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Disclaimers: The characters of Mel Pappas and Janice and Harry Covington are the property of Universal Studios and no copyright infringement is intended. When I’m done playing with them, I’ll put ‘em back where I found ‘em. The rest of the characters are a product of my own creation and may not be used in any way without my permission.

It is with respect for the artists that I quote  “Ghost,” by the Indigo Girls, “The Letting Go,” by Melissa Etheridge and “Fool To Fall” by Pearl River. An excerpt from Sarah McLaughlin’s song, “Hold On,” is also being used without permission or knowledge of the artist.

Sex Disclaimer: This is a work of Uber-fic and contains scenes of two women making love. If you are underage or find this in any way offensive, please find something else to read.

Violence Disclaimer: This story contains scenes of violence, implied rape, and graphic crime scene detail. While this is necessary to the plot and tastefully done, if this sort of thing bothers you, you might not want to go any further.

Tenderness Disclaimer: This story also contains scenes of extreme love and tenderness that may force your knees to go weak or your heart to pitter and then patter. In some cases, you might even find yourself exclaiming... ”Awwwww… ain’t that sweet?”

The author wishes to thank: Jennifer for giving me the courage and the inspiration to start this project and see it through. Pati, Jess and Gin for reading this in the beginning and then allowing me to use them in the story. I hope I portrayed you all as you want to be seen. Thanks too to the dogs for jumping on the bed and drooling on the keyboard during all the crucial parts, trust me, eight really is enough!

Thanks to My Warrior, who has become my wife; your beta reading talents were sorely tried during the writing of this book. I still haven’t mastered comma placement, periods or dangling participles and I doubt I ever will *G*, but thanks for loving me and keeping me well fed anyway. You believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself, I’ll never be able to thank you enough for all the love and encouragement you’ve given me.

Comments and feedback are welcomed and appreciated at uber_fic@hotmail.com

The Nearest Distant Shore

By: Little Mac

 Chapter 1: Just Another Manic Monday

The incessant chirping of the phone on her bedside table woke Kate from her coma-like sleep.

“Mmrph Hello?” she asked, trying to shake the cobwebs from her brain.

“Kathryn did you plan on joining us at work today or do I need to reschedule your appointments?”

“Shit, what time is it Maria?”

“8:30, kiddo.”

Kathryn groaned. “I'll be in, just a late night working on the Hawthorne house. Cover for me until I get there, will ya?”

“Make it quick. Mr. Peterson has already been in once looking for you.”

“Did he say what he wanted?”

“No, he just thought you'd be here by now. I'll stall him if he comes back. Now get out of bed and get a move on.”

Kate swung her short legs over the side of the bed and walked to the closet. “Let's see, board meeting at 10, better wear something conservative,” she muttered to herself as she plucked a navy blue pin stripe suit and a white silk blouse from the bar. Grabbing her blue pumps from the shelf she headed for the bathroom.

Shucking her Marvin the Martian boxer shorts and skimpy tank top, she hurriedly slid on a chemise and pulled the silk shirt on and tucked it into the skirt. Glancing around the bathroom, she tried to remember where she had left her stockings. Not finding them, she ran a brush through her waist length platinum blond hair and quickly brushed her teeth.

A frantic search of the room refused to divulge the location of the elusive stockings. Finding an old pair of black hose she wondered if she could get away with a fashion faux pas. Any day but today, she thought. That witch of a Vice-President Sheridan Daniels would point it out in her oh so subtle, don't you know how to dress at your age, way. Probably in front of the entire board, knowing her. Kathryn didn't know what the woman had against her, but she was getting very tired of her attitude.

Stepping into the livingroom she saw the blueprints she'd worked on until 2 a.m. laying shredded on the dining room floor, the cardboard tube now just wet brown wads on the carpet. Fighting back the urge to break into tears, she calmly picked up her cell phone from the table as she walked across the room and booted her PC. She was glad she'd worked out the designs on the laptop before committing them to paper.

“Peterson, Peterson and Boyd. Kathryn Peterson’s office,” Maria said as Kate walked into her small kitchen. Pouring water in the coffee maker she answered.

