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The police station was relatively quiet as Detective Trixie Belden poured her second cup of coffee of the morning. It was only 7:00 a.m., but after leaving the precinct late the night before, she was back in first thing to study the files on her case. Her first case.

She walked back to her desk and began perusing another folder of papers.

Clearly a serial attacker. Clearly sexually motivated. But why no rape? Is the guy impotent? Could it be a woman and we just assumed it's a man? He tears off their clothes and beats them within inches of death and then... This guy's bad. I can't wait to get my hands on this creep.

Mmm, let me see. Why didn't Martin and Clinton check out other unsolved murders and assaults? It's not in here anywhere.

If anyone could solve this case, it would be Trixie Belden.

x x x

Diana Belden was sitting in her childhood bedroom, having just finished nursing her daughter, Katie. Only twice last night. She thought to herself, meaning the number of times she'd been up with the baby. There was a light tapping before the door opened and her mother peeked in.

"Everyone awake?" Mrs. Lynch stepped in holding a tray with a carafe of coffee and two mugs. "I brought you some coffee."

"Good morning, Mom."

"Did you hear the commotion last night?" Mrs. Lynch set the tray down on a table and turned to her daughter.

"Yes. Did Daddy get rid of him?"

"He left. But he showed his true colors."

"What do you mean?"

"He yelled at your father and assaulted Harrison."

"Assaulted? Mart? He what?"

"Apparently he shoved Harrison in anger as he left."

Di stared blankly. What was happening with her life? It was totally out of control. How could this man she loved so much act this way? This wasn't the man she married. Had she changed, too?

"This is all out of control. I have to talk to him."

"I don't know, Diana. Let him wallow in his...."

"Mom, he's my husband."

"He's not acting like much of one."

"Oh what is happening? Oh what can I do?" Diana sobbed.

Her mother rushed over and held her daughter. Diana was right. It was out of control.

x x x

Susannah Short was an institution in her own right. She had been secretary to the Assistant Principal of Sleepyside High School for decades. Never married, she prided herself in the long hours and tireless support she devoted to her job. This morning, the school secretary sat at her desk fretting. The door to the Assistant Principal's office was closed. It had never been closed since Dr. Frayne had been promoted on July 1. At least not during the day. If Dr. Frayne weren't in already when she arrived promptly at 7:00 a.m., she would open it herself and it remained open until Dr. Frayne or she left every evening. But when she arrived this morning, Dr. Frayne was already in his office and the door was closed. Just as Miss Short wondered if she should knock to see if he was all right, it opened. Dr. Frayne walked out with his fiancée, Agnes Nolan.

"Miss Short. I didn't know you were out here."

"It's 7:15, Dr. Frayne. I always come in at 7:00."

"Of course." Jim Frayne's face was almost as red as his hair, which needed a good combing. This behavior was totally out of character for him.

"I need to go." Agnes Nolan was almost as red-faced as Jim.

"Sure thing, Aggie. That was a great game last night."

"Sure, Jim. Thanks. One-fifteen."

"I know. One-fifteen."

The young teacher left and Jim Frayne went back into his office.

One-fifteen? Miss Short asked herself. One-fifteen? She looked at Dr. Frayne's appointment calendar. No. No appointment today at one fifteen.

Inside his office, Jim Frayne chuckled to himself. Miss Short was incredibly efficient, but she was one nosey old biddy. One-fifteen was the number of days until he and Aggie left on their cruise. Their wedding/honeymoon cruise.

x x x

At the same time, Brian Belden was sleeping more soundly than he had in weeks. It was the first opportunity he'd had in an even longer time for more than a few hours uninterrupted sleep. He heard nothing when Joyce Mitchell entered their small apartment and tiptoed up to their bed. She leaned over and kissed the unconscious man.

"Mmm?"

"Good morning."

"Mmm?"

She kissed him again.

He opened one eye.

"I have exactly two hours, Bri." Joyce started to remove her clothes.

Brian closed his eyes and rolled over.

"Brian? Brian?"

Brian didn't move. Joyce buttoned her blouse back up and put on her coat. She stomped her feet as heavily as she could across the apartment and slammed the exterior door on her way out.

"Mmm?"

x x x

Assistant District Attorney Dan Mangan shut the door of his small office behind him and set the brown paper bag with his coffee and bagel on the desk while he took off his coat. His back ached from the night in the recliner chair. I have got to stop doing that to myself. He thought as the phone rang.

"Dan Mangan."

"Mr. Mangan, I have a call from Jennifer Gordon."

"Tell her I'm not in."

"She called yesterday."

"I know. I'm not in."

Dan hung up the phone and stared at it. What do I have to do? Why is she doing this? He thought. He pulled out the Styrofoam cup and roll from the bag and began to eat his breakfast. Damn her!

x x x

Later that morning Madeleine Wheeler sat in her office at the State Forensic Laboratory with the door shut. She was on the phone.

"That sounds good. Friday the twenty-first, 10:00. I'll be there. Should I bring anything?"

"I think we have what we need, Ms. Wheeler. Your application did include samples. Yes, we have everything."

"Okay. I look forward to seeing you, again."

