“Maybe we could talk in person? I flew up here last night—I’m not far from you.”

“Jesus, you must be one hell of a doctor,” he said. “Look, I really don’t know anything that could help you, but I’m meeting with someone today in town, and maybe I could see you after that.”

“I’d be grateful. I’m in St. Boudin now. I thought maybe you could show me the plant—”

“It’s snowed in, lady. Nobody’s getting out there without a snowmobile.”

“Just give me ten minutes. Please.”

“You must be desperate. I guess you deserve whatever help I can give.”

“Thanks so much. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”

“I’ll be at the Railway Cafe in St. Boudin at around nine thirty. If you came around ten thirty or eleven—”

“That would be fine. Thanks again.”

She hung up, and David realized he never found out exactly what she wanted to know. He put the phone down, wondering why he had agreed to meet with her in the first place. He doubted that Dan Flint would take kindly to him talking with strangers about the plant.

The hell with Dan Flint, he thought suddenly. That woman is in trouble; I could feel it. If I can help her, I will. I only hope she’d do the same for me.

Helen was awake as he reentered the bedroom. “Who was it?” she asked, sitting up and pulling the blankets close around her breasts.

“A shrink from Boston.” He laughed. “Don’t ask.”

“Why—”

“I’ve got a meeting in St. Boudin with one of the FERC guys this morning, and she wants to meet me later to discuss something.”

“Are you going soon?”

“I think I’d better.” He sat down on the bed next to her. “Listen, if you want me to stay—”

“No, we’ll be fine,” she said. “Besides, I want to call the doctor about Jessie. This meeting, it won’t take long, right?”

“I’ll make sure of that.” He smiled and touched her hand. It was ice-cold. “Listen, I’ll stock the fire, okay? And I’ll try to be home before lunchtime.”

She nodded, and he dressed quickly, not bothering to shower. He wanted to be there and back as soon as pos- sible.

Once downstairs, he checked the fire. It had burned down to coals, and he stirred them until they glowed red, then packed the stove with more wood. The supply in the house was running low, and he made a mental note to restock it from the pile outside. After he had finished, he got his jacket and gloves on quickly and stepped through the door, locking it behind him.

The sky was a dull gray in the early morning light, and the wind continued to gust, dancing along the top of the porch and stirring the snow across the driveway. He ducked into it and pulled the collar of his jacket up to cover his ears, walking quickly to the car.