by Lois Kay
Jody pushed her disheveled hair away from her forehead. “I'll be right there. Give me five minutes,” she promised. “Inspector Wong, did anyone get hurt?”
“No, Miss. There are no injuries, although the fire brigade did have to pick up someone from the roof.”
Jody shook her head to clear it from the last traces of sleep. “I’m on my way.”
* * *
Sam was sitting on one of the wooden benches outside The Reef. She was watching her surroundings with keen interest. A few firemen were organizing their equipment, putting everything back in their trucks in neatly arranged order. It had only taken them less than fifteen minutes to put out the fire and give the 'all clear' sign. That was about the same amount of time Sam had spent on the roof, before two of the firefighters came up the fire escape to get her off the roof.
Climbing up on the roof from the fourth floor hadn't been that hard. She had used a chair she had found on the balcony. Standing on the armrests of the chair she had been able to reach the roof and had simply pulled herself up. The fire-escape that was on the side of the building only reached as high as the fourth floor and Sam had found herself trapped. She made a mental note to look up local fire codes, not happy with what she had found. Jumping from the roof down onto the metal steps of the fire-escape had not been an option, since Sam's arms and legs had been shaking both from strain and low blood sugar. So, she had taken a seat on one of the air-conditioning outlets, patiently waiting for someone to help her down.
Sam was amazed at the amount of people that showed up in the middle of the night, attracted by the sensation of a fire and all the commotion it caused.
“Rubbernecking,” she muttered. “Like a flock of vultures.”
A handful of policemen were busy keeping the onlookers at a safe distance, making sure nobody would be in the way of the emergency teams that were doing their jobs. Sam was physically fit and very healthy, but climbing up the fourth floor and then the roof had put a lot of strain on her body and she knew she would be aching badly in a few hours. When the firemen had helped her off the roof and they were climbing down the stairs her legs had been shaking and one of the firemen had to physically help her down. As soon as they arrived on the ground floor he had put her in the care of an ambulance team. They had thoroughly assessed her and had given her some glucose tablets and a bottle of juice.
Sam shivered when the night breeze ruffled her hair and cooled her overheated skin. She could feel the throbbing ache in her right leg and knew she had to get up and walk around to keep her muscles warm. With a sigh, she got to her feet and carefully stretched her leg. The muscles in her right calf screamed out in agony and Sam quickly sat back down. “Dang it. I don't know what's worse, climbing up two floors or the after effects of it. I think I'll vote for the latter,” she mumbled.
“Are you alright, lass?” An elderly police-officer shot her a worried look and Sam sent him a smile.
“I'm fine, just a few cramps, that's all.”
“Walking on bare feet, outside, in the middle of the night won't make it any better,” he reprimanded, pointing toward her feet.
Sam chuckled. “I know it’s stupid, but I forgot to put my shoes on. I was in a hurry to get out.”
Constable Tierney returned the smile and shook his head in disbelief. “How did you get up there anyway?”
“Gymnastics, determination and a lot of luck.” Sam grinned, enjoying the confused look on his face. “I climbed up,” she explained. “I sort of hopped from one balcony to the other. Much like one of your precious kangaroos.”
“You’re joking.” The expression on his face was one of horror, mixed with admiration.
“No, I'm afraid not.” From the corner of her eye Sam saw a familiar redhead approaching. “Don't mentioned it in front of my friend, please. She'll go bananas on me. It might be better if I tell her myself.”
* * *
Jody had been talking to Inspector Wong, very concerned about the guests The Reef was housing. To her utter relief, nobody had been hurt. Luckily, they only had to move a few guests to another room because of smoke and water damage. But that was something she could live with.
“You mentioned something about somebody on the roof?” Jody looked at the petite, Asian-Australian policewoman, who had been busy scribbling in a notepad.
Inspector Wong nodded. She finished writing and looked up. “Apparently, one of your guests who was staying on the third floor, near the offices, decided her best chance to get away from the smoke was to—”
“Wait a second,” Jody interrupted. A feeling of dread settled in the pit of her stomach. “A guest on the third floor? Near the offices? Are you referring to the executive suite?”