"I feel the same, Ms. Wheeler. Your application is quite impressive."

"Why, thank you. So I'll be there Friday the twenty-first."

Honey hung up the phone.

"YES!" She yelled. Honey had just scheduled an interview for a position with the Virginia Institute for Forensic Science. This was it. "YES!"

She picked up the phone and dialed.

"Nineteenth Precinct. May I help you?"

"Yes. This is Madeleine Wheeler. May I speak to Detective Belden, please?" Honey waited while she was transferred to Trixie's desk.

"Detective Belden."

"Trixie! I'm IN!" Honey could no longer contain her excitement.

"You got the job in Virginia?" Trixie sounded equally excited.

"No. I mean yes. I mean no. Darnit! I got an interview! Can you believe it?"

"No. I mean yes." Trixie was practically yelling into the phone. "I mean I've always been sure youd get the job. Thats so great. It'll be hard for you to get away, won't it?"

"I know. But I put in forty hours most weeks by Wednesday or Thursday so I'm due some time off."

"I'm so happy for you, Honey." Trixie could barely sit still. She was familiar with the Institute, a facility for education and research into forensic medicine. It was the only one of its kind in the country and at the forefront of a relatively new and rapidly growing profession. Even an interview for a position there was an honor.

"I haven't heard from you in ages, Trixie. How are you adjusting to being a detective?"

Trixie laughed. "I didn't think it was possible, but Im working even longer hours than I did in uniform. But I love it, Honey. I'm still in disbelief that I've made detective."

"Well, I worry about you sometimes, Trix." Honey confessed to her friend. "You work too hard. You have to make some time for yourself, you know."

"Well, I did manage to have lunch with a very handsome and eligible man the other day." Trixie baited.

Honey knew that Trixie seldom dated and even more infrequently talked about her love life, or the lack of it, so she assumed it must have been a noteworthy experience.

"You did? Tell me. Spare no details."

Trixie chuckled to herself. Honey had bitten. "Well,let's see. He's about our age. Breathtakingly handsome. In fact I overheard someone say he has hormones oozing out of every pore. And..He works in the Manhattan DA's office." Trixie allowed a dramatic pause. "In fact Honey, you might know him. He's from Sleepyside."

"Dan?" Honey was pleasantly surprised. "Have you seen him?" Trixie had already told Honey that he had moved back to New York. "I'm so glad the two of you touched base! Now tell me, how IS Dan?"

Trixie smiled to herself. "He looks great. Really great."

Honey knew that Dan always looked great. But she also knew hed had personal conflicts recently. "How's he doing, Trixie? I mean does he seem happy?"

Trixie thought for a few moments before answering. She had been as concerned as Honey about his welfare the past year or more. "Yeah. I think he's okay. Yeah. He seems, I don't know, at peace. Does that sound too corny? At least he's happy with what he's doing."

"No. Not at all. Oh! I need to get down there. I want to see him. We all need to see him."

"He's really committed to work, you know."

"We all are, Trix. Which reminds me...I'm still an employee of the State Lab and I'm on their time." Honey needed to go. "Trix, thanks for your encouragement with all this. The job and all. I never would have applied without your encouragement. Now I have an interview! You're the best."

Honey hung up. She immediately logged onto the Internet to see if she could get plane tickets.

"YES!"

x x x

Later that morning, Trixie Belden was called to a meeting on the 5th floor of the Manhattan Judicial Office Building to discuss her upcoming testimony in a big drug case. Shed also been called in to discuss the possibility of creating a special task force to work on the latest case. The Manhattan District Attorney's office and central homicide unit wanted to "assist" which could mean taking over the investigation. Trixie and Erica had limited time to show progress in their investigation or they would be removed. Trixie was resolved that she would not lose her "first case".

Since she was already in the building, Trixie thought she'd check to see if Dan was in. She had a small gift for him for his upcoming birthday and she wanted to share Honey's good news. She climbed the stairs up to the 6th floor. When she exited the stairwell, she recognized a small blonde woman in the reception area of Dan's office, yelling at the receptionist.

"I know he's in here. I saw him earlier." The woman was clearly angry with Leslie, the receptionist.

"I'm sorry, Miss...?"

"Gordon. Jennifer Gordon. I told you that already. Now you get off your fat ass and go tell ADA Daniel Mangan that Jennifer Gordon is here to see him."

"I just buzzed..."

"I don't give one damn about buzzing...Get off your ass and find him!"

"Is there a problem here?" Trixie asked with her best don't-mess-with-me-cop attitude.

Jennifer turned and glared at her. "I knew it. I should have known YOU would have something to do with this!" Jennifer raged at Trixie. "I knew you'd have him wrapped around your finger the minute he got to New York. You're just another lying scheming b----."

Jennifer turned back to the receptionist. "What are you staring at? I told you what to do!"

Dan Mangan entered the office with a uniformed deputy. "Jen." He spoke quietly.

"Danny!" Jennifer's tone changed completely. She was dripping with false charm. "Where have you been? Everyone here is lying to me. This pig told me you weren't here. And then your little friend Trixie comes prancing around. Danny..."