“Maria this is Kate. I've got a slight problem here; well, actually, several. Casey ate my blueprints; I'm emailing them to you now. Get graphics to print them priority one; I need them by 9:30.”

Searching the shelves in her refrigerator and not finding any coffee she turned to the pantry and pulled out a new can of Folgers.

“Okay, coming through to me now,” Maria said. “I'm forwarding it to graphics with a red flag. Now what else can I help you with?”

Sliding the can under the opener she inhaled deeply as the rich aroma of the newly released coffee assailed her nostrils.

“Would you mind going into the tunnel and buying me a pair of stockings? I'm wearing my blue pin stripe suit so try to get navy or maybe a sheer color. Oh and in a petite please, regulars just bunch up at my ankles.”

“Sure, no problem. Anything else?”

“Umm, let me think.” She turned, can in hand, and tripped over Casey, falling to her knees and watching her coffee fly across the kitchen. “Jesus Christ,” she hollered to the dog, “Why the hell do you have to sneak up on me all the damn time? Now look what you've done! I'm already late, you ate my project and now I have no coffee! Sometimes I wonder why I don't have you stuffed!”

The tawny colored Cocker Spaniel looked at her with a mix between shock and chagrin. The apologetic expression was soon lost as she took in the position of her owner and decided that what she really needed was a sloppy kiss.

Reaching down to scratch the pup’s ears she said, “You know I didn't mean any of that right? You know I love you, don't you?” A resounding lick followed by an intense butt wag was her answer. Patting her one last time she stood and retrieved the cell phone from the floor.

Hearing Maria's excited voice repeating hello over and over, she chuckled. “I'm here Maria; guess you should put some coffee on to brew as well.”

“Geez what was that racket? You scared ten years out of me!”

“Just Casey deciding that a full can of coffee would look good on my parquet floors. Anyway I can't think of anything else, just the hose. I'm going to make a quick stop at the neighbors then I'll be there. Give me a call in the car if you need anything.”

“Okay Kathryn just hurry!”

Glancing at her watch she had to stop herself from breaking into a dead run. “Damn,” she muttered. She was going to be so late. Knocking on little Timmy’s door she pleaded silently for the boy to hurry. The door opened and she quickly asked the youngster if he'd walk Casey.

“For five I will.” Timmy stated.

“Yeah, yeah okay,” she said as she dug in her purse for her wallet. Finding it she pulled the last of her cash out and handed him the five and a spare key to her apartment. “For an extra ten would you clean up the coffee grounds on the kitchen floor and the paper she shredded in the dining room?”

Spying the 20 he said, “Nope but I’ll do it for 20.”

Sighing, she handed over the last bill in her wallet and asked if he knew what extortion was.

“Nope never heard of it,” he said grinning at her.

Tousling his curly red hair she smiled at him and took off for the elevator.

Unlocking the door to her Mercedes 450 SL convertible she glanced at her watch again; she was going to have to hurry. Easing into the stream of traffic headed downtown on I45 she flipped the CD player off to catch the traffic report. Tuning into Mix 96 she listened to the banter between her 2 favorite morning DJ's as Larry was telling Schelby what his wife thought of his drag routine for the movie marathon that they’d hosted the previous day on the WB network. Kate had caught part of their act and had to admit it been pretty humorous.

The traffic and weather report began blaring from the radio when the car beside her had a blowout and slammed into the car next to it. Shaken but happy that she hadn’t been hit, she continued on, glad that it hadn't happened before she got there. Houston traffic was a bitch every morning, but when the idiots played bumper tag it made her wish she could stand to ride the busses.

Pulling out her cell phone, she dialed the office.

 “Peterson, Peterson and Boyd,” came Maria’s much-too-chipper-for-a-Monday-morning voice.

“Maria, this is Kathryn. I'm almost there. Did dad come back? Did graphics bring the plans up yet? Do I have any urgent messages?”

Nope, no urgent messages for you yet. Yes your father came back, I told him you were stuck in traffic but on your way. Yes graphics delivered the plans. I got your stockings and there is a rather tight-lipped young man sitting here with a packet of papers waiting on you. How much longer until you get here?”

