Текст книги "Dark reckoning"

Автор книги: J. E. Taylor

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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 17 страниц)

He grinned. “Sorry.” He looked out the window. “Are you hungry?” he asked again.

“Yes,” Jennifer answered once she zipped up her shorts and adjusted her shirt.

He glanced back. “Want me to make you something?”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows, amused. “You cook?”

“A man’s got to eat.” He swatted her on the behind as he walked past her.

Steve’s cell phone rang. He grabbed it off the counter in the dressing room, checking the number before he opened it. “Hello?”

“Hey, Steve, it’s Bill. I’m sorry about this morning.”

“You were a little drunk.”

Bill laughed. “A lot drunk,” he said. “I just get protective of her. Tom was my best friend.”

Steve was quiet. He traded a look with Jennifer and gave her a nod and a smile. “You sure that’s all it is?” he asked Bill.

“Yes,” Bill said without hesitation.

Steve knew a lie when he heard one and this was a whopper. “Apology accepted,” he replied. “I have to go. Later.” He flipped the phone shut and sauntered down to the kitchen.

“Who was that?” Jennifer asked.

“Bill,” Steve answered with no further explanation. “What are you in the mood for?” He opened the refrigerator.

“Surprise me.” She sat at the counter.

Steve surveyed the contents of the refrigerator and glanced at the clock. It was a little after eleven. He hadn’t had anything substantial for breakfast, so he decided brunch was in order and whipped up a vegetable omelet for the two of them. He rummaged through the drawers until he found the silverware and grabbed two forks and knives. Bringing the omelet over to Jennifer, he set it down between them.

Jennifer pulled the plate toward her. “What are you having?” she asked and burst out laughing at Steve’s wide shocked eyes. “I’m kidding.” She pushed the plate back between them. She cut a piece and put it in her mouth. “This is great.”

Steve shrugged. “It’s just an omelet.” He looked around the kitchen again. “This is a great place to cook.” He smiled. “I’d love to have a kitchen like this someday.”

“I hate cooking,” Jennifer admitted. “I burn just about everything.”

Steve laughed. “Well at least one of us likes to cook. Eating out gets expensive.”

Jennifer nodded and took another bite, but her smile soon faded. “Why do you think I’m seeing that place in the closet?”

Steve paused. “I don’t know.”

“This was different. There was no one else in the vision. Just that thing; and I could have sworn it looked directly at me.” She shivered and then something else triggered. “There was a pentacle carved into the moss.”

Steve stopped, his food hanging on his fork, halfway to his mouth. “A pentacle?” He put the fork back on the plate.

Jennifer stared at the half-eaten omelet. “I’m not sure it was a vision, either.” She slowly raised her eyes. “I think it was happening right then and there.” She took a deep breath. “It was laughing at me.” She visibly shivered.

Steve picked up his fork without commenting. It was just a little too bizarre for him to believe. He continued eating in silence, dissecting her story several different ways. Every way he turned it in his mind, it always came back to the fact that she was somehow the center point of what was going on.

“Jen, if I showed you those pictures,” he began, without looking at her. He leaned back and pushed the almost empty plate away. Glancing at her, he walked out of the kitchen and onto the balcony.

Jennifer put the plate in the sink and followed him out. “Finish what you were going to say.”

Steve shook his head. “I don’t want to put you in the middle of this thing,” he said, looking out at the lake. “I want you as far away from it as possible.” He turned to her.

“I think I’m already in the middle somehow,” she said, echoing his thoughts.

“I don’t want you to be.”

She ran her hand up his arm and he covered it with his. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”

Steve glanced over at her. “I’ve already used you enough.” He looked back out at the lake.

“What are you talking about?” Jennifer removed her hand stepping away.

Steve closed his eyes. “There you go again.” He shook his head slightly and began to laugh.

“How have you been using me?” The hurt in her voice made his eyes open.

He leveled with her. “You’ve kept me close to the primary suspect in our case.” Jennifer took another step away and Steve grabbed her arm. “I’m in love with you, Jen.” He didn’t release her arm. “That isn’t part of the job.”

