He took the cane without comment and led her to a long, open-sided shelter where the dry-docked boats were kept. There were about fifteen in storage here, most of them mounted on small trailers.

Allison recognized the Lady Brianna from the name painted on the hull. Sleek and white as a gull, it was a beautiful boat. Burke stood back looking at it for a long moment. Allison kept still, thinking of the memories that must be going through his mind—Kate and Brianna with their friends and the dog, the fish they’d caught and the fun they’d had.

“What do you think of her?” he said at last.

“She’s breathtaking,” Allison said. “And I agree with you. She deserves better than to sit here alone, out of the water.”

Burke circled the boat slowly, inspecting every inch of the hull for any cracks or chips. “She looks sound,” he said. “Tonight when Brianna’s home, we’ll make some plans.”

“Will you be all right climbing in and out of the boat?” Allison remembered his telling Brianna that his back needed time to heal. But maybe he’d just been making excuses.

“I’ll be fine. I’m getting stronger every day.” He glanced at the Rolex watch Allison had given him last Christmas. “I guess it’s time we were getting you home to change, unless you’ve come to your senses and changed your mind about going to the agency today.”

“You know I have to go,” she said. “Maybe today I’ll find that contract, or overhear some secret that will make a difference.”

“Just be careful,” he said. “And remember what you promised me—that you’ll get out of there at the first sign of danger.”

“I’ll remember.” Allison wasn’t looking forward to going back to the agency and pretending to cooperate with people who were out to steal her husband’s business. But she would do whatever it took to get to the truth—and that included breaking her promise to run if things got dangerous.

They were walking toward the car when a thought struck her. She hesitated, then decided to speak her mind. “Where is Kate buried? I’d like to visit her grave sometime, just to leave flowers and pay tribute. Does that sound strange to you?”

He gave her a slightly puzzled look. “Actually, it sounds very nice,” he said. “But—” He paused.

“But what?”

“Kate wasn’t buried. She was cremated. That was what she wanted. She asked to have her ashes scattered in this lake because she loved it so much. She was never happier than when she was on the water. So, in a way, you’ve already visited her grave. And now you know.”

She walked beside him in silence for a moment. “And the boat? Is that why—?”