"Jen. Let's go talk." He and the officer led Jennifer out into the hall.

Dan looked back apologetically at Trixie and the receptionist. Trixie had never seen him look so miserable. She decided it was best to return the way she came and leave by the stairs.

x x x

It was ten thirty before Mart Belden woke that morning and called his office. "Thanks Steve. Just post a sign on the classroom door. I'll explain later. Thanks. "

He hung up and looked down at himself. He was one mess. He had no comb or brush, no toothbrush, he hadn't shaved in over 24 hours, and his clothes were filthy. They smelled like... He had to somehow clean himself up and convince Di that he deserved her.

Diana.

He picked up the phone. No. She had a whole army at that place. They'd never let him talk to her. How could he get to her?

Mart only knew one thing. He needed a shower and fresh clothes.

x x x

Helen Belden was out on the service porch, digging through the chest freezer. She was trying to decide what to fix for supper that night. You would think it'd be easier cooking for two, she thought to herself. She heard a car pull into the driveway and looked up. Who could that be?

"Mart? What are you doing here?" She called as she ran out to his car. He looked ill. He stopped the car and she opened his door. He smelled like he'd been ill.

"Why heavens, Mart? What is it?"

"Moms. I don't know what to do. Moms, I need a bath and..." Mart choked up. He couldn't say another word.

"Come on in." Mrs. Belden knew not to ask anything more. He'd tell her when he could.

Mrs. Belden led her son into the house. "There're underwear and socks in your old dresser. They're worn, but clean. I'll get some pants and a shirt. You go directly to the showers, young man."

Mart followed his mother up the stairs without a word. He took the clothes she handed him and went into the bathroom. The warm water seemed to cleanse away at least some of his misery and he felt a little better when he came back down into the kitchen.

"Sit, His mother pointed to a kitchen chair. "I have tea and donuts. But they aren't homemade. I don't bake much anymore."

"This is fine, Moms."

Mrs. Belden put a box of donuts on the table and handed her son a mug of steaming tea before sitting down across from him.

Mart sipped. She sat and waited with her hands in her lap.

"I guess I need to explain."

"I guess." Mrs. Belden continued to wait.

"I...uh...I think Diana left me."

Mrs. Belden sat quietly, trying not to show her shock at his words.

"And... I followed her to her parents' last night."

"She has Katie?"

"Of course, Moms." Mart stared at the mug of tea. He couldn't look at his mother. "And I had it out with her dad.

"Had it out?"

"He refused to let me see her. We yelled. I didn't hit him or anything."

"Mmm. Why did Diana leave?"

"I... I'm such an ass."

"Mart..."

"I love her, Moms. And Katie..."

"Do you want to start from the beginning?"

Mart proceeded to share all the details of his problems of the past several months. He confessed his difficulty handling teaching and completing work on his doctoral degree. He told of the financial difficulties they were having without Diana working, and his confusion about the emotional roller coaster Diana had been on since the birth of Katie. Mart expressed concern about her refusal to leave the baby, even with him, yet complaining of boredom and loneliness. He thought motherhood made her more beautiful than ever, and couldn't understand her complaining all the time about her appearance. He'd never been more in love and didn't understand her inability to respond to his advances. Mart also worried about the significance of her inability to express herself artistically and what role it played in her current unhappiness.

"Neither of us is getting any sleep anymore, Moms, and all we do is fight when we're together. What's happened? Can a marriage fall apart so quickly?"

"Mart, you haven't described anything to me that is unusual for a young couple...Especially one with a new baby...But it's obvious you can't handle this without help." She got up and went over to her desk. She dug around before pulling out a business card. "This is the number of an old and very dear friend of mine. She's a Family Counselor. Will you call, or should I?"

Mart took the card from his mother. "Hand me the phone."

x x x

About an hour later, Helen Belden decided to call her old friend Caroline Lynch. She knew that Caroline loved both of their children and especially their shared grandchild just as much as she.

"May I speak to Mrs. Lynch, please? This is Helen Belden." She waited for Caroline to come to the phone.

"Caroline, this is Helen. Mart was just here and had quite a story to tell. How are Diana and Katie?"

"They're fine, Helen. Diana is, well she's having difficulty handling motherhood. And Mart is too busy with work to give her the support she needs. They seem to be fighting. I think he's having difficulty controlling his anger and..."

"I know. Mart and I have had a long talk. He's totally distraught. But I adore Diana. You know that."

"I just don't want her and Katie hurt. Why won't Mart...I'm trying not to interfere, but she is my daughter."

"But THEY have to work it out."

"I know that. I believe they will."

"The reason I called. Mart just left for an appointment with Anna Kurtz."

"The family counselor?"

"Yes, that Anna. She fit him in as a favor for me. I don't know what she'll advise him, but we have to stay removed. I think we should let Mart and Diana do whatever she advises."

"Do you know he came here last night? Late?"

"Yes, Caroline. He realizes that he wasn't acting very smart. But I think if they want to talk, well, we need to let them."

"You're right, of course. But I don't think Diana wants to see him right now. And Ed is playing protective father."

