ears. Mart glanced at the paper quickly to refresh his memory. He looked up at her. She smelled wonderful. Di used to wear that scent. His head spun. He inhaled a little deeper.

Di doesn't even bother with perfume anymore. He thought to himself. He sat back in his chair and looked at the beautiful young girl sitting next to him. He knew what the female students said about him; Hottie he thought was the word they used to describe him. All he had to do was...

He scooted his chair back.

"Jessica, why don't you let me take this with me and make some notes. We'll go over it after class tomorrow. I have dinner waiting for me at home."

"Sure, Doc, I mean Mr. Belden." Jessica looked a little bewildered. "Whatever."

Mart stood up. He walked over and opened the door. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Jessica walked out. Mart got his coat and walked over to the window. He watched the young girl leave the building and walk across the campus. When she was out of sight he grabbed his brief case, turned off the light, locked the door and headed towards the stairs. His footsteps echoed in the empty hallway.

x x x

"Di?" Mart called out into the dark apartment. "Where are my girls?'

His words went unanswered. The apartment was empty.

He walked through all three rooms. The living room was in perfect order. The kitchen was spotless. The bed was made and everything was put away in the bedroom.

Where could Diana be at this time?

He looked in the closet. The large suitcase and some of her clothes were gone.

"Oh no!" His heart pounded. "No." He raced into the living room. "No! No!" He was panicking. "No!"

There on the dining table was an envelope.

MART. It said in Diana's distinctive handwriting. He tore it open.

Katie and I are going for a short visit to Sleepyside.

We have to take a break from each other. With Katie and me out of the way, you can focus on your work and get the rest you need. In Sleepyside, I can get a little of the help and support I need and you don't seem able to give.

Don't call me. It will only make this more difficult. I'll call you when I'm ready to talk.

Diana

Mart sat on the floor of the apartment and sobbed. He had never felt such pain in his life. He knew he couldn't live without Katie and Diana. Not for one day. He felt nauseous and ran to the bathroom. He vomited everything he'd eaten that day and continued to retch. Then he lay down on the cold tile floor. He laid there for what might have been five minutes or five hours. He was unaware of anything except his total misery. Finally, he composed himself enough to get up and wash his face. He stood and stared at the reflection in the mirror.

"What are you going to do, now?" He asked himself. "You, yeah you, the guy with all the answers?"

He turned around, ran out of the apartment and straight to his car.

I wonder just how fast I can make it to Sleepyside. He thought as he sped out of the parking lot. He turned the radio up as loud as he could stand it.

x x x

At the same time, Diana Lynch Belden was sitting in the formal living room of her parents' home. Her mother sat across from her holding her new granddaughter, wondering what to say or do.

"I just couldn't take another day of it. He's moody and distant. I spend hours at home alone and he doesn't seem to care. And then when he lost his temper. Mom, he's never done anything like that." Diana began to cry once again. "What if Katie?"

"You know you can stay here anytime, as long as you want." Her mother offered. "I think you should stay at least until Martin gets counseling." She paused. "Or something."

Mrs. Lynch's mind raced. She adored her oldest daughter and would do anything for her. Up until that evening she thought she had a wonderful son-in-law, even if he could be stubborn at times. She had worried about their having started a family before they were financially stable, but she and her husband had done the same thing over twenty years earlier and look at what they had now.

She wondered if Mart were breaking under the strain. Classes. Work. Family. His stubborn refusal to take any money, even for the baby. And what role did Diana play in this? Was she right? Had Mart threatened her with his fists? Or could it be that Diana was suffering from some kind of post-partum depression?

Mrs. Lynch decided the best thing was to support her daughter, unconditionally. Diana wouldn't make up something like Mart's getting violent.

"Let's get your rooms prepared and something to eat." She offered. "Once you and Katie are settled in, we'll talk about it some more."

Still holding her sleeping granddaughter, she led her daughter upstairs.

x x x

Dan Mangan let himself into the apartment he had recently sublet and turned on the entry light. He set his briefcase on the floor and scanned the bare room. It was completely empty except for a small television sitting on the floor in front of the windows, a single recliner chair across from it, and stacks of boxes. He checked the answering machine in the kitchenette. Nothing. Good.

