A Cry In the Night by Mary Higgins Clark

separate.”
    The judge had spoken the words solemnly.
    But they’d said that at her wedding to Kevin.
    They arrived in Minneapolis one minute ahead of schedule. A large sign said, WELCOME TO THE TWINCITIES . Jenny studied the airport with avid interest. “I’ve been all over Europe but never farther west than Pennsylvania,” she laughed. “I had a mental image of landing in the midst of a prairie.”
    She was holding Beth by the hand. Erich was carrying Tina. Beth looked backward at the ramp that led to the plane. “More plane, Mommy,” she begged.
    â€œYou may have started something, Erich,” Jenny said. “They seem to be developing a taste for first-class travel.”
    Erich was not listening. “I told Clyde to have Joe waiting for us,” he said. “He should have been at the arrival gate.”
    â€œJoe?”
    â€œOne of the farmhands. He’s not too bright but he’s excellent with horses and a good driver. I always have him chauffeur me when I don’t want to leave the car at the airport. Oh, here he is.”
    Jenny saw rushing toward them a straw-haired, slenderly built young man of about twenty, with wide innocent eyes and rosy cheeks. He was neatly dressed in a thermal coat, dark knit trousers, heavy boots and gloves. A chauffeur’s cap sat incongruously on his thick hair. He pulled it off as he stopped in front of Erich, and she had time to reflect that for such a handsome young man he looked awfully worried.
    â€œMr. Krueger, I’m sorry I’m late. The roads are pretty icy.”
    â€œWhere’s the car?” Erich asked brusquely. “I’ll get my wife and children settled, then you and I can attend to the luggage.”
    â€œYes, Mr. Krueger.” The worried look deepened. “I’m really sorry I’m late.”
    â€œOh, for heaven sake,” Jenny said. “We’re early, one minute early.” She held out her hand. “I’m Jenny.”
    He took it, holding it gingerly as though he fearedhurting it. “I’m Joe, Mrs. Krueger. Everybody’s looking forward to seeing you. Everybody’s been talking about you.”
    â€œI’m sure they have,” Erich said shortly. His arm urged Jenny forward. Joe fell back behind them. She realized Erich was annoyed. Maybe she wasn’t supposed to have been so friendly. Her life in New York and Hartley gallery and the apartment on Thirty-seventh Street suddenly seemed terribly far away.

6

    E rich’s maroon Fleetwood was mint-new and the only car in the parking area not spattered with crusted snow. Jenny wondered if Joe had taken precious minutes to have it washed before arriving at the airport. Erich settled her and Tina in the back seat, gave permission to Beth to ride in front, and hurried away to help Joe collect the baggage.
    A few minutes later they were pulling onto the highway. “It’s nearly a three-hour drive to the farm,” Erich told her. “Why don’t you lean against me and nap?” He seemed relaxed, even genial now, the spasm of anger forgotten.
    He reached for Tina, who willingly settled in his lap. Erich had a way with the little girl. Seeing the contentment on Tina’s face snapped Jenny out of her momentary homesickness.
    The car sped into the country. The lights along the highway began to disappear. The road darkened and narrowed. Joe switched on the high beams of theheadlights and she could discern clumps of graceful maples and irregular, poorly shaped oaks. The land seemed absolutely flat. It was all so different from New York. That was why she’d felt that terrible sense of alienation as they left the airport.
    She needed time to think, to get in focus, to adjust. Settling her head on Erich’s shoulder, she murmured, “You know something, I am tired.” She didn’t want to talk any more, not right now. But, oh, how good it was to lean against him, to know that their