She took it off again, folded it lovingly in a drawer. She would wear it to work on Monday. For now the sweatshirt was a better choice. She had messy work to do.

Her trio of pumpkins waited on a bed of newspapers on her kitchen table. She’d already used a portion of the largest for Lulu’s dessert. It only waited to be carved into the appropriate design.

She would make pumpkin bread, she thought, as she began on the second. And pie, cookies. The hulls would serve as decorations on her front porch. Big, fat, scary pumpkins to entertain the neighbors and children.

She was up to her elbows in pumpkin meat and seeds when Zack strolled in the door. “I get to do the third one.” He came up behind her, wrapping his arms tight, nuzzling her neck. “I’m a jack-o’-lantern master.”

“The things you learn about people.”

“Want me to dump the guts for you?”

“Dump them? How would I make a pie?”

“With a can.” His brow furrowed as he watched her slide chunks of pumpkin into a large bowl. “You mean you actually use that stuff?”

“Of course. Where do you think they get the stuff in the cans?”

“I never thought about it. Pumpkin factory.” He picked up the knife to start on the third while Nell washed her hands.

“You’ve obviously led a very sheltered life, Sheriff Todd.”

“If that’s so, I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have corrupt me. How about when we finish this, we take a drive to the windward side, sit in my cruiser and break a few laws.”

“Love to.” She came back with a Magic Marker and began to draw a hideous face on the first pumpkin. “Everything quiet in the village?”

“It tends to be on Sundays this time of year. Did you get Lulu all set?”

“I did. I didn’t realize she’d been married once.”

“Long time ago. Some drifter who worked on the docks for a bit, I’m told. Seems to me I heard it didn’t last six months. I guess it soured her on men, because I’ve never known her to take up with one since.”

“She worked for Mia’s grandmother, then her mother.”

“That’s right. Lu’s kept the reins on Mia as long as I can remember. In fact, thinking about it, Lu’s the only one Mia’s let hold the reins for very long. Mia had a thing going with Sam Logan—his family owns the hotel. It didn’t work out, and he left the island, Jesus, it’s been ten years, maybe more.”

“Oh, I see.” Sam Logan, Nell thought. The man Mia had loved once.