big man charged again.
This time Colby went in under the swing but he was still off balance. He managed to sink a fist into Harry’s huge
belly, but Harry fell on top of him, using his massive weight to carry Colby toward the ground.
Colby barely escaped the full weight of the other man. He threw himself to one side as they both hit the hard
pavement. Harry lashed out with his fist because the hand holding the length of pipe was trapped momentarily under
his body. Lights danced in Colby’s head as the huge, meaty hand caught the side of his face.
But Harry lost his advantage on the ground. He lay like a beached whale for a few seconds, breathing noisily as
Colby got to his knees.
Colby wasted no time taking advantage of the situation. He used the heel of his hand in a chopping action that was
designed to numb Harry’s shoulder. Harry yelled as his fingers went into a spasm, and the pipe clattered on the
pavement.
Colby kicked the pipe well out of the way and then stepped back out of reach. He sucked in air and watched Harry
sit up slowly.
“Let’s call it even,“ Colby said, aware of the pain in his side.
Harry said nothing. He got awkwardly to his feet, edged around Colby, who never took his eyes off him, and
moved heavily toward the Cadillac. He lowered his bulk slowly into the driver’s seat and yanked the door shut.
With a protesting groan from its overworked engine, the big car shot out onto the road. Colby had to jump out of
the way. An instant later he was staring at the big car’s taillights.
Some things would never change in Fulbrook Corners.
Specter raised his head from his huge paws and yawned inquiringly as Diana paced back across the length of the
living room. She eyed the dog.
“Am I disturbing you?“
Specter blinked sleepily and put his head back down onto his paws. He knew when to keep his mouth shut.
His eyes stayed open, however, as he watched Diana pace.
“He should have been home by now. If he’* out getting drunk with that Eddy Spooner, I swear I’ll give him a piece
of my mind when he shows up.“ She glared at the dog. “Do you realize I don’t even know if he does things like stay
out with the boys half the night? He’s my husband, and I still don’t know nearly as much about him as I should. I must
have been crazy to marry him on such short notice.“
Specter’s tail flopped once or twice in general agreement.
“Oh, you’re biased. You didn’t like Colby the minute you saw him.“
Specter’s ears rose and fell briefly. He lifted his muzzle in anticipation and turned his head toward the front door.
Diana followed his gaze. A few seconds later she heard what the dog had heard, the sound of the Mazda’s engine.
Relief flooded her veins with such intensity she felt weak. She hurried over to the front door, jerked it open and dashed
out onto the front porch.
“It’s about time you got home, Colby Savagar,“ she declared in ringing tones as the car door opened. “Where have
you been? Do you have any idea of the time? It’s nearly midnight. I’ve been worried sick. You said you’d only be
gone for an hour.“
“Always nice to know I’ve been missed,“ Colby said as he got slowly out of the car. He stood for a minute,
steadying himself with one hand on the door. “It’s not anywhere near midnight, by the way. It’s only about ten.“
“Well, it seems a lot later than that. What did you do? Hit the local tavern with Eddy and a few old buddies?“
“I ran into an old acquaintance after I left Eddy’s. But he didn’t offer to buy me a beer.“ Colby slammed the car
door and started toward the porch.
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong with you? Are you drunk?“
“No, ma’am.“ Colby was holding his side with one hand. His eyes were shadowed in the dim porch light. “Are you
going to conduct an inquisition every time I come home late?“
“I don’t know,“ Diana retorted. “I’m not accustomed to dealing with the
This time Colby went in under the swing but he was still off balance. He managed to sink a fist into Harry’s huge
belly, but Harry fell on top of him, using his massive weight to carry Colby toward the ground.
Colby barely escaped the full weight of the other man. He threw himself to one side as they both hit the hard
pavement. Harry lashed out with his fist because the hand holding the length of pipe was trapped momentarily under
his body. Lights danced in Colby’s head as the huge, meaty hand caught the side of his face.
But Harry lost his advantage on the ground. He lay like a beached whale for a few seconds, breathing noisily as
Colby got to his knees.
Colby wasted no time taking advantage of the situation. He used the heel of his hand in a chopping action that was
designed to numb Harry’s shoulder. Harry yelled as his fingers went into a spasm, and the pipe clattered on the
pavement.
Colby kicked the pipe well out of the way and then stepped back out of reach. He sucked in air and watched Harry
sit up slowly.
“Let’s call it even,“ Colby said, aware of the pain in his side.
Harry said nothing. He got awkwardly to his feet, edged around Colby, who never took his eyes off him, and
moved heavily toward the Cadillac. He lowered his bulk slowly into the driver’s seat and yanked the door shut.
With a protesting groan from its overworked engine, the big car shot out onto the road. Colby had to jump out of
the way. An instant later he was staring at the big car’s taillights.
Some things would never change in Fulbrook Corners.
Specter raised his head from his huge paws and yawned inquiringly as Diana paced back across the length of the
living room. She eyed the dog.
“Am I disturbing you?“
Specter blinked sleepily and put his head back down onto his paws. He knew when to keep his mouth shut.
His eyes stayed open, however, as he watched Diana pace.
“He should have been home by now. If he’* out getting drunk with that Eddy Spooner, I swear I’ll give him a piece
of my mind when he shows up.“ She glared at the dog. “Do you realize I don’t even know if he does things like stay
out with the boys half the night? He’s my husband, and I still don’t know nearly as much about him as I should. I must
have been crazy to marry him on such short notice.“
Specter’s tail flopped once or twice in general agreement.
“Oh, you’re biased. You didn’t like Colby the minute you saw him.“
Specter’s ears rose and fell briefly. He lifted his muzzle in anticipation and turned his head toward the front door.
Diana followed his gaze. A few seconds later she heard what the dog had heard, the sound of the Mazda’s engine.
Relief flooded her veins with such intensity she felt weak. She hurried over to the front door, jerked it open and dashed
out onto the front porch.
“It’s about time you got home, Colby Savagar,“ she declared in ringing tones as the car door opened. “Where have
you been? Do you have any idea of the time? It’s nearly midnight. I’ve been worried sick. You said you’d only be
gone for an hour.“
“Always nice to know I’ve been missed,“ Colby said as he got slowly out of the car. He stood for a minute,
steadying himself with one hand on the door. “It’s not anywhere near midnight, by the way. It’s only about ten.“
“Well, it seems a lot later than that. What did you do? Hit the local tavern with Eddy and a few old buddies?“
“I ran into an old acquaintance after I left Eddy’s. But he didn’t offer to buy me a beer.“ Colby slammed the car
door and started toward the porch.
Diana’s eyes narrowed. “What’s wrong with you? Are you drunk?“
“No, ma’am.“ Colby was holding his side with one hand. His eyes were shadowed in the dim porch light. “Are you
going to conduct an inquisition every time I come home late?“
“I don’t know,“ Diana retorted. “I’m not accustomed to dealing with the
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