Page 16 of Chain Reaction

The man had been there for a reason, and Jake needed to figure out what. He didn’t think the guy’s presence was just to leave a message on the phone for them to find.

“I don’t like this,” Jake said. “Something is going on here.”

Cassidy’s jaw remained hard along with her expression. “I agree. At first, I thought this was just an unfortunate tragedy at best or a means for someone to steal Eleanor’s money at worst. Now it’s becoming clear there’s more to this story. I want to know what.”

Jake’s muscles felt stony as he asked, “You calling the feds in?”

“Given these new developments, most likely,” Cassidy said. “But I wanted to bring Dr. Newton in first so I could see what we’re working with. I also thought it was a good idea if you came.”

“Too bad I don’t have my K-9 yet.” He was about to begin training a new bomb-sniffing dog. His last K-9 had retired and gone to live with a team member who’d recently retired from the military.

“With tourist season starting in another month, I feel confident everyone is going to want this wrapped up as soon as possible,” Cassidy continued. “Nothing drives away tourists quicker than danger.”

“I can imagine.”

Cassidy’s phone buzzed, and she glanced at it. “It’s the NCSBI. I’ve got to take this, and I’ve got to make a few more calls also.”

As the police chief stepped away, Jake remained planted in the driveway between the remains of the house and the line of vehicles parked along the gravel lane. His gaze found Raven again.

He watched as she studied debris in the sand.

She was just as beautiful as ever. Slender and five foot seven, with black hair that came down her back in large, wavy curls. Her eyes were blue and her skin milky.

Raven Newton was still one of the most beautiful women Jake had ever met. When they’d been together, he’d felt like the luckiest man in the whole world. Because not only was Raven beautiful, but she was also smart and kind. He’d felt like a better person when they were together.

Then everything between them had ended. As quickly as they’d fallen in love, they’d split equally as fast.

A knot formed in his chest.

Would Raven ever understand why they couldn’t be together? Would she ever forgive him?

Jake never thought he’d see her again. He’d tried to put her out of his mind. After all, they were both busy with their own lives and careers. He hadn’t thought they’d run into each other.

But now Raven was in Lantern Beach, of all places. As much as he tried to forget about the pain of their breakup, he might have to face it head-on instead.

“So what do you think?”

Jake snapped from his thoughts and turned to see Cassidy had paused near him.

Had she been talking to him? How long had he been lost in his own thoughts?

She raised her eyebrows. “Sorry to interrupt. Your mind on something else?”

“Yeah, you could say that,” he murmured.

Get your head back in the game, Laudner.

Lives are depending on it.

Raven knelt in the sand by the dune and studied an object nestled in between strands of sea oats. It didn’t appear anyone had seen this earlier when they’d searched the beach. Or perhaps this had been blown here during the second blast.

It didn’t matter either way. She was just glad she’d spotted it.

She took a pen from her pocket and gently turned the object over.

As she did, her breath caught.

Just as she’d suspected, this was a piece of the original bomb.