“Tight lipped? Meaning you don't know what he's doing there or he won’t tell you what he's delivering?”

“Exactly. Said he had to hand deliver these papers to you and he'd wait. He's sitting in your office tapping his foot against your desk.”

“I’m pulling into the parking garage now; I'm going to stop off at Starbucks in the tunnel and grab a cup of coffee then I'll be up. Perhaps the nice young man would like a cup of coffee?”

“Perhaps he would, and if he asks I'll point him towards the coffee pot.”

Chuckling, Kathryn said, “Tsk, tsk, Maria be nice. I'm sure he would appreciate a little hospitality.”

“Maybe he would get that if he would at least say what company sent him here or what his business is.”

Kathryn had to laugh; she knew Maria's curiosity was eating her up. She wasn't the gossip queen of the Architectural firm for nothing. If she couldn't get any information from this man, she had to be seething.

“Maria, I'm getting on the elevator. I'll be there in 10.”

Shouldering her purse and laptop, she exited the elevator on the ground floor of the Chase Center and quickly traversed the lobby to the escalators.

The most magnificent thing about downtown Houston was the tunnel system. It stretched for miles in all directions and had just about anything and everything you could imagine from doctor's offices to restaurants and shopping. Stepping off the escalator she threaded her way through the early morning pedestrians and made a beeline for Starbucks. Seeing the long line she changed directions and headed for the Wall Street Deli.

At least one thing was turning out right, she thought, as she handed over her MasterCard, forgetting she had spent her cash on housecleaning and dog walking. Signing the charge slip and picking up her coffee cup she turned and ran straight into Mitchell. Juggling purse and laptop she tried to remain standing, and watched helplessly as her coffee fell to the floor, splattering her shoes and legs with the steaming liquid.

“Dammit Mitchell what the hell are you doing standing so close?”

“Hey it's not my fault daddy's little protégé can't put one foot in front of the other.” Mitchell said.

“I am not Daddy’s ‘little protégé’, you pompous bastard. I worked my way up just like everyone else. Perhaps if you'd stop trying to score brownie points and actually do some work you might be able to move beyond junior executive. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do, not to mention cleaning up yet another of your messes,” she stated, looking at her legs and shoes.

For Kathryn Peterson, the week was not starting out well.

Morgan moaned as she reached out to silence the beeping of her alarm clock. “Ugh I can't believe I set the damn thing on my day off,” she muttered to herself.

Rolling over and stretching her 6-foot frame out across the California King, she decided a shower and coffee then a nice 8 mile run along the beach would be just the thing to start her Monday off on the right note.

Sliding out of bed and stepping over the black lab/rott mix rug stretched out on the floor, she glanced out the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Orient Bay beach. Waves were gently lapping the light tan sand as the barest hint of a breeze stirred the sea grass growing along the edge of her property. Turning away from the window, she reached down and stroked the belly of her sleeping pup. “Come on J.D., let's go get the coffee started and see to your breakfast. What do you think about joining your old mom for a jog to the Sound?”

“Woof!”

Morgan smirked at the dog, “Guess I'll take that as a yes?”

Morgan reached into her closet for the hunter green colored silk robe hanging on its hook and slid it over her nude body. Padding her way to the kitchen she asked the dog, “Were you a good girl for Mildred while I was away or did you eat all her coffee table books again?”

J.D. looked up at her with soulful eyes bright and innocent, “Woof?”

“Yeah, Woof to you too. Guess you got her again huh?” she asked as she scratched the dog’s head. “What am I going to do with you? Looks like we get to make another trip to Prestons to buy her some more huh?”

“Woof, Woof!”

“Yeah, bet you wouldn't be so happy about it if I started taking that expense out of your rawhide allowance, now would you?”

Properly chastised, J.D. laid down on the blond hardwood floor by the island watching Morgan getting the coffee beans out of the freezer, ever alert to the possibility of some stray piece of food escaping her mom's grasp. As Morgan closed the freezer door and moved to the grinder, J.D. exhaled a small “whuff,” realizing nothing was coming her way this morning. Reaching in the fridge for milk Morgan realized she’d have to make a trip to the A&P as well; the cupboards were bare.

