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Chapter Seventy-Four
As John Sampson drove into Bay Head, New Jersey, he felt his spirits rise
dramatically, and the very pleasant sensation inside made him smile to
himself. He was doing a lot of that lately. Hell, he was going to ruin his
tough guy image if he kept this shit up much longer.
He drove along Route 35, past sprawling beach houses, Central Market, and a
couple of picturesque, whitewashed churches. This part of the Jersey shore was
quiet and undeniably pretty. He couldn't help but appreciate the serenity and
the well-preserved beauty. A slight breeze from the ocean blew through the
open windows of his Cougar. Geraniums and rose hips bloomed along the side of
the road, obviously planted by the village itself.
What was not to like? He was glad to be here again.
Long ways from DC, he found himself thinking. And it's not all bad. For a
change of pace anyway. For a break from all the murders.
During the drive up from DC, Sampson had tried to convince himself that this
excursion to the Jersey shore was all about Ellis Cooper and the other
murders, but that wasn't the whole truth. Coop was definitely a big part of
it, but this was also about Billie Houston.
He thought about her all the time. What was it about that wisp of a woman?
Actually, he knew at least part of the answer. From the moment he'd met her,
he was completely comfortable. She was the female friend he'd been hoping to
meet for a long time. It was hard to describe the feeling, but he knew he'd
never had it before. He felt that he could tell Billie things about himself
that he'd held inside for a long time. He trusted her already. When he was
with her he could come outside of himself, leave the castle he had constructed
to guard the person he really was from being hurt.
On the other hand, John Sampson had never had a successful long-range
relationship with any woman. Never been married, not even seriously tempted.
So he wasn't going to delude himself, or get too soppy and sentimental about
Billie. He had good reasons to be here in Jersey. A few more questions had to
be asked about her husband's time in Vietnam. He and Alex had learned things
from Owen Handler that needed filling in. He was going to solve these murder
cases. Somehow, some way.
Well, hell, that cynical little introspection had sure dampened his spirits,
and any burgeoning romance in his soul.
Then he happened to see her up ahead on East Avenue.
Yep, it was her!
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Billie was climbing out of her light green convertible with an armful of
groceries. He'd called ahead and said he might be coming.
Now who had she been shopping for? Did she expect him to stay for dinner? Oh
brother, he needed to calm himself down. Slow down. You're on the job, that's
all. This is just police business.
Then Billie saw his car and waved her free arm, and he found himself leaning
out of the window of the Cougar, calling up the street. "Hey there, little
one. "Hey there, little one?
What the hell had happened to smooth and cool and detached John Sampson? What
was happening to him?
And why did he feel so good about it?
Chapter Seventy-Five
Billie understood that she and John Sampson needed to talk about her husband
and his murder. That was why he'd come back, probably the only reason. She
made a pitcher of sweetened iced tea, and they went out to the ocean side
porch. Might as well be comfortable. Try not to make an ass out of herself.
"Another perfect day in paradise," he said, and smiled brilliantly. Billie
couldn't keep herself from staring a little at the policeman. He was strong
and good-looking and his smile was dazzling whenever it came. She had the
sense that he didn't smile enough, and wondered why that was. What had
happened to him growing up in Washington? And then living and working there?
She wanted to know everything about him, and that natural curiosity was
something that had been missing since Laurence had died.
Don't make this into something it isn't, she reminded herself. He's a
policeman on a murder case. That's all this is. You just have a silly crush on
him.
"Average day in paradise," she laughed. Then she got a little more serious.
"You wanted to talk some more about Laurence. Something else happened, didn't
it? That's why you're back here."
"No, I came to see you." There was that amazing smile of his again.
Billie took a little swing at the air with her hand. "Sure you did. Anyway
your murder case?"
He told her about the recent deaths of Robert and Barbara Bennett in West
Point, and then the shooting of Colonel Owen Handler. He shared his and Alex's
theory that three men might be responsible for at least some of the murders.
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