"So be it. We'll just have to wait and see. It'll all work out if we let it. I'm sure."

"I believe that too. You know how much I love Mart. But he needs to cool off and Diana needs some rest. I will suggest to Diana that she talk to someone, preferably Anna Kurtz."

"I'm sure Anna will want to see her. We'll keep in touch. Give that beautiful granddaughter a kiss for me."

"I will. Bye Helen."

x x x

"Detective Belden." Trixie Belden answered the phone on her desk at the 19th Precinct. It had been several hours since she'd returned from downtown.

"Hi Trixie. I'm so sorry."

"Don't Dan. You don't have to apologize."

"Trix, I have to."

"No, Dan, I..."

"Can I meet you for lunch? No. I guess it's too late for lunch. How about dinner? I want to talk."

"Of course Dan. What time?"

"I'll come by and pick you up at your office. Six?"

"Six should be fine. Call first, though, to make sure I haven't been called out. And Dan, you don't have to apologize. "

"I know, Trixie. Bye."

Trixie hung up. She stared at the phone. Dan, you're too good for this. I know.

x x x

"Hey Belden! Someone's here for you!"

Trixie grabbed her things and headed over to where Dan was talking to the Desk Sergeant. He turned around when she came up.

She gasped when she saw how he looked. He seemed to have aged years since that morning. "Dan, you...Let's get out of here."

Once they were outside, Trixie attempted to express her concerns to Dan about his appearance. "Do you really feel like eating at a restaurant? Why don't we go to my place and I'll fix you something? It's not far from here at all."

"Trixie Belden cooks?"

"I have a big freezer, an excellent microwave and a full wine rack."

"Sounds good." Dan didn't feel like arguing.

Trixie led him down into the subway and onto a packed train. The both grabbed straps and tried to balance themselves for the ride. With each jerk of the train, Trixie bumped into Dan, despite her efforts not to. At first Dan was so preoccupied with the days earlier events, he barely noticed. Finally, he recognized the familiar scent.

"Peaches." He mumbled.

"What?" Trixie hadn't understood him.

"Oh nothing, Trix. What's for dinner?"

"The next one is our stop. How's pizza? I think I have everything to make it."

The train lurched to a stop and the young couple got off. Dan followed Trixie up the stairs and out into an almost empty street in a shabby residential area. This is...umm... an affordable neighborhood. He thought to himself. He instinctively stayed close to Trixie in a protective manner.

Trixie laughed when she realized what he was doing. "Dan, you don't need to worry about me. Your forget that I carry a gun. Here we are, third floor walkup." Dan looked at the decrepit building. It reminded him of some of the places he's stayed in when he was living on the streets. Dan followed Trixie through the locked entryway and up the stairs.

"Welcome to my humble abode," Trixie said as she opened a battered metal door.

Dan stepped in behind her and looked around. He was completely taken by surprise. Although the floors sloped a little and the ceiling was cracked, the over all impression was homey and comfortable. The apartment was one long narrow room. At one end was a tiny "kitchenette" and door into what must be the bath. At the other end, two tall dressers were used to serve as a partition, partially hiding a bed. In the center of the room were two chairs and a short sofa situated around a wooden crate used as a coffee table. A second crate served as a lamp table between the chairs. A large desk with computer, phone and other necessities was placed in front of double windows. Brightly colored patchwork quilts were on the bed, thrown across the sofa apparently to hide worn areas, and hung on the wall. All of the quilts were obviously Crabapple Farm originals. Several brightly colored rag rugs, also from Crabapple Farm, were scattered over the worn hardwood floor. It was a nice mix of homeliness and modern professional.

"Nice, Trix. Looks kinda'like you," Dan said, while wishing she were in a better area of the city.

"I'll start defrosting," Trixie said as she headed into the tiny kitchenette. "Would you pick out a wine you might like?" She pointed to a large wine rack in the corner.

Dan took off his suit jacket, threw it over the desk chair, and went to check out the wine. "I'm impressed, Trixie. You have some great wines."

"It's my one extravagance and I guess my one vice. Honey and other friends have given me some. There's one bottle in there that the Wheelers got in France!" She dug around in the freezer. "Good! I've got all the fixings for pizza."

Trixie turned around. Dan was standing staring at her. He handed her a bottle. He seemed nervous. "Why don't you freshen up a little? Wash some of the day's stress off. There should be towels and washcloths in there." Dan walked over to the door where she was pointing.

"And Dan," He stopped and looked at her. "Take off that tie. How can you possibly relax in a tie?"

Trixie used the time Dan was in the bathroom to try to organize her thoughts. Her friend was hurting. In fact, he looked like walking death. She wanted to help, but worried about where helping ends and prying begins. Trixie knew she was famous for prying and she didn't want to push too far, but what WAS the story with Jennifer Gordon? Did he leave D.C. to take a job he really wanted? Or did he leave to get away from her? She knew that Dan had once adored Jennifer. She was brilliant and talented. Was she manipulative and possessive as well?

