Prologue

It was the first of September, their eight-month wedding anniversary, and Jonathan had taken the afternoon off from work-a rare occurrence-to spend it with Carol. The day was warm, the sky cloudless, perfect weather for a picnic in the park.

"Hey, babe." Jonathan lifted the wicker basket with his left hand and Carol's guitar case with his right. "Can you get the blanket?"

"Sure, Johnny. I'll get it."

He headed out the door of their small basement apartment, calling over his shoulder, "Better grab the Instamatic too. We might want to take some pictures."

"Okay."

Carol felt happy enough to burst. As much as she loved Jonathan, the past months hadn't been easy-leaving college halfway through her freshman year, adjusting to married life, moving to Boise where she didn't know a soul, feeling a bit homesick and out of place in her new family and her new church. The hardest part, however, had been the long hours, six days a week, that her husband spent at Burke Department Stores. Days like today, when they could spend time together-just the two of them-were too few and far between.

She opened the drawer of the nightstand where they kept the camera. Before slipping the strap over her wrist, she checked the back to make sure there was enough film left in the cartridge. Then she picked up the blanket and headed for the door.

The telephone started to ring. Don't answer, her heart whispered.

Jonathan stepped into the living room, shrugging his s