Sam made her way to her room. She opened the door and flipped on the light switch. It wasn’t very large but had everything she would need. The first thing on her agenda was to take a nice, cool shower!
The shower felt wonderful. She scrubbed hard, trying to get rid of not only the dirt and grime covering her body but to remove the terrifying scenes that would not stop running through her head.
She glanced over at the dirty pile of clothes lying on the floor. She had nothing else to change into. The thought of putting the stinky clothes back on didn’t make her happy but at least she would smell a little better.
The time flew by and soon all of them had gathered in the main lobby. They were then led in to a small conference room in the rear of the hotel.
In the back of the room, a large table full of food lined one wall. It all looked so delicious! There were piles of deli sandwiches, a huge bowl of pasta and potato salad, tortilla chips and salsa, a bowl of fresh fruit, deserts of every kind and most importantly, bottled water.
Sam couldn’t seem to drink enough water. She twisted the lid off and quick downed the entire contents in less than a minute. Eyeing the food, it dawned on her that she was absolutely famished. She grabbed a paper plate nearby and piled her plate high with a little bit of everything. It all tasted wonderful but her favorite was the chips and salsa. The Mexican salsa was fresh and spicy. Sam frowned just before popping a final salsa-laden chip into her mouth. This will probably come back to haunt me later.
Sam glanced around the room. Lee was there and had changed into jeans and a t-shirt. He was talking to the same uniformed guy that was in the jungle. It was obvious they knew each other. Sam wondered about Lee’s role. Was he some kind of undercover agent? That would explain his secretiveness and why he never offered too much information about himself.
Did he know an abduction had been planned? Was that why he was on the cruise? On that excursion? It was obvious Lee was more than just a casual tourist.
Before she could dwell on it any longer, the officer in charge asked everyone to be seated. Without going into great detail, Lieutenant Commander Ballard (who finally offered his name and title), explained that the military had learned that an abduction had been planned for their cave tubing excursion. The US Government was very interested in capturing as many of the abductors alive as possible, especially the ringleader, so a strategic trap had been set to flush out the bad guys.
He assured them they were never in any real danger as the captors had specific targets.
“What about Michel and Jimmy and Vivian?” someone asked.
“We did a search of the site and there was no trace of any of them,” the Lieutenant admitted. “But we’ll begin an extensive search tomorrow.”
“How can you be so sure we weren’t in any imminent danger? If we weren’t in any real danger, why was the bus driver was killed?” someone else asked.
“Unfortunately, the bus driver was one of the bad guys. They found out he was double-crossing them so they killed him,” he replied.
“Answering the question on why we were so confident you were all safe…” Lieutenant Commander Ballard turned and pointed at Lee. “You were protected by one of the finest Navy Seals in US history.”
Navy Seal? You could have knocked Sam over with a feather! Sam was stunned. The Lieutenant continued speaking but she barely heard the rest of what he had to say.
She managed to catch the tail end of his speech when he told the group that their cruise ship had left port the day before. “Your luggage and all your belongings were removed from the ship and are on their way here now. Each of you should have your bags within the hour.”
There were sighs of relief all around the room. Hooray for clean clothes! That was awesome news!
Sam looked down at her filthy rags. These are going right in the trash!
He continued. “We made flight arrangements for all of you. Plane tickets will be delivered to your room, along with your luggage.”
“Taxis will be waiting out front in the morning to take you to the airport.”
It was obvious that the meeting was over.
Without waiting for an invitation, Sam walked straight over to where Lee was standing. She had questions that deserved answers and she was not going to take “no” for an answer.
But it was too late! By the time she got there, Lieutenant Commander Ballard was once again talking to him. Lee saw her out of the corner of his eye and motioned for her to wait a minute.
She retreated to the back of the room, arms crossed as she tapped her foot on the ground. Relief and anger were wreaking havoc on Sam’s emotions.
On the one hand, she was ticked off that she had feared for her life while he knew all along what was happening. But on the other, she was relieved they were all safe – except for Michel, and Jimmy and Vivian.
Sam stood there cooling her heels for a few more minutes before Lee finally made his way over to her. She opened her mouth to speak but Lee put up his hand to stop her. “I have some loose ends to wrap up. Can I meet you for dinner in a couple hours?”
He searched her face, waiting for an answer. “I’ll try to answer some of your questions then,” he added.
She paused for a minute and then nodded her head. She really didn’t have a choice. “OK, I guess I can wait.” It would give her some time to mull over the questions she had and make sure she wasn’t missing anything.
Chapter 11
When she got back to her room, Sam’s luggage was already there. Not only that, the backpack with all the stuff she reluctantly handed over to the abductors was there. She’d almost forgotten about it!
She opened the backpack first and reached inside. Yes, her cell phone was in there! She set her rings and watch on the nightstand and then reached for her suitcase. Clothes…Clean clothes were inside!! She rummaged through the rest of her bags. Nothing appeared to be missing.
