His mother had revealed earlier that as a child, Harry looked as if he had been told a secret from God and was considering whether or not to share it. His father had punished him for those looks, calling them insolent, but Katherine sensed a different spirit behind that penetrating gaze. She knew that Harry was gifted and his little soul would have trouble keeping up with his brilliant mind.

Diane found herself increasingly unable to hide any of her own emotions from Harry's eyes. Even as they sat together later at the table sharing coffee with his mother, he seemed to understand her more intimately the longer he looked, and when he stroked her hand she felt utterly feminine and wanting to be known.

Diane turned off the faucet over the kitchen sink, and began sorting the breakfast dishes from the silverware as she washed. Katherine had made another huge breakfast for them. She seemed to be stuck into the groove of cooking for a crowd.

Diane had insisted upon cleaning up this time, giving Katherine a chance to set out her paints and easel in the moody morning light. Harry's mother had a talent for landscapes and Diane found herself genuinely warmed just watching her through the kitchen window. Katherine had her glasses perfectly balanced on the end of her nose and was doing a fine job of capturing the changing tones of a large hydrangea at the corner of the back porch. The deep blue blossoms were fading to a rich purple and wine as the season brought cooler evenings.

Harry had left early. Ballistics was finished with his gun and he wanted to pick it up on his way to meet with Andy. He was communicating with Sipowicz several times a day on his cell phone and they both seemed to have come to a level of respect that made working together natural.

As she dried the frying pan and turned to hang it up on its copper hook above the stove, Diane heard Leo announcing an arrival with excited barks. Talking to herself she said, "Back so soon, Harry?" and fluffed her hair as she made for the front door.

Leo's barks sounded different somehow, and she decided to go around the couch and take a quick glance out the window before going to the door. Looking out, she saw that Katherine had made it to the driveway and was addressing a strange man standing next to his car. Diane squinted, trying to get a better view of him, and hoped that Katherine would step to the side so she could see better.

"Be careful, Pepper!" squawked Miguel from his perch in the corner. Diane waved her hand and put a finger to her mouth to hush him. She stood flat against the wall, pulling the curtain back just an inch as she watched the conversation finish up outside.

Too far, damn it.

Unable to get a good look at the man, she memorized the make and model of his car instead. Katherine turned for the house as he backed down the driveway as Leo followed the stranger to the main road, sending him on his way with another chorus of barks. Then the dog joined Katherine as she reached the front door and entered the house.

"Did you see him, Diane?" she said breathlessly as she shut the door behind her and locked it.