A Touch of Passion (boxed set romance bundle)

by Uvi Poznansky

  Sam sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “That’s what I was afraid of.”

  Murphy moaned, covering his face with his hands. “Damn it, Sam. We need to find Kate.”

  “I know, Murphy,” Sam said bleakly. “But that’s what I’m concerned about, since you haven’t been able to get a hold of her. I have a sneaking suspicion that Jim’s already taken her.”

  ❋

  Dan Callahan came rushing through the door into the police station. “Dad, Dylan, Murphy? What in the hell is happening? Mom’s nearly hysterical, sitting at home waiting with Lucy and Gabe.”

  With a shaking hand, Cal reached over, patting his son on the shoulder. “Thanks for coming home, son.”

  While Cal, Dylan, Dan and Sam threw out strategy from around the conference table in the office, Murphy sat numbly quiet in a chair.

  “Obviously, this had to be a spur of the moment abduction. Where would Jim have taken her?” Sam stood up and stared at a map on the wall. “Since Jim was driving the cruiser, they have to still be in town.”

  Dan stepped up to examine the map. “They’re traveling by water, you say?” He hesitated. “I hate to bring up the obvious, but what about the tunnels – since that’s where Lucy was held hostage?”

  Sam stared at Dan. “The tunnels? But I thought Jake Loughlin closed them off when he redeveloped Dragonfly Pointe?”

  “Well, Jim grew up in Crystal Rock.” Dan continued studying the map. “There was always a rumor, when I was a teenager, that there was some kind of cave near Dragonfly Pointe. A lot of kids used to go there and party.” Dan rolled his eyes. “You know – to drink and smoke pot? But, supposedly, you could only access the cave by water.”

  Sam stared at Cal. “Could it really be that simple?”

  “I’ve heard about that cave.” Cal shrugged. “Jenny’s trouble-making uncle even used to hang out there as a kid. You’ve had patrols on the water for hours. Maybe it’s a possibility? If Jim hasn’t been seen since this morning – he might’ve just snatched Kate up, and now he’s holed up with her inside that cave.”

  Murphy finally spoke. “Let’s get moving. We need to contact Jake Loughlin.”

  ❋

  “Truth is, Sam, I could never close it off – even though I told everyone I did.” Years before, a human trafficking ring had been discovered operating from Dragonfly Pointe and using the cave as a transfer point. “Somehow, it didn’t seem right to do it until after we discovered the identities of all of those who were buried down there,” Jake added grimly.

  “Damn, Jake. We’re just relieved that we actually have access. Although, who knows, maybe we’re totally off base, trying to search here?”

  “It’s a maze down there, Sam. My structural engineers recommended adding steel beams for support, as opposed to closing it off – in case I ever wanted to build any extra cabins. I’ve been advised to leave this area as it is, if I don’t. I use the cellar underground to store the concession stand equipment over the winter months.”

  Sam’s deputies followed behind Jake and Sam as they made their way into the concession stand that’d been built to conceal the trap door. Murphy, Cal, Dylan, and Dan had been asked to remain outside.

  “I’m going down into the tunnels,” Murphy finally said, staring at Dylan.

  “Me, too,” Dylan said, nodding decisively.

  Silently, Dan and Cal followed behind them as they pushed their way inside the building.

  When all four men appeared and stood behind his deputies, Sam broke off his conversation with Jake and sighed in resignation. “Turns out there’re several different tunnels, guys. We’ll probably need all of you, anyway. But, just to play it safe, let’s pair off.

  After they chose partners, the trap door was opened. The men climbed down the long wooden staircase leading into a large cellar-like room that’d been partitioned off with stalls.

  “This used to be the boathouse belonging to the Dragonfly Inn. The inn was actually located here, on the point, back in the late eighteen-hundreds,” Jake explained. Once they reached the cellar, he began handing out flashlights along with rolls of twine.

  “What’s this?” Dan said, staring down in confusion at the twine.

  “Unroll the string as you move through the tunnels.” Jake grimaced. “I stocked up on several rolls after my wife and I got lost down here when we were exploring. It would’ve actually been funny, if it hadn’t taken us hours to find our way back out.”

