8. A Warning in the Night

Missing Julian (8 of 13)

Feb 04, 2026

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(Maria came back to find Julian, among other reasons. Many people are looking for Julian. Every man makes a presence, and their absence leaves a hole. This is the second to last section of Milestone.)

On the following night, a Saturday, Sergeant Abraham parked in front of Inspector Coffin’s Main Street mansion. The stores sold postcards of his house—not with the name Henry Coffin, but his famous forebear, Zenas. The brick facade loomed over the street, in all its darkened windows and peeling paint. Moira had done her best, but the building had aged.

Danny had requested one of the new Nantucket Police four-wheel drive cruisers for the night. The SUV had the ground clearance and the tires for going off-road. It also, unfortunately, had a driver’s side like a fighter cockpit, seats that locked into place, and a grate that separated the front from the back seat. Danny was only roughly familiar with all of the options; Coffin would have no idea.

The old man and his dog emerged after a few moments.

Henry didn’t lock his front door.

Danny, not for the first time, wondered what sort of town the old white man thought he lived in.

Coffin let Pip into the back. The dog immediately settled himself onto the new seats. Henry also settled himself in the front seat. He was wearing a brown sweater.

“So, what did we do to get this car?”

“I requested it.”

“Do we need to drive on the sand?”

“I thought we could prevent a rape and break up a party.”

“Did the Whalers win today?”

“They did.”

“So, where is the party?”

“Barrett Farm Road.”

“Did you know that when you requested the car?”

“Just a guess.”

Since farmhands started going out on Saturday night, hidden parts of the island became the event locations. We always went to the same places, and our kids do the same: Gibb’s Pond in the center of the island, Fortieth Pole to the west, Hidden Forest near Sconset, and Barrett Farm Road. To get to the beach off of Barrett Farm Road, we have to drive four or so miles over a two-track of sand. For most of the island’s history, the road cut through fields where sheep and goats chewed everything down to a few inches. But in the last fifty years, as the sheep left and the Conservation Foundation took hold, the moors filled with scrub pines and brush. Moreover, the island once had a series of north-south ponds scoured into the geology by retreating and melting glaciers. Those ponds remained invisible for the heat of the summer, but in the rains of autumn, they reappeared in long puddles that swallowed the road.

Danny drove through the moors without siren or spinning lights. He kept the headlights on low and did his best to hide his true intentions. Either because of the lateness in the season or the indifference of the native partygoers, very few went high-tailing down the beach when the cops arrived.

As Danny and Henry approached the sand, the road was lined on both sides with four-wheel drive vehicles, most with Nantucket Whaler stickers.

Finally, at the sand, Danny switched the car into four-wheel drive and drove up to the fire. He parked twenty yards away from the flames.

Both men stepped out of the car. Pip leapt from the backseat and ran circles around the teens. Unsurprised, they stopped and scratched him. Someone had pizza crusts, which the dog happily enjoyed.

Danny frowned. Not real police.

Most of the partiers looked up from the fire into the headlights of the SUV and slipped into the familiar darkness of the sand.

Jack remained seated in a beach chair. Billy pushed himself up and walked to Sergeant Abraham.

“Officer, how can I help you?”

“Just here to break up the party.”

“I am not sure if most of these people should be driving, Officer.”

“How did that happen?”

“We all came out for one last gathering. Some brought wine.”

“Wine?”

“I think there might be some seltzer as well.”

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Danny’s nose worked passably well, and he could sense another reason why the kids weren’t moving so fast. As the kids weren’t running off scared as he walked among them. It didn’t take long to find the two kegs. One of them had been kicked, and the other wasn’t all that full. He took the two taps.

Coffin was poking his way along the edges of the firelight, near the cliffs and dunes. He hadn’t rousted that many lovers, but that wasn’t precisely his goal. When he finished his circle, he walked back to the fire and to Jack.

“Inspector.” The boy nodded to the older man.

“Do you remember Tommy?”

“Of course, I remember. I think he moved off-island for better educational opportunities.”

“Did he?”

“If he remembers us, maybe he will come back to school next year.”

Coffin turned his eyes to the young man and let them rest on his grinning face.

“Make sure you remember.”

“What do you want me to remember?”

“Remember to take care of yourself.”

“Inspector, you don’t need to worry.”

The boy grinned at the older man.

“Take care of yourself, son. Your parents are depending on you,” Coffin eyed him. “This world is not kind. It will not be kind to you. You have been reckless. This does not end well.”

“I’m good, old man. Always have been, always will be.”

“A word to the wise should be sufficient.”

The Inspector walked away and back to the SUV. The sergeant leaned against the hood and warmed himself in the fading embers of the fire.

“Well, Danny. How did we do?”

“I have the taps.”

Coffin clapped his hands. Pip had been receiving the love of three girls. He stood and shook the sand off of him. Then he came trotting.

Henry had the treat ready.

“Not a lot of excitement when we come to these parties.”

“No.”

“It’s just weird.”

Coffin crossed his arms. “I am glad we came.”

“We didn’t do anything?”