Up in Smoke (42 page)

She no longer craved the earth around her bones, no longer wished to be dead. She couldn't actually say she was glad to be alive, but she no longer resented it. The stubborn fact was that she was alive.

“Monty the cat loves it here. He's found all the best hiding places.” She smiled as Rosie ran up and nuzzled her hand. “And I have a dog now. Laura, you'd love Rosie. She's a great big black dog and Monty bullies her terribly.”

A car pulled into the driveway, Bernie, bringing Murray, Wakely's physical therapist, to stay and take care of the animals while she was away.

The dog gave her a welcoming bark and tore off toward the house. “You'll never believe this, Ted. I'm working for a politician. And we're just about to take off.”

Bernie and Murray got out of the car and went in the house. When she heard Bernie in the kitchen, she called, “Out here.”

Bernie came out with two containers of coffee and handed her one. “Ready? Plane leaves in twenty minutes.”

“Careful, you'll step on the worm!”

Startled, he looked down and with exaggerated care lifted his foot over the earthworm crawling across the stepping stone. “Sorry. Didn't know you cared so much.”

“Hey, when I was a child, some of my best friends were worms.” She took a sip of coffee. “Besides, they're good for the garden.”

Bernie nodded, patted the dog's side, grabbed her muzzle and swung it from side to side. “I don't want to rush you or anything, but we need to get a move on.”

“Give me one more second. And then I just need to get my bag.”

Bernie nodded. “I'll wait in the car.”

Holding the coffee with both hands, she stood in the center of the maple trees. If she listened very carefully, she could hear Laura's laughter under the whisper of the wind.

Other Police Chief Susan Wren Mysteries

Winter Widow

Consider the Crows

Family Practice

Murder Take Two

A Cold Christmas

THOMAS DUNNE BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin's Press.

UP IN SMOKE.
Copyright © 2003 by Charlene Weir. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Weir, Charlene.

   Up in smoke / Charlene Weir.—1st ed.

        p. cm.

   ISBN 0-312-31020-X

   1.  Wren, Susan (Fictitious character)—Fiction.   2.  Political campaigns—Fiction.   3.  Police—Kansas—Fiction.   4.  Police chiefs—Fiction.   5.  Policewomen—Fiction.   6.  Governors—Fiction.   7.  Kansas—Fiction.   I.  Title.

    PS3573.E39744U6    2003

    813'.54—dc22

2003047296

First Edition: November 2003

eISBN 9781466834460

First eBook Edition: November 2012