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Home → Maine Resources → Maine Writers Search → Maine Writers List → A Maine Writer
Mathews, William (1818 - 1909)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Non-Fiction - Scholarly
Journalist, writer and teacher, William Mathews was born and raised in Waterville, Maine. He graduated from Colby College (1835) and Harvard Law School (1839). He was editor and publisher of the Watervillonian in 1841, then moved to Gardiner (1843) and edited and published the Yankee Blade. He taught English for 14 years (1862-75) at the University of Chicago and was one of the best-selling authors of the 1870s.
Selected Bibliography
- The Great Conversers, and Other Essays(/cite) (1874)
- Hours with Men and Books (1877)
- Oratory and Orators (1879)
- Literary Style: and Other Essays (1881)
- Getting on in the World: Or, Hints on Success in Live (1883)
- Words: Their Use and Abuse (1884)
- Men, Places, and Things (1887)
- Nugae Litterariae, Or, Brief Essays on Literary, Social, and other Themes (1896)


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Tennessee Report Shows Blacks, Hispanics Stopped More Often
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - A new state study shows police stop black and Hispanic drivers at a higher rate than white motorists, but officials warn the data does not mean racial profiling is the cause.
"We're really not able to say from the data we have, 'There is racial profiling,' or 'There is not racial profiling,' " said Dan Cohen-Vogel, one of the authors of a report studying the traffic stops of 44 police agencies in the state during 2001.
The study by the state Comptroller's office was requested by the General Assembly in 2000. Six county sheriff's departments, one university police department and 37 city police departments volunteered to participate. They ranged from the state's four major cities to small towns such as Jellico, Union City and Ripley.
The report found blacks accounted for 39 percent of the traffic stops and 31 percent of the population over the age of 18.
Hispanics made up 2.6 percent of the traffic stops, and whites 55 percent.
The report compared the number of drivers by race who were stopped to the racial makeup of the county's or city's population, and found blacks were stopped at a higher rate than whites.
Cohen-Vogel, a legislative research analyst with the comptroller's office, said using that comparison "provides an incomplete and potentially misleading picture."
A better comparison, he said, would have been the number of motorists stopped as a proportion of licensed drivers, but that data was not available.
Another potential problem, he said, is that the numbers did not account for commuters, tourists and college students - groups that do not necessarily have the same racial mix as the population of the area in which they are driving.
It was also up to the officer to determine the race of the person stopped, rather than the question asked of the driver. The report mentions anecdotes given to the Comptroller's office about officers mistaking American Indians for Hispanics and other similar mistakes.
Other findings of the report:
-A higher percentage of Hispanic drivers were stopped on suspicion of criminal behavior than other racial groups.
-A higher percentage of Asians were stopped for moving violations, such as speeding or running a traffic light.
-A higher percentage of Hispanics were stopped for equipment violations, such as a light out.
-Dispositions of the traffic stops also varied by race. There were five options: a verbal warning, a written warning, citation, arrest, or arrest and citation.
-Officers issued the highest percentages of verbal warnings to Hispanics, followed by Asians, whites and blacks.
-Officers gave written warnings most frequently to whites, followed by Hispanics, Asians and blacks.
-Citations were issued in the highest percentage to Asians, blacks, whites and Hispanics.
-Officers made the highest percentage of arrests of Hispanics, followed by blacks, whites and Asians.
-The highest percentage of arrest-and-citation were of Hispanics, followed by blacks, whites and Asians.
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DescriptionAmong the mega mansions and perfectly manicured hedges of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, everyone has something to hideespecially four very pretty little liars. High school juniors Spencer, Hanna, Aria, and Emily have been keeping secrets ever since their best friend, Alison DiLaurentis, disappeared three years ago. But when the girls begin receiving threatening notes from someone named A, their secretsthe big ones, the little ones, even the long-buried onesno longer seem so safe. Unravel the Pretty Little Liars wildest mysteries in this special box set. But remember, nothing is as it seems in Rosewood . . . Pretty Little Liars Box Set includes books 1 to 4 About the AuthorSara Shepard is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line. |


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13. 1. 2015 Winter Magic of the Czech Republic We will advise you how to enjoy winter in the Czech Republic to the fullest! read more
31. 12. 2014 Plzeň 2015 – The European Capital of Culture West Bohemia's Plzeň is becoming the Czech cultural mecca for 2015! read more
15. 12. 2014 5 tips for New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in the ... Give 2015 a stylish reception! read more
12. 12. 2014 CzechTourism Brings Czech Light To Amsterdam CzechTourism Brings Czech Light To Amsterdam read more
8. 12. 2014 Enjoy the Winter Season at Czech Castles and Chateau... If you've got a longing to visit a nice castle or chateau in winter, but you can't think where they're open... read more
1. 12. 2014 Let yourself be Enchanted by the Atmosphere of Czech... Today, the time of Advent is mostly associated with bright streets, festive decorations and the cheerful ru... read more
24. 11. 2014 Tips for Christmas Trips in the Czech Republic The whole Advent season is packed with cultural events. Don't miss out on them! read more
18. 11. 2014 The Battlefield of Austerlitz Again Comes to Life in... The battlefield of Austerlitz (Slavkov) and the Slavkov Chateau have become the place of the traditional co... read more
12. 11. 2014 The Czech Republic Celebrates 25 years since the Vel... Each year the Czech Republic commemorates the fight for freedom and democracy on November 17, but do you kn... read more
11. 11. 2014 Discover Český Krumlov in winter – a pearl amongst C... This city on the Vltava will enchant you during the winter with its intimate atmosphere read more
31. 10. 2014 Discover Places in Czechia with Positive Energy, Tha... Do you feel exhausted and need to regain your strength? In our tips you will find many places verified by p... read more
27. 10. 2014 Day of the Establishment of Czechoslovakia Do you know when the independent Czechoslovakia was founded and what Czechs actually commemorate on the nat... read more


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Remember back when former Packers WR Greg Jennings was questioning the leadership of quarterback Aaron Rodgers and generally acting like an ass after signing a fat new deal with the Minnesota Vikings?
A lot of Packers fans circled Nov. 24 on their calendars. That was the day Jennings and the Vikings were coming to Lambeau Field and the first opportunity Packers fans would have to let the boos reign down on the former Packers standout.
Now that Nov. 24 is almost here, does anyone even remember Greg Jennings and that his return to Lambeau is almost upon us?
I'm going to the game Sunday, and I completely forgot that it's Jennings' return until I randomly thought of it earlier this evening. At this point, Jennings isn't relevant enough to warrant booing.
A lot has happened to the Packers since Jennings contracted diarrhea of the mouth. Half the team — including Rodgers — is injured and the season is close to falling off a cliff. Packers fans just want their team to win a game and probably care less about booing Jennings.
Jennings also hasn't done anything in Minnesota. He looks like just another past his prime WR who was given a giant contract and won't come anywhere close to fulfilling the investment.
I'd rather save my energy for cheering the Packers than boo Jennings.
Oh, I'm sure Jennings will hear it when he trots out on Sunday, but the catcalls won't be nearly as loud as what they would have been had the Packers hosted the Vikings in week one.
Greg Jennings: Standout wide receiver and Super Bowl champion in Green Bay. Mr. Irrelevant in Minnesota.
Adam Czech is a freelance reporter and a Packers fan living in the Twin Cities. Follow Adam on Twitter. Read more of Adam\\\'s writing on the Packers here.


