Her Private Treasure

by Wendy Etherington

  And, though she rarely smiled, her mother telling her she should smile through her sorrow was becoming annoying.

  Late in the afternoon of her fourth day home, she walked alone on the beach, watched the deep blue Pacific surf crash against rock and sand, all the while wishing she was at another beach, on another coast and certainly not alone.

  Her and Carr’s end had been inevitable.

  Yet, there were parts of her that were screaming about what a horrible choice she was about to make. Instead of hiding in the bushes, she should be drawing her weapon and firing. Moving forward instead of going back.

  “If you wanted to run, you should go over to the track at the high school.”

  Stopping, Malina turned to see her mother rushing to catch up to her. “I’m not running.”

  “You’re walking too fast to catch all this,” her mom said, gesturing at the beauty around them.

  “I see it.”

  Breathing hard, her mom finally reached her. “Do you?”

  They were as opposite as night and day—Malina with her dark Thai coloring and her mother’s sunny California beauty. Where Malina was edgy, her mother was calm.

  Only their eyes were the same. What did her mom see that Malina didn’t?

  “I met a man in South Carolina,” she began abruptly.

  “I figured as much.”

  “You did?”

  “Only love can put a look like yours on a woman’s face.”

  Malina cleared her throat. She wasn’t sure what to say to that. “Yeah, well, if I accept this transfer, I’ll leave him behind. Didn’t you say you always regretted giving up Paris and staying with Dad and the surf shop?”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “But—”

  Her mom grabbed her hand. “I told you about giving up Paris because I wanted you to think hard about your decision to leave home, to realize that certain life choices can change your path forever, and I didn’t want you to feel obligated to stay in a place you obviously longed to escape. I’ve never regretted my decision. I wanted you to have that same peace.”

  Peace. Malina was sure she’d never find the same state of mind.

  “Besides, my paintings look better on the walls around me than in fancy city galleries. Why do I want to work that hard for someone else’s pleasure?”

  “A woman shouldn’t give up her career for a man,” Malina insisted.

  Her mom shrugged and hooked her arm around Malina’s. “Why not? You break up with a man who makes you unhappy. Why shouldn’t you keep one who does?”

  “It’s not that simple.”

  “Sure it is. Do you love him?”

  “I suppose so.”

  “Ah, Malina.” Her mother shook her head. “You don’t suppose anything. You know.”

  Malina stopped and sighed, staring at the retreating waves against the shore. “Yes, I love him.” Nothing else could be causing this crazy mixture of pain and pleasure. “But I asked him to come to D.C. with me. He refused.”

  “Because of you, or because of something within himself?”

  How had her mother gotten so wise and perceptive? Artist equaled psychic apparently. “Because of him.”

  “And Washington is the only place you can serve justice?”

  Serve justice. Leave it to her mother to romanticize the FBI, a feat previously thought impossible. “It’s the only place I’ll move up in the Bureau.”

  “Do you really want to sit in an office and run the place? No, Malina, you’d be miserable.”

  “But I want more than…” She trailed off, knowing her thoughts were disrespectful.

  “Spending your life managing a beach shop? Oh, honey, there has to be a middle ground between FBI director and surfing instructor.”

  As she said it, Malina smiled, feeling silly. “Sure there is.” And she’d been there for years, but that hadn’t made her happy either. Being with Carr, feeling his hand squeezing hers as they walked the beach, as they challenged each other, debated and made love—that had been happiness. “Why can’t ambition and love coincide?” she asked on a sigh.

  “They can. The FBI isn’t the only place you can right wrongs.”

  “Leave the Bureau entirely?”

  Her mom put her arm around her waist. “You come from a long line of entrepreneurs. Work for yourself. Do what you want, rise as high as you desire instead of going where they send you.”

  “I could do security consulting,” Malina said slowly, the idea taking on shape and appeal. “That mayor could stand to update his equipment and procedures.”

  “Sounds like a career to me.”

