Chapter 63

AJ arrived back in Virginia late that evening, but was at the office early the next morning. He made an official inquiry as to how status of the search for Clark Palmer was going. The report he received was what he had been expecting even if it wasn't what he wanted to hear. There were no new leads and the old ones had only led to dead ends. AJ added his information to the report that Palmer had very recently been in Boston and he was told it would be investigated.

He thought about telling Harm about Palmer's latest activities, but ultimately didn't see the point. What AJ didn't know was that Harm had received a picture of Riley in the bassinette in the hospital along with a note that said) "She thought I was you when this child was conceived. Don't you think he should have been named for one of us? But which?"

Harm looked at the photo and note and had two reactions. His first, was anger that Palmer was still out there and trying to mess with him. He was still upset over the trouble he'd had at Palmer's last trick with the plane crash had him fighting to prove that he, Harmon Rabb Jr., was really still alive! The second reaction, was indifference at the taunt in the note. What did he care about a child that Palmer had created? Except to sympathize with a child that would have a psycho as a parent.

He did, however think that Jordan should know the creep was hanging around her and the kid. So, he placed a call to her Aunt Meredith to get her address and after listening to Meredith's sympathetically telling him that it was too late for him, because Jordan was now married to Detective Hoyt, he was able to get Jordan's address without revealing why he wanted it. Dropping the picture and note into the mail with the brief message, "thought you should know he was still after you", Harm forgot all about the incident.

Evelyn instructed her daughters to take the luggage to Woody's room. She followed with Riley, with Woody and Jordan trailing behind. It was clear that the room had belonged to a boy. There were sports pennants and posters on the wall which were painted a dark navy blue. Jordan was glad to see that there was at least a full sized bed in the room rather than a twin. Even though they were used to a queen at home, this would be better than a bed made for one. In the corner there was something that Jordan was sure hadn't been in the room when Woody was last here.

His mother pointed out the crib and told them it had been the one she used for all five of her children. It had been brought down from the attic, cleaned, and new bedding put on it so it was ready for their visit. Telling them to settle in and that dinner would be ready in thirty minutes. Evelyn shooed her protesting daughters out of the room and left the visitors alone for a short time. While Woody unpacked some of their things, Jordan nursed Riley. The time passed quickly and they went downstairs for dinner.

Their time at the farm was unlike anything Jordan had experienced before and at the same time it was everything she had expected. The food was good and plentiful, the air was fresher than any she had smelled in the city even if it was, at times when the wind was just right, a little too fresh. The days were long and hot. They started much to early because of that dang-blasted rooster and ended early because everyone was tired from the fresh air and hard work.

Yes, Evelyn put them to work even though it was supposed to be a vacation for them. Jordan learned to feed the many and varied animals, as well as to gather the eggs from the hen house. Even though the chickens scared her, she refused to admit it. Woody easily stepped back into his old chore list, telling Jordan at night when they lay exhausted in their bed, that even though it was hard work, it felt like a vacation to do good honest wholesome work than solving so many violent crimes in the city. He didn't want Jordan to think that he didn't love his job, because he did, but there were times when it got him down.

Jordan smiled and said she understood. She was asleep before she could form another thought. Four wonderfully peaceful days had gone by before there was any indication that Palmer knew where they were.

To be continued…