  “Listen up, guys,” Sam said, grimly. “Be sure to come back here, for reinforcements, if you find them. No one acts alone, unless you have no choice. It’ll be dark soon. Plus, we’ve got thunderstorms coming in. Travel on the lake’s getting kind of rough. The cops patrolling the lake will be meeting up with us shortly.”

  Sam pointed out a pair of passageways on the left. They all switched on their flashlights. Dan hastily took off through one of the winding passageways with Cal following closely behind him. Dylan and Murphy immediately began making their way through the other.

  Jake and Sam, along with two of the deputies, moved off to the right where, apparently, there was another set of passageways.

  Unrolling the string was slowing them down, but Murphy could definitely understand why they needed to take the time. He and Dylan had already come across multiple passageways leading away from the wider one that they were travelling along now.

  As the tunnel suddenly narrowed, Dylan hesitated. There were three different passageways to choose from. “What do ya think, Murph?”

  Murphy nodded to the tunnel on his left. “Why don’t we try that one first? I think I can make out some sounds coming from outside. How about you?”

  Dylan agreed. “We might be getting close to the lake.”

  Five minutes later, when they’d cleared a narrow opening, Murphy knew for sure that they were nearing the lake. The echoes became deafening as the waves crashed repeatedly against the cliffs of Dragonfly Pointe. Thunderstorms were most definitely approaching.

  When Murphy heard the sound of muffled voices, he yanked Dylan back before he was able to step any closer. “Can you hear that, Dylan?” he whispered.

  Dylan stilled. “I think we’ve found them,” he answered softly.

  With a finger to his lips, Murphy crept over to the opening and peered through.

  Sure enough, Jim and Kate were inside. But what he saw made him furious. Jim Dupree had his hands on Kate.

  After peering into the cave over Murphy’s shoulder, Dylan yanked Murphy away from the opening. “Stay cool, Murph,” Dylan admonished quietly. “For now, she’s safe.” Pulling his holster off from around his shoulder, he handed it over to Murphy.”

  Murphy stared down at Dylan’s gun. “What in the hell are you doing?” he hissed.

  “I’ve gotta try to talk some sense into him, Murph. You’ll have to cover me. Jim has a weapon, and he knows how to use it.”

  “But...”

  Dylan held up his hand. “No arguing, Murph. I’m the law here, and I’m trained. Just be ready to tackle the guy. Once I have his attention, I might be able to get him to turn away from you.”

  Before Murphy could utter another word, Dylan slipped silently into the cavern. “Hold it right there, Jim.”

  Spinning around, Jim pointed his gun directly at Dylan.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Waiting until after the daytime activity had settled down, Jim had parked his cruiser in a slip at the Dragonfly Pointe Inn’s landing. Grasping Kate’s arm tightly with one hand, he’d continued holding his other hand over his weapon. But when they’d begun climbing the long rows of steps of the staircase, Jim had startled her. Halfway up, he’d jumped rather nimbly to a path behind the staircase, and had pulled Kate along beside him. Thick with shrubs and evergreens, the path that led up to Crystal Rock was hidden and barely visible. Kate had clung to Jim as they’d followed the narrow trail that wound along the edge of the steep, towering cliffs.

  Kate had truly been surprised when Jim had
pointed out a nearly invisible opening. It’d been stifling for a few long moments – she’d been forced to squeeze in between a narrow crevice edged with huge rounded boulders. They’d finally reached a wide-open cavern. Even after living her entire life here in Crystal Rock, never once, had she suspected that this hideout was here.

  But, obviously, Jim had been here many times. After reaching for the neatly folded blanket that was resting on top of a jutted stone ledge, he spread it out along the uneven surface of the ground.

  Jim finally spoke. “I heard your dad telling Luke Arnett that they were getting a search warrant – this morning on the phone. Luckily, I was there at the worksite talking to Luke. I knew that I’d finally been discovered when I went back to the office and saw that my ledger was missing.

  Kate gaped. Jim was their thief?

  “I’m sorry to have to do this, Kate.” Jim reached inside a canvas bag that’d also been resting on top of the ledge. When he pulled out a roll of duct tape, he hesitated. “I’ll wrap your hands in front of you, so you won’t be too uncomfortable while I’m gone.”