She tried to yank herself away, but he didn’t let go. Instead, he stepped to her, wrapping his arms around her. Her furrowed brow and pouty lips along with that spark in her green eyes made him smile.

“You aren’t the primary suspect, babe. You just happen to be roommates with his girlfriend.”

Jennifer blinked. “Billy?”

Steve nodded. “Yes. And last night was just another indicator that I’m looking in the right place.”

“I can’t believe Billy is involved in this. I’ve known him for close to seven years now,” she balked. “He and Tom were friends in high school.”

“The majority of the missing persons list were rush candidates or pledges of Beta Theta Pi and Bill has been the fraternity president for the last two years.” He took a deep breath. “Before he became president, the run rate was one or two missing persons a year, which, technically for a college town like this, is normal; however, those were also related to the fraternity.”

He looked into her eyes. “That’s where I come in. I look young enough to be a dropout trying to get my shit together after what happened with Peg. I gain the sympathy of the fraternity president because he can relate—he lost his best friend a few years before in what looks like a legitimate car accident.” He shrugged. “Then the curve ball was thrown. Your name came across in the report.” He lifted his hand to her face and ran his fingers down the line of her jaw, stopping under her chin. “And my God, what a curve ball you are.”

He leaned over, tilting her face up, and kissed her. “Our little game was fun, but it put a strain on the friendship I had built with Bill over the summer. I was losing his trust and confidence.” He ran his thumb over her lips. “Little did I know putting an end to our game would blow up in my face?”

Jennifer tried to move away, but he kept her against him. “What do you mean blow up in your face?”

“Jenny, Bill wants you.”

Jennifer raised her eyebrows as a surprised laugh escaped. “He’s with Tracy.”

Steve tilted his head with a shrug. “He may be with her, but he wants you. And that scares the shit out of me.” He kept eye contact with her, his hand still on her face.

“Why does that scare you?”

He shook his head. Strong and pure emotions played in the depths of his heart. “I have no tangible reason, just a very uneasy feeling.” He ran his thumb over her lips again. “And that instinct has never been wrong.”

“You have nothing to be afraid of,” Jennifer said, as though she thought he was scared she had the same feelings for Bill as he had for her.

Steve smiled. She really was sweet and naïve sometimes. “I’m not afraid of losing you to him, I’m afraid he’s gonna hurt you.”

Jennifer laughed. “Billy would never hurt me,” she said pushing away gently.

Steve disagreed with her, but didn’t argue. He glanced at the hot tub. “Want to change and try that out?” He pointed his thumb over his shoulder. “I’m already in swim trunks.”

Jennifer disappeared into the apartment. She came back a few minutes later in her bathing suit and helped take the cover off. They slipped in the hot bubbly water.

“I really need to learn to keep my pants on and my mouth shut around you,” Steve said. He shook his head and threw his arm around her shoulders.

Jennifer glanced at him, furrowing her eyebrows. “Why?”

Steve inhaled. “Because information just tumbles out when I’m with you and that really isn’t good. You’re not an agent with the bureau.” He stopped and sighed, leaning his head back on one of the cushy headrests. “I’m not supposed to discuss the case with anyone but my boss.” He tilted his head toward her. “By discussing it, I could compromise the case. What’s worse, it could put you in danger.”

“How so?”

Steve shook his head. “I never thought about the ramifications if you slip up.” He pulled his arm from her shoulders and studied his hands. He shrugged and looked at her. “I know you wouldn’t intentionally say anything, but…”

“Steve, I’m not going to say a word to anyone.”

“Not even Tracy?”

Jennifer shook her head. “No, not even to Tracy.”

Steve kept her gaze. “But you told her we slept together.”

Nodding, Jennifer said, “Yes, I did.”

Steve raised his eyebrows. “Why?”

“Because she’s my best friend and girls talk about that stuff.”

Steve grinned and looked away.

“She knew you wanted to get me in bed,” Jennifer smiled. “You weren’t very conspicuous about checking me out.”

