Over and over again.
SARA WAS BEGINNING to hate the telephone. For as long as she’d been in Hidden Falls, the phone had been the bearer of bad news. Today was no different. No sooner had they packed up food supplies for the boat, when Rafe’s cell phone rang.
They stared at each other for a long time before he finally gave in and glanced at the incoming number.
With a groan, he hit the send button. “Hey, Captain. What’s up?”
Sara came up beside Rafe and waited as he listened to her superior.
“Uh-huh. Yep. I understand. I’ll let her know.” Rafe hung up the phone and turned to face her. “Morley’s making noises from his jail cell about how his lawyer is working on another bail hearing.”
Sara made a face. “So? No judge in his right mind will let that man out on bail.”
“The D.A. wants to make sure of that, so she’s filing a motion for an expedited hearing on the charges. If Morley’s willing to waive a jury trial, you may be heading home sooner than we thought.”
Sara’s heart sank. She wasn’t ready to leave this place just yet.
Or leave Rafe behind.
With a sigh, she shoved her hands into the pockets of her denim shorts. “When?”
“They’ll let you know as soon as they do. But the captain said to tell you they’ll arrange for police transport to and from the courthouse.”
Sara rolled her eyes. “Come on. You just called me a surprise witness. Morley won’t know when to expect me.”
“Precautions wouldn’t hurt,” Rafe reminded her.
“Okay, an escort is fine.” But she refused to dwell on something that hadn’t happened yet. “Now, can we leave before someone else calls and further kills the mood?” She picked up the shopping bag full of sandwiches.
He grabbed the cooler they’d loaded with soda, water and ice.
Sunshine and the soothing bobbing of the boat beckoned to her. Not to mention time alone with Rafe to do whatever they wanted to beneath the midday sun.
“Race you to the car,” Sara teased. She darted around him, grabbed the door handle.
And bumped right into Coop, who was about to ring the doorbell.
“Nooo!” Sara said, seeing her boat trip evaporate before her eyes.
“Nice greeting.” Coop eyed their package-laden hands. “I’m interrupting something, aren’t I?”
“Yes!” Sara said.
“Is it important?” Rafe asked.
“Unfortunately, it is.” Coop looked sheepish, but firm.
Sara groaned.
Rafe shot her a look lit by disappointment of his own. “It’s okay. We can go on the boat later. Come on in,” Rafe said to Coop with a lot more graciousness than Sara was feeling.
But she knew Coop was only here for a short time, and if he was here, it must be important.
“Come in,” she said, pushing aside her disappointment, but shooting Rafe a look that warned him she’d hold him to their speedboat ride.
“What’s going on?” Rafe asked Coop.
“I’ve been thinking about something Sara said the other day. About how if Amanda really believes she’s doing a service with the blog, maybe she’d stop if she discovered she wasn’t.”
“What’s wrong? You couldn’t pinpoint her as the source of today’s blog?” Sara asked.
Coop frowned. “Pretty much. I’m sure you realized the same thing when you read it this morning.”
Sara nodded. “We had this discussion earlier. Any of Angel’s friends could have seen Rafe tuck his hand into my pants pocket.”
“And the photo? Could have been anyone discreetly using a cell phone, her photographer included,” Rafe added.
“Exactly. But I still believe she’s the blogger. So I want the three of us to appeal to Amanda’s human side to stop plugging your every move, because she’s putting you in danger,” Coop explained. “I know Amanda, and I have to believe we can get through to her.”
Rafe shook his head. “Isn’t that—”
Coop held up a hand, halting Rafe midthought. “Before you call me idealistic or naive, Sara knows I’m anything but. I just don’t want to waste time playing a game with her when the truth could protect you faster.”
Rafe inclined his head. “That’s the smartest thing I’ve heard all day.”
“I also wanted you to read my article before I turn it in. Give you a chance to make sure you’re okay with how I laid out Pirro’s role.”
Rafe raised an eyebrow. “And I just might have misjudged you, as well.”
Coop shrugged. “I never let anyone vet my stuff before. Consider it a favor for a friend.” He winked at Sara.
She immediately felt guilty for being annoyed he’d shown up unannounced earlier. “Thanks, Coop.”
“No problem. Just leave me with Rafe’s e-mail. Now, can I steal you two to go talk to Amanda before she leaves town?” he asked.
Rafe nodded. “No time like the present.”
Coop started for the door.
Rafe grasped her wrist, and she turned toward him. “Rain check?” he asked.
She couldn’t contain her smile. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Sara believed in glomming the good, because she never knew how long it would last.
SARA, RAFE AND COOP caught up with Amanda outside Angel’s as she was packing her car for the ride home. Rafe and Sara held back while Coop asked her to stay, at least long enough for a talk.
From her nod, Sara assumed she was willing.
Coop waved them over, and they joined Amanda and Coop by the car.
“Coop says you all want to talk?” Amanda asked, sounding confused.
Sara inclined her head. “If you don’t mind delaying your trip for a little while.”
Amanda shrugged. “I’m in no rush.”
“Then why don’t we go back inside. I’m sure Angel won’t mind if we use her living room.” Rafe gestured toward the house.
Amanda walked down the path, her ponytail bobbing against her back as if she were a young kid, not a newspaper reporter who wielded power with the written word.
Once they were settled inside, Amanda spoke first. “So, where’s the fire? What’s the emergency and why do you all need to talk to me?”
Angel’s living room was a warm, inviting space and Sara hoped Amanda took her cues from the feeling. Considering the woman had already refused to stop her blog when Captain Hodges asked directly, she couldn’t imagine why she’d do so now.