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  “ Why don’ t we go someplace where we can talk?” The suggestion was accompanied by a long, searching look from those piercing blue eyes.

  A shiver chased over her skin. Kayla gritted her teeth and would have liked nothing better than to chalk the reaction up to the weather, but, unfortunately, in southern Arizona that wasn’ t likely. Even with only two weeks left before Christmas the temperature hung around fifty to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Not cold enough to bring on the shivers.

  It was him. There was no denying that reality. She’ d been pretending for months now. Keeping him at a distance for more than one reason.

  Though instinct warned her yet again that letting him too close would be a mistake, she just couldn’ t help herself. For Rainy, she reasoned. If Detective Peter Hadden had discovered something related to Rainy’ s murder, Kayla needed to know. The Cipher, the assassin who’ d killed Kayla’ s best friend, was dead. Samantha St. John, another friend and schoolmate, had taken care of him. But whoever had sent him was still out there, the motivation a puzzle of bits of information that didn’ t yet connect.

  If it was the last thing she did, Kayla intended to solve that mystery. She wouldn’ t rest until those responsible for Rainy’ s death were brought to justice… or were six feet under. And she had to keep searching for Rainy’ s child— or children— until she found them or proved none existed. That was the part that hurt the most. Rainy had wanted children so badly and all along she might have had at least one. The bastards who had mined her eggs when she was young herself had robbed her of her ability to conceive and also deprived her of knowing whatever offspring had resulted. And when Rainy had discovered what they’ d done and tried to find them, they’ d had her killed. Kayla would find the truth.

  The Promise.

  She and her closest friends had made that promise to each other all those years ago while students at Athena Academy. Each year the class was divided into small groups of students who worked together all year long to become the best they could be in all aspects of their academic lives. Kayla’ s group had been called the Cassandras. Headed by Rainy, their senior mentor, the seven of them, including Sam St. John, had become extremely close and had ultimately promised to come if any of them needed help— no questions asked.

  Rainy had called them together. Now she was dead. Murdered. Kayla and the rest of the Cassandras had a new promise to keep— solving the enigma of Rainy’ s death and ensuring that all involved paid dearly.

  For that single reason she would do whatever it took. Like risk getting close to a man who reached her on a level beyond the professional.

  She realized Hadden was waiting for her to answer his question. Should they talk? Kayla glanced at her watch. “ I don’ t know, Hadden.” She shrugged indifferently. “ It’ s my day off and I actually have plans.” It was a lie but he didn’ t know that. Well, there was one little thing she had to do— smooth things over with her partner. As she’ d suspected, Jim had called during the middle of the wrap-up with the county investigator. He wasn’ t happy. “ I should probably get a move on.”

  Hadden angled his head skeptically, clearly struggling to keep another grin off those nice lips. God. She resisted the urge to shake her head. Why did she have to notice his every damned asset?

  “ You expect me to believe that you just happened to be driving by this morning?” He gestured to the rows of storage units. “ And discovered a deal going down involving a group of felons you, among others, have been tracking for months?” He was the one shaking his head now. “ Give me a break here, Lieutenant Ryan.”

  “ I got a tip, all right?” It was true. She’ d received an anonymous call just after she’ d dropped Jazz off at school and headed for the gym— her plans for the morning. For a single mom with a career in law enforcement, free time was at a premium. Most of what little she had was either spent as quality time with her eleven-year-old daughter or in physical training.

  Just another thing she’ d already lived to regret— never taking the time she should for friends and family. Rainy was dead. And Kayla barely remembered the last time they’ d gotten together before that tragedy.

  “ So, are we having coffee or what?” Hadden pressed.

  Kayla looked straight at him, assessed what she saw in those intense blue eyes. He needed to share something with her. Anticipation and an underlying urgency radiated from his every feature.

  “ Sure, why not.” She shrugged again, as if whatever he had to say didn’ t matter. “ As long as you’ re buying.”

