Dolby(14)
Author: Maryann Jordan

 

He offered Carson a heartfelt smile, proud to know his boss trusted him on a personal level that went beyond the profession. Carson’s wife had landed in the middle of a mission, and his boss had done his best not to give in to his feelings for the pretty nurse.

 

With a chin lift, he stood and walked over to Jeb.

 

Jeb twisted around to look up at him and grinned. “What name have you got for me?”

 

“All I’ve got is Marcia.”

 

“Spelling?”

 

It hit him that there was more than one spelling of the name, but her inscription in his book was branded onto his brain. “Marcia… m-a-r-c-i-a.”

 

“You want to try for home titles or driver’s licenses first?”

 

“Oh, hell. She didn’t say she was a California resident.” Dolby inwardly cursed at his lack of finding out more about her. With his skills, he could have easily had her divulge bits of information without her becoming suspicious. Instead, I just let her lead the questions and talked about myself.

 

Jeb cut through his recrimination. “Bennett has already told me the area you were in, so I’ll see if I can find any houses owned by a Marcia in a ten-mile radius.”

 

“I don’t expect you to do all this on your own, Jeb. You have plenty to work on. Show me what I’m looking for, and I’ll work on it.”

 

With a nod, Jeb showed him the database that listed the recorded deeds in the counties he was interested in. Once they’d typed in the parameters, he waited while the program sifted through the data, drumming his fingers on the table as anticipation moved through him. He finally narrowed it to four, yet looking at their driver’s licenses, none matched her.

 

Jeb looked over and cocked his brow. “No luck?”

 

He shook his head. “She could be visiting someone, a renter, or just vacationing in the area.” Sighing heavily, he grabbed the back of his neck and squeezed.

 

“Didn’t take you for giving up so easily,” Bennett said, walking over.

 

Growling, he shook his head. “I’m not. I’ll go through all the California driver’s licenses with her name and description, even if that takes forever.” He began the next program, using the filters he knew. Marcia. Brown hair. Brown eyes. Between five feet five inches and five feet eight inches. He’d guestimated her to be about five-seven but wanted the wider filter. After adding in what he thought her weight might be and the parameters for her possible age, he sent the information into the program. It immediately began calculating the possibilities.

 

He leaned back in his chair, his back cracking as he stretched. He cast his gaze about the room, but then his attention was grabbed as photographs began flashing up on the screen. He shifted forward, his focus narrowed to the screen. After just a few minutes, he squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. There was still pain from the previous day’s fall, so he decided to scroll at a slower pace.

 

Moving through each photograph, he stared carefully, dismissing each one. Hair is too light or dark. The face is too narrow or too round. Cheeks are too plump or too hollow. Lips are too full or too thin. Not about to give up, he kept going for over an hour. Just when he was ready to take a break, his finger halted over the mouse as his gaze raked over another photograph. Heart-shaped face. Pale skin. Dark hair falling over her shoulders. Light-brown eyes that held a hint of caution visible even in the DMV photograph. Her. It’s her!

 

Marcia Blackburn. He looked at her address, then checked the records. The deed to the house wasn’t in her name, so he wondered if she was renting. Looking at the map, he shook his head. It was in one of the neighborhoods located on the edge of the preservation beach. She must have hustled to get there before I flew by this morning. He choked out a grunt. “This morning.” He couldn’t believe he’d only met her yesterday and had now spent the entire day searching for her. I must be crazy.

 

As soon as that thought crossed his mind, he immediately dismissed it. No… something was there. An interest. A spark. A feeling. He was willing to admit it might be one-sided, but he wanted to make sure. If she didn’t want to have anything to do with him, he’d respect her wishes. But to not take a chance just wasn’t in him.

 

With a grin, he printed off her information and stood. Waving it in the air, he called out his goodbyes and accepted their good wishes. He hurried home with a purpose, barely stopping when he barreled through his back door. He made a beeline to his bedroom, where he’d laid the paperback on his nightstand.

 

Opening up the front cover, he stared at the inscription, memorizing the words as they were now branded on his heart. He had no idea what he thought staring at the words would do, but perhaps her secrets would suddenly blossom forth from the pages.

 

He added the driver’s license photograph to the book on his nightstand and got ready for bed. Once under the covers, he stared at the picture, wondering what haunted her eyes.

 

Tomorrow… I’ll see you tomorrow.

 

 

 

 

 

7

 

 

 

 

 

Marcia was sitting at her desk, her fingers poised over the keyboard, but no words came forth. Instead of the scene running through her mind, all she could focus on was Jonathan. Tall, gorgeous, and drool-worthy. Even covered in mud with blood smeared on his face.

 

When she’d left him in the lighthouse the previous morning, she’d memorized the sight of him and his face peaceful in slumber. It had crossed her mind for only a second to go over and kiss his cheek softly, just to know what his skin would feel like underneath her lips. But the temptation couldn’t outweigh the need to disappear.

 

And so she’d left, slipping away without thanking him properly or giving him a chance to say goodbye. Sighing, she shook her head. Well, it’s too late to go back and do anything differently.

 

Even with that thought, she couldn’t imagine what staying would have accomplished. An awkward wave. Watching his back as he walked away. Or him insisting on walking with her when she knew he’d rather be on his way.

 

Emitting a slight growl, she shook her head. Get your mind back in the game, girl! Rereading the previous paragraph, she began typing. The words might be crap, but she knew she could clean up the manuscript later. What was important now was just to stay busy.

 

She finished the chapter, saved it to several devices, and then stood, stretching her arms above her head. Walking into the kitchen, she peered out the window just as her security alert sounded. It was the tone that indicated someone was at her gate. She walked over to the panel and pressed the button. “Yes?”