Dan shut the door of the bathroom and looked at his reflection in the mirror. He hadn't looked this bad in months. He needed to rid himself of Jen and her problems, but how could he? It took him over a year to finally convince himself that leaving her was not abandoning her, but she still refused to let him go. She needed help, psychiatric help, but how could he ever convince her of that? He removed his tie, unbuttoned the shirt collar and lathered up his face and neck with the face soap on the sink. After splashing cold water to rinse, he dried with a thick fluffy towel folded on a shelf above the toilet. He then looked around the tiny room. It was sparkling clean and bright. Clearly all Helen Belden's lessons on housekeeping had not been lost on Trixie. Dan came out of the bathroom feeling and looking a little better. His hair was wet around the temples where he'd washed.

Trixie handed him a glass of wine. "Excellent choice. I think you'll like this. Now, what do you like on your pizza? Sausage? Pepper? Onions?"

Dan nodded with each suggestion and sat on a stool at the counter. He sat silently watching Trixie work. She seemed almost domesticated. No, Trixie would never be domesticated. But she was comfortable in her little kitchen.

They sipped their wine and made small talk while Trixie worked, the pizza baked, and they ate, carefully avoiding mention of the scene from that morning. Once they had finished the last slice of pizza, Dan altered the mood by crumpling up his paper napkin and clearing his throat.

"I guess I owe you an explanation."

"Dan, you don't have to explain anything." Trixie opened a second bottle of wine and then led him by the hand over to the living area. She sat in one of the chairs and he sat on the sofa across from her.

"No. I need to talk about it." Trixie waited for him to continue.

Dan spent the next two hours sharing details of the past four years, confirming Trixie's worst suspicions and fears about Jennifer. Shortly after they had moved in together at the start of law school, Jennifer became increasingly jealous and possessive of Dan. She made it almost impossible for him to keep in touch with his family and friends in New York. At first he was devoted to her and flattered by the attention. Dan had been orphaned young and basked in the semblance of family life and the attention she gave as well as demanded from him. But as she became increasingly demanding and suspicious, he began to realize it was not a healthy relationship. By the time they had graduated from law school, Dan knew that he needed to end the relationship, but each time he attempted to discuss their problems, Jen became emotional, often hysterical, and threatened to harm herself. Once, she took an overdose of pills. Despite what others thought about him, Dan was somewhat naïve and insecure with women and continued in the relationship out of guilt and misplaced loyalty. It was only after he sought professional counseling that he realized that he had to leave her for his own mental health. Once separated from Jens control, he also had the courage to pursue the career he wanted and not what she had wanted for him.

Dan sat slumped, looking down at the floor. "Trixie, I was totally devoted to her. I didn't know how a relationship was supposed to work. At first I did whatever she wanted. I thought all women...all relationships were that way. I hardly remember my own parents...at least not how they interacted and all. What did I know about women?"

Trixie tried not to show her surprise at that last statement.

Dan looked up at her. "See, everyone thinks I'm some kind of Don Juan. Even you, Trixie. Geesh, I thought it was the real thing. But it's been a mess. And now she won't let go. She's destroying her life and mine." He slumped down further and stared back at the floor.

"Has she gotten counseling?"

"She was in the hospital for several days after the pills. She voluntarily admitted herself, but after a minimum number of hours, she could just walk out. And she did. I had no legal authority and her family hasn't helped. Her parents think she's getting what she deserves." Dan shook his head. He sat for a while before continuing. "I was in counseling for over a year. That's the only way I could get up enough self-confidence to leave her and move. I know I don't love her and that I can't live with her...but I don't want to see her like she is. I worry she'll hurt herself again. She's hurting and I'm the one who hurt her."

Dan looked up at Trixie. "I'm sorry, Trix. So sorry you saw that scene this afternoon. That she said those things to you. But she...she's always been jealous of you. She thinks we, I..I'm so sorry."

"She thinks we had something?" Trixie knew Jen never liked her, but she thought everyone understood the close friendship she and Dan had shared. And that it was just that, a friendship.

"Oh, Trixie, she has ALWAYS insisted we did. She refused to believe me...that I was, well she thinks you and I have slept together."

Trixie tried not to laugh. "Does she think we had some torrid affair when I was 13 and you 15?"

"I don't know Trix. She's never understood that we could be friends. I don't think she's ever..well she's never been exactly coherent about it...I'm so sorry."

Trixie didn't know what else to say or do so she moved over to the sofa to sit next to her friend. She tried to put her arm around his shoulders, but he was so much taller and broader, she couldn't reach. So she patted his knee.

They laughed in spite of themselves at her awkward attempts to console him. "First, you are not responsible for hurting her. It looks to me like she's doing most of the hurting. You can't carry around this kind of guilt. Oh Dan, I know how caring you can be and how much you must be suffering. But you've got to move on." Trixie paused and thought for a moment.

"And?" Dan asked. Trixie looked at him. "Usually when there's a first, there's also a second."

Trixie smiled. "Second, I know that you'll never get over this while she's so hurt and angry. Even if she lets you alone, you'll continue to worry about her. She needs help."

They sat like that for some time, sipping wine. Trixie rubbed Dan's back a few times, but, otherwise, they sat still and silent, each not knowing what to say or do. Before long the second bottle was empty. Trixie had barely tasted either bottle of wine.

