In the Blink of An Eye by Jerry Baggett (ebook reader for surface pro TXT) 📕

surprised that Sam has no memory of that period in her childhood. Her aunt tried to protect her by avoiding much of what she felt would be too traumatic. She’d constantly discouraged a lot of curiosity about her mother.

Grant continued, standing, looking out at the calm ocean. “My brother’s estate has been put into a family trust for his daughter. I don’t want her to know that until we prove who killed her mother.” He turned to face Dick. “I have also arranged for my assets to be placed into that trust upon my death.”

Dick said, “Then, you’re positive that Samantha’s the daughter of your brother.”

“Absolutely positive. Our parents were farmers. They would have loved her. As the last blood relative of our family line, Tom and I settled in here because this’s where most of the tech industry is located.”

Dick listened carefully to details of Samantha’s inheritance. He wondered how it would affect their relationship. Samantha’s a very special person. She wouldn’t allow the wealth to influence her personal relationships.

He stood and placed his hand on Grant’s shoulder. “I’m impressed with your tenacity and generosity, Grant. You managed to get all this done while serving a prison sentence for murder.”

“Agent Keven Hunt had everything to do with my good fortune. He convinced the warden, and the court, there was reason to believe in my innocence. The evidence just wasn’t there to reopen the case, at that time.”

Dick felt his phone vibrate in his hip pocket. “Is Samantha with you? It’s Hunt,” he said.

“Yes, we’re having lunch. It’s her last day of vacation. Why, what’s up?”

“Two men in a fast boat anchored offshore near Samantha’s place before daylight this morning and attempted to destroy her house. They knew she was on vacation. Obviously, you and she both were expected to be there for a double killing.”

Dick listened for several minutes and clicked off. “It’s a damn good thing we stayed at my place last night. Your beach cottage has been attacked again. Two men armed with automatic weapons approached from the water and shot up your home. They expected us to be there for the kill. Hunt believes they were trying to burn the place down before being frightened off by a news helicopter circling in the area. A drape in the beachside casual room was set on fire. The drape slowly burned away, without setting the house on fire, due to the cool damp day.

“Oh, Dick, I’m the luckiest woman in the world. What if we’d been home?”

“There’s good luck and there’s bad luck, honey. Bad luck begins when good luck ends. Smart people create opportunity, increasing their chance for good luck. Our best defense will have to be an aggressive offense. We can’t stay at your place, now. The threat’s too great.” He pondered the situation for a moment. “They don’t know precisely where we are. I’ve an idea. We can temporarily rent part of the empty building next door. That’ll make it easier to keep an eye on activity around your cottage.

“That was easy enough. We have the place for one week. Let’s pick up what we need from your cottage, and get this over with.” Dick removed the Glock from his waistband, and stuffed it into his front pocket. “Packing your personal valuables shouldn’t take long. We can be in and out within a few minutes. We’d better watch out for anyone loitering around the area before going inside. There could be a stakeout waiting for us to return home.”

They walked hand in hand to the outside elevator of their new living quarters, changed direction, and headed for a row of picnic tables next to the building. “We’ll sit here a few minutes to see if we spot a watchman. If everything’s clear, we can sneak in and out quickly. It’s chancy, but worth a try.”

They walked in the shadow between her cottage and the rental, intending to enter from the beach side. “Wait!” Dick said. “The door’s standing open. Would the sheriff’s people leave it open after being here?”

“Not likely,” she whispered. “I smell gasoline. Someone’s inside. I saw a shadow move across the room. Get away from the door, now, Dick. Let’s go back and call the sheriff.”

“You’re right. I see the bastard. Stand back farther from the door. I’m going in, it’s diesel fuel. He’s pouring diesel, all through the house. I can’t let him burn down your cottage.”

He pushed the door open farther with the muzzle of the Glock and stepped inside the dark room. He knew he was too late to save the cottage. The hooded figure at the far end of the hall tossed another burning cloth into a puddle of diesel fuel. Dick yelled, “Stop where you are!” He raised the Glock, then lowered it. The dark figure spun around and ran out the front door. Can’t shoot the bastard in the back while he’s running away.

Dick backed outside, grabbed Samantha’s hand and pulled her away. “We’re too late, honey. The place’s on fire. They may have someone hanging back hoping to trap us inside with gunfire. Chasing that man would be a mistake.”

They returned to their refuge under the neighbor’s house and called the sheriff’s department.

“My beautiful cottage. Aunt Clara would be so upset.” She buried her face against his chest and quietly wept.

“I’m sorry, honey. We’ll rebuild it. The cottage helped make you into who you are. I love this place too.” He saw the first firetruck arrive and reached for her hand. “If you walk onto the battlefield, you’re likely to have bad things happen. We’re in a battle for our life now.”

Dick looked at his phone, then Samantha. “Agent Hunt again.”

“Be careful how you break this news to Grant,” Hunt said. “His friend, Maria, is missing.”

 

Chapter 26

The noise was barely loud enough to set off the bionic