Night Waves Read Online Free PDF Page A

see what you called about.”
    “OK,” she answered, but she still couldn’t remember specifically why she called. Feeling like a bumbling idiot, she closed her mouth and ducked under the water. She wracked her brain as she sprang from the side of the pool and swam underwater, trying to come up with the answer. Lifting her head, she blamed exhaustion for not remembering.
    Sheriff Justice followed and met her at the shallow end of the pool. After wiping the dripping water from her eyes, she grasped the edge and waylaid his question with one of her own. “How did you know where to find me?”
    “It’s a small island. It wasn’t hard.” He shrugged as if the answer didn’t matter. “I brought drinks and a sub-sandwich. You can have half of the sub.”
    Cali started to shake her head, but when he sat on one of the lounge chairs and pulled out the sandwich, the smell of hot pepperoni, salami and melted cheeses made her mouth water.
    “You need to eat.” Sheriff Justice leaned forward and handed half of the sandwich and a napkin to her. He settled into the lounger and took a big bite of the other half.
    She didn’t argue. “Thanks.” She leaned forward to keep any crumbs from landing in the water and sunk her teeth into it, savoring the strong, salty taste. After a few bites, guilt swarmed through her. Serena was probably hungry and scared, while she swam in a pool and ate dinner next to a handsome sheriff. She set down the sandwich on the napkin and dusted the crumbs from her hands.
    “Not eating won’t help you find her.”
    Cali’s gaze automatically shot to his. He had read her mind perfectly.
    “You have to take care of yourself. Or, you can’t take care of anyone else.” He said the words smoothly, as if he spoke or heard them often.
    “I understand the concept. But, it’s hard when I feel like I should be out there searching for her.”
    “I have people out there searching. Trust me to do my job, Cali.”
    She didn’t want to start an argument now that he appeared to be in a more relaxed state than he was in at the office, so she kept her tone neutral. “It’s not about trusting you or anyone else. It’s about me doing what I can do to find her. I can’t sit back idly wondering what’s happening to her.”
    “You’ve already helped by answering Deputy Owen’s questions, and mine.”
    Her eyes widened. “That’s why I called you. I wanted to give you more information about Serena.”
    “What kind of information?” He took another large bite of his sandwich.
    She lifted one shoulder. “I know her. I could help you in deciding where to look.”
    “Where we look is determined by the evidence we find.”
    “So, where has the evidence led you so far?” She asked as she began eating again.
    A slow smile spread across his lips, but his features became guarded. “Nice try. Do I need to keep reminding you I can’t tell you the details?”
    “Can’t or won’t?” She shoved away from the edge of the pool to tread water. When his eyes roamed over the length of her, she remembered the pool lights acted like spotlights on her body. Embarrassed, she swam back to the edge.
    Sheriff Justice looked away as if caught doing something he shouldn’t, finished the last bite of his dinner, crumpled the paper wrapper into a ball and set it aside. “If I think you might have information about her that would help in a specific circumstance, I’ll call you.”
    “Did you know Serena’s a vegetarian?”
    He didn’t answer.
    “Did you know she likes to go horseback riding?”
    He still didn’t answer.
    “Did you know she enjoys sitting on the beach at night and watching the stars come out?”
    “Cali.” He leaned forward, laced his fingers together and lowered his voice, “I understand what you’re trying to do, and I appreciate it. But, we have information you don’t have.”
    “And I have information you don’t have. Why won’t you let me help?”
    A jaw muscle twitched. “Tell you what.