As Morgan waited for the coffee to brew, she took stock of the house. She was glad to see that Tessa had been in to clean and dust over the weekend. She'd been gone longer than usual this time, almost a month, but was pleased to see everything tidy. She had gotten in so late the night before, or actually early this morning, she had barely taken her clothes off before falling limply into bed. She almost missed the whisk of the doggie door signaling J.D.'s arrival before Morpheus swept her away.

Leaning against the island, she let her mind wander to the events of the past month. Her latest assignment had been mentally, as well as physically, exhausting. This case was dragging on longer than any in recent memory. She had no idea when she decided on this line of work that chasing serial killers across the country would be so time consuming or mentally draining.

Shaking off her thoughts she filled her mug with the rich smelling French Vanilla coffee she had picked up from Starbuck's, and walked into the master bath to start the shower running. Slipping out of her robe and cocking a cynical eyebrow, she appraised herself in the full-length mirror on the back of the door. “Not too bad, a few bruises and scrapes but mostly none the worse for wear. Though I could use a little TLC right about now.” She whispered as her thoughts drifted to Megan.

She was still having a hard time adjusting to Megans' sudden departure; even though it had been 6 months there were times when it felt like yesterday. Coming home from a 2-week stint at Quantico to find a note on the kitchen table had left her without the closure she needed. Short and to the point, that was Megan. Although after 2 years together, Morgan expected a little more than, “I can't take this anymore, I need you here with me, not always running off to God knows where. Don't come looking for me I don't want to see you again, I just need to get on with my life. Megan”

Setting her mug on the counter and opening the glass shower door, Morgan stepped under the steaming water.

Kathryn sighed as she stepped on the escalator leading to the Chase Tower. Sometimes she really hated her life. If wishes came true, she'd live on a remote island with no phones or electricity. Reality, though, is never as kind as wishes. And as such, Kathryn found herself at 22 being the youngest architect at her Daddy's firm. Now at 28, she saw no way out of the life that was slowly draining all the vitality from her. She'd had the usual struggles with junior execs like Mitchell belittling her abilities, and the partner-want-to-be's trying to get in good with the boss's daughter to advance their own careers. Kathryn felt she'd been fighting an uphill battle from the beginning, and it showed no signs of relenting.

Biting her lower lip to keep from falling into a depressive funk, she reached out and pressed the button on the elevator for the 70th floor. She watched with a satisfied smile as Mitchell ran for the door and it closed in his face.

She exited the elevator on the top floor and walked down the long hallway to her office.

 “Good morning Maria, where are the hose?”

“Good morning Kate.” Maria handed over the package. “You might want to do this in the bathroom; that man is still in your office.”

“Mmm good point, I’ll be right back. Can you get me a cup of coffee and spread out the plans for the Hawthorne house on the drafting table? I want to take a look before the meeting.” Kathryn deposited her laptop on Maria’s desk and dug the key for the executive washroom from her purse.

“Sure thing.” Maria answered to Kathryn’s retreating back.

Unlocking the door and setting the package on the counter she reached for the paper towels. Wetting them in the sink she leaned over and slipped her pumps off. Wiping the sticky mess from her legs she thought, Well at least I wasn’t wearing hose, which would have made it even worse. She finished with her legs and feet and wetting more towels in the sink began scrubbing the coffee from her shoes.

Kathryn had her skirt pulled up and was adjusting the top of the hose when Sheridan walked in.

“Not enough hours in the day for you to get dressed at home Katie?” Sheridan asked sarcastically.

“Oh plenty of time for that,” Kathryn replied sweetly, “Some of us even sleep in our own beds.”

“What a pity you poor dear, can’t get anyone to spend time with you?”

“You know Sheridan, that’s never been a problem for me. Least I don’t have to pay people to spend time in my presence.” Whoa Kate, claws in, she thought. No sense taking your bad day out on her; you’ll just make it worse for yourself in the meeting. Sheridan was one of the deciding factors on the Hawthorne house and she didn’t need her making waves on this project.

