“That sounds like a great project for spring,” Dr.

Reed said.

“Sunflowers get really tall when you take good care of them.”

I wrote the date of his next appointment on a paper card and tucked it into my purse.

I pulled into the county courthouse lot at two o’clock.

The concrete building threw a long gray shadow across the visitor parking.

Officer Ray Vance was standing by the metal detectors in the front lobby.

He was holding a paper cup of water.