Page 108 of Four Cards Exposed

Darryl and Jessy reached her first. The shark scientist was wearing black, her regular color, but her top was looser than her usual. It made Susan wonder if—but no, she wasn’t going to ask. If there was anything to share, Jessy and Darryl would share in their own good time.

Jessy hugged her tight.

“Susan. We’ve been so worried about you. It’s so good to see you.”

Darryl nodded, but didn’t reach in for a hug. Instead, he placed his large hand on her arm, squeezing gently. Moments later Rob arrived with Emma. He also stopped a few feet away from her, careful not to get into her space. Susan appreciated the consideration.

There had been a lot of explaining over the last few days. First to Lorraine and her FBI colleagues, who’d needed to know everything she’d seen in the time she’d been held hostage.

Then, once she’d finally built up her courage, Susan had called her parents. She’d updated them loosely on the last few months of her life, leaving out everything that she knew would make her mother want to jump on the first plane home. Even so, it’d been touch and go. Just the mention of a cartel was enough to stir true fear into the heart of any Mexican—even one who’d lived in the US for decades, like her mom.

In the end, it was only the knowledge that Susan would be in Sharp’s Cove waiting for them when their plane landed two weeks later that had gotten her mom off her back.

Susan took the beer Rob offered.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He paused for a second, and took a long drink from his own beer. “How are you, Susan, really?”

Rob was one of the most thoughtful men Susan had ever met. He’d been kind to her from the moment she’d first joined the Sheriff’s office. Without him, she didn’t think she would have become the officer she was today. He was also perceptive, and Susan didn’t think she could just shrug her way out of his question.

“I’ll be okay,” she said. It was the most honest answer she could come up with. “I’m worried about James.”

She saw the way Rob’s eyes widened.

Susan couldn’t stop the next words out of her mouth. “I don’t know how I’ll survive if something happens to him.” A tear escaped her eye and Susan wiped at it.

“Stay strong, Susan. I’m sure we’ll hear something soon.”

Susan was grateful Rob didn’t try to sugarcoat things for her.

By the time lunch time came around, Susan’s lips hurt from smiling so much. She took a burger eagerly, knowing eating would at least give her a break from all that smiling. And maybe after lunch she could sneak away and—

“Susan,” a deep voice said.

Susan turned around so fast, she almost dropped the hamburger. As it was, her fingers ended up full of ketchup, from where she’d gripped the bun too tight. She froze, staring up into James’s face.

She drank him in. He was back in a dark suit and starched white shirt, a throwback to the first few times she’d seen him. The suit made his broad shoulders look even broader, and the dark blue tie complemented his eyes. He still looked pale, but he was there, and he was whole.

James reached over and grabbed the hamburger with one hand, offering her a napkin with the other. A bandage peeked out from one sleeve, covering his knuckles.

Susan wiped at her hands viciously with the napkin. Her eyes filled with tears—too many to wipe them away—not that the napkin was clean enough to use it that way anymore.

“Hey, Susan,” James said softly. He took the ketchup-stained napkin from her and placed it in his pocket.

“It’ll stain your suit,” Susan complained.

“Come here sweetheart.”

And then she was in his arms, holding on tightly, until she felt him tense and heard his sharp intake of breath.

In her mind, she could still see him, bruised and bleeding but still standing between her and danger.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she said, releasing him.

“It’s okay. I’m happy to see you, too.” His blue eyes flashed with feeling, and she wondered how she could ever have thought them cold.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”