Page 21 of Stilettos & Secrets on the 7 Seas

Jake ignored my supposition. “Did he tell you of his plans?”

“If you mean, did I procure top-secret information from an AWOL defender while in the throes of passion? The answer is no.” I placed the phone on speaker and sat it on the nightstand. “Caiyan isn’t a make-out-and-tell sort of guy, but after last night, I feel tons better.”

“Jeez, Jen.” Jake’s tone meant he could have gone all day without hearing about my sexy time with Caiyan.

“If you would tell me where he’s jumping, maybe I’d have more leverage with my interrogation.” I swung my legs over the side of the bed and stretched like a satisfied cat after a night on the prowl.

“You know that’s classified information.”

“Caiyan seems distracted with whatever he’s tangled up in. I’m sure it’s challenging for him without Brodie’s tracking skills, but he’s not sharing.”

“Can’t you withhold sex in exchange for the truth?” His words were followed by an “ouch.” The phone muffled, then Jake’s voice cleared. “Sorry. Please disregard my question.”

“What did she throw at you?”

“Her book.” He paused for a moment. “It’s one of those lengthy historical romances…in hardback.”

I chuckled at my best friend and his girlfriend, whom I adored and hated to lie to about her brother’s whereabouts. I stood and shrugged into a sweatshirt. “I’m worried about…Long John Silver.”

“We’ve got a month to figure it out, but honestly, I’ve never felt so disconnected from a mission.” He was pacing now. I could hear the shuffle of feet on carpet.

“You want to come over and look at the chest?” Please don’t bring Angel.

“Yeah, Angel has a flight to catch. I’ll be over after I drop her at the airport. Unless you want to run her home?”

“No thanks!” Angel spouted from across the room. “I’ve got luggage, and I value my life. I prefer not to have every cell in my body ripped through the air like spotty Wi-Fi.”

I disconnected and pulled on a pair of shorts. After brushing my teeth and twisting my hair into a clip, I went downstairs, hoping Gertie’s pancakes lived up to the stomach-growling aroma.

Gertie stirred a bowl of pancake batter and be-bopped around the kitchen, listening to a tune via headphones, her first batch of pancakes already cooling.

She stopped bopping when she saw me and slid her headphones to rest around her neck. “Mornin’.”

“Good morning.” I eyed the stack of thick, Betty Crocker-cookbook-picture-perfect pancakes plated next to her. “You went food shopping.”

“I went out early this morning. It was my turn to buy groceries. Brodie called. He was bucked off a Bronc yesterday and refractured his leg. It’s not bad, but the Doc’s taking him off work for two more months.”

“Two months. He won’t be back in time to find Marco.”

Gertie paused pouring the pancake batter and sent an encouraging half smile. “Jake will send someone else with you.”

“Maybe Campy, or god forbid, Gerry.” I scowled at the thought of time traveling with Gerry.

“Is Caiyan still upstairs recouping from last night’s bad behavior?” Gertie lifted an accusatory eyebrow.

“Caiyan’s gone. He left before dawn.”

“Damnation that Scot. I’m makin’ a second batch.” Gertie plunked the batter bowl down hard on the counter.

“Jake’s coming over to pick up the slack.”

Her face brightened. “Jake loves blueberries. I’ll add some.”

She sprinkled a few plump berries into the batter while I helped myself to a cup of coffee. I added sugar and cream, took a sip, and sighed a long “Mmmmmm.”

“Are you OK?” Gertie poured the pancakes out on the griddle, first glancing my way, then concentrating on her breakfast creation.

“Yes, I mean, I think. I guess so.” I pressed my lips together until I could form a complete sentence. “It was a shock finding out Marco…” I could barely say the word, and when I did, it came in a whisper. “Died.”

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