  Kate began to panic. “You’re leaving me, Jim?”

  “I have to make arrangements for us to get out of town. Don’t worry, Kate, I’ve always had a backup plan.”

  ‘What do you mean, Jim?”

  “I own another home in Canada, just in case. I’m really sorry that it didn’t work out for us here. I know how much you love your family, and I hate to take you away from them, but it’s the only way we can be together now, Kate.”

  Kate began to shiver. Now what? How would she ever be able to get away from him? She couldn’t imagine anyone being able to discover her here.

  Jim searched her eyes as he quickly wrapped the duct tape around her wrists. Apparently, he still wasn’t sure if he could trust her – because he wound the duct tape around her wrists a few extra times.

  Kate sighed wearily when she realized Jim also intended to wrap the tape around her ankles.

  She stilled, searching the other side of the cave. Was that movement she’d seen behind Jim, hidden back in the shadows?

  Murphy?

  After wrapping her ankles, Jim gently lowered Kate down on the blanket, and propped her up against the wall. He reached out to caress her face.

  Recognizing the obvious desire in his eyes, Kate nearly cringed, but somehow managed to keep her outward expression neutral.

  Jim gently cupped her chin and continued to search her eyes before stroking his fingers down along the hollow of her throat, and then laying the palm of his hand over her shoulder.

  Kate was grateful for the covering of her T-shirt as she struggled to maintain an appearance of submission.

  Because his touch was making her skin crawl.

  “I should only be gone for an hour or two, Kate. I promise that I’ll hurry.”

  Dylan’s voice shot out from the shadows. “Hold it right there, Jim.”

  As Jim turned, he pulled his gun from his holster, and pointed it directly at Dylan.

  Chapter Thirty-Five

  Murphy slipped in closer to the opening so he’d be better able to hear Jim and Dylan’s conversation. He grimaced as he pulled the revolver out from its holster. Even though he could probably figure out how to use it, he’d rather not have to.

  “Think sensibly, Jim,” Dylan was saying, calmly. “You’re never gonna be able to get away now.”

  Murphy watched as Dylan slowly began edging his way around Jim.

  “Cops are crawling all over town, and they’re out patrolling the lake.”

  Positioned before Kate, Jim wasn’t budging. His gun remained locked on Dylan. “I’ve got Kate – they’ll have to let us go.”

  Murphy started. Did Jim really think that Kate would simply go off with him – and that they’d live happily ever after? The guy was definitely delusional.

  “No one’s ever gonna believe that you’d hurt Kate,” Dylan said, softly.

  Jim suddenly seemed to realize he was trapped. He held his gun higher, taking careful aim. As Murphy came scrambling out from his hiding place deep within the shadows, Jim jerked around and his gun discharged.

  Kate managed to pull herself up from her awkward position against the wall. With all her might, she rammed her entire body into Jim. His weapon dropped out of his hand as Kate’s impetus sent him reeling to the ground.

  Reaching down and dragging him up by his collar, Murphy made sure Jim was standing before he smashed his fist into his face. Murphy couldn’t seem to stop throwing punches. First a left, and then a right, he pummeled his fists into Jim until, bloody and dazed, he finally stumbled back against the stone wall.

  “Stop it, Michael, stop. Forget about Jim – I think Dylan’s been shot! There’s blood all over the place. Please – get over there and check on him. Hurry!”

  Becoming aware of Kate’s cries of distress, Murphy rushed across the cavern to check on Dylan.

  All the commotion hadn’t gone unnoticed. Sam Danielson, along with his deputies, came scrambling in through the entrance of the cave. After shouting out instructions to his deputies to secure Jim Dupree and cut the duct tape from Kate’s wrists and ankles, Sam bent down beside Murphy and studied Dylan’s wound.

  As soon as the duct tape was cut from her wrists, Kate ran over and dropped to the ground next to Dylan, desperate to help. “Dylan? How do you feel?”

  “It hurts like hell,” Dylan said, gritting his teeth.