“I’m sorry Sheridan, it’s been a bad morning, I didn’t mean to insult you. Please forgive me.”

“Humph, you meant what you said, no sense in apologizing for it. I just hope for your sake you did better than your usual mediocre job on the Hawthorne house.” Score one for me, thought Sheridan as she watched Kathryn’s face fall.

“Well, you have a nice day too Sheridan.” Kate replied, walking out of the bathroom.

“God I hate that woman.”  Kate muttered as she walked back to her office. “What in the hell did I ever do to her?”

Sheridan had it in for Kate since her father turned down the marriage proposal she’d offered him. She couldn’t get to him so she’d taken to venting her hostilities on Kate. The bad part was, she liked the kid. She was an excellent architect and she’d worked hard for her position. Henry Peterson didn’t believe in promoting anyone not worth his or her salt, and Kathryn had proven herself worthy of her penthouse floor office many times over. She hated to admit it to herself, but she was excited to see what Kate had come up with for the Hawthorne house. She knew whatever it was it would be good and the owners would love it. Everyone loved Kathryn’s designs; the kid had a knack for finding out things people liked and incorporating them into the final plans.

Kathryn breezed past Maria’s desk with a slight frown creasing her brow. She opened the door to her office and came to a quick stop, startled by the young man standing there.

“Ms. Peterson?” He asked in a deep soothing voice.

Glancing at the man now towering over her, she said, “Yes and you are?”

“Sorry, my name is David, David Adams. I’m from the law firm downstairs. I have some papers I need to go over with you if you can spare a few minutes.”

Looking at her watch as she sipped her coffee and moved to the designs on her drafting table she answered, “I’ve got five minutes for you then I have to be in a meeting. Can you cover it in that amount of time?”

“No ma’am but I can wait until your meeting is over, that is if you can see me after that.”

“How long is this going to take?” she inquired.

“Probably an hour at least. It concerns the inheritance your aunt left you in her will.”

“Who’s will?” she asked, flipping through the plan pages.

“I’d really rather wait until we can go over this all at once. Can you see me after your meeting?”

“Yeah I have the rest of the day open unless I have to change any of the designs. Do you want to wait here or should I call you? The meeting shouldn’t take more than an hour and a half at most.”

“If you don’t mind I’d like to wait. I’m heading out of town as soon as I finish here; if I go back to my office they’ll try to keep me there.” He chuckled.

She grinned in return. “I know how you feel, it happens to me all the time. Make yourself comfortable. Would you like some coffee or something while you wait?”

“No thank you, I’ll be fine.”

“Okay.” she said, rolling up the blueprints and slipping her jacket on. “If you change your mind ask my secretary Maria; she’ll get anything you need. I’ll try to rush the meeting along.” Pulling her hair from under her collar she walked away.

“Whew Maria you neglected to mention he was so cute,” she whispered as she breezed past the secretary’s desk.

“Humph well I didn’t think so!”

“That’s only because he wouldn’t give you any information. By the way he’s from the law firm on the 17^th floor and he’s here to talk about some will or something like that. I told him if he wanted coffee you’d get it for him, so be nice. Maybe I can get a date out of this; he is so fine.” She muttered dreamily.

“Ack! Get to your meeting; I’ll take care of your potential suitor.”

Grinning, Kate walked into the large conference room.

Morgan turned off the water and stepped from the shower. Reaching for the extra long bath towel hanging on the rod, she briskly dried her deeply tanned skin and long raven hair. She looked in the mirror, and with a critical eye she studied her face. She had small laugh lines starting to show around her intense blue eyes and a dimple accenting her strong jaw line. Her white teeth were set off by her tan and framed by soft full lips. She had a natural beauty that never needed help from cosmetics. Pleased with what she saw she ran her brush through her hair and grabbing her robe stalked naked back to the bedroom.

The phone rang as she was taking her jogging clothes from the dresser.

“Sumners.”

“Morgan, thank God you’re home. I woke up this morning and J.D. was gone. I thought I’d lost your dog.” Mildred’s voice sounded relieved.

