by Vella Day
The old Chris had returned. “Good. I’m working on a case that might be related to my house break-in.”
He leaned forward. “Jesus. Why didn’t you tell me you were burglarized? Did they take anything?”
She had called to tell him, but when he didn’t answer, she didn’t want to leave a message. “No.”
“Good.” Chris checked his watch. “Damn, babe, we gotta go. I want to get to Mom’s before she heads to bed.”
Sky slumped in her chair. Wasn’t he curious as to why someone would break into her house and not take anything? “I thought maybe we could have some quiet time at my house before you saw her.” She needed to ask him if he even wanted to be together. Right now, Sky wasn’t sure she did.
He tilted his head and pulled her hand into his. “I would like nothing more than to spend all night with you, massaging your feet, adoring your supple body, but I came here for Mom’s birthday.”
And not for her. If that wasn’t clear enough, she didn’t know what was. “She’s taking your dad’s death hard. She’ll be so happy to see you.”
“I know.” He motioned for the check. Chris signed the bill and walked her out, the cool air biting into her skin. She shivered, and he wrapped an arm around her lightly.
The drive back to his mom’s was strained because Chris talked the whole way and never gave her a chance to voice an opinion, but she understood he was excited to share his adventures with someone.
When she drew to a stop in front of his mother’s house, Chris rubbed her shoulder. “You want to come in?”
Not really. His mom usually ignored her, and she’d have to listen to Chris tell his mom how successful he was. “I’ll let you two have your reunion in private.”
“Don’t forget. The party is at one tomorrow. Wear the blue blouse.”
He was out in a flash. Once he grabbed his overnight case, he was at the front door before she’d even pulled out of the drive. Sky shook her head. She’d been such a fool in believing he’d wanted to get back with her. Chris only cared about himself.
She wasn’t halfway home when her cell rang. The caller I.D. read Cornell, and a blast of unwanted lust raced through her. She couldn’t imagine why he’d call at 8:00 at night, but there was only one way to find out.
“Hello?”
“You’ll never guess where I am.”
“Where?”
“I found the Senator and he’s safe.”
She sagged against the seat. “Thank goodness.”
“Listen, I really need your expertise. Can you come to the RV Park now? I want to tell you everything.”
She loved that he wanted to include her, though how she could help, she had no idea. “Sure.”
More than anything, Sky wanted to rid her mind of what had occurred with Chris. She debated stopping home and changing into something more practical, but there wasn’t time.
As quickly and safely as possible, she headed to Wildacres RV Park. Perhaps because she was in a hurry, it seemed like it took forever to get there. It was close to eight thirty by the time she slipped through the gates. The lights in the office blazed brightly, but given the late hour, she figured it was okay to go on ahead without checking in with Betty.
Finding the Senator’s RV was easy since his remained the only RV on the east side of the park. She knocked on the door, and a smiling Kane answered. His even, white teeth, surrounded by those full lips, made her heart race and appealed to her on so many levels.
Stop it. He’ll be leaving soon.
“Be right back, Senator.” Kane wrapped an arm around her shoulder, and when he led her down the three steps to the ground, his touch altered something inside her.
“Hey, I appreciate you coming on such short notice. I hope I didn’t interrupt anything.”
“No, I just dropped Chris off at his mom’s.”
“Chris?”
She didn’t know why he asked since Harriet had already filled him in. Perhaps Kane didn’t want to give away his little conversation with the traitorous dispatcher. “A friend who is visiting from New York.”
“Everything go okay?”
No. Chris was an ass, just like Harriet said he’d be, which pissed me off for not noticing it before. Kane seemed to doubt her, but she wasn’t about to discuss her issues with him.
“It went fine. So tell me what you need.” She dug her hands in her pockets to keep from accidentally touching him.
“I’ll let the Senator fill you in. I told him to wait until you arrived before going into detail, but do me a favor and do not react to what he has to say.”
“What do you mean?”
“He remembers almost nothing after he got to the RV Park.”
Her heart plummeted. Shades of Dan Joe’s conversation filtered through her brain again. “You’re kidding me, right?”
“I wish. I know the basics, but when he tells you about it please stay cool and be logical. I know what conclusion you’ll want to draw, but let’s see if you can refrain from suggesting aliens took him, at least right now?”
“But what if they did? According to Betty and Barney Hill, abductions create lost time.” For some reason, she was now willing to believe the Senator over Dan Joe.
“Who?”
Clearly, the man had never studied any of the documentation. “Two abductees.”
The door opened, and the Senator looked out. “Everything all right?” the Senator asked.
Kane grabbed her hand and led her inside. “Just fine.”
She loved the strength of his fingers. Kane let go and made the introductions, seemingly unaware of the charge of electricity that arced between them.
The Senator looked like his picture except he wasn’t clean-shaven, and his hair was mussed. The bloodshot eyes didn’t help with the sophisticated image the media presented. “Nice to meet you.”
As if Kane lived there, he motioned she sit next to him on the sofa. The inside air was warm and smelled of vanilla air freshener. “Senator, will you bring Sky up to speed?”
