“Now let me ask you a question. How did you find the Pilates class this afternoon? Carol told me you’d participated.”
“It was terrific,” Laurie said. “The instructor is very good, but I’ll probably be paying for it in the morning. I’ve not been as good about exercising ever since I became chief medical examiner.”
“She’s been working nonstop,” Jack chimed in. He’d come up behind Laurie. “That’s why the invite to this paradise of yours is so timely.”
“I’m thrilled,” Bob said. “I’m certainly thankful you’re both here. It’s obviously a win-win situation. With that said, come on in and meet the Hargroves!”
“And I get to meet Carol,” Jack reminded him as he started to follow Laurie into the house. But coming abreast of Bob, who wasstill holding the door ajar, he held up. “Before I forget, I wanted to tell you that we’ve invited a friend and his girlfriend to come up from the city tomorrow and enjoy the incredibly spacious accommodations you’ve provided us. I hope that’s okay.”
“Of course it is,” Bob assured him. “Is he another forensic pathologist?”
Jack laughed. “Not quite. But he’s a basketball buddy and a superb player. I’m sure he’ll want to play if you’ll have him.”
“The more the merrier,” Bob said, gesturing for Jack to enter.
Inside, Jack and Laurie were surprised to find the first floor of the home was mostly one big open space with a large, Colonial style fieldstone chimney dominating the center of the room with back-to-back fireplaces that were almost big enough to walk into. One fireplace faced into the kitchen, the other into the living area. The kitchen was in the left rear corner with plenty of windows overlooking both the lake and a sizable deck. Bob’s wife was by the sink preparing corn on the cob to go on the grill. Also in the kitchen was a large metal crate containing a youthful, good-sized, black Labrador retriever with a shiny coat and sad eyes.
After a proper introduction between Jack and Carol, Jack gestured toward the dog. “I hope your pet is not locked up for our benefit,” he said.
“Blacky tends to be overzealous when it comes to company,” Carol explained.
“He wouldn’t bother us,” Laurie said. “We’re closeted dog lovers. Living in the city combined with the hours we work, we’ve had to forgo the pleasure of a dog but with regret.”
“Really?” Carol questioned and glanced at her husband. Bob shrugged, indicating the decision was up to her.
“Okay,” Carol said. “Just let me know if he becomes bothersome.” She reached down and undid the cage’s latch. With sudden freedom beckoning, Blacky bolted from the crate and immediately reared up on his hind legs such that Laurie had to fend him off.
Bob reached out and grabbed Blacky’s collar, restraining the excited and overly friendly dog. Changing direction, Blacky tried the same maneuver with Jack, but on this occasion Bob succeeded in keeping him on all fours. A moment later the animal calmed enough for Bob to let him go and for Jack and Laurie both to give him a vigorous petting, which he obviously relished.
“Okay,” Bob said when Jack and Laurie were finished greeting Blacky. “Come on out on the porch and meet our chief of police and his lovely wife, Grace.”
Jack started toward the open French doors, but Laurie held back. “Can I lend a hand?” she asked Carol.
“No. please,” Carol responded. “You go out and meet the Hargroves. I’ll be out momentarily with the corn.”
Bob held open the screen doors and Blacky dashed out, followed by Jack and Laurie. Outside the two New Yorkers found themselves on a deck constructed on a grand scale, extending the entire length of the house and a good thirty feet wide. The last five or six feet were cantilevered out over the lake about six feet above the water’s surface. Since the house was on the west shore, it shielded the late afternoon sun. In the distance, the Adirondack Mountains were bathed in golden tones.
At the northern end of the veranda was a built-in barbecue along with a granite topped wet bar. On the bar was a platter of double-thick loin lamb chops. Near the barbecue was a round table with eight dining chairs, two of which were occupied. The rest of thefurniture on the deck, appropriately enough, consisted of a bevy of brightly colored Adirondack chairs. At the southern end, stairs ran down to a floating dock.
Both Jack and Laurie stopped for a moment to absorb the incredible scene. “I do hope you recognize just how exquisitely gorgeous this all is,” Laurie said to her host.
“I think we do,” Bob said with a smile and a series of nods. “From late May to the beginning of October, we essentially live out here on this deck. I can even dive off the edge because, as I mentioned, the lakes get deep rather quickly.”
“I noticed that when I walked out on the dock at the Hiram House,” Jack said.
“Geologically they are thought to have been made by glaciers scooping out these deep basins back in the Ice Age.”
Jack nodded. It wasn’t something he knew much about, but it sounded good.
“Come and meet the Hargroves,” Bob said, encouraging Jack and Laurie to approach the table. The introductions were simple and quick.
For Jack and Laurie, the Hargroves looked the part of small-town police chief and wife, and both had a pleasant, down-home aura. He was a stocky, powerfully built man although obviously mildly past his prime with a bit of belly fat. Like Bob his face was craggy, as evidence of exposure to the harsh elements of the Essex Falls winters. In contrast with Bob, his hair was white and thinning. He exuded a friendly but no-nonsense personality and his accent was mildly unique and clipped, especially to those accustomed to the New York City cadence.
After the introductions, Bob insisted Jack and Laurie take the seats with the best view out over the lake. Then Bill and Graceretook their seats while Bob went to the wet bar to get a white wine for Laurie and a beer for Jack. He then took a seat at the table as did Carol after she’d put the corn with husks still on at the fringes of the barbecue to cook slowly.
“What’s it like being the police chief of such a peaceful, beautiful town?” Laurie asked, making conversation.
“It can be downright challenging,” Bill said, catching Laurie by surprise.
