Part 13 (2/2)

Join me. It would be simple.

Yes. It would be so easy. He could unknot himself from the rope-his toes the only thing keeping him on the cliff-then slowly lean back till the wind whistled past his ears, faster, faster, eyes closed, not knowing the moment of impact until...

Progress on finding the book was moving like a glacier, and he still had no gut feeling one way or another if it would turn out to be the answer to all his hopes or an illusion that would leave his soul even emptier than it felt right now.

He couldn't live with his mind slowly melting away like early winter snow.

He looked down again and his stomach knotted tighter, then reached toward his harness to undo the rope.

No one would ever know. It would be declared an accident, case opened and closed before sunset. Brandon could find another partner.

Cameron blinked rapidly and waited for his panic to settle, for the voice that couldn't be Jessie's to stop whispering at him-for the rational part of himself to grow strong again. But it didn't. He tried to swallow, but his mouth was too dry and a cough rasped out.

He should join her. Why not? Before all memory of her vanished.

Join her.

He reached toward his harness to undo his rope. He watched his fingers, as if detached from them, start to undo the knot. His toe slipped and he instinctively reached up to grip the wall. Wait, what was that?

Cameron started as he spied a figure on top of the cliff looking down at him. He or she was silhouetted by the blazing sun behind her, the outline of a rope around her shoulders. Female? Looked like it. The figure turned and he caught the outline of shoulder-length hair and a slender, athletic figure. Definitely a woman.

A witness.

Thank you.

Whoever it was had just restored a spot of sanity to his brain. What was he thinking?

Cameron sucked in a breath, shoved himself upward, and snagged the next hold with his fingertips.

”I hope I'll see you again someday Jessie, but not yet. Not yet.”

An hour later he reached the top and slumped to the rocky ground breathing hard. After catching his breath, he glanced around for his lone spectator.

No one.

He slid out of his climbing gear, settled down on a boulder, and grabbed his water bottle. After five gulps he dumped the rest on his head and studied the drops of water as they fell from the ends of his dark hair.

They trickled onto the ground, sending up little puffs of dust. He couldn't keep his legs from shaking. Not from fatigue-from the fear of his near embrace with death.

”Cameron?”

He twisted to see who it was.

Unbelievable. Ann. Maybe there was a G.o.d. And Cameron was the ant under the magnifying gla.s.s. Thanks for the torture, Book of Days Author. Book of Days Author.

He shook his head. ”You never wanted anything to do with climbing. I never imagined you would get into it.”

”That makes two of us.” She walked toward him, auburn hair bouncing on her shoulders.

”But you did.”

”I hated it at first. I think I still do. But it's a way to be close to Jessie. You know what I mean?”

Cameron nodded. He knew.

”I didn't know you were climbing again.”

The fear from the climb still hung on him like a concrete robe; she had to see it in his eyes and notice his leg bouncing like a jackhammer. But if she did, Ann didn't let on.

”I only stopped for about six months.” He s.h.i.+fted, stretching his legs out in front of him. ”What about you?”

Ann folded her arms and tapped her foot. ”I started a year and a half ago. I still have a ton to learn.”

”Hey, I'm a.s.suming you just scaled this peak solo since no one else is up here, and if you did, you've got a pretty fast download going.”

”That climb was a bit outside my comfort zone. Actually a lot outside.” Ann paced, five yards away. ”It's interesting to see you up here.”

Interesting? What, she didn't think he could handle the climb? ”You too.” Cameron gazed out over the valley spread out below them like a golden-brown silk river, splotches of green spread randomly throughout. She was probably waiting for him to say something, but what? The only noise was a light wind straining to get through the pine trees dotting the ridge just behind them.

”I watched you catch your breath for a few minutes about a third of the way up. How long did it take you to get up here?”

Cameron's face flushed. If she only knew. He rubbed his forehead and coughed. ”About an hour.”

”I wish I could climb with that speed. I've focused on the sport intensely for the past eighteen months, but I feel like I've plateaued.” She pulled her hair into a ponytail and secured it. ”I've heard of climbers with natural talent. I am not one of those fortunate souls.”

Ann offered him a bottle of Powerade from her climbing pack and he accepted. After a few moments of silence, she got up, eased over to the edge of the cliff, and sat with her legs hanging over it.

After a few seconds' hesitation, he got up and joined her.

Ann peered at him out of the corner of her eye. ”So, will we be able to get along for the next week or so?”

”You tell me, Banister. Our relations.h.i.+p has never been bathed in a great deal of warmth.”

She shrugged. ”I think we'll be fine.”

”I hope so.”

”I should let you know, I'm not here just to help you find out more about your dad's and Jessie's book.”

”Really.”

<script>