"It's getting late, Trix. I need to go." Dan tried to stand up. He could barely get off the sofa. "I guess I'm a little drunk." He sat back down and grinned sheepishly at his friend. "How much wine did I drink?"

Trixie got up and walked over to her bed. "I'm not sending you home like this." She took a pillow and threw it at Dan. "Here, you can stretch out right there."

"No Trix, I...you it just isn't right You're...I...it wouldn't look right." Dan tried to protest, but he was just too exhausted and drunk.

"Lay down. Do you think I care what anyone else thinks?" Trixie pulled a storage container out from under the bed and took out a quilt. She stood up and looked over at Dan. He was curled up on the sofa, asleep.

Trixie went over to the sofa. He was entirely too tall to fit on her short sofa, but he was obviously out for the night. She took off Dan's shoes and placed them on the floor. After wrapping the quilt around him, she went into the bathroom to change. She came out and tiptoed around the room, turning off the lights before climbing into her bed.

Looking over at Dan's form in the dark, she shook her head and thought to herself, Oh Dan, what are we going to do with you?

x x x

Diana Belden had just put her daughter to bed and was sipping tea with her mother.

"Helen and I had a long talk earlier. I hope you don't think were butting in."

"You can talk to whomever you want, Mom."

"We both care about you, and Mart, and Katie."

"I know. But this is OUR problem, Mom. Mart's and mine.I just needed to get away and I..." Diana choked a little. "I didn't know where else to go."

"Mart went to see Anna Kurtz this afternoon. Do you know her? She went to school with Helen and me. She's a very well known family counselor."

"And in one afternoon, she solved all Mart's and my problems?"

"No, Diana. But she'd like to talk to you tomorrow. Actually both of you together."

"I don't know, Mom. I'm just too tired. I don't feel like talking to anyone any more. And what about Katie?"

"Diana, I told you I wouldn't interfere, but I think you should talk to her. At least once. I'll watch Katie."

"You'll breast feed her?"

"Diana, I raised 5 babies, the last four, two at a time! Ill manage for one hour."

"Okay, Mom. Im too tired to argue. What time tomorrow?"

Mrs. Lynch smiled. They'll work it out. She thought.

x x x

At the same time, Brian Belden was sitting at the kitchen table of his apartment, reading a letter for at least the tenth time. It was official. He had the position with MCV.

Okay, Dr. Belden. What about Joyce? She doesn't really want Richmond. What are you going to tell her? Will she join you there or? Joyce would not be finishing her residency until December and the only offer of a permanent position she had to date was in Nashville. And she had made it clear that she preferred Nashville and Vanderbilt to Richmond. What if she refused to move to Virginia? Would he change his mind or make her choose? Joyce was an excellent doctor, but, although unlikely, it WAS possible she wouldn't find any position in Richmond. Brian came to a sudden realization. He couldn't continue to lie to himself. He knew he had to go to Tennessee and marry Joyce or...

Brian picked up the phone and punched in numbers. He waited a few seconds and punched in seven more numbers. He sat back and waited. After less than two minutes, the phone rang.

"Joyce! I'm so sorry about this morning. Oh gee. When's your next break? It is. Then I'll be right down. Joyce, we've got to talk."

x x x

"Dan?"

"Dan?"

Dan Mangan opened his eyes and looked up into a pair of blue eyes. Were they really that blue or was he dreaming. "Trixie?"

"You fell asleep on my sofa."

Dan sat up. Trixie was standing, completely dressed and holding a steaming mug. "What time is it?" Dan asked as he rubbed his temples. He had a classic wine hangover.

"Six thirty. I have to go to work. It's Saturday. I didn't know if you're going to work or not, so you don't have to get up, if... You can shower here if you want." She offered him the mug.

"No thanks." Dan refused the coffee. "No Trixie. I need to go to my own place." He stood up. His head spun. He tried to remember when he had taken off his shoes. "Give me five minutes to clean up and I can leave."

"No hurry." Trixie watched him go into the bathroom. She stared at the closed door.

"Would you like breakfast?" She called to him as she strapped on her gun.

"No thanks, Trix." Dan called. He quickly cleaned up. The bathroom smelled like peaches. He thought it was a wonderful way to greet the day, even with a hangover. He washed his face, rubbed some of Trixie's toothpaste over his teeth with his finger, straightened his clothes the best he could, and went back out.

"Trixie, about last night."

"What about it?" Trixie smiled. "You can crash on my sofa anytime." Dan gathered his things and followed Trixie out of the building and to the subway station. They waited together for Trixie's train.

"This is it." Trixie said as a train came into the station. "Dan, I know you won't believe me, but I enjoyed last night. Really. It was good being with you. I wish I could do more to help, but it feels good to have you around." She gave him a quick kiss on the cheek and joined the crowd pushing onto the train.