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Accenture Research Finds Most Professionals Believe They Can "Have It All"
The Accenture research also covers a wide range of work-related topics that help define success in the workplace, including:
- Job Satisfaction: In the current survey, 53 percent of women and 50 percent of men say they are satisfied with their jobs and not looking for new opportunities, compared to 43 percent of women and 41 percent of men, who expressed satisfaction in Accenture's 2012 research.
- Rewarding workplaces: When asked what words describe a good work environment, rewarding (cited by 59 percent) tops respondents' lists. Honest, flexible and interesting follow (54 percent, 50 percent and 49 percent, respectively)
- Tenure: Two-thirds of women (66 percent) and three-quarters of men (74 percent) have been with their current employers for more than 4 years.
- Pay raises: The majority of respondents (58 percent of women; 64 percent of men) say they have asked for or negotiated a pay raise. These findings continue a steady upward trend: 49 percent of women and 57 percent of men in our 2012 research asked for or negotiated a pay raise, while 44 percent of women and 48 percent of men in the 2011 survey did the same.
- Vacation and work: Three-quarters (75 percent) of respondents report they work frequently or occasionally during paid time off, generally checking email, catching up on work, working with no distractions, and participating in conference calls (cited by 71 percent, 44 percent, 35 percent and 30 percent, respectively). At the same time, 40 percent consider themselves workaholics.
- Leaving: Top reasons for leaving a job include responsibilities that don't match a job description (38 percent), pay (38 percent) and uninteresting work (34 percent).
- Job search: When asked to name three things they would do to start a job search, respondents cited looking on job boards for open positions, contacting friends and others in their networks, and updating online profiles and information (cited by 30 percent, 24 percent and 21 percent, respectively).
Accenture will celebrate International Women's Day in approximately 40 countries, with a focus on its global women's theme: Defining success. Your way.
Research methodology
In November 2012, Accenture conducted an online survey of 4,100 business executives from medium to large organizations in 33 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States. A minimum of 100 respondents from each country participated, with the exception of Norway/Sweden/Denmark/Finland, where the combined number of respondents totaled 200. Respondents were split evenly by gender and were balanced by age and level in their organizations. The margin of error for the total sample was approximately +/-2 percent. A full report on the research, "Defining Success," containing info graphics, analysis of regional trends and other key highlights is available at www.accenture.com.
About Accenture Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company, with approximately 259,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries. Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business functions, and extensive research on the world's most successful companies, Accenture collaborates with clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. Through its Skills to Succeed corporate citizenship focus, Accenture is committed to equipping 500,000 people around the world by 2015 with the skills to get a job or build a business. The company generated net revenues of US$27.9 billion for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31, 2012.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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At Roc-A-Fellas Pizza, chefs make the day's batch of dough from scratch and blend crushed tomatoes, garlic, sour cream, and Romano cheese into a tangy sauce. They take the traditional New York approach to pizza, hand-tossing the dough, dressing the crust with sauce and toppings, baking it in a stone oven, and branding the final product with a map of the subway system. They also whip up Philly cheesesteak sandwiches and homemade cookies. All proceeds go to Self-Sustaining Enterprises, an organization that fights domestic and international poverty.
Blackberry tart. Banana-nut bread. Cinnamon-twist danish. They?re not decadent treats in a glass display case at the local bakery, but intoxicating aromas and robust flavors found at La Crema Coffee Company. Owned by Melissa and Dan Flohn, La Crema takes 100% Colombian coffee beans and transforms them into three dozen unique breakfast, afternoon, and dessert flavors such as chocolate raspberry, amaretto truffle, and bananas foster. For purists, the company imports unflavored blends from Central and South America, Indonesia, and Africa. It even vends a selection of non-coffee beverages, as well as hand-beaded coffee scoops and accessories for measuring coffee grounds or spooning them over breakfast cereal.
From its quaint, train depot?style building, Sharonville Depot Deli serves up a smorgasbord of sandwiches, salads, soups, and home-cooked American favorites. Guests savor turkey clubs, reubens, and BLTs or substantial hot-plate specials such as fluffy hush puppies, flaky fried fish, and smoked mac and cheese.
Cornerstone's hefty menu of soups, salads, sandwiches, and pizza is generously peppered with creative takes on café classics and daily specials that will keep your tongue on the edge of its eat. The sandwich lover singing lonely laments from the dark corner of your stomach-tavern will settle down when it meets the Cornerstone Hero Sandwich (ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, lettuce, tomato, red onion, black olives, horseradish and balsamic vinaigrette, $6.49), a Cajun roast-beef sandwich (lean Cajun roast beef, lettuce, tomato, red onions, jack and pepper-jack cheese, and a Texas petal sauce, $6.59), or a handsome, vacation-tanned Caribbean chicken sandwich (marinated chicken breast, red onion, lettuce, tomato, pepper-jack cheese, and homemade sauce, $6.59).
Founded in Portland, Oregon, in 1953, The Original Pancake House ran the original pancake house, The Extremely Local House of Pancakes, out of business by using only the highest-quality ingredients such as 93 score butter, pure 36% whipping cream, and a secret spy-guarded sourdough starter recipe to craft each delectable breakfast dish. Menu items vary by location, but the Cincinnati-area Original Pancake House's egg-juggling cooks whip up freshly made sauces and batters into tasty specialties such as the signature golden brown Dutch baby ($7.99)—an air-filled delight dusted with lemon, whipped butter, and powdered sugar—and the apple pancake ($8.19), a single pancake oven baked with Granny Smith apples and glazed with pure Sinkiang cinnamon. The evocatively named Tahitian Maiden's Dream ($7.39) slices golden ripe bananas in sour cream, drizzles it in Triple Sec, sherry, and brandy, then bakes it in a tender crepe before topping it with more nanners and an apricot sauce, while the Danish kijafa cherry crepes ($7.39) do something similar with Montmorency cherries and homemade kijafa sauce.


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Elisabetta Canalis: The Newly-Single Gal's Hottest Looks (PHOTOS)
So, it turns out it wasn't in the cards for George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis to go off into the sunset and grow old together.
While both will surely have no problems rebounding, something tells Celebuzz that there are already hundreds of men both famous and not plotting their best pick-up lines to try to woo Elisabetta now that she's on the market. Why, you ask? Simply put, she's got one of the best bikini bodies around -- and isn't afraid to flaunt it.
The Italian beauty has put on quite a show for beachgoers and onlookers alike over the last year or so, and now that she's available ... take a gander and start dreaming about how you could be her next squeeze.


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Marlins acquired RHP David Phelps from the Yankees in the Nathan Eovaldi trade.
Yankees activated RHP David Phelps from the 15-day disabled list.
David Phelps (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday.
David Phelps (elbow) threw a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday.
David Phelps (elbow) played catch again on Thursday.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said Tuesday that David Phelps (elbow) could return in a bullpen role.
David Phelps (elbow) could be cleared to resume throwing after being re-evaluated on Monday.
David Phelps (elbow) will be shut down for the next two weeks.
Yankees placed RHP David Phelps on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow.
David Phelps was removed from Sunday's start against the Red Sox after two innings due to right elbow inflammation.
David Phelps held the Rangers to one run over five innings and earned the win in a rain-shortened game on Wednesday.
David Phelps yielded three runs (two earned) over 6 1/3 innings Friday in a 4-3 win over the Reds.
David Phelps was squeezed out of a win due to the Yankees' bullpen after holding the Indians to just two runs over six innings on Thursday.
David Phelps was handed a no-decision after tossing seven innings of one-run ball Saturday against the Twins.


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Memories of Eccleston
The Memories of Eccleston book is now available! Get your copy from the Smithy Heritage Centre in person during open hours, contact us for more information. You can even download a copy of the book Memories of Eccleston book
The Smithy Heritage Centre in Eccleston, St Helens, has been working on an exciting project to collect the memories of local people. The former blacksmiths shop, transformed into a local history museum by Eccleston Parish Council, received £5,200 from the Heritage Lottery Fund All Our Stories programme to create an archive of personal stories.
We held holding relaxed sessions at venues around Eccleston for people to come along for a cuppa and a chat, to reminisce about how the area has changed, tell tales of local characters and pass on stories from their families. The images and stories have been collated to create this website, a travelling exhibition which will tour schools and community venues this year, a Teachers' Pack of learning resources, and the book, Memories of Eccleston, meaning this vital information will not be lost or forgotten.
The Smithy Heritage Centre is now closed for the winter, but work continues behind the scenes.
Loan boxes are still available, as are outreach services. Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com for details.
The Smithy will reopen on Saturday 7th February 2015 for a special exhibition of vintage Valentine's cards and a murder mystery night on Saturday 14th February.


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Kickapoo Landing
Guests have the opportunity to rent canoes, kayaks, and paddleboats to explore the rivers and lakes at Kickapoo State Park. Canoe and kayak trips (8 or 13 mile) are offered or rentals can be done by the hour. Following your adventure, guests can grab a bite to eat at the on-site Dockside Cafe which offers live music throughout the summer.
CITY: Oakwood
Barkley Farms
Perennials are popping up everywhere on this Paris farm. Visitors are invited to wander the gardens to see the variety of plants that are grown and sold here.
CITY: Paris
Country Junction/ Amoco
Friendly convenience store with pizza, hot dogs, chicken and deli type items.
CITY: Kansas
Red Oak Inn Bed & Breakfast
This beautiful two story early 1880s home has four sleeping rooms available with a shared bath. The decor has lots of charm and elegant taste. The facility also is available for parties, showers, teas and family events - reservations needed. Meals served by reservation only, including full service breakfast. Handicap accessible. Pets accepted.
CITY: Paris
Illinois Livestock Auction
This livestock auction includes the sale of cattle, horses, goats and sheep.
CITY: Paris
Pinnell Motor Inn
1-level brick motel, very clean, pretty little motel, coffee shop onsite.
CITY: Paris
Super 8 - Paris
Located on Highway 1 off Interstate 70. Your stay includes free breakfast bonanza, free Wi-Fi Internet, free parking including for truck and RV, and pet friendly. Hot tub rooms are also available. Attractions nearby include Twin Lakes Park, Sycamore Hills Golf Club and Bicentennial Art Center & Museum.
CITY: Paris
Los Tres Caminos
Authentic Mexican food, fine dining, take-out, seating for 99, imported Mexican beers.
CITY: Paris
Joe's Pizza
Traditional Italian pizza restaurant with seating for 80. Every item is homemade by this family owned and operated establishment.
CITY: Paris
Danville Symphony Orchestra Presents "Heroes and Heroines"
Heroes and Heroines have been the focus of the greatest story tellers throughout history! Join Danville Symphony Orchestra Maestro Jeremy Sterling and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Principal French Hornist, Robert Danforth for this musical survey of some of the most heroic stories ever set.
CITY: Danville
17 - 21
NJCAA Division II Men's National Basketball Tournament
Danville Area Community College and the City of Danville will again host the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division II Men's National Basketball Tournament at the DACC campus March 17-21, 2015. This year marks the 22nd year that Danville has hosted the tournament and the 30th year of the tournament.
CITY: Danville
Danville Symphony Orchestra Presents "Beethoven Lives Upstairs"
Experience the award winning and ever popular dramatic story of Beethoven through the eyes and ears of the young boy who "lives below his apartment" in Beethoven Lives Upstairs presented by the Danville Symphony Orchestra.
CITY: Danville
Sleep Inn & Suites
Enjoy a wealth of amenities at an affordable price when choosing the smoke-free Sleep Inn & Suites® hotel in Danville. The pet-friendly hotel is conveniently located just off of Interstate 74 and in close proximity to Kickapoo State Park, Kennekuk County Park, Danville Area Community College, the David S. Palmer Arena, and VA Illiana Health Care System.
CITY: Danville
Danville Symphony Orchestra Presents "Dinner & Dave Bennett"
Join the Danville Symphony Orchestra and Dave Bennett for a spectacular evening of dinner and music! The night will celebrate the early days of jazz where the clarinet joined the trumpet and trombone to create music's signature sound, and continue into the Swing Era, when jazz was America's popular music and dance-party soundtrack.
CITY: Danville
Best Western Regency Inn
The Best Western Regency Inn in Danville offers the best in service and hospitality with convenient access off Interstate 74 at exit 220.Guests are just minutes away from Danville's corporate, industrial, and leisure areas and are ideally located near area shopping and attractions including Kickapoo State Park, Kennekuk County Preserve, David S. Palmer Arena and many historic sites.
CITY: Danville
Wasmuth String Quartet
The Danville Symphony Orchestra is pleased to welcome the Wasmuth Quartet back to Danville for its second season of free performances and educational events. This year's public concerts offer some of the best meat and potatoes of the classical string quartet literature and the repertoire they've chosen will not disappoint classical enthusiasts.
CITY: Danville
Homer Soda Company
What started as a retail shop in the small farm town of Homer, has expanded into a national wholesale soda distributor. Shop hundreds of flavors of soda in this adorable little shop located on Homer's main drag. Pick up anything from the classic orange soda to bacon and cherry infused, so you get as creative as you like. While you'll see these sodas at restaurants and shops all over town, there's nothing better than picking these up right from the distributor.
CITY: Homer
Main Street Belly Deli
The newest addition to downtown Homer, the Main Street Belly Deli is soon to become your favorite sandwich and soda shop. Sit up at the counter, sip soda floats, and enjoy deli sandwiches, all in the unique environment of the Homer Soda Company.
CITY: Homer