  Kayla climbed into her Jeep without looking back. When she heard Hadden pull out onto the road she backed up her vehicle, pulled forward and followed him. Attempting to guess what was on his mind would be a supreme waste of time so she didn’ t bother.

  He drove to a coffee shop on Olympus Road, the main drag in Athens, and parked in the lot. Kayla’ s little community wasn’ t that large, a few shops, a bank, a post office, and a supermarket. The only reason the tiny spot in the road had actually developed into a town was because the Athena Academy, the all-girls school Kayla had attended from seventh through twelfth grades, was nearby. Luke Air Force base was also close by, but there wasn’ t much else around. Most folks around Athens went to Phoenix for major shopping and medical care.

  Still, the town had amassed a population of about five thousand, and the powers that be had managed to wrangle a satellite station for the town from the Sheriff’ s Department. The small law enforcement office was manned by two sheriff’ s deputies at all times. With its continued growth Athens would no doubt be incorporating and forming its own city government in the next couple of years. So far members of the community had been in no hurry to take the formal steps. But that would soon change.

  Nothing stayed the same.

  Hadn’ t she learned that the hard way?

  Hadden emerged from his car and strode toward Kayla’ s Jeep. She took her time getting out, turning her attention once more to consideration of his motivation for keeping her under surveillance. Professionally speaking, the only thing they had in common was the murder of Lorraine Carrington. Kayla flinched at the memory of that Saturday night back in late August. More unpleasant thoughts tumbled in on the heels of that memory.

  Somehow Athena Academy was involved in Rainy’ s death. Kayla didn’ t want to believe it. She’ d reasoned that the involvement only went as deep as certain personnel, but she couldn’ t be sure.

  That suspicion was just one of the secrets she couldn’ t share with Peter Hadden. Was the primary reason she’ d backed off from her original plan to work fairly closely with him. This was Cassandra business, to be shared on a need-to-know basis only.

  His gaze locked with hers at precisely that moment, as if he’ d read her mind and somehow summoned her full attention.

  Keep this on the surface, in neutral territory, Kayla. You don’ t know all the facts and Athena Academy certainly doesn’ t need the bad publicity.

  Shannon Conner, a TV news reporter and the only person ever to be expelled from Athena, had already done enough damage in that department. In the early months after Rainy’ s death, the vengeful woman had done all within her power to make the school look bad. She’ d showed up at Rainy’ s funeral and implied that Athena Academy used its students for scientific experiments. More recently she’ d tried to compromise Kayla’ s fellow Cassandra Josie Lockworth, a captain in the Air Force. She’ d reported on Josie’ s fast rise in the force; but had tried to win her career by implying Josie was involved with a fellow officer. It hadn’ t worked.

  Victoria Patton, better known as Tory, another of the Cassandras and a top TV news reporter, had worked overtime to put the right spin on Conner’ s negative reporting. But there were others out there who would like nothing better than to bring down the unusual preparatory school. Just another factor to consider in all this. Perhaps someone wanted Kayla to believe that the school was responsible for what had happened to Rainy. But the evidence continued to mount… there was no d
enying that.

  When she and Hadden had settled at a small table in the farthest corner of the shop, away from the few other customers, he didn’ t waste any time.

  “ There’ s a new development in the Carrington case.”

  Anticipation raced through Kayla. She’ d been right. “ What kind of development?”

  Before he could respond the waitress arrived and took their order. Two black coffees. Kayla considered having a pastry but this wasn’ t a social meeting. Even though there were times when she would kill for a chocolate-filled croissant, this wasn’ t the time. She needed to focus.

  “ What kind of development?” The question was out of her mouth the instant the waitress moved away.

  “ As you well know, we’ ve exhausted all avenues in an attempt to determine exactly what happened to Lorraine Carrington.”

  The one thing she did know well was that she and the other Cassandras were the real ones who made up the we he spoke of. As far as Hadden and his department were concerned, there was no overwhelming evidence to prove Rainy’ s death was anything more than an accident. Another reason Kayla couldn’ t help being suspicious of Hadden’ s continued interest in the case. A seat belt malfunction and a driver dozing off and running off the road was hardly the stuff murder investigations hinged on.

