Climbing High (26 page)

“I can’t, Siree,” he choked out. It killed him to say the words, to see her shoulders slump in defeat. “As long as she’s out there I can’t take a chance. You’re too precious.”

She rolled her eyes at him. “For a genius, you sure can be idiotic. We’re too precious, and you’re throwing us away. How many times do I have to show you I can take care of myself?” She pressed a kiss into his palm and closed his fingers over it. Her eyes sparkled with anger, her voice shaking. “I’m warning you, Jake Ingles. I’m no sleeping lady to wimp out. I’m not giving up. So consider you now have two stalkers.”

****

She lasted a week on the Emerald Queen, four days longer than she wanted. She felt like a maharaja with countless people tripping over each other to see to her every whim. Massage, heavenly soaks in the whirlpool tub in her suite, delicious meals, long walks on the deck, laughing with her mother and Ty, all made for rapid healing. She insisted she needed to get back to work. It took all her time-honored ploys to persuade her mother and Ty to carry on with the rest of the cruise and the next one. Finally, they agreed to finish the Caribbean cruise and wait to see before going on to South America.

She left the ship at St. Vincent and stood, tired but victorious, in her mother’s condo twenty-two hours later. Before checking her messages, calling work, taking a shower or collapsing in her bed, she pulled up a number on her smart phone. “Patricia,” she said when the woman answered, “Siree McConnell. Are you still interested in doing that interview?”

She met Patricia for lunch the next day.

“Not that I’m not delighted by it,” Patricia spoke as she stored her handbag beside her chair, “but what caused your change of mind?”

“I’m happy to give you a great deal of information for your interview, Patricia, but this part is off the record.” She studied Patricia’s face as she waited for her to answer.

“Off the record then. Why did you call me?”

“It’s the only way I can think of to get my attacker to come after me again.”

Patricia’s mouth widened in horror. “Why would you want to do that?”

“As long as she remains free, Jake Ingles is going to stay away from me. I love that man to distraction. He loves me. It’s a hellish situation that has gone on far too long. I’m tired of letting her keep us in limbo and I’m fighting back.”

“I’m not comfortable with helping you become bait for a killer,” Patricia said, but while the words sounded sincere, her eyes glittered with interest.

“I need you to get past your journalistic principles and write the story so I can make this work. And by the way”—Siree leaned forward, smiled—“I so admire that you have them.” She laughed. “I’ve spent a lifetime wishing the journalists who tore apart my life would have some principles, and now I’m asking you to set yours aside.”

“Life’s ironies,” Patricia agreed. “Let’s order and you can tell me how you see this happening. Sorry I’m on the clock”—she glanced at her watch—“and I’m starving.”

Back on the record, Siree gave her a brief rundown on the accident in Mexico and how she thought it was a perfect reason for CTV to put her back in the news. “You know, woman survives again, or can’t keep McConnell down.” She flipped her hand. “You do the exclusive, and hopefully the rest of the press will pick up the story and run with it. I’m going to see that the gutter press gets photos of Jake and me on the climb, so it looks like we’ve been together all the time. I want to get this bitch so angry she comes out of hiding.”

“And how are you going to keep her from trying to kill you this time?” Patricia licked the last drop of crème caramel from her spoon, her eyes steady on Siree. “Sounds like it could go south again.”

“I don’t deny there’s risk, but Jake has security on me all the time. I’m going to make it really hard to get to me. I’m praying she’ll get desperate enough to make a mistake. I’d hunt her down and take her out in person if I had a clue where she’s gone.”

She curled her fingers on the edge of the table and looked Patricia in the eyes. “I’m all out of pitch, Patricia. This is a win-win. You get a good story. I get a better chance to be with the man I love. Please help me.”

“You’ve got it. I’ll give you my prime time spot next Monday night. Put together your package for the tabloids and I’ll see that they get to the people who will give you the most coverage. Send me the details of your climb, what went wrong, what went right, the hospital, etc. I’ll do my research and pull together a story that will make you a national sweetheart.”

“You’ll have it by end of day.” Siree felt her shoulders loosen for the first time since she’d sat down. She signaled the waiter.

“For the record”—Patricia crumpled her napkin and set it on the table—“this is one damn fine story and I’m proud to be able to interview a woman with such courage, strength, and determination. I have no doubt at all that you’ll win back your man.”

