Mike was on shift at a mutual brush fire when the pecker went before the judge. There was a delay in original hearing and he didn't want to miss work for it. The judge had their two letters and a request for anonymity. Jake promised to call him with the judge's decision. When the call came through Mike could tell that Jake was beaming through the phone.

"He gave him the full five years. I don't think the town did him any favors. The backlash that you and Anna suffered was all taken into consideration. The judge seemed to think the guilty party led the witch hunt against you. He showed some remorse but only when asked."

Mike was so relieved he wanted it all to be over. He realized the next day that the town was not ready to move on.

When her dad called to tell her that Dustin would go to jail for five years she felt a little sad. She didn't know how to hate him all the time because she had loved him. Maybe she was a little like Cole. Five years was a long time. She would be in college and the baby would be almost ready for kindergarten. How could she be in college with a kindergartener? That just didn't seem right.

She told Cole first because Sam wasn't home. Alison and Keira were at the beach and Bryan was working.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, it just feels like this should be the end of it but it isn't." She looked down at her belly.

"I know." He put his hands on her belly. He did that a lot. It made Anna want to say don't touch it, touch me but she never did. This time he surprised her when he pulled her into a hug. She buried her face into his shoulder. He rubbed circles on her back. She pulled herself into him because she needed to feel comfort. Her dad wasn't here, but Cole was although his hugs were different.

Cole pulled back. "We shouldn't."

"Why?"

"Because I like it too much."

No wonder she fell for Dustin. She was so naïve. She didn't know that Cole liked her like that. She knew what she felt but never imagined he did too.

"You do?" She felt the heat in her cheeks.

"Yeah, I wish everything was different. I wish you weren't... you know, and that you weren't going home and that I could ask you out and we could be like Sam and Rory."

"Like you used to be with Cassie?" She was not able to let go of her feelings for Cassie.

"No, nothing like that. With Cassie it was always only about one thing."

"Yeah, I know what that's like."

He nodded. "Let's get some lunch, okay?"

The moment was over, so they were just two cousins having lunch. That was not how she felt - not deep inside.

Shelby was pacing the floor like a caged animal. George was scowling. Mike wanted to be anyplace other than George's perfect house. If he could pick he wanted to be on The Point with Mari. He had a sick feeling in his gut that wouldn't go away.

He received a letter in the mail full of accusations. It accused him of being in a relationship with Shelby while sweet talking with another woman on the phone. The thing that scared him about this letter was it contained private things that only someone in his house would know.

Mike repeated again. "I have to tell Jake. I think they bugged my house. How would they know that we were laughing and getting along that time you came over?" He looked at George. "We were talking about Anna growing up. It was completely platonic. Sorry Shel, but I don't think of you any other way anymore."

"Who are you talking to?" Shelby sounded jealous.

"Just a friend. A friend who has been supportive of all the crap I've been dealing with. Someone who doesn't deserve to be dragged into this."

George said, "Why are they doing this? They want to hurt you, although neither Shelby nor I need the attention, it seems to be about you."

"I assume they still think I should resign. I don't know how a man goes to jail and they think I should lose my job. They attacked my budget, now you. When will they stop?"

George asked, "Is there someone who wants your job?"

A few guys had as many years as he did. He shook his head. "I don't know. I only got it because no one else was interested."

Bryan left, and he was the only one willing to step up. A lot of the other guys had side jobs and businesses. Lately a few had been complaining about getting older and working too hard - sore backs and things like that. He was more apt to be the one standing in the yard coordinating men than holding the heavy hose. From that perspective the chief's job was easier but there were a lot of bureaucratic responsibilities. He hated to suspect his crew.

It was George who convinced Shelby that Mike should show the letter to Jake. Mike had to admire George on his skills in the taming of the Shelby. George was certain their positions at the insurance company would not be affected by her talking to her ex-husband.

"You don't want Mike to lose his job because then you'll be forced to pay child support."

Mike added, "If I'm out of work then Anna can keep the baby."

He was just going along with George, who assured Shelby that he would make sure everyone knew where her heart lied. He didn't want to think about what he had in mind but figured it was between the two of them. They really were a perfect couple and George wasn't all bad.

Jake looked surprised to see Mike when he appeared at his desk. Mike slumped in the side chair. "I think they've bugged my house."

"What?" Jake exclaimed as he reached for the letter that Mike held out to him.

Mike sat quietly while he read the whole thing. When Jake looked up from the paper, Mike asked, "Is it a threat? A crime?"

"It is certainly an invasion of privacy. Who's the girl?"

"Just a supportive friend." Who I like to kiss, he kept the last bit in his head.

Jake nodded. "I can get a team over there to sweep for listening devices. I just don't understand any of this. Why are they so hell bent on taking it out on you?"

"I wish I knew."

The letter also included an accusation about his schedule and taking time off. He was pushing his limit with all his trips to see Anna. That was a worry because his daughter needed him. It was too late to bring her back and it wasn't safe.

On the fifth of July, Jake invited Mike over to his house. They sat out on the deck each nursing a beer. It was a nice warm evening.

They talked about the night before. The fourth was always a busy night for fire/rescue. Between the drinking, the fireworks and the stupidity there were a lot of calls. The police were just as busy and even a detective like Jake worked the streets. He couldn't imagine what it was like in a bigger town.

Finally Mike asked, "What now? I don't understand. I thought for sure you would have found a bug in my house."

Jake seemed to contemplate the situation and took a long drink from his bottle. Mike listened to the sounds of summer. He heard someone next door yelling.

Jake sighed. "They fight all the time. They should just get a divorce."

Mike thought about his neighbor yelling at her kids. Jake lived far enough from town that the houses had space between them, but Mike's neighbor's house was right on top of his.

Suddenly he exclaimed, "I think I know who it is!" Jake sat up. "If we can hear your neighbors then mine could hear me. The windows were open when Shelby and I were laughing. I hugged her goodbye in my driveway. I have also sat on my back deck as I've talked with my friend."

"Who are your neighbors? Why would they want you to resign?"

"Because his brother is one of the guys who I thought could want my job. In fact, he was the one who wasn't as into the brotherhood and their support as time went on."

The more he thought about it, he was certain that Dylan Schlosser was involved.

"What do you want me to do? I can pay him a visit."

"I don't know. I don't want to cause more trouble than it's worth. George isn't concerned about it going public. He can handle Shelby. I'm glad it's him and not me."

"You can think on it. The whole thing is full of speculation and empty threats."

"Yeah mostly." Mike wasn't convinced of anything anymore.

Darlene called him and through her he had learned George's plan. "It's all over Facebook. George proposed to Shelby. He gave her a rock too."

Mike's only thought was how would it affect Anna and Shelby's reconciliation?