I glanced around the office, looking for a clue to this mysterious project.
“Well, I don’t want to see all of North Harbor’s past disappear, either,” Liz said.
Okay, so the project had something to do with the town’s history. That really didn’t narrow things down a lot. “Do you mind if I ask how you got involved in this project in the first place?” I asked the judge.
“Not at all,” he said. He gestured at the chairs in front of his desk. “I’ve forgotten my manners. Please, sit down.”
Liz and I took a seat and Judge Halloran moved back behind his desk. He sat down, leaned back in his chair and looked at me thoughtfully. “I guess the real reason I got involved is because I’ve always had a soft spot for the old library building. My mother would take my brother and me to get a week’s worth of books every Saturday after lunch.”
So the project had something to do with the former library building, which I knew was about to be torn down. It had deteriorated so much over the years that it just wasn’t structurally sound anymore, but it would be sad to see it turned into a pile of rubble.
“I understand that it’s not possible to save every old building, nor should we. But I hate the idea that the sunflower window would leave town or even worse, the country,” he said.
The sunflower window was a round stained glass window that had been in the old library from the time it was built in the late 1800s. It had gotten the name from the different varieties of yellow glass in the flowerlike design. I’d heard that there was someone in Singapore interested in buying the window. Like the judge, I’d spent many happy Saturday afternoons during summer vacation in that building. I didn’t want to see the window leave town either.
“When I was little I liked to stand in the colored patches of light on the floor,” I said, smiling at the memory.
“I very much wish they had moved the window when they built the new library,” he said. “That was the original plan.”
“So why didn’t they?” Liz asked.
The judge shook his head. “There was some concern about removing it safely. I think part of the reason was also that it didn’t fit with the vision the library board at the time had for the space. But hopefully we’ll be able to match the offer that’s already been made for the window and find it a new home here in North Harbor.”
“I hope so,” I said. It struck me that this was a project Liam needed to get involved with.
Judge Halloran tapped the envelope Liz had given him with one finger. “You know Sarah, I think you should work into this book project of Elizabeth’s how much she’s done for North Harbor that no one actually knows about.”
“I like that idea,” I said, shifting in my chair to grin at Liz. “I may need some details from you, however.”
“You’re a fine one to talk, Neill Halloran,” Liz said tartly. “You’re far more modest than I am. Do you remember what my grandfather used to say? Don’t hide your light under a bushel.”
She looked at me and gestured across the desk at the judge. “Neill is the driving force behind the building of the outdoor ice rink and he funded the hot lunch program for the entire first year until it got on its feet.”
The hot lunch program in the elementary school was one of my pet projects thanks to Gram. I knew someone had kept it running through the bumpy first year but I had no idea it had been Judge Halloran. Given that he had a soft spot for my grandmother, it made sense.
He inclined his head in Liz’s direction. “A word of warning, if Elizabeth knows your secrets they aren’t going to be secrets for long.”
I laughed. “Liz has known me since I was a baby so I don’t have any secrets at all.”
Liz’s expression grew serious now. “Are you still involved with Haven House?” she asked.
Haven House. That was the name of the treatment center Gina Pearson had been waiting to be admitted to, and had been to before.
“You really do know all my secrets,” the judge said. I noticed just a touch of wariness in his voice.
“Years ago, Michael Pearson was a summer student at the foundation,” Liz said. “I suspect you pulled some strings to get a place at Haven House for his wife just before she died.”
“I’m sure you know that I’m the one who told the police that I saw Michael walking away from their burning house.” He took hold of the frames of his glasses. “For the record, I need these only for close work. My long-distance vision is fine.”
Liz adjusted her own glasses. “I need mine only when I need to see,” she said lightly.
He smiled.
“Michael Pearson is a good man.”
“I know that,” Judge Halloran said. “We were neighbors for five years. He loaned me his leaf-blower when mine stopped working. Two winters ago, when I broke my wrist, he kept my steps and driveway clear and he wouldn’t take five cents for doing it. I didn’t take any pleasure in telling the police what I saw.” He held up a hand as though trying to forestall any objections Liz might have. “Mike was wearing the ball cap Gina had given him. I recognized him and that hat. He wore it all the time. It was a replica of the 1956 red and blue cap that the American team wore in Melbourne at the Olympics. Baseball was a demonstration sport that year. He was wearing it earlier in the day when we talked about Gina. He was wearing it that evening when he walked away from the house.”
“Did you use your connections to get Gina into Haven House?”
“I told Mike I would see what I could do. They found a bed for her. She would have left the morning following the fire.”
Gina Pearson had been so close to a chance to turn her life around. I had to swallow down the lump that was suddenly in the back of my throat.
Liz sighed softly.
The judge leaned forward, propping his elbows on the desk. “Elizabeth, if you have the idea that you can somehow help Mike Pearson, you’re taking on a losing battle.”
Liz looked at him for a long moment and I wasn’t sure if she was going to say anything. “Thank you, Neill,” was all she finally said. She got to her feet and extended her hand. “I’ll see what I can do to generate more support for saving the sunflower window.”
“I appreciate that,” he said. He came around the desk, took my hand in both of his and smiled. “It was a pleasure, Isabel.” He hesitated for a second then shook his head. “I’m sorry. It’s just for a moment you reminded me so much of your grandmother.”
“I’m honored by the comparison,” I said.
“If I can be of any help with your book project please call Henry,” he said. “He takes care of my schedule.”
I smiled. “Thank you.”
Henry Davis was already on his feet. He handed me his card. “That has my direct number,” he said. “Please call me if there’s anything you need from Judge Halloran.”
I thanked him and we left.
“You lied to me,” I said to Liz once we were in the elevator.
“No. I just didn’t tell you everything.”
“I could have messed up everything.”
“You didn’t,” she said as the elevator doors opened to the main floor.
“Why all the elaborate subterfuge?” I asked as we headed for the door.
“Do you really think Henry Davis would have given us an appointment in this century if I’d told him I wanted to question the judge about whether or not he saw what he says he saw the night of that fire?”
I shook my head. “No. He probably wouldn’t have.”
“So I did what I had to.”
“It was nice of you to write a check for that fund-raising campaign to save the old library window,” I said.
“I think it would be a shame to see it end up halfway around the world. It’s a piece of our history.”
We were approaching the car. I pulled out the keys to unlock the doors. “It occurred to me that Liam might be able to help in some way. You want me to talk to him?”