"I lived mostly off base. Learning to cook gave me something to do, since Ive always lived alone."

"Always?" Tory asked. It was hard to believe that a woman with her appeal wasnt attached.

"Yes, always," Reese replied quietly.

Once again Tory sensed a door closing as a distant look settled in Reeses eyes.

"How is your arm?" Tory asked, retreating to neutral ground.

"Stiff, but the sensation has returned."

"Can you handle your weapon?"

Reese looked surprised. "I think so."

Tory shook her head. "You have to be able to or you cant work. Seriously, Sheriff"

Reese held up a hand. "Please, call me Reese. You cant keep calling me Sheriff in my own kitchen."

Tory laughed. "And Im Tory. Now, draw your weapon."

Reese studied her for a second, recognizing the solemn set to her features. She reached behind her with her right hand to set the coffee cup on the counter. In the next instant, she had pivoted away from Tory, her revolver in both hands, crouched in a shooting stance. The tailored uniform stretched taut against coiled muscles, the gun unwavering.

Torys caught her breath, surprised by Reese's speed and grace. "You pass," Tory said lightly, aware that her throat was dry and her pulse racing. She had to admit the combination of physical beauty and controlled power was a compelling image.

Reese straightened, holstering her revolver. She smiled faintly and saluted Tory casually. "Thank you, maam."

Reese wasnt sure why Tory was staring at her so curiously, but she liked the way she laughed. For some reason, the laughter made her happy.


Chapter Four

After returning Tory to the clinic, Reese circled through town to the station house. Nelson was at his desk, frowning over yet another voluminous report he had to complete.

"Jesus, Conlonwhat happened to you?" Nelson asked when he saw the bruise on his deputys face and the fresh stitches on her forehead.

Reese shook her head ruefully, tossing her hat on her desk. "If I told you the truth, youd fire me."

"Try me," he ordered. He was laughing by the time she finished the story. "I told you the doc could look after herself! Just be glad shes only got one good leg, or she really might have hurt you!"

They stared at one another as he grimaced in disgust. "Oh hell, I didnt mean that. Its a damn tragedy, and here I am joking." He shook his head in discomfort.

"What do you mean?" Reese asked quietly.

"I guess its not a secret - as if anyone in this town has secrets. She was a rower. Did you know that?"

"I know she rows," Reese remarked, recalling the photographs in Tory Kings office.

"She did row. She rowed for the Canadian Olympic team. She was their big hope for a gold medal in the 88 Olympics. Another rower hit her scull in a trial heat just before the games. Cut her boat in half and nearly took her leg off with it. She never rowed again."

Reese turned away, her chest tight. "Is this stuff last nights dregs again?" she said gruffly, snatching the coffeepot from the burner.

Nelson gaped at her in surprise. He was never going to understand this woman. She closed up faster than anyone he had ever known, men included. But he respected her moods, so he just grunted as he returned to the endless paperwork on his desk.

Reese focused on making coffee, forcing the painful image of Tory lying injured in a shattered boat from her mind. Unexpectedly, she flashed on the way Tory had looked asleep that morning, remembering the still beauty of her form beneath the light covering. The image was inexplicably calming. Reese took a deep breath, her emotions under control once again, and turned back to the Chief.

"Im going to start my tour."

"Sure. Hey, grab me some donuts, will you?"

Instead of turning right into town, Reese went the opposite direction to Route 6 and Herring Cove. The fishermen and women were out in numbers, casting in the offshore depths for the plentiful sea bass. Reese parked at the waters edge, searching the horizon. Sunlight shimmered on the cold blue-grey morning water, two forces of nature meeting. There, off to the right, cutting swiftly and surely toward Race Point, was the red kayak. The tension in her chest eased as Reese watched Tory fly across the surface, unfettered and free. Calm once again, she wheeled out of the lot to start her day.

After her second pass through town, she headed east on Route 6, the main highway that ran the length of Cape Cod. A roller blader a hundred yards ahead of her caught a wheel on something in the road, flying off onto the shoulder. The skater didnt get up.

Reese pulled up nearby, lights flashing. She ran to the prone figure.

"Take it easy, son," she said as she bent down next to the wiry youth with short cropped dark hair. "Oops, sorry," she amended as she looked closer, realizing the skater was female. "Are you hurt?"

"Jammed my knee pretty good," the young woman muttered, grimacing as she tried to get to her feet. She had been skating in tight shorts without gear, and the length of her thigh was badly scraped and bleeding.

"Dont try to stand up," Reese cautioned, slipping an arm around her waist. She bent slightly, getting her other arm behind the youths legs and stood, lifting her easily. "Come on. Ill take you to the clinic," she said as she walked the few feet to her cruiser.

"Im okay," the pale young woman protested.

"That may be, but wed better make sure." Reese pulled the rear door open, sliding the girl gently onto the back seat. "Whats your name?"

"Brianna Parker," came the quiet reply.

Reese looked at her carefully. Her hair was very short and spiked; she wore no makeup. She had a small silver ring through the corner of her left eyebrow, a tattoo encircling her right upper arm, and a wide silver band on the middle finger of her left hand. At first glance she appeared like a typical teenager, but on closer examination, the girl had a haunted look.

"Are you related to Sheriff Parker?"

"My dad."

"Ill radio him," Reese said as she slipped behind the wheel.

"Do you have to?"

Reese swung around in the seat to face her young passenger.

"How old are you?"

"Seventeen."