  Was her mom right? Was she holding on to false perception? Why was she so determined to look at her mom’s decision to give up art school and stay on the island for love as a mistake she’d never make?

  Was she really giving up anything? Maybe, instead, she was choosing love over another path.

  As for seeing Palmer’s Island as mundane, that perception was also off. Her few weeks there had certainly provided plenty of adventure. Working for herself, there was no telling what kind of cases she could get into.

  But, more than the excitement, she’d enjoyed getting to know the people affected by her case. She could make a difference to those who mattered to her instead of nameless strangers.

  Watching the sun dip closer to the bright blue ocean, she realized something had definitely changed. She had.

  “I’M RESIGNING,” Malina said, laying her badge on SAC Samuel Clairmont’s desk.

  Sam looked up at her, then nodded at the chair in front of his desk. “Have a seat, Agent Blair.”

  Reluctantly, Malina did as he asked, although even to the end taking orders was difficult for her. Her way was the only way, after all. With a smile, she remembered Carr’s accurate assessment of her philosophy.

  “Are you looking forward to leaving that much?” Sam asked.

  Malina forced a sober expression onto her face. “Sorry, sir. It’s been a difficult decision.”

  “In less than a week, you’ve gone from the promise of glory in Quantico to unemployment.” Clearly curious, he leaned back in his chair. “Want to catch me up?”

  She glanced around his office, the walls full of pictures and commendations. Framed, signed photos of the last three presidents held a place of high honor directly behind his desk.

  She didn’t envy him anymore. She couldn’t care less about glory or running the Bureau.

  “I want to open my own security consulting firm.” She smiled again. “I’m pretty good at finding lost dogs.”

  “You’re—” Sam shook his head. “You’re not serious.”

  “The dogs would only be an occasional thing, I guess. By staying here, I’ll never be anything more than an agent. My career will never advance beyond what it is now.”

  “It’s still a pretty damn good job, and you’re one of the best. And stop smiling like that. You’re scaring me.”

  “I’ll try.” And she did. Mostly, though, she wanted to get this meeting over with and go see Carr. She needed this part of her life finished, so she could start down her new path. “I appreciate your confidence in me, sir, but I don’t have the patience for politics anymore.”

  “And this has nothing to do with Carr Hamilton?”

  “Oh, it has everything to do with him.”

  “If you’re staying here for him, you can still work for me. I’ll talk to the director about canceling the transfer.”

  She let her gaze rove the wall of honors. “The Bureau doesn’t hold the appeal it once did.”

  Sam turned briefly to see what held her fascination. “I know you don’t need us, our commendations or probably our paycheck—you’ll have a wealthy husband.”

  Malina’s heart jumped at the idea of marrying Carr. She hadn’t gotten that far planning her new path.

  Still, the idea didn’t seem as crazy as she might have considered a few weeks ago. She pressed her lips together to keep from grinning.

  “I’
m asking you to stay because we need you,” Sam said forcefully.

  “You didn’t like my plan for catching Simon Ellerby,” she pointed out.

  “I reluctantly approved the operation, but since it worked, you seem to have been right. I’m not going to say we’ll always agree, but give me a chance to make it work. And here in Charleston we’re not as backwater as you might think. We have the harbor assignments and a SWAT team, you know.”

  Either of those assignments would certainly feed her desire for adventure. But she wasn’t sure Carr would love the idea. She’d have to consult with him before she could agree to join the team.

  Wow, they really were a couple.

  “You’re doing it again.”

  She bit her lower lip. “Sorry.”

  “At least give it a few months.”

  Maybe she was being rash in leaving the Bureau. She did respect and admire Sam. And since closing the Ellerby case, her coworkers had abruptly cut off the ragging about dog-napping.

  As if sensing she was wavering, Sam leaned back in his chair. “I notice you didn’t turn in your gun.”