Siree gave it her best effort. She wooed the press and the press wooed her. It was an exhausting courtship. She didn’t know how Jake had put up with it for a decade, when she wanted quit of it after a week. It took a hardy individual or an egomaniac to handle so much attention.

In the process, she discovered it needn’t be a one-way street, where only the press benefited. They could also be useful tools if handled with skill. Hadn’t Princess Diana of Wales found that out? For the next step in her campaign, she punched in Sam’s number.

****

Sam lived in a two-story boathouse in Point Defiance Marina. Janice parked their rental car on the verge of a grassy park across the street and stood beside it, as Siree rang the bell.
He has the best of both worlds
, she thought, skirting the bow of a kayak that leaned against the weathered shakes. It would suit Sam perfectly.

He peered around the door like he expected a mad bomber to be standing on the other side. Siree laughed. She pushed on it and, feeling the resistance of his well-muscled frame, pushed harder, backing Sam into the room. She slid through the opening she’d made.

“Siree.” His lopsided grin said it all. “It’s so good to see you.” He wrapped her in his arms and held her close, his chin nuzzling the top of her head.

He took a step back and gave her the once over. “You look good.”

“I am good.”

“The last time I saw you, you were shuffling across your cubicle in the ER like an octogenarian, on your way to the can.”

“They wouldn’t give me a housecoat.” She puffed out her bottom lip in remembered annoyance.

Sam smothered a smile. “So I recall. You couldn’t hold your gown closed in the back because of the pain in your ribs and you made me do it. I had to shuffle along with you, resisting the temptation to peek, I might add.”

“Yes, but you did peek and I promised to pay you back sometime.”

Sam pretended dismay, then wrecked it by laughing. “So what can I do for you, my bare-assed princess? Something tells me you’re up to no good.”

“Well, I do need a teensy favor.” Siree held up her hand, her forefinger a smidge away from her thumb.

“That small, huh? Somehow I doubt it.” Sam suddenly realized he’d kept her standing.

“Here, let me take your things.” His eyes narrowed as she handed him her small overnight case, and turned so he could lift her suede jacket off her shoulders. “When you asked to stop by to see me, I didn’t realize you meant to stay overnight.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you knew that’s what I meant. I hope it’s no trouble.” Siree widened her eyes and let her voice trail away. “You’ve certainly got room enough.” She turned a circle in the large salon fronted by glass windows looking over the bay.

Sam’s Adam’s apple jerked. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea, even though we’ve become close friends, Jake might not like it.”

“Jake? What does Jake have to do with it?” Siree acted mystified. “Jake’s moved on. I’m free to follow up on any attraction I feel.” She closed in on Sam and walked her fingers up his chest. “You and I have had a connection since you picked me up on the Beast. I thought we should explore it.”

Sam snatched her hand from his body. He opened and closed his mouth in alarm. “No. NO. There’s no connection. I’m sorry. The code. I couldn’t.” He floundered to a stop.

“Code, Sam?” She tilted her head and peeped up at him. “What code?”

“You know, the code between buddies. You don’t encroach on your friend’s property.”

“Are you saying you think I’m your friend’s property?” She poked him with her finger. He leapt back.

She advanced. “Are you saying you’d rather make nice for Jake than make out with me?” She poked him again.

Sam backed into the side of a leather recliner, lost his balance and fell over the arm, his feet dangling. He searched the room, a wild look in his eyes, seeking reinforcements.

She choked, bit her lip, made a snorting sound and went off into a paroxysm of laughter. “The look on your face,” she wheezed out between gales. Tears crowded the corners of her eyes and her ribs ached.

“Not nice, Siree McConnell. Not nice at all.” Sam swung his legs to the front of the chair and stood. The relief on his face sent her off in another bout. He snickered then bellowed with laughter.

“I told you I’d get even.” She paused. “Now here’s what I really want.”

Sam wasn’t buying. “I’m not convinced providing you with an opportunity to talk to him is a good idea,” he expounded. “Look what happened when I went along with not telling him you’d be on the climb. Besides, Josh is his confidant, better able to sway him. I’m just the fun friend, the party animal.”