Inspector Wong glanced at her notepad and nodded. “Yes, that's right, the executive suite.”
Jody gasped and pressed her hand against her chest. “Is she alright?” She took a moment to let the information sink in. “She was on the roof?” Her gaze traveled to the building, searching for the third floor and then moved up. “How?”
Inspector Wong had been a member of the police force for nearly a decade and there wasn’t much that could surprise her anymore. “She climbed the balconies.” Her voice sounded casual. “She must have a hell of a physique. I talked to her, she’s alright. Being tall certainly does have its advantages.” She chuckled. “I should know.”
Jody couldn't answer. Her eyes were still glued to the roof and her brain was trying to comprehend what the Inspector was telling her. “Where is she now?” she finally asked.
Inspector Wong pointed toward the entrance where a small group of firemen and members of the police force were obviously sharing a joke, because there was a lot of laughter. A few feet behind them Jody could see a familiar form and she was flooded with relief. “Is there anything else you need from me?” she asked.
“I'll let you know if I do, “Inspector Wong answered with a smile. “You can go and see for yourself that your guest is still in one piece. Thank you for coming, Miss McDonnell. I appreciate your help.”
Jody nodded and walked toward the entrance. Her eyes were never leaving Sam's form.
* * *
Sam's eyes had been following Jody from the moment she had arrived and she mentally braced herself when she finally stopped in front of her. At first, Jody didn't speak, but Sam could almost feel the green eyes penetrating her skin, searching for injuries. Sam waited patiently until Jody finished her inspection.
“I’m fine,” she said. “Honestly.”
“Sam, where are your shoes?” Jody asked.
Sam felt like a little girl who had been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. Warmth crept up her cheek and she cast down her gaze. “Um...in my room?” she finally answered. A chuckle made her look up and much to her relief she saw Jody’s warm smile sent her way.
Without a word, Jody took a seat next to her and Sam could feel her hand on her knee, rubbing the fabric of her sweats. It was a gesture she remembered all too well. It was something Jody used to do without even realizing it and the familiarity of it filled Sam with warmth. They sat like that for a long time, not talking, but watching the scene around them, enjoying a shared warmth that had been missed for such a long time. Finally, Jody cleared her throat and cast a glance at Sam, who was gazing into the distance. “I was told you practiced some of your mountain goat skills tonight.” Sam heard the small quiver in her voice and covered the hand that was still resting on her knee.
“Well, ever since I was a kid, they told me I was a monkey,” Sam joked.
“You could have fallen to your death, Sam.”
Sam held on to Jody’s hand and half-turned so she could look at her. “I didn't, Jody. I'm still here, in one piece,” Sam said. “Please, no ‘what if’s’.”
Jody stared at the ground and Sam could tell she was trying hard to remain composed. Sam reached out and touched her cheek. “Look at me, Jody.”
Jody finally gave in and Sam felt a stab of pain when she saw the u
nshed tears. Her thumb followed the line of a cheekbone, caressing the soft skin. Jody leaned into the contact and closed her eyes. At that moment, Sam realized the bond they had shared so many years ago, was still there. No matter how hard David McDonnell had tried, it had never been broken. The loss of those years and the realization of all the things that could have been, hit Sam with full force and she could feel a tear make its way down her cheek. She didn't try to stop it. She wrapped an arm around Jody and pulled her close. They sat like that for a long time and Sam could feel Jody’s silent tears soak through the thin fabric of her shirt.
“I’m sorry about that, Sam, “she apologized. “I didn't mean to act like a baby. It's just that—”
“You don't have to apologize, Jody,” Sam interrupted. “I know I pulled off a dangerous stunt, but it was the only thing I could do. The hallway was filled with thick smoke and I couldn't risk losing my way trying to find the emergency exit. Breathing in smoke for a mere thirty seconds can kill a person, and I sure didn't want to wait for it to catch up with me in my room. At least climbing up gave me a chance. And it worked out pretty good.”