“Yeah, well…” He shrugged.

The apartment door swung open. “Jen?”

“We’re out here,” Jennifer called.

Tracy and Bill stepped onto the balcony.

“Hey, I thought you had class,” Tracy said to Jennifer.

“I did. But I had an asthma attack.”

Tracy raised her eyebrows. “Another one?”

Jennifer shrugged; she hadn’t had one since Tom’s death. She looked over at Steve. “I called Steve and he knew what to do.”

Tracy shifted her gaze to Steve. “You’re certainly handy to have around.” She batted her eyelashes, bowing her back slightly to show off her frontal endowments. “What else can you do?”

“He can cook,” Jennifer said and smiled.

Steve felt the heat rush to his cheeks. He didn’t like this kind of attention.

“Mhm, at least I know you won’t starve to death.” Tracy glanced over at Bill. “I’m gonna change and join them.” She disappeared, leaving him looking after her.

Bill glanced at Steve and Jennifer and without a word; he headed inside to find Tracy.

“See,” Steve whispered in Jennifer’s ear, nodding toward the door.

“See what?”

Before he could explain, Tracy popped out onto the balcony. “Do you like to cook?” Tracy asked as she slid into the hot tub opposite Jennifer and Steve.

Steve nodded. “Yeah. You?”

Tracy nodded. “But I hate to bake.”

Steve chuckled and glanced at Jennifer. “I understand she’s pretty inept in the kitchen.”

Bill’s laughter reached them and he appeared in the doorway. “That’s an understatement,” he said, sliding into the water next to Tracy. “She once tried to cook for Tom and nearly set the kitchen on fire,” he explained. “What were you trying to make?”

“French fries,” Jennifer mumbled.

“Thank God your parents had that fire extinguisher in the kitchen,” Bill laughed. “She tried to put out the grease fire with water. What a mess. Tom grabbed the extinguisher and put the fire out before the entire kitchen went up in flames.”

Steve looked curiously over at her. “You didn’t know water makes a grease fire spread?”

Jennifer shook her head, her face bright red from more than the steaming water. “I do now,” she pointed out. “Thanks a lot, Bill.”

Steve put his arm around her shoulder and planted a kiss on her lips. “I’ll have to remember never to let you in the kitchen unsupervised.”

Jennifer smacked him lightly with the back of her hand. “Bite me.”

Steve brought her hand up and placed it playfully between his teeth with a grin. She yanked it out, laughing. Steve stood up. “I’ll be right back.” He excused himself, stepping out of the hot tub, grabbing the towel she had brought out and drying off the best he could. He disappeared into the apartment.

Tracy looked over at Bill. “Are you hungry?” she asked.

“I’d love a sandwich and a beer.”

Tracy stepped out, wrapping a towel around her before heading inside.

Bill turned toward Jennifer.

“I never got the chance to thank you,” Jennifer said.

Bill’s eyebrows shot up. “For what?”

“For setting me up with Steve.”

Bill looked over his shoulder and then back at Jennifer. “I’m not so sure about him, Jen.” His eyes drifted over her body.

Jennifer shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. “Why not?”

“He’s been around.”

Jennifer glanced in the apartment and then back at Bill. “So he told me,” she said.

“And you’re okay with that?” Bill asked.

“I could care less what he did before he met me.”

“Okay.” Bill said, but the thin press of his lips told her otherwise.

“How’s pledge week going?” Jennifer asked, wanting to change the subject.

“We’ve got some pretty interesting characters this year.”

“Are you camping again for initiation?” That had been a long-standing tradition of Beta Theta Pi.

Bill nodded. “Yep.”  His smile broadened slightly, like a wolf just before it takes down its prey.

Chapter 24

Tracy stood in the dressing room, and when Steve came out of the bathroom she said, “If you’re serious about Jen, you’d better get your ass in gear and get her a ring.” Tracy passed him and closed the bathroom door.

Steve stopped halfway through the dressing room. He turned and waited for Tracy. “I’m not so sure she’d accept a ring right now,” he said when she came out of the bathroom.

