The South Beach Search

by Sharon Hartley

  Damn, but he needed to focus. Rubbing a hand across his forehead, Reese tried to concentrate on facts. He needed to find Claudia Romero. Yeah, he had her original journal locked up safe in an evidence vault. With her testimony, no question that smoking-gun diary was crammed full of enough dates and names to convict her ex-husband.

  But without Claudia to authenticate the pages, the journal was worthless to him as evidence. He had a signed statement, but the court might not allow the jury to consider it.

  Where the hell was she? Would she resurface in time for the trial? No way could he get another continuance. If he didn’t hear from Claudia by tomorrow, he’d have to pay a visit to his boss and give her the bad news.

  He’d studied the journal, picked it apart day by day, had read every deposition she’d ever given and then sent agents to possible locations she could be hiding. But so far nothing had panned out.

  His cell phone rang and Reese hurried to the desk. Yes! Javi’s number.

  Reese grabbed the receiver. “Yeah, Javi?”

  “We’ve got a problem.”

  Disappointment forced Reese into his leather chair. “What went wrong?”

  “Your friend Taki showed up and scared Izzo away.”

  Certain his mind was again betraying him, Reese didn’t immediately reply. He scrubbed fingers across his tired eyes. Javi couldn’t have said that Taki scared Izzo away.

  “Did you say Taki?”

  “You heard me. I’m following her home so she doesn’t get into any more trouble. Why don’t you meet us there?”

  * * *

  DRIVING TOWARD TAKI’S cottage, Reese went crazy imagining what she’d done. And even though she hadn’t promised not to, a smoldering sense of betrayal ate at him because she’d gone looking for the bowl without telling him.

  It was a damn good thing it took twenty minutes to drive from his downtown office to Miami Beach because he needed every bit of that time to wrestle his temper under control.

  She was doing everything in her power to push him away, and it made him angrier by the minute because it didn’t make sense. As she’d refused his invitation to dinner, her eyes had told him she really wanted to say yes. But yet... He shook his head.

  He believed her incapable of telling a lie. Even with all her secrets, he’d never met anyone more giving in his life, more eager to help everyone she met. His office receptionist was thrilled because some remedy Taki had suggested had cured her morning sickness. Robert Shinhoster, the IRS employee with a bad back, hadn’t showed up at the office lately, either.

  Reese frowned as he recalled her words. She searched for “happiness” and “forgiveness.” Shit. Everyone wanted happiness. No surprise there. He sensed some inner sadness about her, that she was afraid of something. Did that sorrow have anything to do with her criminal family? Was fear the reason she was so private?

  And forgiveness for what? Terminal stupidity?

  Right now he wasn’t sure he could forgive her for what he considered incredibly reckless behavior.

  When he pulled into the estate where Taki lived, an older woman struggled to push a lawn mower through thick grass in the front yard. She wore earbuds and didn’t glance his way, so he kept driving to Taki’s rear cottage where he exited his Jag and slammed the door with a satisfying bang, noting her Jeep and Javi’s government-issue Crown Vic were both covered in dirt.

  Javi met him at the door. It didn’t improve his mood that the agent didn’t try to suppress an amused grin.

  “Where is she?” Reese demanded, stepping inside.

  “Calm down, man,” Javi said. “She’s waiting on the sofa.”

  Taki met his gaze unflinchingly when he walked toward her. She lifted her chin, as she released a huge sigh.

  God, she was beautiful. Reese tore his gaze from her and swiveled to Javi.

  “Tell me what happened.”

  Cold fury closed in on Reese as he listened to Javi’s clipped, professional recitation of the afternoon’s events. If Romero’s man Izzo had shown up even close to the time Taki had ventured to Mayhugh’s den, she could easily have been killed.

  Romero didn’t like witnesses. His ex-wife had gone into hiding, believing it was the best way to stay alive.

  With her usual excellent posture, Taki remained quiet on her couch, attentively listening to Javi, occasionally nodding her head.