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Our oil furnace has a cracked heat exchanger and two technicians have recommended we replace it, so since we ran gas to the house for our pool and water heater we want to switch to gas. Got two quotes for two different furnaces and radically different prices.
Quote 1 is from a small independent contractor for a brand I've never heard of. Online searching leads me to believe it is owned by Goodman. It's a 95% AFUE EverRest and the total quote is $3999. It has a lifetime warranty on the heat exchanger and 10-year parts and replacement. Quote 2 is for a Trane XV95 from a larger locally owned heating co in business for 70 years. They currently service our oil furnace. They are also 'certified' by our local gas co. The rep I met with today said he wouldn't touch the EverRest as he considers it of inferior quality and said it's a 'generic'. He pointed out that their brochure doesn't even have a company name, address or phone # on it, so he doesn't trust that they will stand behind their product. The quote for the Trane is $6811. My dilemma is that we can afford to pay for the EverRest in full but the Trane furnace will put us in debt. We would have to utilize their 36-mos. payment plan. We have slowly managed to dig ourselves out of debt after our remodel and this would be another step backward. I don't know who to trust here? The independent contractor did the HVAC on our remodel and seems like an honest guy. OTOH, the heating co. we've been using for two years is large and reputable and unlikely to suddenly go out of business and leave us hanging with a faulty furnace. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by tigerdunes (My Page) on Tue, Aug 30, 11 at 18:58
Joannaca I can readily understand why the Everest quote would be tempting. However, I would not recommend it and prefer the Trane. Post complete details of Trane quote. You will need a good two stg thermostat for that furnace. Care to share your location? I do recommend several other quotes like AmStd and Bryant. Post back. IMO |
I am in the Portland Oregon area. Let's see... Is there anything else I need to know? What is wrong with the EverRest? In looking at the brochure it seems almost identical in features. I also looked at the quote again and it's manufactured by Amana. If it is at all related to Goodman, my only experience with that brand is the useless a/c we have in the house. We tried it last summer and it only brought the main floor temp down to 85 degrees while the downstairs family room was an icebox. We haven't used it since. Joanna |
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text: I have traveled around the country before, but never quite seen a place like this. I went for appetizers and drinks while watching the sunset, and ended up staying longer than intended. I thought that the bartenders were very friendly and that all the employees enjoyed spending time there. I found myself having pleasant conversations with the college aged server,... More


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October 28, 2013
CIO is committed to creating a more just and equitable communities in the Portland area. The staff is exceptionally smart, committed, and forward thinking. They are especially concerned about making sure those who are traditionally excluded from city/county policy making (i.e., immigrants, people of color) have a voice at the table.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
figure out a way to bring more resources, so that more staff could be hired.
More feedback
How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
Will you recommend this organization to others?
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
Professional with expertise in this field


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Cleaved through a gallery of towering pines and hardwoods, the fairways of Lake Spivey Golf Course tumble over 6,807 yards of rolling terrain to form a challenging, par 72 layout. Two lengthy par fives—measuring in at 540 and 560 yards from the tips—bookend the front nine and demand a Herculean drive or a zero-gravity golf ball to reach the green in two. A more difficult design awaits on the back nine, with water hazards and herds of golf carts coming into play on six holes and two long par fours rated the courses first- and third-most difficult holes.
Tree-lined fairways, well-guarded pins, and slick, bent-grass greens characterize the layout from start to finish, reflecting the designers' vision for a course that requires both shot-making ability and solid course management to maintain low scores. The course also features a unique 19th hole, letting players enjoy a pressure-free conclusion to their round.
To prepare for their battle with the course's sandtraps, water hazards, and meddlesome tree elves, golfers can practice at Lake Spivey's driving range or take a lesson from PGA-certified golf pro Jeffrey Biggers. Appetites piqued after a day at the links can find relief at The Spivey Grill, which serves a menu of burgers, sandwiches, and other traditional grill fare.
Course at a Glance: * 18-hole, par 72 course * Length of 6,807 yards from the farthest tees * Course rating of 72.7 from the farthest tees * Slope rating of 136 from the farthest tees * Five tee options
For more than 25 years, Play It Again Sports has bedecked kids and adults with high-end, wallet-friendly athletic armor and gear so that they can kick, swing, punt, and take flamboyant exception to referee calls with gusto. New inventory arrives every day, and the friendly staff can lead quality-seeking shoppers to the top brands lining the spacious storefront shelves, including Callaway, Titleist, Nike, Adidas, Easton, Prince, and more. Prices vary by item, but you'll have enough credit to purchase a ton of different athletic accouterments. Baseball fans can outfit themselves with an Easton BMX baseball glove ($29.99), while divot devotees can load up on a dozen Titleist PROV1 recycled golf balls ($19.99). Otherwise, get started on a random collection of medicine balls, hockey sticks, and 25-pound weights so that you're prepared to play any sports that appear to you in dreams.
As the centerpiece to an upstart residential community, Durham Lakes Golf & Country Club presents golfers with an 18-hole, par 72 course that eclipses 7,000 yards from the back tees. Course architect Scott Pool incorporated the area's natural features into the course, as evidenced by its lakes, streams, and wetlands, as well as the tall fescue grass and southern pines that surround many holes. Away from the course, the country club boasts a long list of luxurious amenities. Members can cool off at the walk-in pool or hit the tennis or basketball courts to appreciate a truly finely-woven net.
The golfing gurus at Edwin Watts Golf Academy diagnose and correct their students' poor swing and putting habits in an effort to help them improve their shots and lower their scores. In one-on-one swing-analysis sessions, students learn a repeatable swing that eliminates tendencies they may have to slice, hook, push, or pull the ball. A special laser attaches to the end of the player's club and tracks the swing path while JC Video swing-analysis software records the session from two separate angles, lest analysis be thrown off by only looking at the golfer's good side. Putting analysis employs Tomi technology to measure eight separate parameters of the putting stroke, from clubhead orientation at address to swing path and tempo. After swing and putting lessons, students may access the recordings on a password-protected website, so they can forward videos to friends or sports-documentary filmmakers.
Named Best Golf Course by CrossRoadsNews readers in the 2010 Best of East Metro Readers Choice Awards, Sugar Creek Golf Course challenges seasoned and novice shooters to navigate more than 6,200 yards of manicured countryside. Hop into Sugar Creek's inclusive golf cart with your best friend, dad, or best friend's dad to explore the publicly owned, par-71 course, which dares dimple dabblers to dodge its low-slung bunkers and master the movement of well-kept greens. Guests can also feel free to give skills a quick polish at the course's practice bunker and putting greens. Once iron-swingers have sufficiently conquered Sugar Creek's fairways and snorkeled its water hazards, they may end links journeys at the full-service clubhouse or in the retail realm of the Sugar Creek pro shop.