“You’re selling yourself short if you think that’s all you are to Jake.” She tapped the bottle of Pinot Grigio when Sam offered her a choice. “Besides, it’s the party guy, who is about to have a birthday, I want. You’re going to throw yourself a birthday party next week. He will fly in for it. I’ll be here and get a chance to include him in a plan I have to catch his stalker. I’ve tried to call him, but he always gets Finchley to run interference.”

“The guy’s just trying to protect you,” Sam defended.

“So it’s important that he be part of my plan, and I need to see him in person to make it work.”

“Why do I think I’m going to get caught in the middle of a real blowout?” Sam rubbed his scalp vigorously with both hands. “All right. I’m throwing a party. He’s invited, you’re invited.”

“And enough guests to make a crowd big enough for me to hide in.”

He groaned. “Now I have to book the Yacht Club. You’re fast changing from bare-ass princess to pain in the ass.”

“Ouch, that hurt. And just when I felt so supported.”

“You’re not going to cause a scene, are you?” He looked at her sternly as he poured wine into a glass. “Jake’s a great guy, and he’s hurting because he’s doing what he thinks is right. I won’t have you causing him more pain.”

“I promise I’ll just ask him to talk with me and if he says no, I’ll leave.”

“I’m only doing this because my gut tells me he needs to talk you out of doing something stupid.” Sam upended his beer, drained it. “And Siree”—he looked her dead in the eye—“if Jake asks if you’ll be there, I’m not lying to him again. I won’t lose his trust to help you.”

She nodded, sobered by the thought of Sam risking his friendship with Jake. Was she asking too much of him? No, dammit. He wanted Jake to be happy, didn’t he? Well, this would make all three of them happy in the end.

She flew home, feeling satisfied with the trip. Janice flicked through a magazine beside her, casting sidelong looks every few seconds. Siree refrained from sharing. After all, friend though she’d become, Janice reported to Gribbs, and Gribbs to Jake.

Siree relaxed back in her seat. Her plan was shaping up nicely.
Now I just have to get an escort to the party
, she thought, checking her mental to do list.

Her invitation came via email. Sam had chosen a theme for his party: come as your favorite criminal.
Probably a jab at me. I seem to have developed a felonious attitude.
Again, she felt a sad affinity with Jake’s stalker; what it felt like to love a man and fight to keep him.

She flew back to Seattle five days later in a seaplane. She told Janice she was staying in for the weekend. The guilt of lying didn’t weigh nearly as heavy on her as the need to free herself and Jake from this interminable lockout. At this critical stage she didn’t want Jake getting wind of her plans. Her escort, a successful freelance photographer, sold pictures of the rich and famous to the gutter press for thousands of dollars. He’d do anything to get the shot she wanted. Dressed appropriately as Bonnie and Clyde, notorious robbers, they took a taxi from Sea-Tac Airport to the posh venue Sam had chosen for his party. He broke free of a laughing group near the door and moved to greet her.

“Happy birthday.” She hugged him and handed him a card that held season tickets for the Seattle Seahawks. “Sam Pradzinki, my date Johnny Minnelli.” She didn’t have to ask if Jake had arrived. Her radar had picked him up by the bar the minute she’d entered the room. He passed a glass of champagne to an attractive blonde then, hand at her waist, turned her into the crowd.

No sense procrastinating
, she thought, feeling her heart clench. It hurt to see him with another woman, no matter how much she reassured herself that he loved her. “Let’s get a drink.” She threw a seductive smile at Johnny and straightened her perky beret. They moved away from Sam. “I’ll try to get him alone, or at least find a thinner place in this crowd, but if he refuses, you’re going to have to get your shots fast. And for goodness sake, don’t let him see you.”

“I know my business, Ms. McConnell. You just get close to him, the friendlier the better. I’ll get the shots.”

“Here goes then.” She pressed her sweating palms to her ribcage. She knew her tight ribbed sweater drew eyes to her breasts, and her strappy heels made the most of her legs. She’d chosen them for greatest impact on Jake. She felt her skirt swish against the back of her knees with each step. Jake stood with his back to her, listening to the blonde. He slid a hand into his pants pocket and rocked back on his heels. He lifted his glass to his lips. Siree saw his back stiffen, heard the sharp intake of his breath just before he swiveled and trapped her with his eyes. For seconds, her heart stopped beating, her lungs stopped working, then he looked away.