  The second note lay on the rattan table before her. Reese glared at it and wondered if she’d already had the message when they’d spoken at the spa last night—when she had refused his dinner invitation. Had guilt been the reason she’d said no? Why hadn’t she told him about the message?

  “Mayhugh believes Izzo will try to set the buy-up again tomorrow,” Javi concluded. “I doubt it. Izzo hasn’t eluded arrest this long because he’s stupid, but maybe we’ll get lucky. I’ll let you know.”

  “What did Mayhugh have to say about this message?”

  Javi shrugged. “Mayhugh insists he had no knowledge of the note or any singing bowl. He says the whole thing is a joke or a mistake.”

  “Yeah, right,” Reese said.

  “We’ll keep working on Mayhugh, but I don’t want to press him too hard until we see if Izzo shows tomorrow. I want to keep the fence cooperative.”

  “That makes sense,” Reese agreed.

  At the door, Javi grinned and patted Reese’s shoulder. “Try to keep that loose cannon in there out of my way.”

  Reese nodded. As if I have any control over her.

  Taki’s blue eyes regarded him warily when he returned to her. She ought to be nervous, he thought, begrudgingly admiring her undaunted spirit. Loosening his tie, he paced her small living room.

  “What were you doing at Mayhugh’s?” Years of trial work had taught Reese how to control his voice, how never to reveal his thoughts. But tonight, as he glared at Taki sitting serenely on her couch, he didn’t care that he sounded angry. “I thought you had a yoga class to teach.”

  “I did.” Taki pulled her feet up on the sofa and wrapped her arms around her shins. “But the FBI wouldn’t let me leave. They thought the Izzo guy might still show. They wouldn’t even let me make a phone call.” She laid her cheek on her knees. “I can’t believe I let Peter’s students down.”

  Startled, Reese stopped his restless movement. She wasn’t the least remorseful about causing him to lose Izzo and a shot at the stolen goods. She was only upset because she’d missed a damn yoga class.

  “They finally called the whole thing off. Javi decided Izzo probably took off when he saw my Jeep.” She sighed. “This is just awful.”

  “Let me get this straight...” Reese stared at Taki when she lifted her face, but for the moment he was too furious to continue. Furious at her and at himself for his obvious blind spot when it came to this bewildering enigma from another dimension. She’d managed to thwart his chance to locate his briefcase and who knows, maybe his witness, yet he was glad to see her.

  He took a deep breath. And damned glad she hadn’t been harmed.

  One thing was for sure. He was definitely in the present moment. And he was trying to figure out why she always insisted that was such a good thing. He felt pretty damn crappy.

  He loomed over her with hands plunged deep into his pockets. “I was in my office all day today. Funny thing. I never received a phone call from you concerning another note.”

  “No.” She didn’t look away, blue eyes steady on his. “I decided not to call you.”

  “Why?”

  “I didn’t want to be the girl who cries wolf.”

  Once again Reese knew she wasn’t telling the whole truth, and he wanted to know why. Why was she pushing him away so hard and so fast? It baffled him, especially since she insisted they had some sort of cosmic connection. He doubted it had anything to do with the cosmos, b
ut she pulled him with a draw that grew stronger by the minute.

  “You know what you’ve done, don’t you?”

  She nodded, looking miserable. “I scared away the man who has your briefcase.”

  “And your bowl,” Reese pointed out.

  “No. Mr. Mayhugh has my bowl.”

  “I don’t think so. The FBI turned his home inside out. They didn’t find any of the stolen items.”

  “Well, Mayhugh knows where my bowl is. Because the FBI were—” she rolled her eyes “—everywhere, we weren’t able to have a discussion, but I know he has it. I’m going back tomorrow.”

  “What?” Reese moved swiftly to Taki and sat beside her. He grabbed her upper arms. “Don’t be a fool.”

  Before he knew what he was doing, his thumbs caressed her soft skin, stroking the muscle that lay beneath. But touching her only intensified his frustration. Her moist lips parted, and he instantly knew she welcomed their physical contact as much as he.