Tracy laughed and rolled her eyes. “Have you seen the way she looks at you?”

He shrugged, feigning innocence but he knew exactly how she looked at him and it drove him half out of his mind.

“You’re the one,” Tracy said, emphasizing the last word. She grinned. “And from what I see in you, it’s mutual, so why not cut to the chase?”

“Wow, you don’t beat around the bush at all.” He ran his hand through his hair and tossed out the next question, “What kind of ring do you think she’d like?”

Tracy beamed, overjoyed by the question. “I knew it,” she said and dragged him into her room, snagging a catalog for a well-known jewelry shop in New York from a pile on her dresser. She flipped through the pages quickly pointing to the things that were Jennifer’s style. “There.” She stopped on an ad for a simple gold band with a single round firelight cut diamond. “That’s her style.”

Steve looked at the book and flipped the pages. He found a gold band that had diamonds embedded all the way around. “Think she would like something like that as a wedding band?”

Tracy looked at it and shook her head. “It would overwhelm the ring. But if you got this one, it would go perfectly.” She pointed to the accompanying solitaire with diamonds surrounding it.

“Isn’t that too flashy?”

Tracy looked at the combination and shook her head. “Elegant, not flashy.”

Steve grinned down at the picture. “You mind?” He pointed at the page.

Tracy shook her head and watched Steve rip the page out of the magazine. “You’ve got that kind of money?”

Steve shrugged. “This gives me an idea of what to look for. You wouldn’t happen to know her ring size?”

“Five and a half,” Tracy answered.

“Thanks.” He looked around and then laughed. “My clothes are in the washing machine.”

Tracy took the page and put it on her dresser. “I’ll get it to you before you leave.”

“Thanks. Do me a favor and keep this between us, okay?”

Tracy nodded. “I figure if you two want to tell people, you will. It’s not my place. Besides, you didn’t give her a ring yet, so there’s nothing to tell, right?”

“Thank you.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. “Jenny’s lucky to have a friend like you. Most of the women I know would blab it all over the place.”

Tracy smiled. “Thanks.” She headed into the kitchen.

Steve followed and took a detour to the laundry room, tossing the clothes into the dryer and stepping out. “Mind if I grab a soda?”

“Not at all.” Tracy pointed to the refrigerator, dropping the knife in the sink. She carried the sandwich out and grabbed a beer from the bar. The two of them stepped back onto the balcony at the same time.

Jennifer smiled with relief. For the first time in close to seven years, being with Bill had been awkward. Their conversation was stunted, and his leer definitely disturbing.

Steve put the soda on the table between the lounge chairs and took a seat. “I put the laundry in the dryer.”

Jennifer slid out of the hot tub, accepting the soda from his outstretched hand and taking the seat next to him.

Tracy joined Bill in the hot tub.

“Are you doing all right?”

Jennifer nodded glancing in the direction of Tracy and Bill. She glanced back at Steve. “Do you have any more classes today?”

Steve nodded. “But I’m going to miss them.”

“They’re here now. I’ll be just fine.”

“We can watch out for her,” Bill piped in.

Steve shook his head. “I’ll pass,” he said. “You didn’t see how bad she looked when I got here. I’d just as soon stay to make sure she’s all right. But I appreciate the offer,” he said. “Besides, my clothes aren’t done yet and I don’t think they’d approve of me coming into class like this.”

Jennifer sighed. “I really don’t need looking after.”

“Yes you do. You were barely breathing when you called me.”

Jennifer glared at him. “I’m not a child.”

“I never said you were. I’m not doing this for you Jen—I’m doing it for me.”

“Don’t give him a hard time, Jen. He just wants to help,” Tracy said, flipping off the jets to the hot tub and climbing out with Bill.

Bill looked at his watch. “I’ve got class in a little while, so I’m gonna head out,” he said, and disappeared.

Tracy followed him inside.

Jennifer and Steve exchanged a look.

“What?” Steve said softly.

