Down by the River by Lin Stepp Page B

quiet silence fell, and Jack could hear the bees humming around the morning glories still in bloom beside the porch.
    â€œListen. About the girls.” He spoke at last. “You don’t need to pay them to be helpful. It’s good for the character to do things without always expecting a reward.”
    â€œYou have a point.” She smiled. “But would a gift of thanks be all right?”
    â€œPerhaps.” Jack considered the idea. “However, I think the fact that you’re taking on the girls’ Scout troop is gift enough. You didn’t have to do that, you know.”
    â€œI know. I wanted to. No one twisted my arm, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
    Jack ate the last of the little muffins, trying to resist licking his fingers, and drank another sip of his coffee. It felt nice sitting out here on the porch with Grace Conley. He wondered now why he had put off coming over here for so long.
    The little tan and white dogs slept quietly under Grace’s feet, snoring softly. They hadn’t even begged for the muffins Grace had brought out.
    â€œThere’s another thing I needed to mention to you.” Jack turned to look at Grace. “We have a troubled man around the area who likes to spy on people and leave messages about.”
    â€œA Peeping Tom?”
    â€œMaybe. We’re not really sure. Our sheriff here in Townsend, Swofford Walker, has only documented two potential sightings of the man. And neither were conclusive.”
    â€œHow long has this been going on?”
    â€œAbout a year now.” Jack stretched out one of his legs on the porch. The movement woke the dogs.
    Jack leaned over to pat them before he continued. “What the man usually does is leave odd little signs, like warnings or judgments. His notes say things like: I saw you. . . . or . . . Be careful . The longest one I remember hearing about said: Surely your sins will find you out. ”
    â€œWhat does he write these messages on?”
    â€œNote cards. Tear outs from magazines. Postcards. Even on playing cards.”
    She sat forward thoughtfully. “Ahhh. I might have gotten one.”
    â€œWhat?” Jack sat up straight to look at Grace directly then. His sharp voice unsettled the dogs, who looked up at him anxiously.
    Grace stood up. “Come in the house, and I’ll show you. I put it in the drawer in the entry table. I had no idea what it was. I almost threw it away.”
    The small dogs followed them in and headed for the kitchen.
    At the entry table, Grace opened a narrow drawer and pulled out a playing card—much like the one Jack had found on the seat of his Jeep.
    She laid the jack of hearts card in Jack’s hand. “It says Watch Out on it.” She pointed to the words, scrawled across the card in black ink.
    Jack took a deep breath. “When did you find this, Grace?”
    â€œI found it right after I first moved in last month. It was in the mailbox, mixed in with the day’s mail. I thought it might have been a prank by one of the children in the area.” She frowned. “I don’t like to remember some of the pranks my own children perpetrated. Especially the boys.”
    â€œYou’ll need to tell the sheriff about this, Grace. Even though it happened several weeks ago. Swofford is trying to keep a record of all the messages. Hoping to find a thread in them that will help him learn who’s doing this.”
    She looked at Jack in some alarm. “Do you think this man is dangerous?”
    He took her hand, enjoying having an excuse to touch her. “I don’t know. Right now his stunts are mostly bizarre. I wouldn’t let it worry you. But I would lock my doors at night. And tell the sheriff if you see or hear anything suspicious.”
    Grace bit her lip. “Have you or the girls had messages from this man?”
    â€œI have—twice. Usually, like yours, the messages don’t make much