  “Haven’t you heard anything I’ve said?” he demanded. “These people are ruthless. Bruce Mayhugh is one of the most notorious fences in Florida.”

  “But he—” she began.

  “You heard Javi. He’s going to reset the meet.” Reese released her and sat back. Being close to Taki muddled his senses.

  “You can’t go down there tomorrow. If you get in Izzo’s way, he won’t think twice about getting rid of you. He won’t care how beautiful you are, how gentle—” Reese sucked air deep into his lungs “—how naive.”

  Taki’s eyes widened in surprise, and then she shook her head, looking sad. “Believe me, Reese, I’m not naive.”

  The sound of his name on her lips shot a tiny thrill through him, made him wish she spoke his name more often. And the regret that tinged her words intrigued him. Damn, but she had her secrets.

  “You’re too trusting,” he said finally.

  “It’s just that—and I know you’ll think this is crazy—but I believe that we make our own reality. If we think negative thoughts, then negative events will follow.”

  “You can’t believe that thinking positive thoughts will make everything turn out the way you want.” He shook his head. “Surely you know that’s not true.”

  “But it’s what I believe.”

  Reese wanted to grab her again and shake some sense into her, but knew that if he touched her, he’d kiss her and never stop.

  “Or anyway, staying positive can’t hurt,” she continued.

  “Taki, please.”

  “On the practical side, thanks to you, I took my pepper spray.” She withdrew a small cylinder from her pocket and showed it to him. “I’d have used it, too.” She lowered her gaze. “At least I think I would have. And my landlady knew where I was. I didn’t feel any danger going into that house today.”

  “You didn’t feel any danger? Listen to yourself.”

  After a pause, she said, “Okay. I won’t go back until you tell me it’s safe.”

  Relief flooded him until her eyes opened wide again.

  “Or maybe Mayhugh will contact me again. Believe me, he knows something about the bowl. Before the FBI burst in he was trying to tell me something.”

  Before he could stop himself, Reese grasped her hand and interlaced their fingers. “Just wait until I tell you it’s okay. Javi will interrogate Mayhugh again about the second note. I agree he must know something. We’ll find out what.”

  “Hmm.” When she lowered her eyes, he felt the heat of her gaze as she studied their joined hands. Suddenly it seemed as though the entire world centered on that small area where they were in contact. She inhaled deeply, her breasts rising with the movement.

  “Was that a yes?” he asked softly. “You promise not to go?”

  “Why am I starting to listen to your orders?”

  “When did you start that?” Reese asked, swallowing hard against desire that was building to unmanageable intensity. “Clearly, not earlier today.”

  “No.” She sighed and looked up, blue eyes bright. “I’m sorry if I scared off Izzo and ruined your stakeout. But communication works both ways, you know. You could have told me about your plan.”

  “I couldn’t,” Reese said, thinking her maddening, impossible and fascinating. “It was an FBI operation.”

  She continued to study him, a tentative smile curving her lips.

  “Momma said there’d be days like this,” he murmured, remembering the words to an old song. Her smile deepened.

  Neither of them spoke for a moment. “I feel so close to you right now,” she whispered. “Do you feel it, too?”

  Reese sucked in a quick breath, then released it. “Yes.”

  And it was true. He did feel somehow connected to Taki. What had happened to his common sense? His usual levelheadedness must have fled at the same time as his sense of balance. And that had all occurred when he’d met her.

  She raised her hand to his cheek, stroking his face as if caressing a precious keepsake.

  “I know I met you for a reason,” she said, her voice full of wonder.

  “Taki, I...” He cupped her neck with both hands and pulled her toward him, never wanting to let her go.