On her way to the bathroom, she noticed a white envelope lying on the desk. She opened the envelope and pull out a set of plane tickets with her name on it. Her flight was scheduled to leave around 9:30 in the morning. Better set my alarm this time.
Inside the bathroom, it didn’t take long for Sam to pull off her dirty, old clothes and make good on her vow to throw them out. She took another long, luxurious shower and then slipped on her favorite new summer dress – one she hadn’t had a chance to wear yet.
It had been a long, horrifying ordeal and the weight of all that happened was finally setting in. Sam walked over to the mirror and critically studied her reflection. Damaged goods, that’s what I am.
Nothing but false advertising. The cancer was gone but the scars were a constant reminder. Maybe that’s why Anthony left. He couldn’t stand to look at her repulsive body any longer.
The stress of the last few days had brought all kinds of buried thoughts to the surface. Thoughts that for years she carefully kept tucked away in the dark recesses of her mind.
She was deeply flawed. Even if she fell in love, how would she go about telling someone about “that?”
Do you casually mention it over dessert – oh, by the way….
Maybe when you’re laying out by the pool you start off by saying, “Just thought I should mention …. “
Or do you let him find out on his own, when there’s no turning back?
A sad face gazed back at her in the mirror. No answer would be given. She turned and slowly walked out the door.
Chapter 12
Lee was already waiting for her when she got to the hotel lobby. She was surprised to see him dressed in uniform. She was staring at a complete stranger. An extremely handsome stranger at that!
She made her way over to where he was waiting. He smiled down at her. A warm, wonderful, genuine smile. He looked so different when he wasn’t scowling!
“I hope you like the restaurant I picked out for us. There are a couple here at the hotel but this one is my favorite and it has a great view,” he explained. Apparently he’d been here
before.
He led her outside into the courtyard. The sun had just gone down and dusk settled over the city. Tiki torches cast a romantic glow as they lit the cobblestone path leading to the intimate restaurant.
At the hostess station, Lee gave the girl working there a charming smile. “Can you put us somewhere in a quiet corner – preferably with a nice view?”
She smiled back at him, batting her eyes. “Yes, of course. I have the perfect spot!” She grabbed a couple menus and then led them to a corner table. The table for two was covered with a white linen cloth and small votive candle cast a warm glow. It was just right – very intimate with lush tropical plants everywhere. There was even a small, bubbling fountain nearby.
Sam dismissed the little flirt with a nod of her head. “This will do. Thank you,” she coldly added.
Lee pulled out her chair but not before she caught the surprised look on his face.
Sam sniffed. “That little girl needs to flirt with someone her own age.”
Lee was smiling as he sat down across from her, an amused expression on his face.
“Well, it’s true!” she insisted. But then she mentally reprimanded herself. I’m so stressed out, I’m getting worked up over nothing!
Sam picked up the menu. Everything sounded so good. She finally decided on a small dinner salad and Baked Lobster Ravioli with a side of buttery garlic knots. After hearing what she ordered, Lee agreed that sounded delicious and ordered the same.
The waiter walked off and Sam turned to Lee. “Hmm….where should I start?”
Lee cut her off at the pass as he put up a wary hand. “I’m sure you have a ton of questions. Just remember, I’m only allowed to share certain information,” he reminded her. “The investigation is on-going so I’m limited in what I can tell you.”
Sam had to admit he was probably right. “I know you can’t tell me much but can you tell me if Michel or Jimmy and Vivian were ever found?” She held her breath. The answer might not be what she wanted to hear.
“We’ve gone over the entire area with a fine tooth comb and haven’t found a trace of any of them,” he admitted.
Lee started to say something else but abruptly stopped. Sam was about to ask him what he was going to say but thought better of it. The look on his face told her the subject was closed.
Lee went on to tell her everything he could, which wasn’t much more than what she already knew.
Dinner arrived and the conversation turned to their own personal lives. They talked about their childhoods, where they grew up, where they lived now. Lee told her his parents were alive and living in Texas. He was a middle child with an older and younger sister.
Sam nodded. “Funny, I’m a middle child, too. But I have an older sister and younger brother.”
Sam went on to tell Lee about Bri’s plans. “My daughter is pestering me to move south – somewhere warmer.” She sighed. “I think she has her sights set on Florida.”
Lee laughed. “My hometown is actually Northeast Ohio but I’ve been living in Georgia for the past ten years. I’ve been tossing around the idea of moving to Florida but haven’t made a final decision on that one yet.” This time Sam was sure he was telling her the truth.
There was a pause. Lee stared at Sam for a long moment before he slowly leaned forward and spoke earnestly. “I’m sorry I had to deceive you, Sam. I felt guilty every time I did. That’s why I never said too much. I thought the less I said – the less I would have to lie.”
Sam looked at him as she shook her head. “Yeah, I was pretty sure you weren’t an accountant…”
Lee reached for her hand and held it in a warm embrace. “Can we start over?”