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Multi-Stud Party Dress
Style # 231464
Grab a cocktail wearing our Studded Party Dress featuring a U-neck and a low-cut back. Style with our sexy heels and a bangle.
- 88% Nylon, 12% spandex
- Hand wash
- Made in USA
- Center back to hem: 25" (63 cm)
- Model is 5'10" and wears a US size S
Rated 5 out of 5�by 2
Rated 5 out of 5�by PandaBear Best party dress!
I got this in XS. I usually wear P/S in bodycon dresses. This dress fit me like a glove! The length was perfect for my height. I like small studs. They aren't big and gaudy, and it looks really polished once you put it on. :)
June 12, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5�by RebNY2 Beautiful Sparkle Dress!
On line I just looked right over this dress thinking it was a lot for a simple tight stretchy dress that usually is $69., but when I saw it in the store I was like I gotta have that dress! So pretty in person, and the gold studs sparkle and shine beautifully. I am in LOVE! Its also totally lined so for a light colored tight dress you can not see through it! Fabulous Dress! I highly recommend! True to size, fits great, xs=110 lbs, 32c-25-32.
May 30, 2014
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I had the trims of my windows painted with white oil paint from EdwardDunn, but didnt realize that they would yellow over time. Now I want to add on another third coat of higher pigmented paint like FPE white.
Would this cause any potential problems to add on a an additional coat of FPE? Do you think that adding a coat of FPE or high pigmented-paint will reduce the ambering effects? Thanks in advance |
Follow-Up Postings:
FPE's Eurolux-series...Matte, Satin, & Gloss are 100% Acrylic, and therefore won't yellow. The ECO-series is a water-thinnable Urethane/Alkyd Hybrid that levels nice. This one may yellow SLIGHTLY over a long time, but it looks so damn nice! Bottom-line...you can't go wrong with either one!! >>> Make sure you've scuff-sanded thoroughly, cleaned, etc., b4 the paint ever goes on. Faron |
Thank you! Unfortunately, California doesn allow eco series to be shipped here. So I had to get the regular FPE. I hope that it yellows only slightly |
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On a beautiful May afternoon in Chicago, BASF product manager Joe Daczko had the full attention of 85 concrete aficionados as he compared placing self-consolidating concrete (SCC) to serving an adult beverage. "You're not pouring a glass of beer," said Daczko, as the group watched the fluid...
Apparently the topic of cylinder testing gone wrong struck a chord with TCP readers, who wrote back to share stories similar to the one in last month's blog. Following are just two humorous examples.
The SmartBob AO level sensor features an integrated 4-20 mA analog output to a PLC for monitoring bin level measurement data.
This company's TrimFleet solution allows TrimFleet users the ability to communicate with the right individuals or teams of workers in real time with a PTT device.
NexTraq Connect is a new fully integrated mobile app that allows users to record clock in/out and break times, communicate job status, view job locations and directions, assign drivers to vehicles, and track vehicle maintenance needs.
Launch of Terex eLit app gives easy access to a wealth of information about Terex machinery.
Many things can cause rapid slump loss. Aggregate, cement chemistry, fly ash sources, and admixtures are culprits.
Complimentary webinars focus on high performance topics and offer continuing education credit accepted in all 50 states.
One of Spain's largest producers of cement mortars is Grupo Puma, which has 20 plants located throughout the Iberian Peninsula.
Concrete Pipe and Box Culvert Installation Manual now available on iTunes, Google.
The NexTraq Connect fully-integrated mobile app allows users to record clock in/out and break times, communicate job status, view job locations and directions, assign drivers to vehicles, and track vehicle maintenance needs.
The TrimFleet solution — including TrimView, TrimFleet Mobile and now, TrimFleet Communicator — puts drivers, mechanics, site project managers, and dispatchers in touch with the right individuals or teams in real-time.
Whether you know it or not, you are probably already using KPIs. What are some typical concrete QC KPIs?
Spancrete Global Services congratulates Beijing Construction Engineering Group. Ltd. (BCEG) on the commissioning of its new, full-scale precast production facility in Jubail, Saudi Arabia.
There is a widely held and incorrect belief in the concrete industry that a producer's quality control (QC) department takes away from and does not add to the bottom line.
Researcher seeks new avenue for precast concrete disposal.
The MIT Concrete Sustainability Hub takes to the streets.
The industry should be thankful it has changed with the times, just like our Influencers.
Everyone in the concrete industry has received the dreaded call about low strength on a job. Typically, high water content, high air content, or low standards from the testing company is the primary cause of the problem.
THE NEED TO reduce CO2 emissions has led to the development of many new cementitious materials—a trend that will likely continue for the foreseeable future. But the powerful international portland cement business hasn't given up yet.


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News Elite returns on Kickstarter David Braben asking for $2 million on popular crowd-funding site to bring back space sim franchise in form of Elite: Dangerous in March 2014 for PC.
News Notch considering Elite-like space trading game Minecraft creator says he'd like to make a sandbox game along the lines of 1984 computer classic, but with a Firefly-like twist.
News David Braben designs $25 computer Elite developer's Raspberry Pi USB key PC to give school-age children their first taste of programming on the cheap.
News How Elite took flight GDC 2011: Frontier Developments chairman David Braben reveals what it took to get space trading sim out of spacedock and onto 17 different platforms.


