Free Cradle and All by M. J. Rodgers Page B

that Fred was trying to warn her. And with good reason. Scott Hunter’s reputation for being thorough was well deserved. She braced herself as he started toward her.
    But before Hunter had gone two steps, Tom cut him off and held out his hand. They spoke for a few minutes before they approached Anne together.
    “Evening, Your Honor,” Hunter said, nodding his head toward Anne.
    She acknowledged his greeting with a returning nod.
    “Who was the driver?” Hunter asked her, drawing out a pad and pen. He was not a man who beat around the bush.
    “Her name was Lindy,” Tom answered before Anne could.
    Hunter turned toward him. “And her last name?”
    “Can’t help you there.”
    “Address?”
    Tom shook his head.
    Hunter turned back to Anne. “She was a friend of yours?”
    “Never met her,” Anne replied.
    “Odd then that you were looking for her,” Hunter said.
    “Anne was doing me a favor,” Tom said quickly. “I was concerned about Lindy’s welfare.”
    Hunter turned back to Tom. “Why were you concerned?”
    “It’s part of my job to be concerned about church members,” Tom said, as though that should go without saying.
    “So she was from Cooper’s Corner?” Hunter asked.
    “Not to my knowledge,” Tom said.
    “You just said she was a member of your church.”
    “Anyone who visits the Church of the Good Shepherd is welcome.”
    “You must have had a special reason for being concerned about this visitor,” Hunter said. “Otherwise you wouldn’t have been trying to locate her.”
    “It was a private matter between a priest and a parishioner,” Tom said.
    Tom’s expression was serene—and very secure. His tone had held no hint of apology. Or of the need to elaborate further.
    Hunter looked from Tom to Anne, as though he suspected collusion between them. His eyes came to rest on Anne and the baby.
    “I didn’t know you had a child.”
    “I’m taking care of him for a friend,” Anne said. “It’s very chilly, Lieutenant. The baby shouldn’t be out in this air. So if you don’t have any more questions...”
    “No more questions,” Hunter said. “For now.”
    But as he turned away, Anne called out to him, “I would like to know exactly how this accident happened.”
    There was no mistaking the official tone of Anne’s voice. A moment before, she might have been just another witness to be interrogated. But now she was a judge using the full power of her office.
    Hunter turned back to face her. “Father Christen has already made the same request. I’ll contact your office as soon as we know anything more.”
    “I’m on vacation. I’d appreciate it if you’d call my cell number.”
    Anne gave Hunter the number and he jotted it down.
    As soon as the state trooper had walked away, Tom turned to Fred and offered his hand. “Thank you for your quick response. I’m Tom.”
    Fred took his offered hand and gave it a shake. “Everybody calls me Fred.”
    “So you’re Fred,” Tom said, a different note in his voice.
    Fred looked questioningly at him but didn’t say anything. Instead she turned to Anne.
    “You need me, you call,” she said.
    “Thanks, Fred.” Anne slipped Fred’s parka from around her shoulders and returned it to the state trooper. “For everything.”
    Taking Anne’s arm, Tom started to lead her toward the Porsche. But before he had gone a step, Fred’s fingers were digging a groove in his biceps.
    Fred’s whisper was fierce against Tom’s ear. “If I find you’ve involved Anne in any trouble, that priest’s collar isn’t going to protect you. I can take you, Christen, and don’t think I won’t.”
    * * *
    B Y THE TIME Tom drove into the church’s parking lot, it was dark. He cut the engine but made no move to get out.
    He had been lost in his thoughts on the silent trip home. Knowing that life was eternal helped him to accept death, but it never made it easy. Especially since he had known Lindy—and failed her.
    Now the baby’s future rested