Chapter Ten
Overton paced in front of them. “I remember driving into the park and expecting someone from the research facility to contact me. At first, I thought maybe Pat and Clay were going to take me on the tour, but they left without a word, and I wasn’t about to bring it up to any of the other locals.”
“Do you know the name of the facility?” Sky asked. Maybe she’d visited it.
Overton swiped a hand over his head. “I’m afraid not. That’s one of the reasons for the trip. The government actually expected the Armed Services Committee to fund this secret project without any information. That’s bullshit. I made such a stink over full disclosure that the government set up this clandestine meeting.” He faced Kane. “I’m not even sure how your general friend found out about it.”
“He has his contacts. Are you saying you know nothing about the nature of the project?” Kane asked.
“All I know is it involves national security. Quite top secret.”
Sky had to interject. “You sure this facility is in Savory?”
Overton shrugged. “All I know is that it’s near here.” He staggered and practically fell onto the chair facing them. “Wow. I just had this image rush.”
Kane shot a glance at her. “Image rush?”
Overton waved a hand. “A memory where I was driving my RV, and there were six beautiful women in a van stranded on the side of the road. I pulled over to help them.”
Kane leaned his elbows on his knees in a very masculine pose. The man oozed sex. “What did these women say when you stopped?”
“I can’t remember. Only bits and pieces appear. Nothing solid.”
She had to ask. “Do you think you were abducted?”
“Abducted? That’s ridiculous.” This came out close to a shout.
The man was clearly in denial. “So how would you explain this time loss?”
He rubbed his head. “At first, I thought I’d been in an accident and had amnesia, but nothing
hurts. I’ve checked out my body. I have no bruises and don’t have a headache, which means I don’t have a concussion.”
This was different from Dan Joe’s case. He’d had a severe headache.
Kane leaned forward. “You do realize your RV hasn’t left this lot since you arrived?” He held up a finger. “The manager keeps track of everything.”
“That’s impossible.” While his voice was loud, the anger had disappeared.
“Senator, you keep rubbing your leg. You sure you weren’t hurt? Kane asked.
“No. I’m fine.” The Senator dropped his head in his hands. “I’m sorry to have dragged you both out here for nothing.”
Her curiosity won. “Senator, would you mind pulling down your collar?” He lowered his chin, acting affronted, though it wasn’t as if she’d asked him to strip. “I’d like to see if there’s a mark on your neck.”
He lowered the material, and sure as hell, there it was. She shot a satisfied look at Kane.
Kane moved closer and checked out the raised welt. “Looks like a bee sting to me.”
That had been her logic with Dan Joe. “I’m betting it’s an injection site.”
“From?” Kane asked.
She was no doctor. “Whatever they give people to knock them out, and drag them to their vehicle.” That would be consistent with the marks behind the RV.
Kane laid a hand on the Senator’s shoulder. “Given what’s happened, I’m going to stay here with you until we figure out what’s going on.”
He shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.” Overton scratched his neck. “Damn. I don’t remember the bite.”
Sky held up a hand. “Is it possible you were abducted by—?”
Kane swiveled toward her, his dark eyes indicating trouble. “May I speak with you for a moment outside?”
“Sure.” She was tired and not in the mood for a yell fest, but she followed him down the steps. The wind had picked up, and the air was downright cold. “I’m sorry if I stepped out of bounds, but even you have to admit—”
“No. Your conclusions have merit—albeit out there.” He ran a hand down her arm, spreading warmth. “Would you consider working the case with me, as in a full commitment?”
That was totally not what she expected him to say on several levels. “I can’t.”
She jammed her hands in her pockets again. Yes, she wanted to work on a big case, but Kane was dangerous for her.
“Why? This case is big, and the citizens of Savory could be in danger. It needs the highest level of professional expertise, and while I can provide the security and safety, we need your help.”
That sounded like a line of bull to her. “I’m already keeping the citizens of Savory safe. If I work with you full time, who’s going to stop the bar fights, catch the teenage kids doing stupid stunts, or break up the domestic violence?” Look for other alien abductions or monitor the hog races? “Remember, I have to find out who murdered our Air Force man.”
“You can still do that. I’m not asking you to quit your job altogether.”
“I would like to help, but Carl, our detective, is still in the hospital, Elmer hasn’t been feeling well, and Harvey, well, if he had his way, he’d stay at the station doing nothing all day.”
“I need to find out what happened to Overton.”
“I can’t help you.”
“You’re already involved. You’re the one who found the drag marks and the business card behind the RV.”
She shook her head. “Picking up a piece of trash hardly counts as helping with this crime. I was in the right place at the right time.”
He lifted her chin, and her heart tripled in speed. Stop reacting. He’ll leave as soon as this case is solved. “Do you really want to let down the Senator and the US government?”
What could she say that would not make her come off as a traitor to her country? “I’d like to help, but I can’t.”
Kane stepped back and blew into his cupped hands. “The case needs you.”
The case? Not you? “I can’t let down the family of that decapitated man.” Even to her, it sounded lame.
He moved closer and dropped his gaze. “What are you afraid of? I won’t let anything happen to you.”