  But Kayla knew the real facts. Rainy hadn’ t simply fallen asleep at the wheel. Her sudden collapse into slumber had been brought on by the Cipher and a gadget he’ d used on Alex— Alexandra Forsythe, another of Kayla’ s Cassandra sisters— as well as on Kayla herself. On separate occasions in totally different locations, both she and Alex had fainted for no apparent reason during the weeks after Rainy’ s death. Like Rainy, Alex’ s incident had occurred while she was driving. It was a miracle she hadn’ t been badly injured… or worse.

  The Cipher had paid for his part in Rainy’ s death. CIA agent Sam had tracked him down and had been forced to kill him in a standoff. But they were still no closer to finding whoever had sent the assassin than they had been weeks ago.

  “ In pursuing this investigation,” Hadden went on, “ we’ ve uncovered a number of details that don’ t add up where Marshall Carrington is concerned.”

  Kayla’ s hackles rose instantly. “ Look, Hadden, I know it’ s SOP to suspect the spouse first and foremost when someone dies, but I can vouch for Marshall Carrington. There is no way he would have killed his wife. He loved Rainy.” Kayla blinked back the emotion that stung her eyes. “ I know Marshall. He would never have hurt her. Never.” She couldn’ t tell Hadden about the Cipher or anything else she and her Cassandra sisters had discovered. Not yet anyway.

  The waitress set two cups of steaming dark brew on the table. “ Anything else?”

  Hadden lifted his hand in a negative signal and the young woman scurried off to help another customer who’ d just arrived.

  “ I don’ t doubt Carrington’ s character as a husband,” Hadden said, some indefinable emotion filtering into his tone. “ This is about his business dealings.”

  Confusion lined Kayla’ s brow. Hadden’ s tone as well as his statement bewildered her. “ Marshall is an archaeology professor. Outside his occasional jaunt to search for some ancient relic, what on earth could you find questionable about his profession?”

  Hadden’ s expression closed then, like a bank vault door slamming shut to fend off trespassers. The abrupt change set Kayla on edge. Whatever he intended to share with her, there was a great deal more he planned to keep to himself. Somehow it related to Marshall. And she knew before he spoke that it was not good.

  “ We have reason to suspect your friend Marshall is eyeball deep in a smuggling ring.”

  Chapter 2

  N oon had come and gone by the time Kayla showered twice— once just wasn’ t enough, with her feeling as if that perp’ s blood had penetrated deep into her pores. She’ d scrubbed until her skin felt raw.

  She laid the hair dryer aside and stared at her reflection. But was the blood really what bothered her just now? Peter Hadden’ s words kept echoing in her brain. We have reason to suspect your friend Marshall is eyeball deep in a smuggling ring.

  Not possible.

  Rainy’ s husband would never be involved with any sort of criminal activity. Not knowingly anyway.

  Rainy’ s husband.

  Kayla looked away from the telling emotion in her eyes. She’ d gotten a little too attached to Marshall these past few months. It wasn’ t intentional… she hadn’ t meant to allow her feelings to stray into dangerous territory. But it had been like trying to stop an avalanche. Impossible.

  She’ d always genuinely adored Marshall. Who wouldn’ t? He was handsome, well-built, immensely charming and he had treated Rainy as if she were the absolute center of his universe. Who wouldn’ t want a man like that?

  No. Kayla shook off that line of thinking and retreated to her bedroom to pull on some clean clothes. It wasn’ t about Marshall either. It was about Rainy.

  Kayla sighed as she looked at her unmade bed. There was just never enough time. She dug through a pile of freshly laundered clothes that she hadn’ t put away yet and selected her favorite jeans.

  Rainy had always teased Kayla about her ability to make a place look lived-in without any real effort. That was the way Kayla preferred things— no fuss.

