She hated to disturb her when she was under so much stress, but there was only one way to find out if Robbie’s child or its mother had ever resurfaced in Robbie’s life and that was to ask Violet. She had a feeling Charlene would know, too.

She knew from Beth that Charlene had taken a few days off from the television station to deal with what had happened. She and her three kids were at their cabin on Wishbone Island, one of the smaller Thumb Islands out in the bay. Lindsey suspected that Charlene was trying to protect her kids from the media scrutiny surrounding Robbie’s death.

• • •

In fact, before Lindsey had come into work, she had baked a batch of pumpkin squares that she had hoped to bring to Charlene and her family. She had been wondering how Charlene had been handling Robbie’s death. This would give her a good reason to pop in and see her friend. Lindsey was off the clock at six, and left the library in the very capable hands of her library assistant, Jessica Gallo. Beth and Ms. Cole both headed straight to the theater while Lindsey stopped by the house and retrieved Heathcliff for a walk. Charlie was home and Lindsey rapped on his door on her way out.

“Door’s open,” Charlie called.

“Charlie, I need to run an errand,” Lindsey said as she entered the apartment into his living room.

He was sprawled on his neon orange velvet couch reading Mad magazine. Heathcliff did not hesitate but launched himself on top of Charlie and began to lick his face.

“Okay, okay.” Charlie laughed. “I’m petting you. See? Lots of pets. Ugh, why does he always lick me on the mouth?”

Lindsey laughed.

“Sorry about that,” she said. “He has boundary issues.”

“As in, he doesn’t have any?” Charlie asked with a grin. He rubbed Heathcliff’s head and said, “Love me less, little dude.”

“About my errand . . .”

“Did you want to use my van?”

“Uh . . . no,” Lindsey said with a shudder.

She had borrowed his van once and it had taken her three washings to get the man stink out of her clothes. Charlie’s decrepit van was used primarily to schlep his band to all of its gigs, and the smell of stage sweat and stale beer permeated its shag interior.

“But thanks for the offer,” she said. “This errand is actually a run to Charlene’s cabin on Wishbone Island.”

Charlie glanced up at her from the magazine still in his free hand and said, “Oh, so you need a boat?”

17

“Yep.” Lindsey nodded. She clutched the Tupperware tub full of pumpkin squares to her chest and tried to look the part of the concerned friend.

“You’re in luck. I’m on call for the water taxi tonight, since both Sully and Ian are working on the set for the play,” he said. “I’m getting double overtime. Let’s go.”