“There’s fishing at Camp Firefly Falls.”
There was also two nonrefundable slots for this weekend’s retreat that would go to waste.
Her decision made, Leah walked over to the dresser and picked up the crumpled brochure. She marched out of her house and across the lawn before she could talk herself out of it.
* * *
Caleb continuedhis profanity-riddled soliloquy as he put away the fishing gear he’d packed for this weekend’s trip. He’d bought a brand new tackle box, not because he wanted to impress anyone, but because it had been so long since he’d been fishing that his other one had rusted out. He wouldn’t be surprised if the same thing happened to this one.
Withthisgroup of friends, it probably would.
“Consider it payback,” he said as he set the container of bass fishing lures on the shelf.
How many times had he bailed on his friends in the past? Times when his job had taken precedence over everything else. Glenn still hadn’t forgiven him for letting that Knicks playoff ticket go to waste years ago.
Besides, as far as Devon, Marcus, and Glenn knew, this weekend was nothing more than a run-of-the-mill fishing trip. A time for the four of them to get away from the city and catch up. But it was more than that. It wassodamn much more. His friends had no clue what was at stake for him.
Maybe you should have told them?
Sure. That would happen. And the Washington Nationals would win the NLCS ten years in a row.
Caleb could hardly stomach talking to himself about the decision he had to make in just a few short days. How could he ever summon the courage to talk about it with his friends?
With two tours in Iraq and more than a dozen undercover operations under his belt, coward was the last word anyone would think of to describe him. But more and more lately, that’s how Caleb felt. He damn near lost his lunch just at the thought of going back out into the field again.
He blew out a deep breath and ran a hand down his face.
A decision had to be made. Period. His lieutenant wouldn’t take another excuse.
Caleb had hoped to have a couple of peaceful days at the lake where he could clear his mind and figure out his next move, but he knew better than most that you didn’t always get what you wanted. He would just have to figure things out right here at home. He’d have to break in his brand new Pflueger graphite rod and reel combo some other time.
Caleb looked around the garage.
Shit.He’d left his new fishing rod outside.
His garage door had been making that rattling noise again, so he took the long way through the kitchen to the front door. When he opened it he found Leah Cross standing just on the other side, her finger heading for the doorbell.
“Oh!” She took a step back. “Hey!”
“Hey again,” Caleb replied. He peered beyond either side of her, looking out at the front lawn. “Everything okay?”
“Oh, yes. Sure. I was…well…I was just wondering…” She handed him some kind of flyer. “I was wondering if you wanted to join me?” She grimaced. “Sorry about the creases.”
Caleb straightened out the wrinkled brochure. “What is this?”
“It’s called Camp Firefly Falls. It’s sort of a summer camp for adults, up in the Berkshire Mountains. I’m going there for the weekend.”
His brows rose. “And you wantmeto come with you?”
“Yes. There’s fishing and birdwatching and whatever else people do in the mountains.” She shrugged. “You seemed so upset about your cancelled fishing trip. This way you can still go fishing.”
“What about Mr. Lexus?” Caleb asked.
“Who?”
“You know, the guy in the silver Lexus withAwe$umon the license plate?” It was a struggle for Caleb to keep his expression neutral. He usually rolled his eyes just at the thought of that license plate and the asshole who sat behind the wheel. It had nothing to do with the fact that Caleb spent a fair amount of time lusting after the asshole’s girlfriend.
“Oh, you mean Derrick,” Leah said.