  Malina laid her hand protectively over her Glock. The sidearm was as much a part of her as her hand. She could buy her own, but how many opportunities other than the firing range would she have to actually use it in the private sector?

  As she started to slide the weapon from its holster, Sam held up his hand. “Keep it for now. I want you to talk to some people before you decide.” He picked up the phone and said, “Send them in.”

  Malina glanced out the office windows to see the mayor and his twins walking through the bullpen.

  What the— She whipped her head back toward Sam.

  “The mayor asked me to contact him the minute I heard from you,” he said. “I called him and told him about our appointment today.”

  Malina rose as Mayor Parnell walked into the office. “Good afternoon, sir, I—”

  Madison and Edward threw themselves against her sides. “Don’t go!” they cried in unison.

  “Well, I don’t—” Malina began.

  “What’ll we do if somebody runs off with Pooky again?” Madison asked, blinking tears from her bright blue eyes.

  Malina thought it would be churlish to point out she and her brother had been the last ones to roll out that dastardly plan.

  “There’s this big kid at school that threatens to punch me if I look at him,” Edward said, his voice desperate. “Who’s going to help me with that?”

  Ah, your dad’s big, bad bodyguards?

  Malina looked desperately at the mayor for help.

  “Sorry, Agent Blair. I told them about your transfer to Quantico.” He sighed. “I had a moving speech all planned to convince you to stay. It appears that won’t be necessary.”

  Sam rose, and now he was smiling. “I’m sure it was an excellent speech, Don. Maybe you can use it at Agent Blair’s commendation ceremony.”

  Good grief. Malina finally understood how Simon Ellerby had felt being taken down by a bimbo and a lawyer.

  “Look, kids,” she said, kneeling between them. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m still deciding my career plans,” she added, her gaze flicking to Sam. “But I promise I’ll be around to protect you guys and Pooky.”

  Then, contradicting her uncertainty, and in between patting the twins on their backs, she caught the badge Sam tossed her.

  “CARR, YOUR BOAT’S BEEN broken into.”

  Prior to picking up the phone, Carr had been seated at his desk, staring out his office window. At this news from the sheriff, however, he jerked to his feet. “When? How?”

  “I have no idea,” Tyler said. “Al Duffy just called me. I’m headed over to the marina now. Why don’t you meet me?”

  “I’m coming.”

  He hung up the phone and strode from the office, telling his secretary that he had to go out for a while.

  Since waking up last week to find Malina gone, he’d been going through the motions of waking, working, sleeping. He’d struggled over the promises he’d made to himself—and Sister Mary Katherine—and the irresistible lure of being with the woman he loved.

  Could he really live in a city like Washington, full of high-profile clients and power brokers, and not indulge in old habits? Was there any lure left in trying to prove his parents had been short-sighted in leaving him behind?

  Yes. And no.

  Besides, Malina was assigned to Bureau headquarters in Quantico, Virginia. He could buy a house with a farm, grow peaches or cotton and retreat to the beach on weekends.

  Peaches or cotton? he asked himself as he pulled into the marina’s parking lot.

  Okay, maybe not.

  But there were certainly plenty of charities and foundations in the Washington area that could use his expertise.

  Bypassing The Heron, he jogged down to the pier. At four-thirty it was a bit early for after-work cruisers to be about, but he did expect Tyler and Al. He saw neither of them. He could see the tip of The Litigator bobbing in the water some distance away.

  What in the world was going on?

  Could the would-be thief have actually overpowered both men? And why? Still, the whole incident had Carr’s nerves clanging with alarm. Was there another member of Simon Ellerby’s thieving ring that they’d been unaware of?

  His body braced for anything, he moved closer. He wished like crazy for a weapon and paused as he realized he’d left his phone in the car. But then, Tyler had undoubtedly been wearing both his police radio and his pistol, and he didn’t appear to have fared so well.

  Two slips from his own, he saw the smoke.

  A stream was billowing out an open window, so, thief or no thief, he broke into a run. He leaped onto the deck, flung open the door and nearly plowed into Malina, who was frantically waving a towel over a pot on the stove.