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Microsoft/HP to Market Crippled Entertainment PCs
The Sentinel: The Mountie Who Fell To Earth pt2 (403 comments)
Benton Fraser paused as he settled into his lone sleeping bag, a sound catching his attention. The wind had risen outside, moaning through the treetops, rustling the tents loudly. But there beyond that sound he heard another moan, a deep, sharp gasp of air. He heard words then -- some he didn't understand about Sentinels and heightened senses -- others he understood all too clearly about trust and hunger and desperation. And then the other words -- the ones without form or meaning -- the ones that spoke of passion and heated couplings in a shared sleeping bag. The ones that spoke of love.
He sighed forlornly as he settled down to sleep. His partner was already tucked snug in his own sleeping bag, and while he was not asleep, Fraser could tell that he could not hear the other sounds beneath the cry of the wind. Fraser was alone in this little bit of reluctant voyeurism, and perhaps that was best. He wasn't certain he could face the snide comments his partner might make -- wasn't certain he was ready to hear what sorts of remarks Ray might have about two partners -- two male partners -- loving each other like that.
He thought briefly then of an underwater kiss shared -- air exchanged when Ray was about to drown and Fraser had known of no other way of filling his lungs. Professional, medicinal one might even say -- and yet for some reason Fraser could distinctly remember what Ray's mouth had felt like, the curve of his lips, the look of desperate shock and confusion and fear that had so briefly filled those clear eyes.
Fraser squeezed his own eyes shut. 'This changes nothing between us, right?' Ray had asked in bewildered confusion once the immediate danger had past.
Yes, Fraser suspected he knew exactly what Ray might say if he could hear Ellison and Sandburg right now.
"Ray?" Fraser asked softly, not really knowing why he was bothering. He knew Ray was irritated with him -- Ray was frequently irritated with him. And his overly long and involved conversation with Blair would have been a source of extreme annoyance to the Chicago cop. Too brainy, Ray would say. But there was a desperate loneliness inside Fraser that prompted him to make the effort -- just to hear his partner's voice once more before he went to sleep. The two of them lying here alone in the dark -- it at least offered the illusion of intimacy.
"What?" Ray groused. Yes, irritated as Fraser had guessed.
"Ray, do you ever get lonely?"
It was a bold question, not one typical of Fraser, and when Ray did not answer at first, Fraser feared he'd gone too far -- stepped across some line that men weren't supposed to step across. He didn't often discuss feelings of any type, had never been comfortable with the subject, but sometimes... sometimes he just wished there was someone who might understand.
"Yeah," Ray replied, surprising Fraser. He hadn't expected an answer -- certainly hadn't expected that answer. "Sometimes. Everyone does."
Ray seemed to accept it as a matter of fact. But then maybe he didn't understand what Fraser meant? Maybe he didn't understand the bone-deep, soul-wearying loneliness that could grip a man when he found himself either hundreds of miles away from the nearest human being in the middle of a frozen tundra or trapped within a crowded city when he suddenly realized that he was utterly alone in the world.
"What do you do, Ray?" Fraser asked. "What do you do when you get lonely?"
He waited breathlessly, still hearing the soft, passionate music coming from the other tent. The pause was longer this time, and he didn't think Ray was going to answer. But then he heard a soft intake of breath -- Ray's this time.
"I dance, Fraser," Ray explained softly. "I dance."
And suddenly Fraser saw again Ray's apartment and the wooden floor with the dance steps painted upon them, and the landlady who lived below him who said that at night she could hear him moving around, clomping above her head, and the sound was so rhythmic, so hypnotic that sometimes she just sat and listened to him for hours. For hours... yeah, maybe Ray did understand after all.
"Good night, Frase," Ray murmured. "Sweet dreams."
Sweet dreams... such a strangely intimate thing to say. Fraser thought for a moment that his heart might burst.
"Thank you kindly, Ray," he responded. He heard Blair calling out Jim's name, and he squeezed back the moisture that sprang to his eyes. Mounties didn't cry after all. "You too, Ray. Sweet dreams."
Dawn found Jim wrapped tightly around Blair's body, both of them content in their warm cocoon that smelt of sex. He felt his body stirring to life again at the scent, responding as always to Blair's nearness. But he also heard the unmistakable sounds of someone moving around outside the tent -- someone lighting a fire, preparing breakfast. He tried to suppress the wave of irritation that took him -- of course the Mountie would be up first, rising with the crack of dawn, preparing the meal; he was a Mountie after all -- too good to be believed... shit!
He slid from the sleeping bag regretfully, dressing as quickly as he could. Then he gently rolled his Guide over onto his back and kissed him awake. Blair sighed into his mouth and smiled lazily up at him, reaching out to stroke Jim's neck. A shiver of desire shot down Jim's spine. He kissed Blair again, pushing his tongue into that heated mouth, taking Blair's breath away. And then reluctantly, regretfully, he withdrew.
Blair pouted, and the twitch in those lips -- beautifully kiss-swollen as Jim had hoped -- drove another sharp flare of lust through his entire body.
"We have to get an early start," Jim reminded him. "Get dressed." He turned to leave, but Blair caught hold of his arm, stopping him.
"Be nice," his Guide warned, and Jim knew what he was talking about. Blair knew him too well -- and despite his inability to articulate last night why he'd been angry, Blair had understood that also. But the warning in Blair's eyes, the realization that he was making an attempt -- granted a necessary one -- to defend Benton Fraser from Jim's 'caveman' attitude, simply set off another spark of possessiveness within Jim. He didn't want Blair defending that man.
He slid his fingers roughly through Blair's hair and pulled him up for another kiss -- this one hard and deep and claiming. Then he released him and exited the tent without answering.
The white blanket of snow shone brilliantly in the morning sunlight, making the red serge of the Mountie's uniform all the more noticeable. Fraser had already gotten breakfast well underway -- pancakes and bacon no less. The mere fact that Jim was hungry and actually wanted to eat the food irritated Jim all the more.
"Good morning, Detective," Fraser greeted brightly, looking wide-awake and fresh. "Breakfast will be ready in a moment."
Jim nodded. "We should get going as soon as we can."
"I agree, Detective," Fraser nodded. "How far is the ranger's station?"
"If we keep up yesterday's pace, we'll reach it by early afternoon," Jim replied. "We can get the coroner to take the body then."
"Very good. I'm sure my superiors will appreciate all your help, Detective," the Mountie replied.
Jim frowned -- his superiors. He remembered then that Fraser had said something about being attached to a Canadian Embassy. He couldn't help wondering if this whole mess was going to turn into some sort of international incident. Simon was going to love this.
Blair and Ray emerged about the same time, both having spent time enough to repack their bags. Ray looked somewhat the worse for wear -- his hair sticking up in every which direction. Surprisingly though, he made no attempt to correct this -- rubbing his hands briskly over the spiky blond locks to send them into even worse order. He sat down beside the fire and dug into the meal Fraser handed him unasked for.
Diefenbaker, returned from some wolfish jaunt into the woods, made his way immediately to Blair's side and proceeded to mooch food from the young man. Despite their rather questionable meeting yesterday, Blair seemed quite taken with the animal and gave in shamelessly to the creature's begging.
Eventually they headed out, packs once more shouldered, Jim taking up the handles of the travois as they proceeded forward. Blair and Fraser were deep in conversation again, though Blair made an effort this time to include both Jim and Ray in their discussion. Neither man however was particularly talkative, and Jim resigned himself to a repeat of yesterday.
It was one o'clock by the time they reached the ranger station. From there it was a simple matter to call in the authorities, handing the body of Lieutenant Fontaine into the custody of the coroner, before the four of them headed back into Cascade. Fraser, anxious to proceed with the investigation into his friend's death and eager to report in to his superior officers, insisted on accompanying Jim and Blair back to the precinct.
Two hours later, the four of them, plus one wolf, emerged from the elevator at Major Crime and headed down the hallway toward the bullpen. As they walked, worked stopped, people pausing to stare at the rather odd sight of a red-clad Canadian Mountie and a silver wolf. The majority of the cops stared bewilderedly until they spotted Ellison and Sandburg, then knowing looks filled their faces as if their presence alone explained anything even remotely out of the ordinary. After that it was largely only the women who continued to stare, all eyeing the Mountie appreciatively.
Simon spotted them almost immediately and the expression that crossed his handsome face spoke volumes. "Ellison! Sandburg! My office," he barked.
"Yer boss?" Ray took a guess.
Jim nodded reluctantly.
Ray just shrugged. "Got one just like 'em back in Chicago -- same voice."
The four of them headed into Simon's office, Diefenbaker slipping in behind them unnoticed.
Simon stood before his desk, a file folder in his hands as he gazed balefully at the group of men. He eyed Fraser up and down, noting the way the man stood so formally at attention, not too unlike the way Jim typically stood. Blair and Ray slouched near the window.
"Report said you found a dead Mountie in the woods," Simon said to Jim as if demanding to know why there was a live Mountie standing in his office. He had yet to spot the wolf behind the four of them.
"Lieutenant William Fontaine. Fell out of an airplane," Jim clarified. "This is his associate Constable Benton Fraser." He nodded toward Ray. "And that's Detective Ray..."
"Kowalski," Ray provided.
"Kowalski, Chicago P.D," Jim finished.
Jim saw the faint twitch in Simon's jaw, knew the man had just resisted the impulse to roll his eyes. "Constable, Detective," he greeted. He glared at Jim. "What's going on?"
Jim sighed and gave as quick an explanation as he could. He'd already bagged the two items they'd found on the Mountie's body, the cross and the leather, and he handed these over to Simon while Blair proceeded to explain the religious significant of both objects.
"The cross was reported stolen," Simon informed the four of them as he returned the items to Jim. "Seems it was on display at St. Michael's. Father O'Brien reported it stolen over a week ago, but so far no suspects have been brought in. I don't know anything about the leather."
"I know a couple of people over at the Native American Center of Spiritual Medicine," Blair offered. "I can probably find something out about the piece of leather. If some artifact has been stolen, someone there will have heard about it, I'm sure."
Fraser perked up at that. "Spiritual Medicine?" he asked Blair curiously. "What tribe runs it?"
Blair shrugged. "It's actually a collective organization -- but I believe the main influences are the Puyallup tribe and the Makah tribe. It began back in 19--"
"Thank you, Sandburg," Simon cut in. "I'm sure that's fascinating. Just find out what you can. The commissioner isn't particularly happy about having Canadians falling out of the sky."
"If I may have your permission, Captain Banks," Fraser said quickly. "I'd like to aid in the investigation."
Jim waited for Simon to deny permission -- hoping the captain would send the two men back to Chicago. But to his consternation Simon just nodded. "The commissioner has already spoken with your superior officers, Constable. We've been told to extend our every courtesy to you. Now if you gentlemen would--" He stopped suddenly, the sound of liquid being lapped up catching his attention.
Alarmed, Simon turned toward his desk, staring in shock at the wolf braced up on his forepaws licking contently at the liquid in Simon's coffee cup. "Is that a wolf drinking my coffee?" he demanded.
Jim and Blair both did their best to hide the snicker of amusement Simon's expression prompted.