“Nothing,” Jennifer said, glancing inside as Bill kissed Tracy goodbye at the door. She wondered if her discomfort was a side effect of what Steve had insinuated earlier or if Steve was actually right.

“Feel like going for a ride once our clothes are dry?”

“Sure. Where?”

Steve shrugged. “Just out.”

Tracy came out onto the balcony. “What are you doing for the rest of the day?”

“I figured we’d get out of here for a while.” Steve answered.

“Where are we going?” Tracy asked. She didn’t have any more classes today.

“I figured I’d take Jennifer over to the shore for the day, a walk on the beach, and maybe a little dinner,” Steve replied with a shrug. “You’re welcome to come with us.”

“I’m supposed to meet Billy for dinner.”

Steve smiled at her and winked. “Maybe a few stores,” he added, and she understood.

“Well, maybe.” She looked between the two.

“The clothes aren’t dry yet though,” Jennifer said.

“We can swing by the frat house so I can change,” Steve said. “You can let Bill know you won’t be there for dinner.” Steve addressed Tracy and she nodded.

Jennifer’s face went white and her breath began to hitch. The balcony dissolved, becoming the desolate cove once again.

Dusk settled over the water, elongating the already malevolent shadows.

Kids no more than sixteen or seventeen, preoccupied with tearing each other’s clothing off, and stumbled into the clearing, kissing and pawing at each other.

Neither one saw the beast rise out of the water, but Jennifer did.

“Run.” The word came out in a rush of an exhale; her lungs screaming in protest at letting the last of the breath go.

The kids didn’t notice until it was upon them. The screams cut off as soon as they began.

“Jenny!” Steve yelled, shaking her gently.

Her eyes refocused on him, darting between Tracy and Steve, her breath coming in tortured hitches in her chest.

“Breathe,” Steve said calmly. “Just look at me and breathe.” He kept eye contact with Jennifer. “Tracy, go get me a glass of water please.”

Tracy immediately obeyed.

“Two teenagers. It got them,” she wheezed after Tracy disappeared into the kitchen.

“Breathe,” Steve demanded.

Jennifer did as he instructed, staring into his concerned blue eyes. When Tracy returned with the water, Steve held it for Jennifer to drink.

“Jesus, Jen,” Tracy said, setting a hand on her forehead.

Jennifer broke eye contact with Steve to look at Tracy. She offered a slight smile and a shrug, and then looked back at Steve. Her breathing slowed to a normal pace. “I’m okay,” she finally said. She wanted to run, to get away from the apartment, to get away from Brooksfield and the nightmares plaguing her. “I need to change if we’re going to go.” She slowly stood.

“You sure you want to go?” Steve asked.

Jennifer nodded.

“I got her from here,” Tracy said, escorting Jennifer back toward their rooms. As soon as she was out of Steve’s earshot, Tracy stopped Jennifer in the hall. “What did you see?”

Jennifer shook her head. “I’m not sure.”

“Bull. The last time you did that, you saw Tom die.” She scooted Jennifer into her room. “What did you see?” she asked again. A cold draft slipped out of the closet, making her shiver. She glanced at the open doorway and turned to see Jennifer staring with wide eyes.

“Get Steve,” Jennifer managed to wheeze.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Tracy said and walked over, switching the light on inside. She looked back at Jennifer. “Nothing to worry about.” Jennifer made no move to come closer, still struggling for air.

“What do you want to wear?” Tracy stepped inside.

“I don’t know,” Jennifer said, catching her breath again.

Tracy glanced at the clothing and pulled out another pretty spaghetti strap sundress, pale blue-green like the waters in the Caribbean. “I like this one,” she said and grabbed the matching flip-flops on the floor. As she rose, she heard a faint voice from the back of the closet.

“Bring her to me,” it said.

Tracy shook her head. She left the closet, closing the door behind her and smiled at Jennifer, handing her the dress and shoes. Paleness overshadowed Tracy’s face, the look of harried shock when she came out of the closet replaced with the plastic expression she presently wore. “See, nothing in your closet but the big stuffed bear that got you the other day.”