  Murphy helped Dylan unbutton his shirt, and Kate carefully pulled it down over his shoulder.

  “You’re lucky, Dylan. It looks like the bullet only grazed you,” Sam said, as he fingered the edges of the wound. “But we need to stop the bleeding.”

  As Kate began ripping strips from Dylan’s shirt, Sam tightly tied them off over the bloody wound in Dylan’s forearm.

  Along with additional reinforcements, Dan Callahan and his father came jogging into the cave.

  Cal halted. Relief was etched on his face when he caught sight of his daughter. “Oh, Kate. You’re okay, sweetheart? We could hear you – we just couldn’t figure out where all of you were.”

  “I’m fine, Dad. But Dylan’s been shot. We need to get an ambulance.”

  Dan pulled out his cell phone and punched in numbers, but then turned to them grimly a few seconds later. “There’s no reception.”

  Sam nodded. “We’ve already discovered that, Dan.”

  Kate pointed to the narrow gap leading outside. “There’s actually an opening, right there, leading out to the lake. Why don’t you see if you can squeeze through?”

  When Dan returned a few minutes later, he gave them a nod of reassurance. “They’ll be here shortly.”

  “Now that we’ve stopped the bleeding,” Sam said. “Let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Epilogue

  “What a month,” Murphy said, shaking his head. It was a beautiful balmy day in September, and Murphy and Kate held hands as they walked along the beach at Dragonfly Pointe.

  “Tell me about it,” Kate answered. “Where are we headed?”

  “I thought we’d take a walk up to the ridge.”

  When he began to guide her over the smooth slippery surface of the rocks at the base of Crystal Rock, Kate hesitated, pointing up at the ledge. “Let’s stop here for a minute, Michael.”

  Murphy hoisted himself up to the ledge. Reaching for Kate’s hand, he held her steady and tugged her up to stand on the outcrop beside him.

  “Pretty cool,” he said, gazing inside to the alcove. “What a great view of the lake, too,” he added, turning back to Kate.

  Kate grimaced. “You remember me talking about my friend, Christina?”

  Murphy nodded.

  “She used to love it here, when we were kids.” Kate hesitated, staring inside the alcove. “Let’s just take a seat out here for a minute, Michael. We can sit along the ledge.”

  Kate eased herself down to the ground.

  Murphy stared at her curiously, before he dropped down
and sat beside her.

  “This is actually the first time I’ve been back here, since I was fourteen-years old.”

  Sensing Kate had something important to say, Murphy silently waited her out.

  Kate’s face held a wistful smile. “The night before she passed away, Christina insisted that we come here.”

  Murphy wrapped an arm over Kate’s shoulders.

  “Do you believe in fate, Michael?” she asked.

  Murphy was startled by the question, but he grinned as he stared at Kate. “I sure do.”

  Kate grinned back. “Well, so did Christina.” She hesitated. “And I guess that I’m finally beginning to believe in it, too.” Remaining pensive, she dangled her legs over the ledge. “She said the silliest thing to me that last night we were together. Even then, I think she was trying to set my priorities straight. She saw how serious I was about running Callahan Construction. Even at fourteen, I admit, I was driven. She came from a broken home, where her dad did nothing but cause trouble for her mom.” Tears filled her eyes as she gazed at Murphy. “When she told me that she’d never even been kissed, I nearly lost it, when I realized she’d never have the chance to fall in love, or have a family.”

  “Ah, Kate.” Murphy squeezed Kate’s shoulders reassuringly, before attempting to lighten the mood. “What did Christina say to you – that you thought was so silly?”

  After a moment, she smiled. “She told me that one day, I’d be kissed by fate – with an unforgettable kiss.”

  Taken aback, Murphy blinked. And then he began to laugh.

  Kate grinned and nodded. “Yeah. Pretty crazy, huh?”

  His lips touched Kate’s brow. “She was absolutely right, you know,” he said softly. “I could never forget that kiss.”

  “Me, either.” Kate sighed, as she snuggled up closer to Murphy.

  After a few more peaceful moments, Murphy stood up and reached for Kate’s hand. “Come on. I’ve got something important that I need to say to you. Let’s walk on up to our clearing.”