“I know,” Jody mumbled against Sam’s chest. “Inspector Wong told me the fire started in my office. She says it's a mess. There were two computers in there and they melted.”
Sam pondered that information for a while. Her hand was rubbing circles across Jody’s back. “You know what that means, don’t you?” Sam said. “All the information that was stored on your hard drive has been lost. That’s pretty frustrating.”
“You forget I’ve got copies of a lot of files, which includes the current payroll file.” Jody looked up and sent Sam a tired smile. “There’s enough stuff to keep you busy for a while.”
“You’re the best.” Sam dropped a kiss on the top of Jody’s head. It was such a familiar gesture she didn’t even realize what she was doing. Sam frowned. “I don’t want to jump to conclusions, but I don't think this fire was an accident. Either someone is feeling hot breath down their neck and wants to erase their tracks, or the fire was set for another insurance claim.”
“I agree,” Jody answered. Only when Sam heard the smile in her voice she realized what she had done. How many times had she held Jody like she was doing now, dropping kisses on the top of her head, forehead or temple without even thinking about it? The feeling of Jody tucked against her chest was so familiar her body had responded automatically. It was a wonderful feeling.
“I'd better go and see if there's another room available,” Sam said after a long, comfortable silence “I need a hot shower and a warm bed.”
“Are you nuts?” Jody pulled away from Sam’s body and looked up. “You’re not staying here. You're coming with me. No objections, Sam. I'm serious.”
“I can't impose on you like that, I—”
“No objections, Sam. Or do you want to argue with me?”
“What about Jennifer De Wit? She’s not supposed to know you.” Sam tried. She knew once Jody made up her mind about something, it was hard to make her change it.
Jody had to think about that question for a moment. Her eyes narrowed and she frowned. “To hell with Jennifer De Wit,” she finally stated with such determination it made Sam laugh. “You're coming home with me. And that's final.”
Chapter 5
He had been walking for hours, deep in thought, not aware where his feet were leading him. Taking step after step after step, until, at the horizon, the edge of the dark night sky started to change color, announcing the birth of yet another day.
He didn't notice the beauty of the deep orange sun, cresting the horizon, nor the way the change in light painted the majestic ocean into an endless blanket of blues, pinks and oranges. His vision was darkened. With slumped shoulders, his hands buried deep inside his pockets, he followed his own footsteps imprinted in the sand. Even though his soul was lost, his body still knew the way home.
It was Saturday morning and he still had four days left. Ninety-six hours. Maybe the fire had bought him more time. He knew his corruption had been discovered. He did manage to delay things for a couple of months, but the arrival of someone from the corporate office was too much a coincidence. Or was it?
As one of the anonymous onlookers he had been watching when the fire brigade arrived at The Reef. He knew there wouldn't be too much damage, because that had not been the intention. The only thing he had wanted was to erase his tracks. By destroying the computer and, hopefully, the cabinet files, he should have accomplished at least that.
Seeing the tall, Dutch woman being brought down from the roof had scared him, even made him feel guilty. But a little voice inside his head had quickly reassured him. She was alright. No harm done. She was probably a little shaken up, but she would get over it.
When his assistant-manager had arrived, anxiety had overtaken him. He had flinched when he saw her talking to the Inspector, wondering if it were him she was talking about. Again, the little voice in the back of his mind had come to his aid. It reminded him that she might have suspicions, but she couldn’t prove anything. Not now. Not anymore.
The interaction between his assistant-manager and the woman from the head office had startled him. They clearly knew each other. Seeing them together had strengthened his belief that the blonde was sent down to investigate. The fear that brought a tightening to his chest was lifted when he realized he did buy himself some time. He had done good. No one was hurt, but his traces were gone. He looked at his watch. Ninety-five hours.