"Diefenbaker!" Fraser exclaimed in mortification; he reached for the scruff of the animal's neck, pulling him down from the desk. "My sincere apologies, Captain Banks!" he said quickly, and then glared at the only mildly contrite animal. "Diefenbaker, you know you're not supposed to have any caffeine after two o'clock!"
The wolf just whined and wagged his tail.
Fraser seemed unmoved. "I don't care if it is decaffeinated," he stated unconvinced. "You should have at least waited to be asked first."
"Since when did you switch to decaf, Simon?" Blair grinned.
Simon glared at him. "Out! All of you! You have work to do!"
Fraser apologized again and then ushered an amused Ray and a pouting wolf out the door. Blair followed, assuring Fraser that Simon would forgive Diefenbaker in time.
"Why is there a wolf with you, Jim?" Simon demanded before Jim could escape.
Jim sighed tiredly. "Because we couldn't find any badgers, sir." As explanations went, it was poor at best, but it would have to stand. He wasn't certain he could come up with another one. Surprisingly, it seemed explanation enough. Simon Banks just sighed and nodded, and went to make himself a new cup of coffee -- double espresso this time.
By the time Jim joined the others, Sarah, a new secretary from records, had succeeded in cornering Fraser. Jim paused, momentarily taken aback by the effort Sarah was going through to flirt with the man. He'd seen Sarah flirt before -- with him, with Blair, with Rafe and Brown. Hell, he'd even seen her flirt with Simon and the occasional suspect or two. But this -- she'd practically trapped the man against her desk, not simply staring at him -- devouring him.
"So is it true that Mounties always get their man?" she asked sweetly as she batted her eyelashes -- the whole thing came out sounding more predatory than she probably had intended.
Fraser, stiff and uncomfortable, scratched uncertainly at his eyebrow. "Ah well... actually the motto is--"
"I love mottos," Sarah murmured in encouragement, her statement flustering the Mountie all the more. Jim almost felt sorry for the man -- truth was it bugged him somewhat that Fraser seemed quite unhappy about the woman's attention. Uncomfortable even. Not many red-blooded males would turn away from a woman like Sarah -- not unless women weren't really their thing. Perfect. Handsome, a potential Sentinel, and now possibly gay as well -- could his luck get any worse?
"Mottos?" Fraser's voice broke somewhat. "Ah -- then you've probably heard--"
"Come on, Fraser," Ray Kowalski broke in, and Jim could hear the definite sounds of anger in the cop's voice. "Let's get moving. Time's awastin!"
"Right, Ray," Fraser nodded in relief. "I'm terrible sorry, ma'am," he scooted quickly around Sarah, escaping her grasp. "I really must get going."
Sarah smiled up at him, practically purring. "I'm sure I'll see you later."
Jim just shook his head and headed toward the elevator -- out of the corner of his eye he saw Sarah catch hold of Blair's arm, pulling him toward her as she whispered in his ear. Jim dialed up his hearing. "I want the hat as a souvenir. The boots if you can get them," she informed the anthropologist.
Blair just grinned cheekily. "I'll see what I can do."
Waiting for Blair in the elevator, Jim glanced briefly at the Mountie. Fraser was staring resolutely at the floor, his face bright red as if he too had heard Sarah's comment.
At Blair's prompting they headed first to the Native American Center for Spiritual Medicine. They took two cars rather than making the attempt to all crowd into Jim's truck cab. At Jim's insistence, Fraser rode with him -- he suggested that the truck could more easily accommodate Diefenbaker's presence. He knew however that Blair was not fooled at all; the young anthropologist gave Jim an amused smile as he climbed into his car with Ray. He knew Jim didn't want him spending too much time alone with the Mountie. The look in Blair's eyes also suggested that he and Jim were going to have a long discussion that evening. Jim just sighed and climbed behind the driver's seat of his truck.
He followed Blair to the Center, making only a half-hearted attempted to respond to Fraser's overtures of conversation. Rather like Blair, Fraser seemed quite capable of carrying on the conversation with only minimal input from Jim. He mentioned something about the Inuit and then seemed quite content to launch into a story that Jim didn't bother listening to. The Mountie was only halfway through the story by the time they pulled into the Center and Jim interrupted him with the announcement, "We're here."
Without waiting for a response, he climbed out of the cab and went to join Blair and Ray by the door.
The Native American Center was fairly new looking, perhaps built in the last five years. It had the typical touristy type attractions out front that Jim expected -- a brightly painted totem pole, along with a mural depicting tribal life of two hundred years ago. But inside, the building was authentically understated -- hand-carved furniture from a master craftsman, several glass displays of ancient pottery, the walls decorated not with gaudy murals but rather pieces of art done by local Native American children. A long counter was laden with pamphlets and booklets explaining the purpose of the center and various lectures available for further education.
A young man sat behind the counter, and behind him through a large opened archway Jim could see several other people talking. Most noticeable was a tall slender, blond woman who was deep in conversation with two older men in business suits. Beyond them was an opened glass doorway leading to an outdoor courtyard and garden beyond. Within it sat two men -- one extremely old, his long white hair hanging in braids at his side -- the other young, perhaps seventeen or eighteen. The young man -- possibly a grandson, Jim guessed -- was listening intently to the quite murmuring of the older man. Jim dialed up his hearing, but could not decipher the language they spoke.
The man behind the counter looked up as they entered. "Can I help you?" he asked, eyeing them all up and down. The woman and the two businessmen also paused, glancing at them. The woman's brown eyes lingered on the bright uniform of the RCMP.
Jim flashed his badge. "Detective Ellison. I want to talk to someone about the possible theft of a Native American artifact."
Startled, the young man glanced over his shoulder at the woman and the businessmen. The woman stiffened and remained silent, but one of the businessmen came forward. "I'm Brian Mackenzie," he introduced himself, holding out his hand to shake Jim's. "I'm the director of the Center. What can I help you with?"
"A murder investigation," Jim explained.
The man's eyes widened in alarm. "I thought you said theft?"
"That too," Jim nodded. "We found a piece of white buffalo leather on the body of the murder victim. We were wondering if there was anyone here who could help us identify where the leather might have come from." He held up the evidence bag containing the material.
The man eyed it briefly, but shook his head. "I'm sorry, Detective. I don't know anything about it. I don't think I can help you." Surprisingly, Jim heard a faint spike in the man's heart rate. He frowned.
"Surely you have an expert here who could examine it?" Jim pressed.
The man glanced briefly over his shoulder looking not at the woman but at the old man sitting in the garden. But he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Detective. I'm afraid we can't help you."
But even as he spoke the young boy rose and hurried in from the courtyard, crossing the distance to the counter. He motioned toward the plastic bag in Jim's hand. "May I see that, sir?" he asked.
One eyebrow raised, Jim held out the bag toward him. The boy glanced at it briefly then shot a look back at the old man who nodded his assent. "My grandfather can help you," he informed Jim. "But he'll only talk to the Shaman." He stared pointedly at Blair.
Startled, Blair stepped forward. "Excuse me?"
The boy shrugged. "He'll only talk to you. One Shaman to another."
Jim was about to protest when he felt Blair's hand on his arm. "All right," he informed the boy. Then softly, "Let me find out what this is about first, Jim."
Jim just sighed and handed over the plastic bag to his Guide. He stood back with Fraser and Ray while Blair followed the boy back toward the courtyard. He dialed up his hearing, intent on listening in. Surprisingly he saw the old man grin at him and chuckle in amusement -- then he proceeded to speak to Blair in that same language he'd spoken in earlier. To Jim's annoyance, Blair answered back in the same tongue.
Irritated, Jim glanced at Fraser, seeing the look of surprise on the Mountie's face. It occurred to Jim that the Mountie might possibly also understand the language, but for some reason he just didn't feel like asking for confirmation. He'd wait for Blair -- wait to hear the gist of the conversation directly from his Guide's lips.
The two businessmen and the woman moved off, but not before Jim caught the intense scrutiny the woman gave his Guide. He resisted the impulse to smile -- funny how her interest in Blair felt nowhere near as threatening as Fraser's did. She might be female and beautiful -- but she was no Sentinel. Blair had hardly given her a second look. Ray on the other hand eyed her quite closely, and Jim found himself more interested in Fraser's reaction to Ray's antics.
"Ray," Fraser finally insisted softly. "It's not polite to stare." The blond cop had been watching the woman's tightly clad backside as she disappeared down a corridor.
"What?" Ray asked distractedly.
Fraser just sighed and shook his head, looking more uncomfortable than he had when Sarah had cornered him.
A few moments later Blair returned, motioning them all back outside.
"Well?" Jim demanded. "What did he tell you, Chief?"
"It's part of an ancient ceremonial cloak," Blair replied. "It vanished about two weeks ago from the Native American Antiquities exhibit on display at the Cascade Museum. The cloak was part of the costume of one the more famous Shamans -- apparently people have been coming from all over the world to see it."
"Why wasn't it reported stolen?" Ray demanded. "Yer Captain said he hadn't heard anything about it."
"It was reported stolen," Blair corrected. "Just not to the police. The exhibit has been bringing in thousands of dollars -- all largely due to the presence of the cloak. No one wanted word to get out that the cloak had vanished so they dummied up a fake and put that on display while the foundation funding the exhibit hired private investigators to find the real cloak."
"The Burnheim Foundation," Blair explained. "Mr. Frank Burnheim has supported a lot of such exhibits over the years."
"Well, then perhaps we had best have a talk with Mr. Burnheim," Fraser suggested. "Seems he may have already done part of the investigation for us."
In full agreement the four men headed again for the cars while Jim called the precinct for an address. Diefenbaker paused briefly as he climbed into Jim's truck -- the animal stared back at the Center, his dark eyes glaring balefully at one of the windows. He whined briefly, but for once the Mountie took no notice of his remark. He shot a wary look at the Sentinel, but Jim too had his attention turned elsewhere.
Jessica Burnheim watched through a side window of the Center as the four investigators climbed into separate cars to leave. Her gaze lingered on the longhaired man, and she smiled at the animated way he talked to the skinny blond cop. Blair Sandburg -- she'd recognized him from the press conference so many months ago. Anthropologist, writer, teacher, police observer, fraud -- and Shaman apparently.
The shock that had gone through her when she'd heard Tom Blackfire's grandson name him a Shaman had been as unexpected as it was welcomed in light of the set backs she'd recently received. Blackfire was the real McCoy -- a Shaman of the highest order. And he'd named Blair Sandburg a fellow Shaman.
She laughed softly. A Jewish Shaman -- what were the odds? Especially one who looked like Blair Sandburg -- lovely by any description. Made her rethink the whole Sentinel thing too -- if he was a Shaman, wasn't it possible that James Ellison might be something more than a mere cop? It wasn't every day fate dropped such possibilities into her lap.
She slipped a cell phone from her purse, hitting a number. "Jack," she said into the slim phone. "You're not going to believe what I just found. I've got a job for you and the boys."
She grinned as she watched the four men drive away. Yes, fate had been good to her that day.
