All Chapters of Sunstroke: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

41 Chapters

Chapter 21: PART TWO

SUNSTROKEPart TwoThe story continuesI still can't believe this is happening. Maybe I'll wake up and find out it's all just a bad dream.Yeah, right.Robin Hanna tucked her long brown hair behind one ear and looked at the computer screen for perhaps the one-hundredth time. She had a headache from staring at numbers for so long and the taste of frustration was bitter on her tongue. She'd worked late three nights in a row and still didn't feel as if she'd accomplished what she needed to. Getting information for Jonas Faulkner had been the easy part. Protecting her clients was a lot more difficult. Damn Raymond Forrester anyway.Damn herself, while she was at it, for being smart enough to spot what was happening. And stupid enough to work for a man who was laundering money for the Russians and stealing from his clients while doing it. If only she could wave a wand and make things go back to the way they were. She had spotted the discrepancies by accident, her business and

Chapter 22: PART TWO

Robin wanted to ask her what was going on but she figured she'd better just shut up and do what she was told. Jonas had the uncanny ability to make things happen when he needed to and she'd learned to trust him. So she stripped off her clothing, including her shoes, pulled on a T-shirt and a pair of jeans and slipped her feet into rubber-soled shoes. "Not glamorous," the woman said, "but they'll protect your feet from the snow. The plows cleared the streets this morning and the drifts have done a little melting today."A fleece-lined jacket completed the outfit. Then Robin took the ponytail holder the woman handed her and yanked her long hair into a tail. "Ready." At least she hoped she was. "Good. Here we go."Robin's heart was thumping as the woman opened a door in the back wall and ushered her outside. A brown sedan idled just beyond the door. The driver, a muscular man in a soft collared shirt and jeans, leaned over and pushed open the door. "We need to get going, anyway."

Chapter 23: PART TWO

"Yes. Because tomorrow I'm getting you someplace safe, far away from here. I started that in motion as soon as I hung up from your call.""Oh!" She hadn't given much thought to what she'd do next. "Well, sure, although I'm not sure how much help I cam be.""You'd be surprised at what the brain registers and remembers. At least it gives us a starting point."The tea had taken the edge off the cold enough that she could unzip her jacket although she didn't take it off. In fact, she wondered if she'd ever be warm again."Okay, go ahead and see if you can get someone. I'll do my best.""One more thing." He slid over a pad of paper that was sitting on the table and handed it to her along with a pen. "I need you to write down all your sizes, even for your...He paused."...your delicate items."If she hadn't been so uptight, Robin would have laughed. Unflappable Jonas, uncomfortable discussing ladies lingerie."Okay, but what for?""We're sending you out of town and you obviously can't

Chapter 24: PART TWO

Trey DeMarcus, Commander, US Navy, Retired, ushered his client from his office to the reception area. As they walked he reassured him one more time that all the paperwork was in order and he had nothing to worry about. Today Lloyd Bridger had seemed more tiresome than usual. He was a nitpicker without equal, although Trey figured to amass as much wealth as he had, he'd have had to be. But the man was now in his late eighties, retired and occupying himself with nitpicking changes to the dispersion of his estate. Trey chastised himself for being irritated, but this was so far from the law he'd practiced for twenty years-and the law he wanted to practice now- it wasn't even on the same map.You wanted the change.No, I didn't. Laura did.Laura. Even thinking her name sent a shaft of pain right through his heart. "Did you get Bridger all squared away?" Trey looked up to see Art Finnergan, one of his partners, lounging in his office doorway. Art handled estate planning for the firm,

Chapter 25: PART TWO

"Trey?" Art's voice cut into his reverie."What?" He gave himself a mental shake. "Oh, vacation. I don't know. I can't seem to work up the enthusiasm.""Well, give it some thought, okay? We're just a little concerned for you." He paused. "You know we're all happy to take up the slack to give you whatever time you need."He ground his teeth. "Worried I'll fall down on the job? Am I not pulling my weight?"Art had the good grace to look a little embarrassed. "Not at all. You more than pull your share around here. Hell, just taking Bridger off everyone's hands ought to earn you a bonus. But-" He paused."But you're worried about my state of mind. Is it because Laura's making no secret of the fact that she's seeing someone while I'm not? Is that it?" He had deliberately not ventured out into places where he might run into her. Even after a year, seeing her with another man would be the pits."Trey, we all know this is a painful thing to go through. The partners all want you to know w