  She tugged on her jeans. She missed Rainy so much. The hurt and tension stemming from her murder had drawn Kayla and Marshall together, that’ s all. She knew better than most that stress did that sort of thing. It happened when you felt lost or detached from the rest of the world. You reached out to the closest human who might understand.

  Her thoughts drifted to her final year at Athena Academy. Rainy had graduated long before and gone off to Harvard. Alex had graduated as well, one year previously. Though Kayla had loved her other Cassandra sisters, she’ d missed Rainy and Alex to the point of distraction. Her Navajo heritage had tugged at her more strongly that year than any other. She’ d just felt out of sorts, torn between what she’ d been taught as a child and all that she’ d learned at Athena.

  Not that anything she’ d experienced at Athena could be called bad in any way, but it had been different than the usual academic curriculum. Martial arts, weaponry, survival courses, multiple foreign languages. Too many other available studies to recall at the moment. The overall goal was the advancement and empowerment of women. All good. But somehow, in her senior year, Kayla had gotten off track, had lost some vital part of herself. In the search to regain completeness, she’ d met and fallen for a cocky young officer from the Air Force base.

  The image of the man she’ d allowed to break her heart all those years ago flashed briefly through Kayla’ s mind. Her automatic instinct was to banish any thought of him. But Josie’ s call a couple weeks ago had Kayla hesitating. Josie Lockworth was a dear friend and a Cassandra, as well as a rising star in the Air Force. The same branch of the military in which Jazz’ s father still served.

  Mike Bridges wanted to know his daughter. Jasmine Michelle Ryan. The daughter Kayla had raised all alone. Admittedly, he had sent child support since the day Jazz was born, twelve years ago next month. And Kayla had been blessed with the full support of her family, so to say she’ d done this alone wasn’ t exactly accurate.

  But so many times she had felt alone.

  She shouldered into a sweatshirt, pulled her hair loose and began to braid it. Maybe that was part of the reason she’ d been drawn to Marshall so strongly.

  It had been so very long since she’ d allowed herself to need a man on a personal level, much less an intimate one. Peter Hadden slipped into her troubled thoughts next. Her heart reacted instantly, picking up a few extra, foolish beats.

  She couldn’ t help smiling when she thought of the way he always looked a little rumpled. Sexy as hell. Totally the opposite of meticulously groomed Marshall. Peter Hadden was one of those men who made the just-dragged-out-of-bed look so appealing.

  Damn him.

  How many time
s had she longed to run her fingers through his tousled hair? To yank his rumpled suit clean off his body. To ensure that it was properly laundered and pressed, of course, she’ d assured herself.

  Yeah, right.

  And those eyes. Amazing, she admitted, allowing the momentary lapse in sanity while no one was around to notice. But it was that damned smile that got to her the fastest. Sexy, flirty, and so warm. No, not warm. Hot.

  And even more than that, she found his dogged persistence dangerously tempting. No matter how often she pushed him away, he kept coming back. You had to love a guy who didn’ t give up.

  Why couldn’ t she simply enjoy him? Her fingers faltered in their work as she secured the end of her waist-long braid. Good question. She was twenty-nine. She’ d scarcely even dated since Jazz became a part of her life. What prevented her from having a no-strings physical relationship with a man?

  Warmth spread down her limbs at the concept.

  Mike popped back into her head. Because her life was complicated enough.

  She’ d fallen for a sexy smile and amazing eyes once before. Though Mike’ s were hazel, the same combination of green and blue that Jazz had inherited, the effect was the same. He’ d turned Kayla inside out with just a look.

  Maybe it was past time she’ d allowed a man back into her life. Didn’ t her own mother and sister broach that very subject now and again? Like clockwork.

  Still, now was not the time. Until those behind Rainy’ s murder and the fate of her offspring were solved, getting involved with anyone was out of the question. Especially considering this latest turn of events where Hadden was concerned. Kayla owed it to Marshall to protect him.

  No. She owed it to Rainy.

  Rainy had loved Marshall. Kayla would protect him for that very reason if for no other.