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"The type of people I dealt eren’t subtle If they wanted revenge, they wouldn’t bother with postcards"

"A relative of some criminal you sent to jail? Or…a victim?" That was a possibility she’d entertained"Could be"

"What are we supposed to do now?" It was this constantly being on guard, not knohat to expect, that had driven Corrie to such an e?" This wasn’t what she wanted to hear "How can we?"

"We have to, for now, until they make a mistake That’ll happen, sweetheart, I prohtmare will be over"

"You promise?" she repeated

Roy’s expression softened and he nodded Offering her further reassurance, he extended his arm across the desk Corrie reached for his hand and laced her fingers through his Her husband gazed deep into her eyes She felt his love, his co at least, she would be fine Her proble would seeht’s sleep

The front door to the office opened, and Roy abruptly released her and stood From his years of police work he was always on the alert, neverfrom the outer office where Corrie’s desk was situated

"Linnette," Corrie cried eagerly, although her enthusiasht have seehter came into the room, then paused, an uncertain expression on her face She was petite like Corrie, with dark hair and eyes Also like Corrie, Linnette had excelled in school, and because she was the daughter of a policeman, she’d always been sheltered Her studies had kept her fro e now Linnette had never had a serious boyfriend

"I’lanced suspiciously froht?"

"It’s fine," Corrie assured her in a rush "Why shouldn’t it be?"

Their daughter was far too intuitive to be easily fooled, but thankfully she let it pass "I’ve found an apart around the office

"Where?" Corrie asked, hoping it was in town Linnette had been hired by the new Cedar Cove Medical Clinic as a Physician’s Assistant, and Corrie was thrilled to have her closer

"It’s on the cove, just down from the Waterfront Park," Linnette explained "The complex next to the Holiday Inn Express"

Corrie knew the apart, since she passed it nearly every day when she went for her afternoon walk The building was close to the marina and a short distance from the library The two-story cohthouse, with the Bremerton shipyard in the distance As far as Corrie was concerned, this was perfect

"I hope they aren’t charging you an ar," Roy cautioned, but Corrie could tell he was pleased

"The rent, coain"

"Good"

Roy was still protective of his little girl Unfortunately, he had a difficult tis for his children--especially their son Mack and his father were constantly at odds In Corrie’s opinion, they were too much alike Mack seemed to know exactly what to say to irritate Roy And Roy wasn’t blao out of his way to find fault with their son Because of the tension between theenerally avoided each other Corrie didn’t like it Most of the time, she felt trapped in the middle Thankfully that wasn’t the case with Linnette, o years older than her brother

Linnette was talking about the apartment and the move-in date and her job at the clinic Corrie nodded at the appropriate moments but only listened with half an ear Roy returned to his hile Corrie walked back to her desk, Linnette following her

"Mom," Linnette said as soon as they were in the other roohtful Concerned "Are you sure everything’s all right between you and Dad?"

"Of course! What hter hesitated "Just nohen I came into the office, it looked like you were ready to cry, and Dad…he--his eyes were so…hard I’ve never seen hiining things," Corrie insisted

"No, I’hter could be obstinate, definitely a trait she’d inherited from Roy The last person Corrie intended to share her worries as Linnette Eventually, perhaps, once this was all settled, they could laugh about it over lunch But for now, these postcards were no laughing esturing toward the desk