  He groaned as her soft, warm lips parted beneath his. His breath caught in his throat when she slid her hands up his chest, probing the flesh beneath his shirt with gentle pressure, leaving a wake of aching need. As her hands smoothed behind his neck and into his hair, Reese slanted his mouth against hers and pulled her closer. She arched into his embrace, and he thought of nothing but making slow, sweet, endless love to Taki. He wanted to bury himself in her and never—

  “Taki? Are you home, dear?” An elderly, feminine voice penetrated his sensual fog.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  TAKI HEARD VICTORIA’S breathless voice and the kitchen door opening but chose to ignore it. Right now she definitely wanted to make her own reality. She wanted to make Victoria go away. She wanted Reese to continue kissing her.

  But he pulled back, and his hand slid down her shoulder. In the confusion of her senses, she shivered from emotion she dared not explore.

  “In here, Victoria,” Taki said, her voice barely rising above a whisper, her gaze lingering on Reese’s beckoning mouth.

  He cursed and exhaled roughly.

  “There you are. I’ve confirmed your— Oh.” Victoria halted midsentence when she entered the tiny living room. A sly smile softened her face.

  “I’m sorry, dear. I didn’t know you had company.”

  “Victoria, this is Reese Beauchamps,” Taki managed, her thoughts clearing way too slowly.

  Reese stood and nodded respectfully to Victoria. He cleared his throat. “Ma’am,” he said, his voice husky.

  “Sit down,” Victoria said, eyeing Reese with a knowing smirk. “I’m so sorry I interrupted.”

  Taki took a deep breath as Reese rejoined her on the sofa, her stomach clenching as she faced the reality that once again Reese’s kisses had sucked her into mindless passion.

  They’d be in her bed right now if her friend hadn’t dropped by. Good thing Victoria had used the side door. If her landlady had come around front, she would have seen Reese’s Jag and probably gone home. To think she’d actually wished Victoria would disappear!

  “Have a seat...please.” Taki used her eyes to beg Victoria to stay, not daring to look at Reese. Not that she needed to. Even though no part of her body touched him, she could feel his heat, as if his lips still devoured hers. And, Buddha help her, she wished they still did.

  What kind of pull on her did Reese have? How could a kiss make her totally lose herself, forget everything? All she wanted to do was climb inside him and never come up for air.

  “What...what did you say, Victoria? You’ve confirmed something?” Taki asked.

 
“Robin is expecting you at four tomorrow afternoon for your reading,” Victoria said, perching on a tapestry-covered footstool, her green eyes bright and amused.

  In an attempt to ground herself, Taki noted Victoria was dressed in loose shorts and a grass-stained blouse. She’d probably been in her yard or working with her roses.

  “She’s looking forward to consulting with you again,” Victoria continued.

  Expecting me? Consulting? Oh, right. Robin. The reading.

  “Excellent,” Taki said, relieved to have something to focus on besides Reese. “I’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”

  “She said to be sure to bring a photograph of the bowl,” Victoria said, “and anything it might have touched.”

  “What’s this about the bowl?” Reese demanded. “What kind of reading?”

  Taki dared to shoot him a quick glance. Of course he’d recovered more quickly than she. He was already frowning, the worry lines in his forehead deeply furrowed. Just great. Now she had to tell him she was consulting a psychic, and he’d object. Or worse, laugh.

  Why did she find it so difficult to explain anything to Reese? And why should she even care if he believed in her methods?

  “I’ve thought of a new way to locate the bowl,” she began. “I know an excellent psychic in Cassadaga that I consult on difficult matters.”

  “A psychic?” Reese’s frown intensified. “Seriously? Like a palm reader?”

  “Well, sometimes Robin does read my palm,” Taki admitted.

  He stared at her. “Have you received another message that I don’t know about? One from another dimension?”

  “No, no,” Taki said, knowing she probably deserved his sharp question. “I just want to ask her if she has a sense of where the bowl might be. She can be wonderfully insightful.”

  “I see.” Reese rubbed fingers across his chin, and Taki heard the scratch of his five o’clock shadow. She traced the determined set of his jaw with her gaze. What was he thinking? Probably that she was a complete whack job.

  “And that’s all there is to it?” he asked. “You’re sure?”