Crime Time

"No one is suggesting we drop what we're doing," Martha said.

It was Betsy's turn. "The way we're operating is killing us. It isn't a life."

"Right on," Quinn answered. "Besides, I'd like a change of scene. This is the definition of my Shangri-La; the town should have a good hospital where my child will enter this world and, if Martha want's to, she can work enough hours to utilize her skills. As far as work quarters go, I have a ton of ideas."

I looked at the others. "Maybe there's a place with a college so Howie can continue his studies."

Quinn nodded. "I need a larger house for my family and I can't afford the prices around here. Frankly, it's a pain in the ass with five people using one bathroom. I'd like space to do some independent experiments too."

"A house with a garden," Martha added. "Put that on your Christmas wish-list."

"I want a home of our own too," Betsy said, "and a car that isn't a rental. I'm tired of travelling and," she smiled at me and added, "I want a baby and a place to raise her." She turned to Howie. "Especially, I want to succeed spectacularly with the type of case we handled today."

"What do you think of all this, Howie?" I asked.

He smiled. "I'm in your hands, like always. I'll miss my class in Boston but maybe I won't get lost someplace smaller. Mostly, I want to stop kids from what happened to the sister I don't know."

"What about you, Ben?" Quinn asked.

I considered his question. What did I really want? "I want to get out of New York, or any city. I want to go to a place where I can settle with my family and feel we truly belong to the community. I have the least rewarding job of any of us so my desires are directed to family and this mind boggling venture Howie is taking us on. What we're doing together blows my imagination so I'll devote as much time and energy as I can possible muster to optimizing our results."

"And keeping us safe," Betsy added. "The way Mr. Cooms cautioned us hit home with me. The fear was always in the back of my mind but the way he stated it brought it to light a hundred fold." My wife turned to me. "No other long term ambitions?"

"Later is a long time off but perhaps I'll take up a profession that satisfies me . . . write a book, perhaps."

Quinn turned to his wife. "You haven't said much, Martha. I know you love being a nurse. We haven't discussed giving it up; only taking a short leave to have our baby."