Part 20 (2/2)

She rocked with their rhythm, like a boat in the waves, their lovemaking a music that drifted on the night breeze as waves lapped at the sh.o.r.e. She cried out his name again and again, until finally he filled her with heat and contentment and collapsed in her arms. She held him to her, feeling the weight of him, the wonderful weight of him.

Then he lay next to her, holding her as if he thought she might break. If she thought about tomorrow, she knew she might.

Instead, she didn't think. Not about Will. Not about Zack. She only felt, losing herself in the heat of this incredible man, as the night slipped away like a thief.

Chapter Fourteen.

Samantha wasn't sure at first what had awakened her. She dragged herself up from an exhausted, contented sleep to find that she was curled in Will's strong arms, warm and secure. She smiled, warmed by the memory of their lovemaking, and closed her eyes as she snuggled against him.

But her thoughts wouldn't let her fall back to sleep. She opened her eyes, not sure at first what it was that was bothering her.

It was the case.

She eased out of Will's arms, pulled on her dry clothing and padded across the floor into the adjoining room, not wanting to disturb him. Moonlight streamed through the window. She moved to it, trying to fit the pieces together, something bothering her, something she couldn't put her finger on.

Outside the window, waves beat the sh.o.r.e, the moonlight silver on the water.

Five pieces of a game. Ca.s.sie had one, Eric, Bradley ”Buzz” Guess and Mercedes had all received one of the CDs in the mail. Now Ca.s.sie had hers and Mercedes's. How did Ca.s.sie intend to get the others?

Sam's heart suddenly leapt into her throat. She looked around hurriedly for the phone and realized there wasn't one in the cottage. Her cell phone. It had been in the pickup-not in her purse. She found the keys to the truck where Will had left them on the table and quietly let herself out of the cottage.

Inside the cab of the pickup, she dialed Charley's number. It rang several times before he picked up. A cop was used to getting calls in the middle of the night.

”Charley, it's me, Sam,” she said quickly.

”Where the h.e.l.l are you?” he demanded. ”I heard what happened on the ferry. Dammit, Sam-”

”Ca.s.sie tried to kill me and I'm afraid she will do anything to get the other pieces of the game-including kill Lucas's partner Bradley Guess and the half-brother, Eric Ross.”

”Too late, sweetheart,” Charley said quietly. ”Bradley Guess was found dead a few hours ago. His piece of the game is missing. And your twenty-four hours are up.”

She closed her eyes and squeezed the phone receiver.

”The chief could pull my badge if he finds out I let you-”

”Charley, I don't think it's a game. I think there is something hidden in the game.”

”Like what?” he asked. She could tell she had his attention.

”I don't know yet.” She thought of what Bebe had said about a way to break into any computer in the world.

”As of this moment, you're off this case,” Charley said. ”Don't make me pull rank on you. I'd hate to see your b.u.t.t behind bars, cuz. Worse, mine.”

”What about Zack?”

”You leave Zack and Ca.s.sie to me,” he said confidentially. ”There are cops working on this case as we speak. You've repaid any debts you thought you owed Lucas and Zack. You done good. But now it's out of your hands.”

She knew he meant it. She was surprised he hadn't demanded she quit when Lucas was found murdered.

”Then I'd better tell you something,” she said. ”I think I know where the fifth piece of the game is.”

”Oh yeah?”

She realized that's what had awakened her. The notes from a song, the same one she'd heard leaking out of Zack's CD player for miles. ”I think Zack has it.” She explained her theory. ”He was so protective of his stuff. It just threw me when I didn't find the CD in his backpack. I should have thought to look in the player.”

”You and me both,” Charley said. ”Where are you, anyway?”

”In some beach cottage with Will,” she said almost shyly.

”Good,” Charley said with a chuckle. ”Stay there. By the way, I think Will is a keeper.”

”Me, too.” She didn't tell him that Will knew the kind of woman he wanted for his bride-and she wasn't it. ”Good night.”

”Good night, cuz.”

She switched off the cell phone and sat in the darkness of the cab, listening to the waves cras.h.i.+ng on the sh.o.r.e and the painful pounding of her heart. She'd lost Zack. And it was just a matter of time before Will went back to his old life. Worse, she hadn't been able to solve the case and save Zack. Or find Lucas's game.

The cell phone rang, making her jump. She picked it up, thinking it must be Charley calling her back. She'd had enough bad news for one night.

”Sam!” Zack cried. ”You have to help-”

Panic seized her heart at the fear in his voice.

Another voice came on the line. ”Sam?”

Her heart stuck in her throat, the air around leaden, unbreathable. ”Lucas?” she whispered, knowing even as she said his name that it wasn't him. Lucas was dead.

”Do as I tell you,” Lucas's voice instructed. ”If you don't-” His voice broke off. She could hear Zack in the background crying softly. ”You must come alone.” She glanced toward the cottage where Will was still sleeping. Leave Will? Her heart felt torn. But nor could she endanger him any more than she already had.

”If you don't, she will kill him,” Lucas was saying.

She tried to interrupt but the Lucas voice continued as if he hadn't heard her. Of course he hadn't heard her.

”Listen,” he said. ”And do exactly as I say.”

She listened, understanding only one thing. She'd failed Zack. Now he was in trouble and she had to try to help him. No matter what Charley said.

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