be just partiers. You have to come with me.”
Sam turned to her, looking surprised. “You’re thinking of turning down an Alaskan cruise?”
Jen shrugged. Maybe going away for a week would stop whoever did this from bothering her again. Except she couldn’t shake the niggling feeling Uncle Reggie wanted her out of Seattle for a reason.
Like maybe he’d heard that she’d secretly found a buyer for the gallery come their twenty-fifth birthday...when he lost his veto power.
She’d wanted out from the day her parents died driving home from a gallery gala. And the desire had only intensified with every gold-digging suitor who’d knocked on her door since. Uncle Reggie had to know she’d act on it.
She sucked in a breath. Two weeks. And she still had to win Cassie’s agreement to sell her half, too, for the deal to work. Which wouldn’t be easy, considering Cass had worked at the gallery since high school and loved everything about it. The last thing Jen wanted to do was take that away from her. But finding that stolen painting tonight, and now this, changed everything.
She’d already lost her parents and scarcely saw Aunt Martha since she’d divorced Reg. Cass was the only family she had left. She couldn’t bear to lose her, too. And she could, because if the deal fell through, it was only a matter of time before the police caught wind of what Reg was up to. And Cass would be implicated alongside him. Perhaps getting her away from him and the gallery for ten whole days might make it easier to win her over.
The wail of a police siren drew closer.
She sure wouldn’t have another opportunity tonight to broach the subject.
Sam studied her, his head tilted, as if he couldn’t figure out why anyone would turn down the gift of a cruise.
She chewed on her bottom lip.
If she went and won her sister’s agreement, she’d still have two days to finalize the sale once they returned before the buyer’s deadline expired. And she couldn’t let it expire. Not now that she knew his warning wasn’t just a scare tactic.
TWO
The fog didn’t look like it’d lift any time soon...in more ways than one.
Sam stood at the ship’s rail, scrutinizing the latecomers rushing up the gangplank as he listened to his deputy director on the other end of his cell phone. “It won’t be a problem, sir,” he assured.
“See that it’s not.”
Sam clenched his jaw. “Understood.” He clicked off and shoved the phone into his pocket. The guy had been gunning for him ever since he showed him up on the Carlisle case.
And the fiasco with Jezebel—as his brother fondly called her—had given his boss the ammunition to take him out. He couldn’t afford to mess up again, especially on a case with a couple of beautiful women involved.
Jake sidled up beside him and slapped him on the back. “Looking for a certain someone?”
“Just waiting for you guys,” Sam said, refusing to rise to the bait.
“Right.” Jake chuckled as his four-year-old son bounced up and down, tugging on his arm, begging to explore the ship.
Sam pressed his fingertips to his forehead and massaged the dull throb that had been there since seeing that note in Jennifer’s car.
“Hey, you okay?” Concern replaced the amusement in Jake’s voice.
“Yeah.” Sam dropped his hand and returned his attention to the wharf. He’d be a lot better if he knew who’d left Jennifer the note and why. Unlike her hysterical sister, Jennifer had kept a tight rein on her emotions, but he’d felt the tremble in her hand, seen the quiver in her lips. The guy had gotten to her. Thrown her off her game.
Maybe left her too spooked to make this trip.
“Hey, relax. You’re supposed to be on vacation. Remember?”
Yeah. The other night when Jake questioned him about giving Jennifer his undercover name, Sam had told him it was a precaution. He posed as a buyer in the art world too often to be known to people in it by any other name. Jake clearly hadn’t bought the excuse.
And Mom and Dad would not be impressed if he bailed on the trip.
But if Jennifer and Cassandra didn’t board, he’d have no choice. He couldn’t afford to let them off his radar.
Tommy tugged on Sam’s pant leg. “Can we explore now?”
“Sure.” Sam took one last look at the gangplank. “Where are Mom and Dad?”
“They headed up to the buffet for something to eat,” Jake said. “I told them we’d meet them there.”
“Hey, strangers!” a friendly female voice chimed from behind them.
“Look who’s here.” Jake leaned back, his arms resting on the rail, and nudged Sam’s arm. “Good to see you.”
Cassandra flounced toward them in a multicolored, artsy-looking getup with an uneven angular hem that reminded Sam of a court jester.
But when her sister didn’t appear behind her, Sam didn’t feel like laughing. “Jennifer’s not coming?”
“Sure.” The twinkly smile in Cassandra’s eyes conveyed almost a giddy pleasure in his interest in her sister, which could nicely work to his favor. Cassandra fluttered her hand in the direction she’d come. “She just wanted to make a few phone calls before we left port and lost cell phone reception. I’m meeting her at the buffet in twenty minutes.”
“That’s where we’re headed, too,” Jake piped up. “Would you like to join us?”
“Love to.” She hooked her arm through Jake’s. “Do you mind if we zigzag through the middle decks? Check out where everything is?”
“Sounds good.” Jake reached for Tommy’s hand.
Cassandra paled as her gaze dropped to the boy she clearly hadn’t connected to them.
“It’s okay. I’ve got him,” Sam reassured. When Jake hesitated, as he always did since losing his wife, Sam added, “He’s safe with me.” His mind flashed to Jimmy, and he strained to swallow the lump that rose to his throat.
But Jake nodded as if he had no doubts, then led the way with Cassandra on his arm, leaving Sam and Tommy to trail behind. At least the woman was dressed in something more modest than the outfit she had on the other night.
The main lobby atrium, with its four-story ceiling and glass elevator, was even more crowded than when they’d boarded an hour ago. They took the spiral staircase to the next level, admiring the opulent crystal and brass fixtures, then rode the glass-walled elevator up another level to the promenade deck.
Tommy pressed his nose to the glass, entranced by the glittering lights.
“Ooh, I hear music. Let’s go this way.” Cassandra led them to an open lounge where