“Nope, she’s here with me.” Morgan pulled on her panties and Speedo’s. “She showed up early this morning; I guess she heard the truck pulling in.”

“Good, good. Well you’ll never guess what’s been going on while you were gone.” Mildred was off and running.

With a sigh Morgan wedged the phone between her shoulder and ear as she bent over and pulled her socks and tennis shoes on. Mildred could gossip for hours and knowing she was in no danger of stopping anytime soon, Morgan laid the phone on the bed and pulled her black sports bra over her head. Pulling her waist length hair out of the bra she walked to the dresser and thought about whether she should put on a tank top. Deciding she was more covered than most of the women on the beach she put the shirt back and retrieved the phone.

“And then…”

“Mildred I hate to cut you short but I was on my way out. We’ll catch up when I bring your new coffee table books by okay?”

“Okay dear. She only got one this time, the ‘Lighthouses of the East Coast’ book you got me for Christmas.”

“I’ll stop by Prestons and pick you up a new copy in a few days. Talk to you later, and thanks for keeping the baby for me.”

“Baby? Humph that’s no baby dear, that’s a mini horse!” Mildred giggled and hung up the phone.

Morgan ran through a few warm up exercises before grabbing J.D.’s Frisbee and pulling the sliding door open to step out on the deck. Calling through the open patio door to her bedroom for the dog she looked out over the bay watching the sunrise over the brownish water of the Atlantic. J.D. nuzzled her hand and she closed the door, breaking into a light run once she hit the sand.

Walking around the large mahogany table to the projection machine, Kathryn leaned down and whispered in her father’s ear.

“Sorry about this morning, Daddy. I had a late night working on the plans. Wish me luck.”

Henry squeezed her arm. “You don’t need any luck; I’m sure you’ll knock their socks off.”

Kathryn turned and smiled at the Hawthorne’s. “Good morning. I’ve added a few things to the design I think you’ll like. They don’t alter the outside appearance but they do take advantage of some interior dead space. I’ve also made some changes to the kitchen and master bathroom.”

She motioned the projectionist to dim the lights and started her presentation.

“Mr. Hawthorne, your wife indicated to me that you had an interest in the hidden tunnels and passageways of the White House. I’ve taken the liberty of adding a hidden stairway that leads from the downstairs study into an upstairs private study/office. The upstairs addition,” she pointed at the screen, “Can’t be seen from outside or inside the house and unless you know where the stairway entrance is located there is no other access. To this end I’ve incorporated a safe built into the wall as well as electronic surveillance equipment and stereo/T.V. systems. If the power to the house is cut for any reason this room is self-sustaining. It has it’s own small generator capable of running the outside lights and security cameras along with a hard wired panic button to the local police department in case of a break in.”

Kathryn ran through the additional changes and took her seat as the conference room lights came up, looking at the couple across from her she held her breath waiting for their opinion.

“Katie,” Sheridan spoke, “This is simply unacceptable; the plans you designed will put us way over budget. Where do these hair-brained ideas of yours come from?” She asked incredulously.

“Kathryn. Sheridan, my name is Kathryn.” God she hated it when that bitch called her Katie. She’d always hated the name Katie; it made her sound like she was 5. “The actual cost of the room will add five thousand to the budget and the cost of the generator, safe, and surveillance equipment another ten thousand. The decorating costs will be figured when our clients decide what to put in the room.”

Kate looked to the Hawthorne’s. “ What do you think Mr.Hawthorne?”

“I love it Kathryn,” Mr.Hawthorne stated emphatically. “I don’t care if it adds fifty thousand dollars to the budget. Build it. I like the changes to the kitchen and master bath as well. The whole thing is better than I imagined it would be. I want to get started building right away.” He leaned across the table and shook her hand. “You’ve outdone yourself Kathryn. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome Mr.Hawthorne. I hope you enjoy your new house for years to come.”

“I’m sure we will little lady, I’m sure we will.”  He shook hands with her father and left the office, followed by the rest of the executives.

Henry raised his voice as Sheridan walked to the door.

