the sigh of silk. Her brown hair was bed-tangled and most of the makeup was gone from her face, but Beth Danson was a woman who had the unconscious ability to look beautiful under any circumstances. Nolan felt a thunder in his veins as he tossed his hat on the sofa.

“Coffee, Nolan?” she asked.

He nodded and they went into the kitchen. “We found the Peters’ kid, so that ends another case.” He dropped to a chair and watched her fixing the coffee. “You’re up early, Beth.”

A shadow crossed her face momentarily. “I had a dream, Nolan. A bad dream.”

“About Nick?”

She nodded and set a cup of coffee before him. The tears were close again, but Brice hadn’t seen them fall over Nick for a long while. It was ridiculous the way she mooned over the guy, but there was no understanding women.

“You ought to stop dwelling on him, honey,” [p22]  Nolan told her. “It doesn’t do any good.”

[p22]  

[p

]  

“He’s alive,” she said, softly.

“You know better than that. If he was alive, we’d have found him. Men just do not drop out of sight in the Twentieth Century.”

Beth lifted a hand to brush her hair into place and sat down to sip at her coffee. Nolan studied her. She actually believed that her husband was alive and that he would return to her. He hoped not. It was a selfish thing to think about, but he was in love with her; he’d have had her long ago if it wouldn’t have been for Nick and his dark good looks. He mouthed a swallow of coffee and settled the cup in its saucer. She was looking at him.

“Is there any news, Nolan?”

“About Nick? No.” He touched her arm. “They’ve given up ... and so should you. Honey, you’re young, beautiful. Hell, another woman would have gone out and had a ball.

“Listen, there’s a lousy show on down in Everett. Want to go?”

She smiled. “Thanks, but you’re probably tired from hunting for the Peters’ kid...”

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