* * *
Jody closed the door of her apartment behind her and tossed her keys on the coffee table. Her cell phone immediately followed. She walked toward the kitchen, automatically hitting the light switch when she passed it.
“Sit down, Sam, I'll make us something to drink. Is tea alright? Or would you rather have hot chocolate?” She stuck her head around the corner and looked at Sam. “No caffeine allowed.”
“Hot chocolate contains caffeine,” Sam replied.
Jody grinned. “Tea it is,” she said retreating into the kitchen. “Smart ass.”
“I heard that,” Sam said. “And yes, I'd love a cup of tea.”
Sam looked around with appreciative eyes. The apartment was rather small, but was furnished and decorated very tastefully. It had a hardwood floor and a large, blue rug was spread across the sitting area. The couch was made from a soft, light yellow leather and seemed very comfortable. One of the walls was covered with a huge bookcase, stacked to capacity. Opposite the couch was an entertainment set and Sam could picture Jody sitting on the couch, her feet on the table, glass of wine in her hand, watching a good movie or reading a book. Sam smiled.
“So, what's the verdict?” Jody's voice interrupted her musings.
“It's cozy. I like it.” Sam walked to the kitchen and leaned against the door jamb. “I love the bookcase. I guess you’re still a bookworm.”
“I read whenever I get the chance,” Jody answered, taking two teacups from one of the kitchen cabinets. “Which isn't too often anymore these days.”
“I know what you mean,” Sam replied. “I notice you still like a good mystery novel.”
“I sure do.” Jody smiled. She put the steaming cups on the coffee table and sat down. “Come, have a seat,” she said, patting the couch. “I want to look at your foot. When you were putting on those sneakers that Nick gave you I saw some blood. You must have grazed it somehow.”
“I wonder how I did that,” Sam joked, but she obediently sat down and took off the oversized shoes.
Jody patted her lap. “Put 'em up, Spiderwoman.” When Sam raised an eyebrow in response, Jody made a face. “Come on, Sam. I want to see where the blood came from, I'm not going to bite.”
“My feet are filthy, Jo,” Sam objected.
“And the problem with that is, what exactly?” Jody laughed. “You should know better than that, you goof! Don't you remember the mud fights we had? Or the way we looked after going out in the bush, after and during rain storms? Your feet loo
k clean in comparison to what they did then. Put 'em up and let me have a look.”
With an exaggerated sigh, Sam complied. She leaned back against the armrest of the couch and put her feet in Jody's lap, who immediately started a thorough inspection. “You've got a cut right here.” Jody traced the instep of Sam's right foot with her finger. “It's not bleeding anymore, but it needs to be cleaned.”
“It’ll wash off in the shower,” Sam answered. “You do have a shower, don't you?”
Jody didn't answer, but merely snorted. She sipped her tea, with her hand still resting on Sam's foot.
Sam was quite content to be where she was and didn't want to move. Relaxing on the couch, with her feet on Jody's lap, drinking a cup of sweet, hot tea was much more than she would have bargained for just a few hours earlier. “I could fall asleep like this,” she mumbled. The hot tea was relaxing and now the adrenaline had left her body she felt drained. But then an unexpected cramp in her right leg almost made her cry out. Her body jerked in response and Sam clenched her teeth, willing the pain to subside.
Jody could feel Sam's body go rigid and she quickly put down her cup, grabbing her legs with both hands. Her eyes were full of concern when she looked at Sam's pained face. “Sam? What is it?”
“Cramp,” Sam answered with clenched teeth. “My right leg. It—”
“Is there anything I can do?”
Sam shook her head. “It will go away in a minute,” She almost growled in frustration. “It always does.”
Jody decided not to wait for that. She put her hand on Sam's right calve and started to massage the tense muscles she could feel through the fabric of the sweatpants. Her eyes never left Sam's face. She wanted to see every change in Sam’s features that could tell her if her actions did have any effect. After a while she could feel the muscles relax, as did Sam's face and her own tension faded away. “Better?” she asked.
