"We'll be playing a variety of tunes for you today-everything from hymns to reels and jigs and an occasional tear jerker," Jamie said just as they made it to the edge of the stage.

Audie was breathless as she scanned the rows of men and women above her. Her eyes finally landed on Quinn, directly before her, front and center.

"We'll be doing three sets, so hang around, eat a lot, and don't forget to drink. Because you know our motto-"

Every cop onstage and half of the crowd called out in unison: "The more you drink the better we sound!"

"Oh, shit, mon!" Griffin yelled into Audie's ear. "I've died and gone to Irish cop hell!"

Audie couldn't laugh-she was too busy staring up at Quinn in shock. Then her head nearly caved in from the gut-rumbling drone that split the air-the sound of forty-five bagpipes warming up.

"Is this your way of punishing me for all those Saturday nights at the Wild Hare reggae club?" Griffin screamed.

She just smacked his arm and kept staring.

Well now. This was not exactly what she expected to feel, was it? She gawked at the sight before her, realizing that if she considered each element independently, the sight of Stacey Quinn in a skirt, kneesocks, and a dorky little hat should send her into fits of laughter.

But she wasn't laughing. Instead she took in the complete picture of him and her heart jumped into her mouth. He was magnificent. Helooked strong and proud and so sexy it should be illegal. And as they began to play, his face pulled in concentration as he blew into the mouthpiece and his fingers flew over a singlerow of airholes.

The sound was deep and crushing, and Audie looked around to see an audience full of people just like her, looking up with awe. Some were smiling with joy and others were frowning with absorption, but nobody could be bored by this musical assault.

Audie observed how Quinn's mouth and hands caressed the gangly, primitive-looking pipes, and she couldn't help but think of the way he used his mouth and hands on her. She saw the ripple in the muscles of his neck, forearms, and wrists as he coaxed out the notes-much like the way he coaxed out the pleasure in her.

Her body trembled despite the heat.

"You all right?"

Audie turned to Griffin and nodded. "Just a little overwhelmed!" she shouted.

Jamie stood right next to his son, looking like a big gray bear in plaid, his legs as thick as tree trunks. Jamie's face was rigid with concentration and radiated the same delight she saw in Quinn.

They obviously loved doing this, and their joy was contagious. Audie broke out in a wide, happy grin.

Just then Quinn looked down at her and winked, his hands still flying. She winked back.

"You know what these Celtic types wear under their kilts, don't you?" Griffin shouted into her ear.

"Not a thing?"

"That's what I hear."

Audie crossed her arms under her breasts and closed her eyes, letting the music sweep over her, carry her to another place. And before she knew it, the Garda Pipe and Drum Band was done with its first set.

Somewhere in the middle of a song Jamie had introduced as "Roddy McCorley," Audie felt a tug on the hem of her sundress and looked down to the smiling face of Kiley Quinn, then around to seeSheila, Little Pat, Michael, and Pat crowding around. She introduced Griffin to everyone, caught Kiley when she jumped into her arms, and spent much of the next hour hopping up and down in the hot afternoon sun, Kiley's laughter ringing in her ear.

Sheila took her daughter for most of the third set, and Audie enjoyed the slower melodies Pat said were called airs, and he apparently knew all the words.

"I take it you've been to this show before?" Audie asked him.

Pat's eyes creased in amusement as he smiled at Audie. "Just a time or two," he said, wrinkling his nose.

Just then, Audie felt a set of smooth hands run over her bare arms, and she turned around to see Tim Burke smiling down at her, looking cool, blond, and debonair in his khaki summer suit.

He offered Griffin a firm, friendly handshake that Griffin ended abruptly, then turned to Pat for a much less hearty greeting.

"Pat."

"Timmy."

Audie's entire body began humming with the awareness that something very, very bad was about to happen. Based on just the few details she'd been given, the prospect of mixing Tim Burke with beer and the entire Quinn family sounded downright unsafe.

She had the mental picture of one of her home ec projects gone awry.

Before she realized it, Tim had leaned in and kissed her on her cheek. He let his lips stray to her ear and he whispered hoarsely, "You look good enough to eat today, sweetheart."

Audie jerked away. "What? Get lost. I'm listening to the band." She was also feeling the eyes of every Quinn on her, from Kiley all the way up to Jamie.

Audie risked looking up at Quinn, and his deep green eyes met hers with a flash of something between rage and sadness, and Audie felt sick to her stomach. Then Quinn suddenly lost pressure in the bag and the melody line dissolved in an off-key groan.

Jamie threw his son a look of daggers, and Quinn got back on track.

Audie heard Tim sniggering in her ear. "Oh, yes. They're quite a talented bunch of drunks."

She stiffened, not only at his words but also at the sight of Michael pushing closer, his face red and his body puffed up and ready for a fight.

"I don't understand you, Audie," Tim continued, still close to her ear. "You're sending me mixed messages."

She turned around and scowled. "What mixed messages?"

"Well, you've not returned any of my calls, but then I get one of your nice-"

"Get the hell out of my face! How about that for being clear?" she shouted.

Audie realized that Griffin was slowly backing away and pulling on her arm, his eyes bouncing from Tim to Quinn to Michael to Jamie to Pat and back to her.

Tim leaned into her and touched her hair. "Don't be fooled, Audie. The Quinns are scum. If you want the real thing, come back to me."

Michael was upon them now, his face crimson, and she felt Griffin grab her shoulders and pull her away just as the roar of bagpipes deflated into a sour wail and something-or someone-sailed over her head.

Quinn landed with a thump right on top of Tim Burke, pinning him to theasphalt.

"No fucking way, mon," was Griffin's commentary as Audie stood with her mouth hanging open, shaking her head, watching Quinn flip Tim onto his stomach and slip a pair of handcuffs over his wrists.

The shocked crowd eased back as most of the band members jumped from the stage and pulled their weapons on the vice mayor, now facedown on the sticky ice-cream-and-pizza-smeared blacktop.

"For the love of Christ, put your weapons away!" shouted the man Audie recognized as Commander Connelly. "Get back up on the stage!"

Jamie pulled his son off Tim Burke and glared at him with annoyance. Then he clamped one thick fist around Tim's shirt collar and pulled him up from the ground, releasing the handcuffs.

Tim began to curse and spit with rage and embarrassment.

Jamie gave him a friendly push forward. "Go away, Timmy," he said softly.

Tim staggered toward Quinn, wiping part of a crushed hot dog bun off his cheek, but Quinn stood calmly. He put a shaking finger in Quinn's face. "You're going to pay."

Quinn didn't flinch. "If you come anywhere near her again, I'll kill you with my bare hands."

Tim Burke took one second to stare at Quinn with hate, turned his glare on Audie, then stalked off through the crowd.

Only then did Quinn turn to see Audie. She stood silent, her eyes huge, her mouth open, clutching Griffin 's arm.

"Are you all right?"

She gaped at him.

"Audie! Are you all right?"

"Am I all right?" Her body was shaking from the sudden drop in adrenaline as she screamed at the top of her lungs, "I'm fine! But you people are completely insane!"