  His heart literally stopped. “You broke into my boat?” he asked, his gaze frozen to her trim figure, encased in jeans and a cherry-red shirt.

  She scowled. “I was trying to make you a romantic dinner.”

  She was? He could hardly believe she was real.

  “Al Duffy is an ass.” She stalked across the cabin to open another window. “He claims he saw me sneaking around. He knows I know you. But does he walk up and ask me what I’m doing? Nooo. He calls the sheriff. Then Tyler shows up, gun drawn I might add. We nearly shot each other!” She pointed at him, as if the whole mess was his fault. “I spent fifty bucks on seafood at your buddy’s shack in the marina’s parking lot. He’s wrong, by the way. You don’t just throw everything in the pot and let it boil.”

  Carr had barely heard her rant and continued to stare at her as if she were a mirage. “You were making me a romantic dinner?”

  She flopped on the sofa. “As you can imagine, Tyler laughed like a loon about that before he left. He offered to send Andrea over to help. I probably should have taken his advice.”

  Now that Carr was convinced he wasn’t hallucinating—’cause, hey, in his fantasies he always pictured Malina in a bikini and her deep blue eyes full of lust, not frustrated and upset—he caught the implications of her appearance.

  She was back.

  But for how long? Was she making him a goodbye dinner? If so, she was going to find losing him much more challenging than she’d expected.

  Carr leaned over the pot. He saw crabs, shrimp, sausage, corn, potatoes and onions, but no liquid. “Did you add water?”

  She looked puzzled, then rueful. “I was so distracted by nearly murdering the sheriff, it’s entirely possible I screwed up the instructions.”

  “We can probably salvage it.” He dumped the food into another pot, tossed out the burned bits, which turned out to be mostly potatoes, then reached into the fridge for a beer. He poured the contents of the can into the fresh pot, along with several cups of water.

  Turning to face her, he leaned against the counter. “When did you get back?” he managed to say.

  “Late last night. I slept all day, then came h
ere.”

  A bout of nerves he hadn’t experienced since his first middle school dance washed over him. “Oh, yeah?”

  Her eyes cleared, the anger gone. She blinked as if just realizing he was there. Standing, she moved toward him.

  He noticed she wore not only her pistol and holster, but her badge, which was tucked, shield out, in the front pocket of her jeans. “Is this an official visit?”

  “Sort of.”

  He frowned. Something about her was different, not the least of which were her vague answers. “When do you go to D.C.?”

  She stopped inches away from him, and his heartbeat picked up speed. “I’m thinking of doing an HRT refresher course next month.”

  “I see.” But of course he really didn’t. “I wasn’t sure you were coming back here.”

  “You’re here,” she said simply.

  He finally realized what was different. The change was subtle, but up close he could see the distance in her eyes was gone. The vague suspicion and doubt she’d used as a barrier between them had disappeared. Hope sparked deep inside him.

  “I learned something important at home.” She curled her arms around his neck.

  “The weather’s too perfect in Hawaii?”

  “No, but it is.”

  “The surfing is lousy.”

  “No, it definitely isn’t.” She laid her finger over his lips before he could ask any more inane questions. “I learned this is how love feels. At least for me.”

  He crushed her against him so hard that tears exploded behind his eyes. “You’re not going.”

  “I resigned.”

  “But you’re wearing your badge.”

  “The SAC talked me into staying, at least for now. We’ll see how things go, then decide together what to do.”

  “My money’s on Sam.”

  She leaned back. “Not we—Sam and me. We, as in you and me.”

  Carr planted a hard, relieved, hopeful kiss on her lips. “I love you.”

  “And I love you. Nothing in my life is as important as you.”

  Carr searched her gaze, seeing the truth of her conviction. He knew the happiness flooding him was only beginning, and the future would be faced, not alone, but with her. “I thought your job was your life.”