“Ms. Daniels join us for a moment please.”

She turned and looked at the unreadable mask that was Henry Peterson’s face. Smiling at him she said “Sure Henry, what can I do for you?”

“You can empty out your desk and pick up your severance check from payroll.”

“What? Are you firing me? You have no reason to fire me.”

“I have a reason Ms. Daniels,” Henry said, advancing in her direction. “Your childish antics had the potential to lose this company a multimillion dollar account. You never speak before a client has their say and you never belittle a fellow employee’s work in front of said client. I expected better from one of my senior executives. I’m not going to sit idly by and watch you talk to my employees the way you just did. Now clean out your desk and take that sniveling assistant of yours with you.”

Sheridan stood in shock as the news settled over her, then turning on her heel stalked from the boardroom.

Henry turned his eyes on his daughter. “Sorry about that little one, but don’t worry you pulled it right out of the fire. Those prints were the best you’ve ever done, and I am so proud of you,” He said, pulling her into a hug.

“Thanks daddy, I put a lot of work into them. You know she’s going to cause problems don’t you?”

“There’s nothing she can do. I had the tape machine running in here the whole time. I kinda figured she’d be trying more of her games and I’ve reached my limits with that woman.”

Kathryn stood and placed a kiss on her father’s cheek. “I love you daddy.”

“Love you too little one.”

“I have to run. I’ve got a lawyer sitting in my office. Can we do lunch today?”

“Sure baby let me know when you’re free.”

Grinning, Kathryn walked back to her office.

Morgan enjoyed the early morning solitude the bay beach offered. Most people on the North Fork were either retired older couples or summer people. That was the deciding factor for Morgan when she settled here. She needed solitude and a place she could come and go without too much notice. She hadn’t counted on Mildred and Delores, two of the nosiest old women she’d ever met. Both were widows, having lost their husbands to heart attack and stroke respectively. Now with nothing else to do they watched the comings and goings of the natives.

Morgan smiled as she remembered the day she’d snuck up behind Mildred, gun drawn, when she heard someone breaking into the lab building skirting her property. She figured Mildred would faint dead away at the sight of the six-foot woman training a weapon on her. To Morgan’s surprise the older woman merely put her hands on her hips and stormed over to her, taking the gun from her hand.

“Are you trying to give me a heart attack young lady?”

“No…uh no ma’am, I was just protecting my property. What are you doing breaking into my building?” Morgan stammered. She’d never had anyone stand up to her the way the hunched over grandmotherly figure standing before her had done. She was shocked to find herself meekly asking if she could have her gun back.

Mildred handed over the gun and raised her eyebrows at Morgan. “Now I wasn’t breaking in young lady I was just taking a look around. No one else has a building on their property and we was just a wondering what you might be a doin’ in there,” she said, gesturing over her shoulder.

“By the by my name is Mildred Tuttle and I live 2 houses down on the left.” Mildred held out her right hand.

Morgan shook her hand and said, “Morgan Sumners, pleased to meet you.”

“Now what might you be hiding in there?” Mildred asked.

“I’m not hiding anything Mildred, I use it for my work; it’s a lab of sorts.”

“A lab you say, what do you do? You some kind of scientist?”

“Well sort of. I work free lance for the government, kinda bounce back and forth between the FBI and the CIA. I do psychological profiling on murderers and kidnappers for the FBI and sometimes I get called in on terrorist activities for the CIA.”

“Well now isn’t that impressive, not mind you, that I know what any of that means, but it sounds impressive. Was wondering what was going on out here when they put this building up. Now how about inviting me in for a cup of tea and showing me what you’ve done with the inside of this house? Sure was a lot of activity going on round here the last few months.”

That confrontation had started a friendship between the two women that spanned almost 5 years. Morgan always left J.D. with Mildred when she had to go off island for work and she trusted Mildred to look after the place in her absence. She knew Mildred would keep an eye out for intruders as well as anything else that might take place while she was gone.

Morgan ended her reverie as she neared the sound and slowed to a walk, waiting for J.D. to catch up. She’d have to increase her time on the way home; she was due for a debriefing at 10:30.