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"She's engaged," he finally whispered, and then was silent for hours, his rocker
making the only noise. The night was quiet now, with little activity except for Clem,
who visited him occasionally, checking on him as if to ask "Are you all right?"
And sometime after midnight on that clear October evening, it all rushed inward
and Noah was overcome with longing. And if anyone had seen him, they would have
seen what looked like an old man, someone who'd aged a lifetime in just a couple of
hours.
Someone bent over in his rocker with his face in his hands and tears in his eyes.
He didn't know how to stop them.
One alls*
L
on hung up the phone. He had called at seven, then at eight‐thirty, and now he
checked his watch again. Nine forty‐five. Where was she?
He knew she was where she had said she would be because he had spoken to the
manager earlier. Yes, she had checked in and he had last seen her around six. Going
to dinner, he thought. No, he hadn't seen her since.
Lon shook his head and leaned back in his chair. He was the last one in the office,
as usual, and everything was quiet. But that was normal with an ongoing trial, even
if the trial was going well. Law was his passion, and the late hours alone gave him
the opportunity to catch up on his work without interruption.
He knew he would win the case because he mastered the law and charmed the jury.
He always did, and losses were infrequent now. Part of it came from being able to
select the cases he had the expertise to win. He had reached that level in his
practice. Only a select few in the city had that kind of stature, and his earnings
reflected that.
But the more important part of his success came from hard work. He had always
paid attention to details, especially when he'd begun his practice. Little things,
obscure things, and it had become a habit now. Whether it was a matter of law or
presentation, he was diligent in his study, and it had won him a few cases early in his
career when he should have lost.
And now, a little detail bothered him. Not about the case. No, that was fine. It was
something else. Something about Allie. But damn, he couldn't put his finger on it.
He was fine when she'd left this morning. At least he thought he was. But sometime
after her call, maybe an hour or so, something clicked in his mind. The little detail.
Detail. Something insignificant? Something important? Think... think... Damn, what
was it? His mind clicked. Something... something.., something said? Something had
been said? Yes, that was it.
He knew it. But what was it? Had Allie said anything on the phone? That had been
when it started, and he ran through the conversation again. No, nothing out of the
ordinary.
But that was it, he was sure now. What had she said? Her trip was good, she had
checked in, had done some shopping. Left her number. That's about all.
He thought about her then. He loved her, he was sure of that. Not only was she
beautiful and charming, but she'd become his source of stability and best friend as
well. After a hard day at work, she was the first person he would call. She would
listen to him, laugh at the right moments, and had a sixth sense about what he
needed to hear.
But more than that, he admired the way she'd always spoken her mind. He
remembered that after they'd gone out a few times, he'd said to her what he said to
all women he dated‐‐that he wasn't ready for a steady relationship. Unlike the
others, though, Allie had simply nodded and said, "Fine." But on her way out the
door, she'd turned and said: "But your problem isn't me, or your job, or your
freedom, or whatever else you think it is. Your problem is that you're alone. Your
father made the Hammond name famous, and you've probably been compared to
him all your life. You've never been your own person.
A life like that makes you empty inside, and you're looking for someone who will
magically fill that void. But no one can do that but you."
The words had stayed with him that night and rung true the following morning.
He'd called again, asked for a second chance, and after some persistence, she'd
reluctantly agreed. In the four years they'd dated, she'd become everything he ever
wanted, and he knew he should spend more time with her. But practicing law made
limiting his hours impossible.
She'd always understood, but still, he cursed himself for not making the time. Once
he was married, he'd shorten his hours, he promised himself. He'd have his secretary
check his schedule to make sure he wasn't overextending himself ....Check?...
And his mind clicked another notch. Check... checking.., checking in? He looked to
the ceiling. Checking in?
Yes, that was it. He closed his 'eyes and thought for a second. No. Nothing. What,
then? C'mon, don't fail now. Think, damn it, think. New Bern.
The thought popped into his head just then. Yes, New Bern. That was it. The little
detail, or part of it. What else, though?
New Bern, he thought again, and knew the name. Knew the town a little, mainly
from a few trials he had been in. Stopped there a few times on the way to the coast.
Nothing special. He and Allie had never been there together.
But Allie had been there before .... And the rack tightened its grip, another part
coming together.
Another part.., but there was more .... Allie, New Bern... and.., and.., something at a
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