Dan watched as the train pulled away. Trixie waved through the crowd in the car. He waved back. He stood and watched until it was completely out of sight. The only person who'd ever been a better friend was her brother, Mart, he thought as he watched. He was so lucky to have the two of them. He turned and went back up the stairs to cross over to the other side and catch a train downtown to his own apartment; never noticing his every move was being watched.

x x x

Brian Belden carried another armful of clothing out to his car. He had no clue where he might go or what to do with all his belongings, although he didn't have much other than clothing and books. Most of the furnishings and everything in the kitchen of their shared apartment belonged to Joyce. He'd brought almost nothing into the relationship and was taking almost nothing now.

Brian had known for a long time that the relationship wasn't working. He'd just been too much of a coward to admit it to himself, much less to Joyce. She was a brilliant doctor, with looks that turned heads everywhere they went, and the sex was, well, it was great. But their relationship had been based on a physical attraction and not really anything else. Brian now realized it had been hollow; something had been missing since the beginning. And, once their work interfered with their physical relationship, the end was inevitable.

Joyce had wanted them to live together for a long time before Brian finally gave up his apartment and moved in with her. They had already begun to grow apart, and he had hoped living together would revitalize their waning passion. It seemed to do so at first, but the passion faded eventually. It was impossible to recreate what had never really existed. Brian and Joyce had lived more and more like roommates and less like lovers; neither able to admit their mistake.

When Brian had met Joyce at the hospital cafeteria the prior evening he spoke words that he had practiced many times before and been afraid to say aloud. As he began talking about his decision, he realized he would be going to Richmond without her. Joyce had sat silently allowing him to finish before reacting in anger, but her anger was with herself as much as Brian. She knew the relationship had ended months before, but was just as unable to admit it.

Joyce cried. Brian sat and let her. When she finally calmed down, they agreed that he would be going to Richmond alone. He stood up. I'm going home now to pack. I'll be gone before you get off tomorrow. He turned and left.

Now, he had packed his car full. There were a few things left in the apartment, but he had to be out. He got in and started the motor. He had nowhere to go.

x x x

Mart Belden pulled his Taurus onto Martin's Marsh Road, a dead-end lane off Quaker Bridge Road. He and his wife, Diana had just spent almost two hours with the family counselor. While none of their problems were actually resolved, a lot of concerns had been aired. They had agreed that Mart would return to work in Ithaca on Monday while Diana and the baby, Katie, would remain in Sleepyside for at least one week. They also had agreed to more counseling, individually and together via conference calls, during the upcoming week.

"What are you doing?" His wife asked from beside him as he turned off Quaker Bridge Road.

"I thought we'd talk."

"We just spent two hours talking." Diana was certainly in no mood to go parking.

Mart stopped the car at the end of the lane. He turned and looked over at his wife with apprehension. They had spent so many hours at this same place, talking, sharing their hopes and dreams and going only so far...

"We spent many hours sitting here talking and dreaming and...It was so simple back then." Mart offered.

"Hard to believe what big dreams we had; how certain we were that we would always be happy and in love."

"What?" Mart looked at his wife. Was she saying what he thought she said? "Diana, I still love you. As much as, no MORE than back then. I..."

"I just mean, I don't know what I mean, Mart. I need to get back to Katie." Diana stared out the side of the car. She really did not want to be there.

"Not until I say what I need to say."

"I'm not going back to Ithaca tomorrow. We agreed to that." Diana gave him her most determined frown.

"I know. But I still have to say, I have to tell you again, that I'll do anything to make you happy. Anything, Di. If you want to move back to Sleepyside, I'll find a job here. If you want me to walk; I don't know how I'll do it, but I will. Please believe that. That's how much I love you. I can't stand to see you so unhappy. I'll do ANYTHING." Mart had never promised her anything. He'd always been too proud.

"I...I...Oh, Mart. The fighting. The...You're never home. And those girls..."

"Girls?" Mart was totally confused now. "What girls?"

"Your students. Beautiful young girls in your classes. Meeting with them in your office. They're young and sexy and I'm...I'm fat and tired." Di began crying. She couldn't look at her husband. She didn't know what to believe any more. She just knew that he had to be looking elsewhere for what she couldn't bring herself to give to him. She was always so tired, she always looked bad, and she was irritable to him. Diana was an intelligent and talented woman who had never seen herself as such. She also was blessed with an incredible physical beauty and could not be convinced that Mart, nor any one else saw past her physical appearance or the misconception that a beautiful woman couldn't be intelligent as well.

Mart pulled his wife to him and held her as closely as he could in the front seat of a car. "Don't do this. Never. Never think that. Why would I want hamburger when I have porterhouse steak at home?" He began to cry too. What had he done to make Diana think such things?

His quip caused Diana to smile through her tears. He kissed the top of her head and they sat there holding each other, both crying in silence. Finally, Diana pulled away.

"We need to go back. I need to get to Katie."

"You've got to believe me, Diana. There's nothing. Nothing. I want only you. "

"I don't know what I believe, Mart. I want to believe you, but I know what I see. Youve got to be frustrated if nothing else."

Mart grinned. "Well, I always told you that I'd bring you back here after we were married and finish what we started, over and over and over."

"No way, Martin Belden. Not in the middle of the afternoon."

"But sometime?" Mart was relieved. Perhaps there was some hope.