"Home Sweet Home." He said aloud as he crossed over to the bedroom. He threw his suit jacket over a box in the corner. A queen-sized mattress and box springs set on the floor almost filled the room. There were open suitcases and boxes stacked around the perimeter of the bed and a brass bed frame was propped in front of the single window. At least she let me keep the bed. Dan thought to himself. He had no problems sleeping in it alone.

Dan went into the bathroom and turned on the water in the tub. He quickly undressed and showered. A warm shower at the end of a long day was his way of transforming from an aggressive, powerful attorney to the relaxed athlete and outdoorsman of his youth. He pulled on sweat pants and a t-shirt and went into the kitchenette to look for something to eat, humming to himself. As he was reaching into the refrigerator for a beer, he noticed the blinking light on the answering machine. He hit the play button. You have one message.

He listened as it played. "Dan? Hi it's Jen. It took awhile, but I finally got this number. Ha! How are you, sexy? I really miss you. Please call. It's 10:15 and I'm home. Alone. Call." Her voice cracked. "I love you Danny."

Dan rewound the tape, removed it from the machine and tossed it into the trash. He went over to the recliner and sat down. He leaned the chair back and stared out the window until he fell asleep. The beer sat on the floor, untouched.

x x x

The school bus pulled into the darkened parking lot of the high school. The waiting parents of the hockey team players honked the horns of their cars in welcome.

"WE'RE NUMBER ONE. WE'RE NUMBER ONE." The girls chanted as they filed off of the bus.

"Great job, girls! Great game! But the season's not over yet." Their coach was the last off the bus.

A mother came up to her. "I just want to thank you, Ms. Nolan. The girls have accomplished so much. Marjorie thinks the world of you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Landis. Marjorie's a great kid. Now we all need to get to bed. Those girls worked hard this afternoon." Aggie turned towards the team and called out. "Okay girls. Practice tomorrow at 3:30."

One by one the cars took off. Eventually the parking lot was empty except for the coach's Toyota and a Mercedes. A tall man got out of the Mercedes and walked over to the coach.

"Great job, coach."

"Thanks Jim."

He wrapped his arms around her. "Really, Aggie. They looked great out there and their coach looked even greater." He kissed her. "How would you like to celebrate your victory?"

"Your place or mine?" Aggie kissed him back.

x x x

It was well past midnight when Mart Belden pulled his battered Taurus into the Lynch driveway. His headlights hit Diana's BMW as he came up the hill. "Thank you God." He prayed aloud as he pulled up beside it.

The house and outbuildings were completely dark except for exterior security lights. He made his way up to the main entrance and knocked loudly. The house was silent. He hadn't thought anyone would hear. He rang the doorbell. The house remained silent. He rang several more times before lights came on. The door opened and he stood face to face with his father-in-law.

"Mr. Lynch."

"Martin. What the hell are you doing?"

"I came to get Diana. To see Diana."

"She's asleep."

"Please, wake her. I have to see her."

"Diana doesn't want to see you. She came here this evening totally distraught. She's frightened for herself and her baby. The last thing she needs right now is to see you."

"Mr. Lynch, please just let me talk to her. She's my wife." Mart had raised his voice.

"Should I get the authorities, Mr. Lynch?" The Lynch's butler came up onto the porch behind Mart. Apparently he had heard something from his apartment over the garage and walked over.

"I don't think that's necessary, Harrison. I think Mr. Belden understands that he is trespassing and will leave." Mr. Lynch turned back to Mart. "Martin?"

Mart turned around and walked off the porch, being sure to shove Harrison out of his way. He got back into his car and glared at the two men before heading back down the long hill.

He stopped at the end of the drive. He could turn right and go to his parents' home or left and go to the Glen Road Inn for the night. "What will Dad and Moms say?" He thought. He couldn't face them now. But he wasn't going back to Ithaca without his family. That was certain. He turned left. He could afford at least one night at the Inn.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have to make a special note about the reference to "Old Man Valotto". The much beloved Assistant Principal of my high school eons and eons ago was Art Valotto, Sr. Like this fictitious character, he was feared as well as loved by me and my classmates. My reference is intended to pay homage to him as well as the many other school teachers and administrators who touch our hearts and minds, and travel with us through life long after we leave school. Here's to you Mr. Valotto! Thank you!