She smiled back at him, her eyes shining brightly. “Yes – Absolutely!”
Finally, Lee explained he would be staying behind in Belize for a while longer. “I know you’re flying out in the morning. Can I get your number and give you a call as soon as I’m back in the States?”
Sam’s heart skipped a beat. She secretly hoped he would ask but was afraid to suggest it first. She didn’t want to seem like some desperate, lonely woman who jumped from one man to the next, even though she had been attracted to Lee first and he had all but pushed her away.
After exchanging phone numbers, Lee walked Sam to her room. When they reached her room, she turned around to face him. Her head tilted to the side thoughtfully as she softly spoke. “Thank you for saving us. I’m sure we will never know half of what actually took place.”
As she turned to put her key in the door, Lee caught her hand and slowly pulled her towards him, his arms circling her waist. Lowering his head, he captured her lips in what started out as a sweet, gentle kiss. Her arms reached up as she wrapped them around his neck and pressed her body to his.
The kiss was light and teasing at first. With lightning speed it deepened, becoming fierce and gentle all at once.
Using a control he thought he no longer possessed, Lee finally pulled away. He drew a sharp breath. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”
Sam’s eyelids fluttered open as she looked up at Lee. She wasn’t sorry. Sam wasn’t the least bit sorry. The kiss left her breathless and lightheaded. And she only wanted more. Those thoughts made her turn a bright shade of pink.
Sam blurted out exactly what she was thinking. “I’m not sorry you kissed me. I’m not sorry one little bit.” With that, Sam opened the door and went inside, a small smile lighting her face.
********
Sam closed the door and leaned against it heavily. She was exhausted. The week had been a rollercoaster of emotions – deception, excitement, adventure, terror, a lot of relief and last but not least, a little romance. She shook her head. Her family and friends would never believe it. She barely believed it herself.
Early the next morning, Sam met Beth and Emily in the dining room for breakfast. She sat down across from the girls and grabbed the menu. “I’m ready to go home.” Emily nodded in agreement. “We were just saying the exact same thing.”
Sam filled them in on Brianna’s plans to move somewhere warm and how she was leaning towards moving to Florida. “I think she’s planning a trip to the Orlando area soon to check it out.”
Beth looked at Sam questioningly. “Didn’t you say you were from Michigan?”
When Sam nodded, Beth shook her head. “It’s a small world. I grew up in West Michigan. Moved down here years ago, right after high school.”
Sam set her coffee cup down. “That’s where I’m from! Grand Rapids area!”
“Well, I’ll be darned.”
The two women compared notes and discovered that not only were they from the same area, Sam’s older sister Deb and Beth had gone to high school together.
“I know your sister! We used to be friends!” Beth was shocked.
Sam shook her head in amazement. “Wait ‘til I tell Deb!”
Beth grew excited as she thought about Sam and her daughter moving to Florida. She looked over at Emily. “We’d love to take her around, show her how the locals live. We can give her some pointers on good areas of town and where she might be happy moving to.”
Sam brightened instantly. Now that was a great idea! “Absolutely. I’d be forever grateful if you could – or would. She knows nothing about the area – except how to find the amusement parks!”
Before leaving the restaurant, they exchanged numbers and promised to stay in touch.
********
Sam didn’t see Lee again. She knew he was close by and it gave her an odd sense of comfort. She checked out of the hotel and stepped outside. A taxi was there waiting to take her to the airport.
As the plane taxied down the runway and away from Lee, Sam said a quick prayer for his and the other’s safety. She added a small prayer that she would hear from him soon.
Moments later, Belize disappeared below the fluffy white clouds.
(See Below for a Preview of Book 2, Winds of Deception)
Winds of Deception
Sa
mantha Rite Series Book 2
Hope Callaghan
FIRST EDITION
PUBLISHED BY:
Orlando Home Solutions, LLC
Copyright © 2014
All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. Although places mentioned may be real, the characters, names and incidents and all other details are products of the author’s imagination and are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced in any format, by any means, electronic or otherwise, without prior consent from the copyright owner and publisher of this book. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
___________________________________________________________________
“And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.”
Revelation 20:13. KJV
Chapter 1
Sam’s eyebrows scrunched together as she scowled at the phone, as if staring at it hard enough would make it disappear. She was never going to get the Collier quote done if the stupid phone didn’t stop ringing! She growled at it in frustration. To say Sam was irritated would be an understatement. The 60 hour work-weeks were wearing on her. Instead of shrinking, the piles just seemed to grow.
She ran a frazzled hand through her long dark hair. All this stress and aggravation was the direct result of her recent vacation. Admittedly, the cruise had been a welcome break but the mountain of work waiting for her when she got back left her wondering whether it was worth taking the time off.
Sam sighed heavily as she picked up the phone. “Thank you for calling Anderson Insurance Group. Samantha Rite speaking. How can I help you?”
Waves of Deception (Samantha Rite Series Book 1) Page 7