The Burnheim Foundation, they learned, was part of the Burnheim Corporation -- a business rival of Jim's father it turned out. With offices in one of the high rises of Cascade, the Corporation was a formidable force in the upper echelons of Cascade society -- a fact Simon Banks pointed out to Jim when he called him after discovering the investigation was taking them straight to Mr. Burnheim himself.
"He's a big supporter of the current city administration, Jim," Simon warned over the phone. "Be nice!"
"Yes, sir," Jim sighed as he pulled into the Burnheim parking garage. Be nice -- how often did Simon tell him that? He chose not to fill his companions in on his Captain's orders.
They made their way up to the main offices, bypassing several secretaries with the flash of a badge until finally they stood toe to toe with Burnheim's personal secretary. The woman was in her fifties and hard looking. She glared grimly at the four of them, frowning disapprovingly at the wolf. Her gaze raked over the Mountie.
"Another Mountie?" she exclaimed with a snort of disbelief. "What is this? A Canadian invasion?"
"I beg your pardon, Madame," Fraser responded. "Another Mountie? Do you mean that I'm not the first Mountie to visit these offices?"
She just shrugged and hit the button on her intercom phone. "Mr. Burnheim, there's a Mountie and a couple of detectives here to see you." She listened briefly to her employer's instructions and then motioned toward the double doors to the executive suite of offices. "Mr. Burnheim will see you. Don't take up too much of his time -- he's a very busy man."
"Thank you kindly, ma'am," Fraser replied as the four of them headed through the doors.
Frank Burnheim was seated behind a large cherry wood desk, an unlit cigar in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. Middle aged but well-preserved, he possessed the precise good looks Jim associated with many of his father's friends -- artificial in some way. He clamped the cigar between his teeth -- still unlit -- set his coffee cup aside and rose to his feet as they entered. Jim flashed his badge once more.
"Detectives, what can I do for you?" the man asked, nodding briefly to the other men.
"Mr. Burnheim, I understand your corporation funded the Native American Antiquities exhibit at the museum," Jim began.
"Yes," Burnheim nodded. "What of it?"
"There was a theft recently -- a white buffalo cloak of considerable value," Jim continued. He watched from the corner of his eye as Blair and Ray moved casually about the well-furnished room, glancing curiously around.
"Yes, I already explained all this to the other Mountie who was here a few days ago," Frank Burnheim replied. "I explained why it wasn't reported to the police. I have my own people investigating the theft -- the tribes themselves decided they didn't want the negative publicity. I chose to respect their wishes."
"The other Mountie?" Fraser clarified. "Do you mean Leftenant William Fontaine?"
Burnheim nodded. "He said he was investigating another theft he thought might be related to this one. He assured me there would be no problem with publicity."
"Lieutenant Fontaine turned up dead yesterday," Jim informed the man.
Burnheim paled and sat down, his eyes widening in shock. "Dead? Because of this investigation?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Jim informed.
"This yer daughter?" Ray's voice caught all of them off guard and they glanced toward the blond detective. He and Blair stood on the far side of the room next to a series of framed pictures that hung on the wall. Ray was pointing to one in particular -- one that showed a familiar looking blond woman standing in front of an old building. Jim's eyes narrowed -- he'd just seen that woman at the Center.
"Yes," Burnheim replied. "That's Jessica."
"We just saw her at the Native American Center for Spiritual Medicine," Jim informed him. "Any idea why she might be there?"
Burnheim frowned at him. "She's heading the investigation into the theft for the Foundation, Detective. I imagine she's chasing down leads just like you are."
"Your daughter's a private investigator?"
"What of it?" he demanded. "What are you implying?"
"I'm not implying anything, Mr. Burnheim," Jim smiled. "I'm merely trying to get all the facts straight. Do you know if Lieutenant Fontaine spoke with your daughter?"
"You'll have to ask her, now won't you?" Burnheim shrugged. "I have full confidence in my daughter's work. I don't monitor her. I'm sure she'll find the cloak just fine."
"And if she doesn't?" Ray asked curiously. "If she doesn't find it -- you got insurance taken out on it?"
Burnheim's eyes flared with anger at that. "I don't like your implication, Detective. The value of that cloak isn't in its financial worth -- it is a sacred relic!"
"You ever heard of the Cross of Coronado?" Blair asked curiously, his timing impeccable. Jim smiled, dialing up his hearing.
"The what?" Burnheim frowned -- to Jim's disappointment there was no change in his heart rate. He shot a brief glance at Blair, shaking his head no. His Guide understood and just shrugged.
"Not important, Mr. Burnheim."
"We would however like to talk to your daughter if we could," Jim told the man.
"Leave your card, I'll have her call you," Burnheim replied. "She should be in early tomorrow. Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, it's quitting time. I'm heading home."
"Thank you kindly for your time, Mr. Burnheim," Fraser nodded to him. They all headed toward the door.
"Don't leave town any time soon," Jim added before he followed the others out the door. "We may have more questions for you."
The look Frank Burnheim gave him could have peeled paint off the walls two doors down.
Once back down in the parking garage, the four of them paused to decide what next to do. "We need to run a check on Frank and Jessica Burnheim and their corporation -- find out if they have connections to St. Michael's. We can pull the file on the Cross, see if they showed up at all in that investigation -- though I'm certain Burnheim wasn't lying when he said he knew nothing about the cross," Jim informed the others.
Blair was staring thoughtfully down at his feet. "Jim, that picture of Jessica -- it was taken in front of the Archeology department of Rainier -- I recognized the building. I'm going to head over there and see if the Archeology head knows her."
"Rainier University?" Fraser asked curiously. "The Archeology head wouldn't perhaps be Professor George Tarlin would it?"
Blair's eyes lit up, a smile gracing his lips. "Yes, it is. Do you know him?"
"Know of him," Fraser explained. "I've read several of his books on the Paleo-Indian settlements of North America. Why don't I--"
Jim cut in before Fraser could finish his request. "Blair, why don't you take Detective Kowalski with you to the college. I'm sure Constable Fraser should report in to his superiors. You know how the commissioner gets when there's an international investigation going on."
Blair simply gave Jim a long look, his eyes saying he certainly knew a lie when he heard one. "Yeah, Jim," he agreed. "I know how the commissioner gets." He nodded to Fraser. "I'll see if I can get you an autographed copy of Professor Tarlin's latest book, Benton. I'm sure he wouldn't mind."
"Thank you kindly, Blair," Fraser smiled in delight. "I would be most appreciative."
"Then Jim, why don't you bring Benton back to the loft?" Blair suggested sweetly. "He and Ray can stay with us tonight since they haven't had a chance to get a hotel room."
Jim gritted his teeth at the suggestion, glaring hard at his Guide.
"You don't have to do that," Ray protested. "We don't wanna put you guys out."
"No problem at all," Blair assured him. "We'll see you and Benton at home, Jim." Blair waved and headed toward his car, motioning Ray to follow him.
Unable to protest Jim just watched him go. "Thank you kindly for putting us up, Detective," Fraser offered.
Jim bit back the hard retort that sprang to his lips. "No problem," he grumbled as he stalked his way toward the truck.
Professor George Tarlin was more than happy to talk to Blair and Ray. A bookish, little old man with wild white hair, he had an amazingly sunny disposition. Unlike so many others on campus, Professor Tarlin had never commented on Blair's recent difficulty -- had either ignored it or paid it little heed. He had his classes, he had his work, he had his writing -- beyond that he noticed very little else in the world.
"Blair!" he greeted when the two of them disturbed him that evening in his cluttered office. "What's it been? Six months? You got an 'A' if I remember correctly!"
Assuming the man was referring to the last class Blair had taken from him, Blair just smiled and nodded. "Yes, sir -- but I'm afraid it's been closer to four years than six months."
"Really?" the man seemed bewildered momentarily, and then simply shrugged it off. "Time does fly. Well, what can I do for you boys? You having trouble with your term papers this semester?"
"Ah, no, sir," Blair smiled gently. "I was wondering if you remember a student named Jessica Burnheim? I think she might have taken a couple of classes here..."
"Of course! Jessica!" Professor Tarlin smiled happily. "Lovely girl! Quite brilliant. She rather enjoyed my books you know. Only student I ever had who read every single one of my books from cover to cover. Most just read the introduction and then claim they read the whole book -- but I can tell the difference."
"Then she was an archeology student?" Blair pressed.
"A brilliant archeologist!" Tarlin agreed. "Did I tell you she read all of my books? From cover to cover no less. She was fascinated with my work on Paleo-Indian artifacts." He smiled conspiratorially at Blair. "She's promised to try and get me a peek at the Kennewick Man's bones! Wouldn't that be something! Nine thousand year old bones found practically in our own back yard!"
"She's an archeologist?" Ray clarified. "Not a criminal justice major or somethin' like that?"
He shook his head. "Nope, archeologist through and through. One of the best -- her specialty is religious artifacts. I'm afraid she was into that whole mystical study thing for a while -- but luckily she still managed to stick to the provable facts. Some of these young students today are into that intuitive archeology stuff -- but I say there's nothing that can replace honest research and hard work with a brush and trowel."
Ray gave Blair a knowing grin. Religious artifacts -- sounded incriminating to Blair. "Thank you, Professor," Blair smiled. "You've been a big help." He made a brief request to come back later to get Fraser an autograph, then Blair and Ray excused themselves.
"It's always the pretty ones," Ray grumbled as they headed back out toward the parking lot. The campus was nearly deserted, the sun having set over an hour ago.
"Excuse me?" Blair frowned, certain that Ray had not been referring to the professor.
"Jessica Burnheim," Ray explained. "You see a looker like that -- ya think to yerself -- now there's one fine lookin' woman. Must be a criminal. They always are."
"We don't know that for certain," Blair clarified.
"Trust me," Ray shrugged. "I got a sense for these things. You turn yer back on a woman like that and -- bam!" He punched his hand with his own fist. "They kick you in the head every time."
"We'll have to wait to see what Jim and Benton turn up before we jump to conclusions," Blair remarked as they headed across the darkened parking lot toward Blair's car. Both men were startled when a shadow stepped out from behind the car -- a tall man in a black coat.
"Excuse me," he broke in calmly.
Ray had his gun out an instant later, cocked and pointed at the man's head. "Don't move!" he ordered, his body vibrating with tension. Shocked, Blair froze, watching as the stranger did the same. He was about to say something, about to protest Ray's abrupt action when the distinctive sound of a gun being cocked behind him shut him up. Ray froze.
"Put the gun down, Detective," another man ordered from the shadows behind him. Blair had turned. Three men stood behind them -- all armed -- three men who must have been sneaking up on them while they walked. A Sentinel would have heard them of course, but Blair had not been paying attention.
"You put the gun down," Ray growled. "Put it down or I'll shoot yer buddy here!" There was a cold, almost manic sound in Ray's voice -- Blair had no doubt that he'd do exactly what he'd say. He wouldn't have guessed the detective capable of such hardness after seeing the almost goofy way he acted around Fraser.
"You shoot him, I'll shoot you," the second man replied coldly.
Ray just grinned. "Yeah? You might miss. I'm a crack shot."
Blair watched in silence, his heart pounding in his chest as the gunman stepped forward and placed the barrel of his gun against the base of Ray's skull. "I'm not going to miss, Detective," the man replied. "I'll shoot you and then my buddies will shoot your partner here."
