To: Ridley Wells ([email protected])

Subject: Just in case

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Here’s my address:

1616 Crescent Drive

New Haven, Virginia 23665.

The security code is our birthday

(4 digits, the month and day).

You are always welcome.

xRaina

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The message had been pretty straightforward, so Raina must have forgotten to tell her one of the steps. Her sister hadn’t responded to any of her text messages and calls since she’d left two days ago.

Probably still mad at me, she reasoned. Not that she could blame her. Their last argument had been one for the record books.

“I guess I’m on my own.”

She let out a breath and pulled out her cell phone again. It was getting close to lunch time. It was already pretty humid and she wasn’t even in direct sunlight. Her shirt clung to the damp skin between her breasts. She couldn’t wait to take a shower.

As soon as she figured out how to get in the house.

Maybe she was supposed to hit the Enter button or something afterward. She walked back to the security panel and typed the code followed by Enter.

Access Denied.

“Great.”

A door slammed next door and she shrank back out of sight as an older man came out on his back deck and walked around the yard. He looked over her way but didn’t seem to notice her. After a few minutes, he went back in his house.

“How do I always get myself into these situations?”

This was the kind of neighborhood where everyone looked like they belonged in a golf advertisement. Her rumpled tee shirt and well-worn jeans made her look like a reject from one of those Survivor-style reality programs. With her luck, her sister’s neighbors would call the police if she hung out too long, and she’d had enough of dealing with the police to last her a lifetime.

She looked back at the yard. The house directly behind was just as imposing but made of a beige brick. There was a wide patio on the back and a gorgeous little gazebo. Their yards were separated by a small creek.

Water.

The grass was spongy beneath her feet as she crossed the lawn. Half-convinced she was imagining the sight like a delirious desert traveler; she dropped to her knees and cupped her hands in the cool, clear water.

Multicolored fish darted beneath her hands as she scooped up handful after handful and rinsed her face. She’d been traveling with single-minded determination and hadn’t made many stops. A proper shower was going to feel like nirvana. Water dribbled down her chin and across the front of her shirt but she didn’t even care. Nothing had ever felt so good.

“Hey, what are you doing?”

She whipped around. Two little boys watched her curiously from a few feet away.

“My daddy said we’re having a cookout. That means I get hot dogs!” The older of the two boys spoke hurriedly, all his words running together in one large breath. The smaller boy just stood watching, his thumb bobbing up and down in his mouth as he sucked on it.

The oldest boy took a tentative step forward. He reached into his pocket and produced a ragged napkin, which he offered her with a hesitant smile.

She took it and used it to wipe the water from her face. “Thanks. A cookout sounds like fun. What’s your name?”

“It’s me. Chris.” He frowned. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, I’m…” A wave of nausea made her double over.

She took a few deep breaths. After two days of constant travel, she needed to rest and eat something that didn’t come wrapped in cellophane. She’d done her best to travel without leaving a trail but she was hardly a super spy. It was time to face reality. Whatever David had discovered had been enough to get him killed. If she didn’t want to be next, she had to get it together and fast.

She would try the security code one more time and if it didn’t work, she still had enough cash left to pay for a night at a hotel. It wasn’t ideal but it would do for now. It would keep her out of sight until she could get in touch with Raina.

“I’m fine…” She stood and the world spun crazily.

Tiny squiggly lines passed through her vision. God, it was hot. Why was it so hot? She dimly felt it when she hit the ground but didn’t feel any pain. The last thing she saw was two tiny faces peering down at her.

Then everything went gray.

*   *   *   *   *

JACKSON MOVED HIS chair further away from his friend. “I couldn’t resist! If we sit around talking about our feelings too long someone’s going to come and take my man card.”

“Oh, that’s right. I forgot you have an image to uphold. Mr. Big Shot Producer.” Matt started clapping. The other guys chimed in and chanted his name.

He shook his head and then took a mock bow. It didn’t bother him when they teased him about his sudden fame. They’d been with him since college when he was still using a closet as a makeshift recording studio. They’d earned the right to clown him a little.

“Daddy! Daddy! Miss Raina ate the fish!” His youngest son, Jase, ran up and jumped in his lap. “She’s in the water!”

Jackson gazed down at his son affectionately. His sons were the best things that had ever happened to him and he knew his late wife had felt the same way. Cynthia had gotten pregnant their second year in college, derailing her plans to be a lawyer. She hadn’t agreed that getting married was the best option, but the idea of only seeing his child on weekends and holidays had left him cold. He’d done everything he could to convince her that he was worth taking a chance on.