"Youll need your dads permission to be treated"

"Cant we wait to see if I need to be treated? Hes going to be mad. He doesnt want me skating out here. Besides, Im supposed to be in school."

Reese considered the request. Nelson was likely to be angry if she didnt call him right away, but there was something in the girl's face that swayed her. She could wait a bit.

"Ill have to call him, Brianna - but lets check the damage first okay?"

"Yeah," the young woman sighed. "And you can call me Bri. Everybody does."

Tory pulled into the clinic lot just behind Reeses cruiser. She looked at Reese questioningly as the officer approached.

"Hi!" Tory called, pleased to see her again so soon.

"Good morning," Reese replied, her voice warm. "Im afraid I brought you some early business. The Chiefs daughter took a header out on Route 6 on her roller blades. Banged her knee up."

"Damn," Tory muttered, mentally already planning what needed to be done. "Neither Sally or Randy is here yet. I guess you can handle a stretcher, cant you?"

Reese didnt reply as she opened the door of her patrol car and leaned inside. To Torys surprise, Reese straightened up with the young woman in her arms. Bri threw one arm around the tall officers shoulder for support.

"Lead the way, Doctor," Reese announced.

Tory merely nodded, deciding that she should get used to being surprised by the seemingly totally self-sufficient sheriff. Reese followed her through the building to the treatment room, depositing Brianna gently on the treatment table.

"Ill wait," Reese said. "Im going to need to call her father."

Tory nodded distractedly as she bent over her patient, then as an after thought asked, "Think you can make some coffee?"

"Absolutely," Reese replied with a grin. She found the tiny kitchenette and soon had a pot brewing. She was just pouring two cups when Tory reappeared.

"Shes fine," Tory answered to Reeses questioning look. "A pretty bad sprain, but I put her in a knee immobilizer. Shell be skating again in a week or two."

"Thanks," Reese said. "Im sorry to have bothered you, but I thought"

"Nonsense," Tory said, stilling Reese with a touch on her arm. "You were right to bring her in. Shes more worried about her father than her knee. Nelson keeps a pretty tight rein on her. She got into some kind of trouble a year or so ago. Teenager stuff."

Reese nodded. "Its hard being that age. Ill call him, then Ill run her home."

"Youre good at this small town policing, Sheriff."

Reese smiled, pleased. "Thanks. I dont have much experience with community life. I was a military brat, then active duty right after school." She halted self-consciously. "Id better go call Nelson."

It took her a few minutes to calm her boss down, but she finally convinced him that he did not have to personally come to the clinic. She thanked Tory once again, then settled Bri back into the cruiser.

"Is it true you have a black belt in karate?" Bri asked as Reese pulled out onto the highway.

"Not exactly," Reese answered. "I have a black belt in jujitsu. Theyre quite a bit different. How did you know?"

"My dad told me."

Reese knew it was on her resume, and assumed the Sheriff had noticed. It was certainly true that there were no secrets in Provincetown.

"Could you teach me?" the young woman continued.

Reese turned her head to study the teenager. Her hopeful look touched a distant memory. Reese had been a solitary teenager in a world of adults. Her martial arts training had helped focus her aimless adolescent energy. It centered her still.

"Its a very serious commitment, Bri - and it takes a long time to learn. Why do you want to do it?"

Bri knew she was being asked a serious question, and it felt like Reese really cared about her answer. She struggled to find the right words.

"Because I want something thats my own - something I chose, something I earned. And because Im bored, and I feel restless all the time."

Reese nodded. She had been about Briannas age when she began her training, and she remembered that difficult time in her life. She didnt want to refuse, but it meant a commitment for her as well. Taking on a student was a deep responsibility.

"Youd need to train three times a week. And your dad has to approve."

Bris face set in determination. "All right. When can I start?"

"Not until your knee is healed, and Doctor King gives you the go ahead. But you can come to my house on Saturday and Ill explain some things that you need to know. Seven a.m."

"Ill be there."


Chapter Five

"Whats this about my daughter and jujitsu?" Nelson asked the minute Reese walked into the station house at the end of her shift.

"She talked to you already, huh?" Reese said with a faint smile. Bri was eager, and that was encouraging.

Nelson nodded. "I stopped home at lunch to see how she was, and thats all she talked about. You really want to do this?"

Reese settled one hip on the corner of her desk, regarding him intently. "She seems serious, Chief. Its a great way for a kid - for anyone, really - to learn self-confidence and self-control. And it never hurts for a woman to know how to protect herself. Im willing to teach her if shes willing to put out the effort. Its not easy, and it requires a real commitment over a long time."

Nelson walked to the front windows and stood staring out. Reese recognized this as a habit of his when he was working something out. She waited silently. He didnt look at her when he spoke.

"I found her out under one of the piers about six months ago with some kids from a couple of towns over - kids wed had trouble with before. They were fooling around with drugs. Bri swore to me that she hadnt done anything, but it scared me pretty good. Shes smart, and she always did real well in school, but this past year - somethings changed. She doesnt get along with any of her old friends, shes skipped school some. Nothing real bad yet, but the signs dont look so good. She doesnt talk about anything; in fact, she hardly talks to me at all. This is the first thing shes shown any interest in in a long time. I cant pay you much, but itll be worth it if you think it might help her."

Reese chose her words carefully, not wanting to offend him. "Nelson, teaching your daughter something I love is not a hardship for me. It helped me when I was her age. Sometimes I think it kept me from going a little crazy. I dont need you to pay me, but I will expect Bri to help me out in the dojo. Theres still a lot of work to be done."