“The closet freaked you out.”

”It’s cold in there,” Tracy conceded. “I’ll have my Dad send someone up to look at the air-conditioning.”

“There isn’t an air-conditioning duct, I looked.”

“I’ll still have him send someone. There’s got to be some sort of issue. You don’t just get drafts like that from nothing.” Tracy headed out of the room.

Pressing her back to her door, Tracy stared at the lake. She shook her head again. “No,” she said aloud, and then changed into a sundress similar to Jennifer’s. She would do everything she could to make sure Jennifer wasn’t yanked out of her life by whatever it was that wanted her.

When Tracy came out, Jennifer was standing by Steve, twirling her car keys.

“I think I’m going to pass so I can make dinner with Bill,” Tracy said. She didn’t want to be stuck as the third wheel.

“You sure?” Jennifer said.

“I’m positive, you two go, have fun and I’ll see you later.”

The dryer sounded in the background. “You think the clothes are dry?”

“Go check,” Jennifer said.

Steve disappeared. He came back a few minutes later in the clean, mostly-dry clothes. “We don’t need to stop,” he said, pulling his shirt over his head.

“I need to make a quick stop at the mall to pick up a birthday gift for my Mom,” Steve said as the settled into his car. “I hope you don’t mind.”

“Not at all. I have to pick up some lotion anyway, so this is perfect,” Jennifer said.

Steve nodded, although he would have preferred not to have her in the mall at the same time. “You can grab what you need while I pick up something for my mom and then I’ll meet you in the food court.”

“You don’t want my help?”

He smiled. “I’m just going to get her a charm for her bracelet, but if you want to come with me, you can. I just thought if we separated, it would be much quicker and I could get you down into the salt air quicker.” He sent her a wink.

Jennifer smiled. “Fine, I’ll go do my thing and meet you in the food court.”

At the mall, Steve stood looking at the directory with Jennifer standing at his side calculating the window of opportunity he had. It would be tight, but he smiled and tapped the shop she was heading to. “You need to head upstairs, that way,” he said and pointed to his left. “I’ll meet you in the food court,” he added and planted a quick kiss on her lips.

He waited until she was out of sight and took off to the right, to the jewelry store three spots down on the main floor. He walked inside scanning the rings and his gaze fell on a similar set to the one he saw in Tracy’s magazine. He swallowed the nerve bundle in his throat and looked at the clerk.

“I’d like to see that set,” he said, pointing to the pair of rings and praying his voice didn’t shake with the bundle of nerves that attacked.

The clerk beamed and took the set out of the case and put them on the velvet holder for Steve to see. “These are exquisite. The center diamond is one carat and flawless. The clarity is a B, which is excellent. The smaller diamonds around the band total to another carat, each being roughly a tenth of a carat itself all packaged in twenty four carat gold.” He smiled. “The diamonds in your band are roughly an eighth of a carat each for a total of a carat and a half. The pair is on sale today for six thousand dollars.”

Steve nodded. “That wouldn’t happen to be a size five and a half, would it?”

“Unfortunately, no. It will take a couple weeks to resize the bands to that size.” The clerk took out the ring measure and measured Steve’s ring finger. “I would need to resize yours as well.”

Steve glanced at the mall and nodded. “Fine.”

The clerk wrote each item up and took the credit card Steve handed him.

“You don’t happen to have student discounts on top of the sale?”

“Not on engagement rings,” the clerk replied and scanned the card. “But with the sale you saved twenty five hundred dollars. The retail price for this set is eighty five hundred.”

Steve whistled and signed the slip. He scribbled his cell phone number on the slip. “Let me know when it’s in.” He tucked the papers away in his wallet.

“Thank you, Mr. Williams. I would expect them to be ready in a week or so. We’ll give you a call.”

“Thanks.” Steve found a bench facing the food court and sat, waiting for Jennifer. His stomach rumbling with nerves and he took a deep breath. The romantic beach proposal he had envisioned would have to wait. He closed his eyes. “I must be insane,” he whispered and opened his eyes. It was way too soon for him to pop the question, yet something was driving him in that direction.

