“Get your cameraman over here,” he told her. “My answer will make a good segment for your evening news.”

The reporter motioned for the cameraman. When Luke saw the red recording light come on, he turned to the camera and began to speak.

“I helped bring a college student out of Bear Sluice two summers ago. He’d only been in there five days, not five weeks. We could get to him, but the water was too strong to pull him out by hand. We tied cable around him and used a winch. We gave the winch five turns and an arm and head came flying out and landed on a sandbar. We got the rest of him out one piece at a time.”

The reporter’s mouth opened as if she were about to gag. She lowered the microphone, her free hand signaling for the cameraman to stop recording.

Luke turned and moved in, his face only inches from mine.

“That kid’s parents were there,” Luke said. “They saw it all, Maggie.”

“I know that,” I said.

Luke was so close I could feel his breath when he spoke. “God, I hope this isn’t just some twisted way to get back at me for what happened between me and you years ago.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I said, meeting Luke’s eyes.

“Ease up, Miller,” Allen said, stepping closer to fill the void left by the reporter.

Luke turned to Allen. Eighteen hours of frustration showed on his face.

“A friend of mine sent me information about you she found on the Internet. Information about your wife and daughter. I could tell you what I think your part in this is really about.”

Sheriff Cantrell and Hubert McClure were walking rapidly in our direction. People were clearing a space around us. Carolyn left a bench and walked toward us as well.

Luke turned from Allen and looked at me. “But I won’t,” Luke said.

Sheriff Cantrell stepped between Luke and Allen.

“What’s going on here?” he said.

“Nothing,” Luke said. “I’m leaving.”

“Good,” Sheriff Cantrell said.

“Let’s go,” Luke said to Carolyn, who stood beside him now.

“One more thing, Miller,” Sheriff Cantrell said. “I don’t want you or any of your buddies within fifty yards of that dam.”

Luke turned away.

“Fifty yards,” Sheriff Cantrell reiterated. “If you get any closer to that dam I’ll lock you up, and the bond will be a sight higher than five hundred dollars. We clear on that?”

Luke and Carolyn walked across the road to his truck and drove off. I leaned close to Allen.

“You okay?” I asked.

Allen didn’t reply.

“Luke was just trying to make you angry.”

“No, not angry,” Allen said. “He was ready to say some things to hurt me.” Allen paused. “But he didn’t. If I’d been him I’m not so sure I would have held back.”