Dolby(12)
Author: Maryann Jordan

 

Jonathan, Here’s a favorite quote from Shannon Adler: “God built lighthouses to see people through storms. Then he built storms to remind people to find lighthouses.” Thank you for sharing the lighthouse with me. Marcia

 

He didn’t move for a long moment, his heart beating an erratic pattern as her words tattooed their print deep in his chest. “Jesus, could you have written anything more perfect?” he wondered aloud.

 

The sound of a helicopter in the distance jolted him out of his musings. Grabbing his pack, he stalked toward the entrance. He twisted his neck, looking over his shoulder one last time, scanning and memorizing the space where he’d met the enigmatic woman. Turning forward again, he jogged outside to meet Hop as he landed the small bird on the beach. Hop had been an Air Force Special Operations pilot before working for Carson. Another Keeper, Bennett, had been an Army Ranger sniper and was in the back of the four-seater.

 

Hop immediately barked out a laugh. “What the fuck happened to you? Looks like you went ten rounds mud wrestling… and lost.”

 

“Did the mysterious lady hiker take you down in the mud?” Bennett’s laughter blended with Hop’s.

 

“Shut the fuck up,” he grumbled. “She cut out on me this morning. Head north. Maybe we can find her.”

 

Bennett shook his head. “She skipped out, and you didn’t notice?”

 

Hop’s brows leaped to his forehead as Dolby sighed. “Yeah. How the fuck she managed to wake up and leave without me being aware of her movements, I’ll never know. But her footprints head north. She wouldn’t have left in the dark, so she’s only been gone for two hours at the most.”

 

He kept his eyes pinned to the beach and the surrounding hills but caught no sight of her. They came to an area where homes were perched, overlooking the beach and neighborhoods fanned below.

 

“Damn,” he grumbled. “I can’t believe she got away.” As soon as the words left his lips, he could feel Hop’s gaze boring into the side of his head.

 

“Sounds like she’s more than just a stranger you met and passed some time with,” Hop surmised. “Thought she wasn’t a Dolby dame?”

 

Inhaling deeply through his nose, he let it out slowly, trying to think of how to describe his feelings without sounding like a crazy person. Who just meets someone and feels something deeper? “She wasn’t. But then, that’s what had me so fascinated. I just want to make sure she’s safe. She wasn’t used to hiking and certainly not used to sleeping on concrete.”

 

“You sure that’s all?” Bennett asked.

 

The inscription in the paperback in his bag seemed to burn its image in his mind. “She was… I don’t know. Different. Nice. Hell, not just nice. She was a natural beauty. Not a flirt but shy. Fuck… not shy.” He searched for the right word. “More like really cautious.”

 

“Afraid?” Bennett asked from the back.

 

“No. I mean, kind of. Shit, I’m not making any sense.”

 

Hop laughed. “Sounds like she’s got you tied up, man.”

 

“She was obviously cautious, being a woman alone, and then saddled with a man my size who was a stranger to her. But even after we started getting to know each other a little bit, I realized I had done most of the talking. She gave very little away.”

 

“Clever woman,” Hop said. “Even if she was beginning to trust you, you were still a stranger. Giving you too much information wouldn’t be smart.”

 

He nodded. “I know you’re right. I got the feeling that her caution wasn’t just due to this situation but simply her way. And damn if I didn’t want to know more.” He looked over to see Hop’s grin. Glancing to the back, he found Hop’s expression mirrored on Bennett’s face.

 

“By the way, nice bandage.” Hop laughed.

 

He reached up to touch the bandage on his forehead. “You wouldn’t fucking believe it, but when I fell down a cliff and got to the lighthouse while covered in mud, then discovered it occupied, I managed to scare the shit out of her before landing unconscious for a few minutes at her feet.”

 

“You were unconscious?” Bennett snorted from the back seat. “That’s probably why you didn’t even hear her leave this morning. Must have hit your head harder than you thought.”

 

“I was dizzy as fuck. While lying there, she cleaned the gash and put a bandage on it before I came to.”

 

“She must have overcome her caution to come near a mountain like you,” Hop said.

 

Nodding slowly, he agreed. “Yeah. I wouldn’t have blamed her for hightailing it outta there. But she stayed. When I came to after just a moment, she was spooked and ready to flee. I offered to leave, and then we both stayed.” He remembered the look of fear on her face and hated that he’d been the one to put it there. “We can head home,” he finally admitted, his chest deflating, realizing she was well and truly gone.

 

“You got a name?” Bennett asked.

 

“Just Marcia. And before you ask, no, I don’t have her address, phone number, or last name.”

 

“How about thinking with the head on your shoulders?” Hop asked, shooting a smirk toward Dolby. “We’re investigators. So investigate!”

 

“And you don’t think that sounds a bit stalkerish?” he bit out.

 

“Hell, yeah, it’s stalkerish,” Bennett replied. “But if you find her, it’ll be worth it.”

 

Hop nodded his agreement with Bennett. “Of course, if she finds out, you might have to spend some time convincing her that you’re not some crazy man after her.” Barking out laughter, he added, “But then, maybe you are.”

 

“Great,” he grumbled. “Just what Carson needs is for me to get arrested for stalking a woman.” He remained silent for the rest of the flight back to where he’d left his car, turning the possibilities over in his mind. He thought of spending time in the area, hoping he might run into her, but he honestly didn’t have that kind of free time right now. Plus, she said she didn’t go out much. Scrubbing his hand over his face, he decided he’d ask Jeb for advice. While they were all skilled in IT security, Jeb was their guru as well as being a former SEAL. If anyone could find her, it would be him.

 

An hour later, he stood in his bathroom staring at the reflection of his disheveled appearance. Eyes wide, he didn’t move for a full moment taking in the sight. Then he slowly dropped his chin to his chest, closing his eyes in mortification. He didn’t usually spend time perusing himself in the mirror. He also didn’t worry about his appearance. He just dressed for the occasion. For a tactical mission… cargo pants or jeans, boots, a tight T-shirt, and, if needed, a coat and cap. Besides that, his only concern was the equipment required for the job. He’d dress comfortably or fancy for a security mission—whatever the occasion and client dictated. For a night out, it was just jeans, a T-shirt, boots, and a smile for the ladies.