Chapter 26: PART TWO

Instead of heading home to his high rise condo, he decided to try a new bar he'd heard people raving about. It had a fireplace, which today would be a big plus for him. He could enjoy its warmth, have a drink and lick his wounds once and for all. Because, truth be told, it ate at him that Laura seemed to have her life under control and had moved on without so much as a ripple, while he beat himself up every day over what he could have done differently."Nothing," Art Finnergan had told him. "Don't get upset with me, but from what I hear, everyone's surprised that it lasted as long as it did."Trey had stared at him. "But people are just getting to know me. I haven't lived in Newport for almost twenty years.""True. But your ex-wife has been back a lot since you first lived here and she took up residence nearly a year ago. She's a partner in a business here that puts her in contact with half of Newport. People have had a chance to assess her and get to know her."Trey wasn't sure i

Chapter 27: PART TWO

Robin had just finished breakfast when there was a knock on the door of the villa where she was staying. She checked through the peephole as she'd been instructed and relaxed when she saw Seth Guillory from McBain Security standing there. Her first thought was he had something to tell her she didn't want to hear."Good morning." She wet her lips. "Not bad news, I hope."She lived in fear of the killers slipping out of sight and somehow tracking her down. But Seth shook his head and smiled. "Not at all. Jonas called with some information for you, and both Gabe Rossi and my boss, Luke McCain texted me to make sure I checked up on you. Again, they apologize for being away but it couldn't be helped. I told them I had things under control.""I don't want to cause a problem for anyone, or be an inconvenience." She was usually the one in control so adjusting to this threw her off her game."You aren't."She waved a hand at the interior. "I'm pretty sure this place wasn't just sitting h

Chapter 28: PART TWO

Trey hadn't known what to expect when they landed in Fort Myers. He'd traveled all over the world but somehow the southeastern tip of the United States hadn't made it into his itinerary. As cold as it had been in Newport, it was that warm in Fort Myers. The sun bathed everything in a warm golden light and even the trees and shrubbery seemed greener. The McAuliffes, couple he'd flown with, had chatted with him about the town of Mimosa Key and its attractions."We're staying in Naples, this time," Trish McAuliffe told him, "but we've been to the Casa Blanca several times and love it. If you like tacos there's a great little place that's mostly frequented by local residents called South of the Border."Davis chuckled. "Or SOB, as the locals say. But their tacos are the best around. There's no sign or anything so you may have to ask someone where it is." Shortly after they landed the McAuliffes were picked up by friends and they wished him a happy vacation He wished one for himself,

Chapter 29: PART TWO

After two days of hiding in the villa, Robin was ready to move beyond the confines of its walls. After all, the place was gorgeous, with every amenity one could think of. She read the brochure left in the villa and was amazed to learn it boasted a restaurant that was referred to as "an epicurean's delight." And the picture of the casual outdoor dining was too tempting to pass up. As long as she was here, she reasoned, she might as well enjoy what it had to offer.Her life was in a mess and she had no idea what her future held. She had no job to go back to, since Jonas had told her the FBI closed up Forrester Associates. Beyond her two friends who with her made up the Flirty Thirties she didn't really have a strong circle of friends. Too much time spent working too long and too hard. She didn't even own property, preferring to rent and leave the maintenance to others. The rest of her life-her future-was a blank page yet to be written on. So no, there would be no romance for Robin Han

Chapter 30: PART TWO

The man. Right. Robin didn't even know what the hell his name was.Now she was really hungry and she'd have to go back to the restaurant so she could eat. She could always order service to the villa, but this morning she'd promised herself she'd get out of here. She stepped into the shower to wash off the remains of her disaster. After drying herself off, she pulled on a pair of pale blue shorts and a navy T-shirt that was just loose enough for her to feel comfortable in it. Sarah, her personal shopper, had done well with the wardrobe.The only makeup she applied was a light dusting of blush and a soft rose lipstick. Who was she dressing for, anyway? As she made her way back to the restaurant, she prayed the man, whoever he was, would be someplace else. Anyplace else. With luck he'd already had breakfast and would be off doing something. Anything. She didn't care what as long as she didn't have to see him.But luck apparently was in short supply for her today. When she reached the d

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