She withdrew her hands from her pockets and stuffed them under her arms. “Nothing.” She looked up at the stars.
He couldn’t guess how her history affected her behavior. First, her parents died then her adoptive dad emotionally left after her adoptive mother passed away. Next, the man she thought was the love of her life headed off to New York. She knew working closely with Kane would cause her emotions to grow stronger and she wasn’t ready to put herself out there only to be left again.
Kane leaned back and gently placed his hands on her shoulders. “We won’t tell anyone that you’re helping, if that’s what is worrying you.” His voice came low and warm, like a rich cognac.
She stepped out of his grasp. “I’m sorry.”
Before she let him convince her to help, she trotted off toward her car. She half expected him to run after her, but instead his boots sounded on the metal steps leading back inside the RV. Damn. Now she’d messed up everything, but it couldn’t be helped. Everyone would be safer if she stayed away from him.
* * *
Sky’s red taillights flashed, sending a shaft of colored lights across the lot, reflecting off the eyes of a raccoon. Rocks scattered as the forager disappeared behind a trailer.
Kane hated to ask for anyone’s help, especially a woman’s, but he needed Sky’s cooperation if he was going to figure out what happened to the Senator. It wasn’t as if he would ever put her in danger. God help him if that happened.
He wished he understood why Sky had been so reluctant to be part of the team, especially if she thought this case had something to do with aliens. There’d been bags under her eyes, so perhaps with a good night’s sleep, he could convince her to sign on. If not, he’d go to her boss. Surely, he’d want to see one of his officers succeed and get some experience under her belt. Hell, her boss might be willing to do some legwork to find out who the dead man was, especially if it meant Sky might learn something.
Oh, crap. Perhaps Sky was mad at him because he’d interrupted her time with that no good boyfriend. He wasn’t usually one to judge, but Harriet told him Chris didn’t give one hoot about Sky as a person, and that gnawed at his gut something fierce.
For the first time since his wife died, he was attracted to someone—not just physically, but for the woman he knew she could be. It was a shame he lived so far from Savory. With his investigation company in Phoenix to run, a relationship wouldn’t work. He should be happy she liked someone else, but not if that someone was a dick—Harriet’s name for the boyfriend, not his.
“Kane?”
Shit. He’d been daydreaming, something he could ill afford. “Sorry, Senator.” Kane stepped inside.
The Senator faced him. “You don’t have to stay. I’m going to be fine.”
“We’ve been over this before. The General told me you might be in trouble. I don’t know what kind of mess he was referring to, since he couldn’t know that someone would kidnap and then return you, but I’m here to make sure your trip doesn’t have any more hiccups.”
His eyes sparkled as if he was glad Kane wouldn’t take no for an answer. “If you’re going to insist, you might as well call me Paul. I’m having a beer. Care to join me?”
“Sure, but I stop at one.” With Sky gone, he could relax somewhat. Thinking of her, he pulled out his phone and texted her to call him once she arrived home. That might be over-the-top, but that was who he was.
The Senator retrieved two beers from the fridge and handed him one. “I didn’t want to mention this in front of the young lady, but I remembered something else.”
Kane swigged his beer, and the cool liquid soothed his throat. “Tell me.”
“I had sex with four of the six women I met. It’s like I was on some kind of super Viagra pill.”
<
br /> The beer nearly flew out of Kane’s mouth. “You do realize this was probably a dream?”
Overton chugged over half his drink. “I’m not so sure. If what you say is true, I might not have been in my RV, but the euphoria I experienced couldn’t have been my imagination. Having several pairs of large boobs pressed into my face for hours is something I’m not likely to forget. I can still feel their soft, wonderful pressure on my lips and cheeks.”
He’d be happy with one particular set. “Must be nice.”
“I’ll swear in court they were real.”
“Let’s hope your wife doesn’t find out.” Sore subject, he imagined, but he wanted to understand Paul’s level of faithfulness.
If the Senator could have turned any whiter, he’d be a snow cone. “You can’t tell her. I was out of my mind.”
“So you were drugged?”
“I must have been. My moral compass didn’t even engage. All I could think of was sex. I swear if a group of terrorists had been shooting at me, I wouldn’t have moved away from those women.”
“Not that I believe in it, but maybe the government is conducting experiments in mind control.” Sky and he had talked about that topic. She claimed the government engaged in such practices, and it looked like she might be right—again. Damn it. Why did she have to change her mind about helping now when he needed her the most? She’d been so cooperative, and then bam. He must have done something to make her skittish.
“You’d be surprised what the public doesn’t know,” the Senator said, bringing Kane back to the present. “However, I’m not at liberty to discuss any of it.” Paul waved the bottle. “So are you and Sky a couple?”
Kane spotted the question as an evasive tactic, mostly because he doubted the Senator cared about the answer. However, Kane didn’t want to piss him off by ignoring him. “No.”
“Why not? She’s a real peach.”
“I lost my wife two years ago, and I’m not ready to move on.” And because Sky doesn’t seem interested.
Paul laughed. “Son, I’ve never waited two years between my women.”
Too much information. “My wife was my soul mate, and you only find one of those in a lifetime.” Unless that was a myth.