"Sometime."

Mart started up the car. He looked over at Diana. "I love you, Sweetdiana."

x x x

Trixie Belden and her partner had just returned to the office after re-interviewing a neighbor of the girl who'd been attacked that week. Miraculously, she had survived, but she remained comatose. The neighbor had seen someone running down the stairs of the apartment building. She thought it was a man, but couldn't be certain; medium height, medium build, dark clothing and wearing a ski mask. She couldn't be certain of the race of the attacker. In both attacks, the women were beaten unconscious and then had their clothing ripped off, but there was no evidence of sexual assault. The attacks had been savage and it was miraculous that second victim had survived at all.

Each crime scene had been carefully checked and rechecked for evidence and very little was found. There were no witnesses to the actual assaults. There was no blood other than the victims'; no hairs, no semen, no footprints, nothing for DNA. Black wool fibers were found at the first site, probably from the assailant's clothing, but there was nothing unusual about them. Unless they found the actual clothing worn, they would be difficult to use in proving a case.

Trixie sat down at her computer. She was searching the data base of known sexual offenders, while Erica was searching all recent unsolved assaults in the City to try to find similarities. So far they had found nothing, but they were far from ready to quit.

"Belden, Lane." Their Captain walked up to their desks.

"Yessir?"

"Tough case?"

"Yessir."

"Well, you may have a break."

Trixie jumped up. "Where? Who?"

"Apparently there was an assault out in Highland Falls last night. Exact same M.O. Creep waited for his victim to return home. As soon as she was safely locked in her home, he beat her unconscious and stripped her. No apparent rape."

Trixie and Erica nodded. Sounded strangely similar. "Is she alive?"

"She's in a coma and not expected to come out. I want you to go out to Highland Falls and talk to the locals. See what they have, compare notes."

"Now?" Trixie was ready.

The Captain looked at his watch. "No, I think first thing in the morning's soon enough."

"Sure thing, Captain." Trixie nodded her agreement.

"And Belden," He shook his head. "Back off a little. You'll solve this one. I have full confidence in you."

The captain headed back into his office. Trixie returned to the computer screen.

"I sure hope I don't let anyone down." She said to her partner.

x x x

Dan Mangan folded the last of his clean laundry and placed it in one of the cardboard boxes on the floor of his bedroom. He looked at the time. He walked across the living room and picked up the phone in the kitchen. He started to punch in a number, hesitated, and hung up. He stared out the window. He picked up the phone again. He hesitated again. He hung up. He walked over to his recliner chair and sat down, staring out the windows as the last light of the day faded into night.

He could swear he smelled peaches.

x x x

At the same time Jim Frayne was letting himself in his condominium in Sleepyside. He set the bag of groceries on the kitchen counter and hit the play button on his answering machine. There was one message, from his sister Honey. He immediately dialed the familiar number.

"Hello?"

"Honey?"

"Jim! How are you?"

"I just got your message. You'll be here on the twenty-first?"

"Yes, Jim. I got an interview in Richmond. I'm flying down on the twentieth but couldn't get a flight back to Albany that Friday so I'm flying into Westchester. I got a flight from Westchester to Albany late Sunday. I thought I'd spend the weekend there. Will the house be open?"

"Have you talked to Miss Trask?" Jim was referring to his sister's former governess who now managed their parents three homes; a penthouse in New York City, a chalet in Aspen and the country estate in Sleepyside.

"She's in Aspen. I haven't been able to get hold of Mother or Father."

"Dad's in London. I think Mother went with him."

"So the house is closed up?"

"I'm not sure. I'll make certain, but if it is, you can stay here with me. I'd really like to see you. It's been awhile, Sis."

"I know. Oh! I thought I'd call Trixie and see if she could get up too. And maybe she can bring Dan with her! You know he's living in the City now?"

"Regan was telling me all about it. He is so glad that Dan's moved up here. We'll make sure we do something if everyone is here. It'll be great." Jim was also glad that his old friend had moved closer.

"Dan and Regan have always shared something special," Honey noted. "I couldn't bear it when they weren't getting along."

"I knew it wouldn't last. So, Honey, is this interview for the job you've been talking about?"

"Yes! I have to keep pinching myself. I told you all about the Institute. It's the only one of its kind and they have a very small staff and faculty. This is the opportunity of a lifetime, although I can't imagine leaving the lab here. I love it here. But there's really nothing to keep me in Albany."

"Not Barry?" Jim was referring to Honey's long-term boyfriend, Barry White.

"Jim, that was over a long time ago."

"I know, but there's always hope. I want you to be happy."

"I am happy. I love my work. I love my life. But tell me, Jim, have you and Aggie set a date?"

"We'll talk about that when you get here."

"What's that supposed to mean? You two haven't broken up or something?"

Jim laughed. "No Honey. Ive made my commitment. It's for life. I just want both of us to tell you about our plans. Don't want to get in the way of a woman and her wedding plans."

"Aren't you funny? Well, I'll give you a call later this week to see about the house. I'd love for Mother and Father to be there, but if not..."

"Okay. Take care, Honey."

"You too, Jim. Bye."