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"I can only guess he’s saying all the things I want to hear in an effort to convince ht find significant," Roy said after a short hesitation

"Yes?" Ben returned his attention to the investigator

"David is currently living in Seattle"

"Seattle?" Ben repeated "How long has he been this close?"

"According to what I’ve learned, it’s been a couple of months"

Ben’s son had been a ferry ride away and hadn’t bothered to notify his fa was the fact that he hadn’t even attehter, who until recently had lived in Seattle, as well This was a blow, and Charlotte knew that Ben had taken it hard

"I see," Ben said after a moment He’d made an obvious effort--a painful effort--to absorb the shock of this latest revelation

"I wish I had better news," Roy was saying

Ben shook his head "Don’t worry I’d rather deal with the truth now than uncover it later"

Charlotte placed her free hand over Ben’s She felt like weeping on his behalf In only a few ed several years

"Is there anything else I should know?" Ben asked

Roy shrugged "As I ive you a clearer picture of your son’s life"

"You ht out"

Roy sent Charlotte a questioning glance "Ben needs the truth," she said softly

"Is it drugs?" her husband asked

"No It see problem"

Ben closed his eyes briefly "I feared as much What about alcohol?"

Roy winced "I’m sorry to deliver so much bad news, especially on an important day like this"

"Day?" Ben asked

"When the Victorian Tea Roo its doors"

"Oh, yes," he said, his voice waning "It…slipped my mind Charlotte and I were about to leave when you dropped by"

Ben sounded as if he were in a trance He stood in the , as Charlotte walked Roy to the door

"I’ I can do?" Roy whispered

"No, but thank you for asking"

Lingering in the doorway, Charlotte watched Roy walk down the steps and across the street to his car All the while, she tried to figure out how she could help her husband deal with yet another devastating blow froest son

When she turned around, Charlotte was surprised to find Ben standing behind her His eyes met hers and he smiled

"Do you want to stay home?" she asked

Ben shook his head "My son is on a path to self-destruction AsI can do to stop him" He exhaled slowly and held out his ar me down and I can’t live his life for hi better choices, but that doesn’t seem to be the case"

"You’re sure you’re up to this?" she asked

His returning sentle "I’m not about to let David ruin this perfectly wonderful day We’re ’s blessing Then you and I are going to be a Justine’s very first custoht on time"

Twenty-Five

Shirley Bliss sat in her workrooeon She’d been doing some preparatory work for her newest piece, and she’d lost track of the hours Shadows crept across the daylight base her it was now late afternoon Tanni would be home from school soon

She hoped

It was hard to read her Anyti her whereabouts, her daughter grew argumentative and defensive After a while Shirley had stopped asking As best she could, she s, and she tried to remain aware of her friends At the moment, that was mostly Shaw