Grace made chocolate chip pancakes for the girls' breakfast. Michael and Reggie had gone before she came downstairs, leaving her half a pot of coffee. She woke the girls at 7:15 and got them dressed and fed. She was ushering them out the door at 8:30, right on schedule.

"Why can't we take the bus?" Alex complained.

"I want to meet your teachers. You and Jessie will take the bus home this afternoon." She reached in and fastened Charlie's seat belt. "Rosa will pick you up as usual."

"Where are you going?"

Grace realized that the girls had separation issues which she would have to be sensitive to.

"I have some errands but I'll be home in time for dinner."

She pulled into the parking lot at Agate Cove Elementary. Taking Charlie by the hand, she said good-bye to the older girls and headed for the steps. She could find their classrooms and introduce herself to their teachers without having to drag them along. She said good-bye to Charlie at the small playground near the front door, where other kindergarteners were playing in the area designated for them.

She was back in the car and on her way to meet with Mr. Roussin, the Grahams attorney in Eureka by 9:30. She felt better about leaving the girls after meeting with their teachers. They were all concerned, interested, and supportive. They offered their condolences and promised to keep in touch with her if any problems should arise.

The meeting with Mr. Roussin was less stressful than Grace had feared. Scott and Laura were financially in good shape. The house was insured in case of Scott's death, trust funds were set up for the girls, and his practice would bring in a good sum when sold according to Mr. Roussin.

"Thank you so much for having everything ready and researched." She laid the pen on his oversized ornate desk after signing the last paper set in front of her.

"The police have gone through all of Laura and Scott's finances for their investigation. That's why I'm so prepared, I must confess."

Grace felt her stomach lurch as his words brought back her dream. "Of course, I should have realized." Some of the color had drained from her cheeks.

"Are you alright? I'm sorry, I shouldn't have put it that way."

"No, I'm fine Mr. Roussin."

"Please call me John."

She gave him a pleasant smile.

Scott and Laura had everything in order. With Grace being the only living relative, she was able to take care of the necessary paperwork immediately.

Saying goodbye, Grace asked him for directions to the nearest shopping mall. She had decided to pick up a few items she could use until she had a chance to go back to Sausalito, and tie up all loose ends to make a permanent move to Agate Cove.

She had lunch at a little coffee shop, ordering a bread bowl of Boston clam chowder. She was surprised to find that it was probably the best she had ever tasted, and having dined in some of the best seafood restaurants in the Bay Area, that was saying something..

It seemed her whole day had been filled with pleasant discoveries. Getting the girls ready for school had gone quite well, considering she had no experience in that area. Their financial situation was better than she hoped for, and even shopping had been accomplished without a hitch.

As the day began to wane, and the sun dipped away towards the west, Grace drove back to Agate Cove and home.

~~~~~

The night before, Grace had searched in Laura's jewelry box and night stands for the necklace that Alex had mentioned. The dream had further fueled her interest. In the morning she searched the entire bedroom and master bath, to no avail.

When she went downstairs she continued her quest by going through the kitchen drawers and the butler's pantry, where Laura had a small desk. She even searched Scott's study, without any luck. Grace couldn't imagine what had happened to it. Maybe it had been discarded. There was no mention of a necklace in the list of Laura's possessions from the medical examiner.

Something about it unsettled Grace. The word 'love' scrawled on the enclosure was curious, and since Laura spoke to Scott about the note and necklace, it didn't appear she had anything to hide. Was Laura being stalked?"

There was something more that made Grace feel a deeper disturbance, something she couldn't quite make out. It was hidden in a mist of memories from when she was very young, before her mother's accident.

~~~~~

Suddenly, she saw the exit to Pacific State University coming up. Without thinking, she maneuvered over and headed east in the direction of the college. Something in the back of her mind was pulling her towards the school and Laura's office.

She pulled into the upper parking area where a sign directed her to the administration office.

The campus was nestled close to the forested hillside away from the ocean. Buildings were strategically placed around huge redwood trees. Wood stairs and ramps connected the structures. The natural slant of the land had been saved, with different departments built on separate and sometimes steep levels.

As Grace entered the office, she realized by the wash of light, that evening was beginning to settle in. Walking up to the counter, she waited as a woman finished a phone conversation. Turning towards Grace and looking up, the woman froze for just a moment.

"You're Laura's sister. I met you briefly at their funeral. I'm so sorry for your loss. Such a tragedy, especially for the girls."

"Yes. Thank you." Grace had been responding to this same sentiment for a week now.

"What can I do for you?"

"I was hoping I could see my sister's office. I was given a list of what the police have taken, and I wanted to see if there was anything personal left that I might pick up."

"Of course, I was going to call you in a few days to see what you wanted to do about her things."

The woman stood up and smiled as she reached her hand out towards Grace. "I'm Dorothy Mitchell. I'll get the key and show you to her office."

Grace stepped out from the administration building, and followed Dorothy up a stairway towards the English department. Dorothy moved at a steady pace while Grace tried to keep up as they negotiated the steep stairs across and up again. She entering the building, and felt the warmth wrap around her.

"Here we are,"  Dorothy offered as she opened the door and stepped aside to let Grace by. "Just turn the lock on the handle when you leave."

Grace thanked her and slowly let herself enter Laura's office. It wasn't very large. The desk and two chairs facing it took up most of the space. There were two shelves behind the desk and two file cabinets against the side wall. A small window set up high let in a little natural light, while the overhead fixture offered a glaring supplement.

For a moment, standing in the doorway, Grace flashed on her dream. She hoped to feel Laura in the small office, but all she felt was a mounting fear.