He raised his eyes, meeting hers.

“What’s up?” Jennifer asked, taking a seat next to him.

“They didn’t have the charm I wanted. Looks like I’ll have to get it online.”

Steve glanced at the bag in Jennifer’s hand and stood. “It looks like you were successful,” he said, and escorted her out to the car. He opened the door for her and rounded to his side, hoping she wouldn’t catch the bundle of nerves eating at his stomach.

Jennifer’s head tilted and her eyebrows drew together as she regarded him.

“What?” he said, backing the car out of the parking spot.

Jennifer laughed lightly. “You’re too funny sometimes.”

“What?” He smiled over at her. Oh shit, she knows.

“You really don’t have a clue what that smile does to women, do you?”

A measure of relief struck him and Steve rolled his eyes. “I could care less what it does to others. I’m just interested in what it does to you.” He grinned, his dimples showing clearly in his cheeks.

“It makes me want to rip your clothes off and do naughty things to you.”

Steve chuckled. “That’s an interesting reaction,” he said and sent a sideways glance in her direction. “I’ll have to take you up on that when we get to the beach.”

Jennifer blushed and shifted in the seat. “Do you have any music we can listen to?”

Steve reached behind her seat, pulling out a case of CDs and handing them to her.

Jennifer flipped through and found a Nickleback CD. She popped it in and Far Away came crooning out of the speakers and Steve joined in, singing along as they drove through the winding roads down towards Portsmouth.

“You can hold a tune pretty well,” she commented between choruses.

He shrugged. “Maybe a little, but it’s nothing compared to your voice,” he said. Her voice was pure and sultry at the same time. “Good choice of song.” He reached over and took her hand, squeezing it before he returned his attention to the road.

With his surprise tabled for another week, his mind drifted back to the case and her most recent vision. He glanced in her direction, relishing the melody of her voice filling the car and decided to wait until they were closer to their destination before he would broach the subject. She deserved some relaxation, especially after the asthma attack.

They continued the drive in silence, listening to the music. When the signs for Portsmouth appeared, he turned the volume down. “Tell me about the vision.”

Her hand clenched in his grasp and she said, “Were there two teenagers on the missing persons list?”

“No,” Steve answered as they pulled onto the short stretch of highway leading to the Piscataqua River Bridge that would take them into Maine.

Jennifer paused, watching the sailboats on the water below. “Can we not talk about that right now?”

Steve sighed and nodded. “For now,” he said and squeezed her hand. He pulled off before the tolls and took Route 1A toward York Beach.

Jennifer grinned at the small quaint town of York and when Steve pulled out of the residential area into the view of Long Sands Beach, Jennifer gasped in awe. The two-mile strip seemed endless.

Steve parked and shifted to neutral, cutting the engine. He slipped off his sneakers and socks and opened the ashtray, counting out quarters to feed the parking meter. Jennifer stepped onto the sidewalk, barefoot and still in awe of the view. Her eyes locked on the Nubble Light House standing at the far corner of the point. “Wow.”

“You’ve never been here?”

“No.” Jennifer allowed him to lead her onto the beach. “It’s pretty.”

“It’s one of my favorite places. I love sitting on the rocks at high tide, listening to the waves sift through the pebbles when they pull back into the ocean. It’s soothing.” He walked down to the water line, holding her hand.

The quiet intimacy they shared cast a peaceful serene glow on Jennifer’s cheeks. “I love you,” she whispered.

Steve smiled and squeezed her hand gently, letting silence fall between them. “I loved Peg but it was nothing like this.” He let out a light laugh. “We certainly have chemistry.” He glanced over at her. “But it is much more than that.” He kissed her hand as they passed in front of a beachside restaurant. “Being with you always felt right, even ten years ago when we were just kids.” He stopped and turned so he stood in front of her, bringing his hand to her cheek. “I loved waking with you in my arms and I can’t imagine a future without you in it,” he finished and kissed her. He took her hand and began to walk again without waiting for a response.