Blair saw Ray's eyes shift briefly toward him. "Buddies?" he mouthed to Blair.
Blair just nodded. "Three of them," he mouthed back.
Ray sighed, rolled his eyes and uncocked his gun, lowering his hand.
"Very good, Detective," the man said, and then Blair watched in horror as the man struck Ray across the back of the head with the butt of his gun. He reached out to catch the man as he fell, but arms closed around him from behind and he felt a strong hand holding a cloth over his mouth. He struggled briefly, recognizing the scent of chloroform. Moments later the world began spinning and he felt himself falling, the night growing blacker and blacker.
"Jim," he whispered as he dropped like a stone, his thoughts centered on his absent lover. But this time he doubted even a Sentinel had been able to hear him.
By nine o'clock Jim was getting worried. He and Fraser had finished up at the precinct and then headed home. Jim cooked dinner while Fraser took a shower and freshened up, both men waiting for their partners to return. The wolf, Diefenbaker, had made himself at home on the bed upstairs -- a fact that annoyed Jim to no end. He'd tried to get the animal off -- noting how the creature had made a point of remaining solely on Blair's side of the bed. But Diefenbaker had obviously decided not to move. He simply stared at Jim, giving the Sentinel the same stubborn look that reminded him of a certain black jaguar. Jim eventually just sighed and gave up.
Now, several hours later, dinner was ready and waiting, cooling on the stove. Fraser was pacing somewhat restlessly around the loft and Jim had called Blair's cell phone several times, receiving no answer. He and Fraser had finished up their work at the bullpen -- discovering only that there was no connection as far as they could tell between Frank Burnheim and Saint Michael's church and the theft of the Cross. Then they'd returned home to wait for Ray and Blair, hoping that those two had better luck with the professor.
"Something's wrong," Jim grumbled, getting ready to grab his keys and head back out to look for his wayward Guide.
The phone rang unexpectedly and Jim grabbed it. "Ellison!"
"Detective Ellison?" an unfamiliar voice asked. "This is Bill Palance -- I'm a security guard at Rainier University. I found a cell phone on the ground next to Blair Sandburg's car. I know he works with you sometimes and--"
"Is he there?" Jim asked in a panic, his heart leaping in his chest. He was vaguely aware of both Fraser and the wolf approaching worriedly.
"No sir," the security guard explained. "I was hoping you might know where he is and if he'd accidentally dropped the phone."
"Shit!" Jim reached for his keys. "I'll be right there! Don't touch anything else!"
He hung up and turned to Fraser. "Something's happened," he informed the Mountie. Fraser nodded in understanding and the two of them headed out the door, the wolf whining as he followed.
The security guard was waiting for them in the parking lot. Blair's car was the last one left there that evening. He and Fraser searched the area swiftly, Jim dialing his senses up as high as he dared, looking for any clue that might tell him what happened. A quick scan of the area revealed no sign at all of Blair's presence, but he could see faint marks on the ground -- fresh tracks in the muddy, melting snow upon the asphalt. And there was still a faint trace of Blair's scent in the air. That and the scent of gun oil along with a faint chemical residue that seemed strangely familiar -- a drug perhaps.
"These are Ray's tracks," Fraser pointed out to Jim. Ray's tracks stood right next to Blair's - -and the impressions indicating that perhaps bodies had fallen into the muck on the ground.
"At least four other men as well," Jim said. Fraser nodded in agreement.
"No blood," Fraser offered. But Jim took little comfort in that. Blair was still gone -- someone had taken him. The deep burning anger in his belly was tempered only by the mind-numbing fear he felt. Blair just had to be all right.
He yanked his cell phone out, dialing quickly. "Simon, I have reason to believe that Blair and Detective Kowalski have been kidnapped."
The curse Simon expelled mirrored what Jim was feeling. "I'll put an A.P.B out on both of them immediately," Simon offered. "What else do you need?"
"A search warrant for Jessica Burnheim's residence," Jim informed him.
"What?" Simon sounded surprised. "Isn't that Frank Burnheim's daughter? I thought you said there was no connection between the Burnheim foundation and Saint Michaels."
"Between the foundation and St. Michaels," Jim agreed. "But Blair was here looking into Jessica Burnheim's possible connection to the white buffalo leather. And now he's gone. She's the only lead we've got!" Even as he spoke, he saw that Diefenbaker, who'd been sniffing the ground around Blair's car, suddenly took off across the campus. Fraser, seeing it also, had taken off after the wolf.
"I'll call you back Simon," Jim informed his Captain. "Get that search warrant!" He shut his cell phone down and ran after the Mountie and the wolf.
The wolf led the two of them into the Archeology building, down a flight a stairs and into the main offices of the faculty. He stopped before one of the doors and began scratching at the wood. Jim knew immediately what he was responding too -- he could also smell the faint trace of Blair's scent here. Blair had been here -- probably just prior to the kidnapping.
Professor Tarlin, the sign read. Fraser knocked, waiting politely for an answer but Jim pushed the door open, striding in. He flashed his badge at the startled old man sitting behind the cluttered desk.
"Professor Tarlin?" he demanded. "I'm Detective Ellison, Cascade P.D. Have you seen Blair Sandburg?"
Tarlin blinked owlishly up at the two of them, and then glanced at the wolf. "My word, is that a wolf?"
"Blair Sandburg?" Jim repeated.
"Yes, I know Blair Sandburg," the man nodded. "He was just here in fact. He and his nice young friend."
"What did you speak about?" Jim demanded.
"An old student of mine," the professor explained. "Jessica Burnheim. Blair seemed fascinated by the fact that she'd read all my books. Why I remember one time when she--" He launched into a story about a theoretical discussion, and it took Jim several minutes to get the man back on track.
Eventually he got the man to tell him what he'd told Blair and Ray -- about Jessica's expertise in religious artifacts and items of spiritual significance. He left the man without a backward glance.
Jim called Simon back. "It's her," he informed the Captain, relaying the last piece of information to him. "I'm heading over to her place right now."
"I won't have the search warrant for at least an hour yet, Jim," Simon reminded him. "As it is, it's lucky that the judge owes me a favor -- otherwise I wouldn't even try getting a search warrant on such flimsy evidence. Don't do anything rash."
"Of course not, Simon," Jim growled. "I mean, just because Blair is missing, why would you think I'd do anything rash!" He hung up before Simon could answer.
Jessica Burnheim lived in an expensive high-rise apartment complex. The main building itself required a pass card to enter, and Jim fumed as he was forced to wait for not only the search warrant but also for Simon to find the building manager to open the main doors. While he paced angrily in front of the building, only vaguely aware of the pale wolf pacing alongside him, Fraser stopped to speak to a couple of homeless men sitting on the street corner across from the building. He approached Jim a few moments later.
"She's not here," he informed the Sentinel.
Jim glared at him. "What?"
Fraser motioned toward the bums. "They saw her leaving earlier today. She had a suitcase with her, and hasn't returned."
"And they just told you this out of the goodness of their hearts?" Jim demanded.
Fraser nodded. "Pretty much. They've been there all day, Detective. And Jessica Burnheim is a rather striking woman. They were able to describe her in great detail. I believe them."
The Mountie was quite serious -- Jim could see that just by looking at him.
"Shit!" he turned away. She'd left with a suitcase -- a fair indication that she might not be coming back any time soon. His only lead gone. He turned swiftly toward Fraser. "The plane!" he exclaimed.
Fraser's eyes lit up. "A Cessna Caravan. Should be easy enough to trace."
Jim yanked out his phone, dialing the bullpen. Megan Connor answered. "Megan, I need you to find out if the Burnheim Corporation or any of the Burnheims own a plane," he told the Australian. "Call me back immediately."
Simon Banks pulled up in front of the building just as he hung up, the building manager beside him. The manager grumbled a bit as he opened the front doors of the building, but he let the cops inside, leading them upstairs to Jessica Burnheim's apartment.
A quick search of the place proved out the bums' story -- she was gone. The books on her shelf and the various priceless artifacts decorating her home confirmed her interest in religious artifacts. But beyond that the initial search turned up no incriminating evidence against the woman -- a fact that Simon was quick to point out.
Megan called back as they were searching. "The Burnheim Corporation owns seven planes, Jim," she informed the detective.
"What about a Cessna?" Jim asked.
"There are two Cessna Caravans registered to Jessica Burnheim. She's also a pilot." Jim glanced across the room at Fraser, nodding in confirmation. "Where are her planes hangered?"
"A private airport just outside Cascade," Megan informed him. "But Jim, I already checked. Both planes are gone -- one headed out yesterday. The other took off about two hours ago."
Jim's stomach clenched at Megan's words. Two hours ago -- that was plenty of time for Blair to have been taken to the airport and put on that plane. "Get me a flight plan!" he told Megan.
"I'm working on it, Jim," she promised.
Jim turned to Fraser and Simon. "She has two Cessnas. One left Cascade yesterday, the other left two hours ago."
"You think Blair and Detective Kowalski are on that plane, don't you?" Simon asked.
Jim nodded.
"Oh, dear," Fraser exclaimed, a look of horror on his handsome face. "The last passenger she had on her plane... fell out."
Megan was waiting for them when they returned to the bullpen. She had the registered flight plan along with a large map of North America. "I spoke with a man on duty at the airport. Jessica Burnheim was seen boarding her plane a few hours ago. He also claimed to see a couple of men carry two other men on board the plane," Megan told them. "Her flight plan was for a small private airport somewhere up in the Northwest Territories of Canada. I've got the coordinates." She pointed to a spot on the map. Fraser glanced at it, a frown creasing his brow.
"What's the nearest city?" Jim demanded. Megan just shrugged blankly.
"Detective, there's only one actual city in the Territories -- Yellowknife. And it's several hundred kilometers from this. The rest of the Territories are made up of tiny communities."
"One city?" Jim stared at the Mountie.
Fraser just shrugged. "We only have about forty thousand people in the Territories. We really only need one city."
Jim glanced at the map. "Then what's out there? Why would she be going there?"
"All that's out there is wilderness -- and ice," Fraser admitted. "But I do know that this is part of Leftenant Fontaine's patrol area. He must have discovered something unusual, and it led him back here to Cascade."
"Then we're going to have to go out there ourselves and find out," Jim decided.
"Detective, maybe it would be better if I went up there alone--" Fraser began. The dark glare Jim threw him silenced him.
"If Blair is out there, I'm going, and I'm going to find him!"
Fraser shifted uncomfortably. "Detective, it's winter. This time of year we'll only have a few hours of daylight at a time -- and weak light at that. The conditions will be the harshest you can imagine. I grew up out there -- well, several hundred kilometers north of there actually -- but I know the area, and I know how to survive the environment."
Jim understood immediately what the man was saying -- Jim would slow him down. He also knew just as certainly that he wasn't going to remain behind. "I'll match you step for step, Mountie," he growled. "My partner is out there. I'm going with or without you. This won't be the first time I've survived harsh conditions."
Fraser stared long and hard at him, and then finally just nodded in acceptance. "Understood, Detective. I'll call ahead to get some supplies set up for us."
Satisfied, Jim turned toward Simon. The captain was watching him with a resigned look in his dark eyes. "Just go, Jim," he said quietly. "And bring him home safely."


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