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CHAPTER 9

MARY CATHERINE PROMPTLY LEFT Mike and Special Agent Parker outside and went in to put on coffee

After she locked up the shotguns in the front-hall gun cabinet, she went into the kitchen and washed out the coffee filter and threw in several scoops of Folgers As she placed some scones in the oven to war from the family room

When she walked in, everyone was yelling and laughing as Ricky and Fiona flung each other around the roo-of-war over the TV reeBob SquarePants episode rose and fell as they went sprawling onto the couch Mary Catherine crossed the roo set

“Out!” she said, snatching the re it at the back door “The lot of ya No ames I don’t want to see hide nor hair of any of you in this house for the next hour, at least I know your father ordered you inside, but this is ridiculous The sha baboons, wrestling while your father is out there with a guest Now get going out that back door!”

After they left, Mary Catherine tidied up the living roo Mike so long Mike and Agent Parker were still out by the car, talking She folded her ar them

Mary Catherine had met Emily Parker before, when Mike had worked with her on other cases, back in New York She could see that the agent’s coppery auburn hair was as thick and lustrous as ever as the wind tossed it around Mary Catherine looked the agent over meticulously She was so stylishly out of place in the farmhouse side yard, in her heels and nice office clothes Then Mary Catherine looked down at herself, her hoodie, her old jeans

“Coffee’s ready,” she finally called through the screen door

Parker went into the powder room to freshen up as Mike came into the kitchen

“Hey, soood,” he said

“Scones,” Mary Catherine said as she split one with a butcher knife “Fresh from the oven So, what’s the story with your FBI friend? Is so up?”

“I’m not sure yet She said she needs to talk toa bite of a scone

“Are the phones down or so?” Mary Catherine said

Mike shrugged as he chewed, a puzzled look on his face like he actually wasn’t sure as going on But Mary Catherine knew Mike He was a bad liar Playing du on So bad As if they needed that now As if they needed more turmoil

“Well, I’ve put on coffee for you two,” Mary Catherine said, heading for the back door “The kids are all outside, so you’ll have the place to yourselves”