done that down in the burn area?"
"No."
Mark flipped through his notes, not really looking for anything, but just thinking about the implications of what she had said. "Do you know if your brother had approached anyone involved with the sale yet?"
"I'm not sure. I left Wednesday morning. I don't think he had talked to anyone at that point."
"So you think he chained himself to a tree to protest the purchase?" Paul asked.
She half laughed. "I know it's cliché. He liked the image.He thought it was powerful."
"Could you describe for us the method your brother used when he tied himself to a tree?"
"He always used cable ties."
The detectives shared another quick look.
"Always?" Paul questioned.
"Yes."
"Why cable ties?" he pressed.
"Because even if he fell asleep or someone tried to pull him away the plastic couldn't hurt the tree like metal from a chain or something else could."
"So he wouldn't handcuff himself to a tree?"
"Never. That would risk damaging the tree if the metal rubbed against it."
"Did your brother have any enemies?" Paul asked.
"You don't become a crusader for any cause without making enemies. That's what he used to tell me."
"Any that would want to see him dead?" Mark asked.
"I—I don't know. I mean, there hasn't even been anything really happening for at least a year. He's been spending most of his time trying to write a book."
"Anything in there that could make people angry?"
She shrugged. "I don't know. He wouldn't let anyone read it until he was finished."
"We're going to need to get a copy of the manuscript," Paul said.
"It should be on his computer at home."
They stayed with her until her friend was able to come over and be with her and then they left. Once they were in the car Mark looked at the clock and groaned. His wife, Traci, was not going to be thrilled that he was home so late on a Friday.There was no help for it, though.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Mark asked.
"That Traci's going to kill you? Yes."
"Wonderful."
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Paul parroted.
"That this was no accident," Mark said grimly. "It was murder."
"Green Pastures again. Think Kelly's death has anything to do with Dr. Tanner's?"
"Let's not go there until we get something more on cause of death for the doctor. I'm hoping we can leave him in the accident column and chalk it all up to coincidence."
"Yes, because we see so many coincidences every day," Paul said sarcastically.
"You're always so comforting."
"I'll send someone over to Kelly's house to get a copy of the manuscript and I'll start reading through it. You should go home."
"I hate to agree with you, but it sounds like a plan to me.We should also call up to Green Pastures and see if anyone up there saw or talked to Kelly."
"If he even made it up there."
"Exactly," Mark said.
Mark closed his eyes. He knew that seeing the secretary and the rabbi again had been a bad omen.
Jeremiah awoke early Saturday morning. He had slept through most of Friday. He had clearly been more exhausted than he realized. You're getting soft, he told himself as he sat up gingerly.
Captain, a large German shepherd, was on the bed staring at him with soulful eyes.
"I'm okay, boy," Jeremiah said as he stood up.
He took the dog for a quick walk and then returned to the house where the two shared a sandwich.
He usually used Fridays to finish preparing for Saturday services but fortunately he had taken care of everything earlier in the week. He debated briefly about calling a taxi or having someone pick him up but finally opted to walk. It would help keep all his muscles from stiffening up completely.
When he made it to the synagogue, he found Marie waiting for him. Whenever she was in the office before services it wasn't a good sign.
"What's wrong, Marie?"
"We need another counselor for the high school weekend retreat at Green Pastures."
"I thought we had only fourteen kids attending."
"We do. Nine boys and five girls. Larson is the boys' counselor, but Eileen's sister had her baby this morning and she flew back East to be with her."
"Okay, I'll make an announcement," he said. "Hopefully someone will step up."
Shabbat services usually lasted three hours. The bar mitzvah of the youngest Levine boy caused the services to run slightly longer. The boy took his time, carefully and seriously reading from the Torah, embracing his entrance into manhood.
Jeremiah couldn't help but envy him a little. What must it be like to grow up in safety in America instead of in jeopardy in Israel? he wondered.
When the services were over, he made an appearance at the celebration afterward. It was expected and the festive environment was refreshing.
"Rabbi, can I speak with you?"
He turned. It was Noah, the oldest of the Levine boys.He had his hands shoved in his pockets and his shoulders hunched.
"Yes, of course."
He followed Noah to a corner of the room where they sat on folding chairs. Once they had settled Jeremiah asked, "What's on your mind?"
"I'm going to be graduating from high school in two and a half months. I want to enlist in the army, but my parents want me to go to college first. Actually, I think they're hoping that if I go to college I'll grow out of wanting to join the army."
"They want you to be safe and to get a good education, provide for your future," Jeremiah said.
"I know. They've explained all their reasons, and they are good ones, but it's not what I want to do."
"Have you explained your reasons to them?" he asked.
"I've
