"I guess we're going to have to follow him to find out, then, aren't we?"

"Over and out,” Lauren said and disconnected.

Less than a quarter-mile past Terry's gray car was the wide mouth to a gated drive that was set back from the road. Aiden parked several car lengths past the gate, got out and went around to the back. He rummaged around and pulled out a pair of binoculars and a gallon jug.

"What are you doing?” Harriet asked.

"Props,” he said. “When we run into Terry and he asks what we're doing, I want to have some crumb of credibility. I'm bird-watching and you're getting some of that famous Miller Spring mineral water. Let's go."

He led the way back along the shoulder of the road and then into the knee high grass that bordered the forested top of Miller Hill. They reached the parking area adjacent to the well and its pump without encountering Terry. Lauren and Jenny pulled into the lot right after Aiden and Harriet arrived.

"I'm going to make use of the restroom as long as we're here and he isn't,” Harriet said.

"You're not going alone,” Lauren said. “Not after last time,” she added, referring to Harriet's kidnapping from a restroom at the Angel Harbor Folk Art School a few months earlier.

"Fine, come on, then."

Aiden walked to the far edge of the clearing and put the binoculars to his eyes.

Jenny joined the trek to the restroom. She flipped her hood up to cover her silver hair. Aiden was standing outside the small building when they came back out.

"Did you see anything?” Harriet asked. It wasn't dark yet, but the sun was almost down, so it wasn't likely he could see much, but he might have gotten lucky.

"I can't see him clearly, but he's sitting on a big rock on a slight rise with his back to us, as near as I can tell. From the position he's in, my guess is he's using binoculars. The angle is wrong for me to see what he's looking at."

"You could have just asked me,” said Terry as he came out of the forest.

"What are you talking about?” Harriet asked.

"Could we please not waste both of our time? Since you're here and insisting on sticking your nose into my business, maybe you can help me."

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean,” Harriet insisted.

"Harriet,” Aiden said. “You're busted. Let's hear the man out."

"How did you know we were following you?” Lauren asked.

"I didn't know you were. I spotted the car that sat in front of my motel all afternoon almost immediately-the plates belong to some kind of senior living center. I didn't know how that fit, but when I passed Aiden and Harriet parked on the side street, it started to come together."

"So, get to the part where you tell us why you're spying on someone else,” Lauren demanded.

"Let me show you. Stay behind me and stay low when we crest the rise,” Terry said. “And you…” He indicated Lauren. “Do you have something dark you can put over your shirt?"

"I've got a navy windbreaker,” she said, and went to her car to get it.

When Lauren was properly dressed, the group set off down the path through the woods, and then through the grass and up the small rise. Terry signaled them to stop before they reached the rock.

"Come and look, one at a time,” he said.

Harriet followed him up to the rock. Below them was Foggy Point Fire Protection. She looked at him, and would have asked a question if he hadn't held his finger to her lips.

"Just look,” he whispered. “We can talk back at the park.” He handed her a set of low-light binoculars.

Foggy Point Fire Protection was bustling. Garage-style doors stood open at one end of the main building. Light poured out, and she could see people moving about inside. A forklift carrying a pallet of boxes came around the end of the building and went inside the open doors. Harriet sucked in her breath, and Terry once again put a finger to her lips. He took the binoculars and led her back to the others. He took Lauren next and then Aiden and Jenny.

Everyone started talking at once when Jenny and Terry got back from the rock.

Terry held up his hand.

"Please,” he said. “Am I correct that the fire turn-out company doesn't run a night shift?"

"They don't,” Jenny said. “And haven't for a long time."

"Have any of you heard anything about them renting out the company to someone else to make a different product?"

They all shook their heads.

"I have seen a few new people in town who didn't look like they belonged here,” Lauren said. “Besides you, that is."

"That doesn't mean anything,” Jenny said. “We do have a small seasonal work force this time of year. They work at the organic farm out past Smuggler's Cove."

"Okay,” Aiden said, and took a step toward Terry. “It's time for you to tell us why you're spying on the factory and why you're in Foggy Point. The real reason this time."

At six-foot-three, Aiden could look imposing when he wanted to. Harriet didn't know what had happened to him during the three years he'd spent doing animal research in Uganda, but there was an underlying toughness to him she guessed hadn't been there prior to his trip to Africa.

"I have to get down there.” Terry looked at the black Luminox watch on his wrist. “I'm meeting a guy. It's almost his break time. I'll know more after I talk to him. I promise, I'll tell you what this is about later."

Aiden started to grab Terry's arm, but Harriet stopped him.

"Let him go,” she said.

Terry gave her a grateful look and took off through the woods.

"What now, Mata Hari,” Aiden asked.

Jenny pulled her hood off and repositioned her short ponytail.

I'll call off the others,” she said. “Shall we meet back at Tico's?"

"I'll call Jorge and make sure no one else is using spy central,” Lauren said.

"They're right,” Harriet said. “We need to get together with the Threads."

Harriet called Aunt Beth on the ride back to Tico's Tacos. She knew that, even though her aunt would have nixed the idea of following Terry, she'd want to be in on the results of the enterprise.

"So, let me get this straight,” Aunt Beth said when the Loose Threads and Aiden were all seated in Tico's back room and Jorge had supplied iced tea and lemonade for all of them-minus Sarah, who had presumably gone to salvage her hot date. “You followed Terry because you were suspicious about where he went every night. You discovered he's following someone else for reasons unknown."

"That pretty much sums it up,” Aiden said. “I wanted to squeeze it out of him, but your niece wouldn't let me."

"He said he'd tell us everything as soon as he met with his source,” Harriet reminded him.

"And of course you believed him because you trusted him so much. He's so trustworthy you had to follow him all over Foggy Point tonight."

"He had official binoculars,” Connie offered.

"And of course that means he's legit,” Aunt Beth said.

"It doesn't mean he's legit,” Harriet said. “But the important part isn't what he's doing. it's more what he's not doing."

"We were trying to see if he was doing something that would be harmful to Carla,” Lauren said. “I didn't see anything we should worry about."

"What kind of person skulks around at night following other people who are probably doing something perfectly legitimate?” Aunt Beth said. “I don't think you've proved anything. In fact,” she continued, “from where I'm sitting, you've raised more questions than you've answered."

Jorge brought a platter heaped with cheese-drenched nachos and set it in the middle of the picnic table.

"Dig in folks, it'll help you think more clearly,” he said.

Aiden had just scooped a tortilla chip dripping with cheese into the beans and salsa on the edge of the platter when his pager sounded. Harriet took the gooey bite from his hand and ate it as he called the animal clinic.