Ransom by Terri Reed Page A

was the last one still single. It didn’t make sense now. She chalked up the odd sensation to nerves and fear. The situation she found herself in would wreak havoc on anyone’s emotions.
    â€œHow did you meet?” Liz asked to keep her mind off what she was feeling inside.
    Sami’s hands stilled for a moment. “I was hunting a serial killer who murdered my childhood best friend. I was determined to solve her murder and discovered that her killer had killed before on both sides of the northern border. When the man I was tracking crossed into Drew’s jurisdiction, our agencies allowed us to form a joint investigation. I dubbed the killer ‘Birdman’ because of the bird symbol on the clue he left at each crime scene.”
    Liz gaped at the woman, not even sure what to say. Sympathy for Sami’s loss crowded Liz’s chest. She couldn’t imagine what that sort of job would entail and wasn’t she sure wanted to know any more details. “Did you catch him?”
    A look of triumph crossed Sami’s face. “We did, but it wasn’t easy.”
    Liz stifled a shiver. “It must be hard with you both having such demanding and...risky careers.”
    Sami cocked her head. “Some days, but I wouldn’t trade even one day of my life with Drew for a million without him. I took the job with the legal attaché so that I could live in Vancouver, British Columbia, with Drew. After our wedding, we bought a house where someday we’ll raise our kids. We’re careful when we’re out in the field and are grateful for every day we have together because we know how easily and quickly life can spin out of control. God willing, we’ll grow old and reminisce about our adventures to our grandchildren and great-grandchildren.” She scrunched up her nose. “We’ll leave the details out.”
    Again, that bizarre twinge made Liz’s chest hurt beneath the spot where Sami patted down the tape over the little microphone. “Jillian wanted to start a family, but now...” She pressed her lips together for a second as a wave of anger washed over her. “Travis wasn’t such a great catch.”
    â€œI’m sorry your sister was taken by Santini.” Sami stepped back to let Liz dress. “But we’ll get her back.”
    â€œI’m counting on it,” Liz replied. “Blake convinced me to trust him.” She let out a rough scoff. “Or rather threatened me with jail if I didn’t.”
    â€œHe’s all talk.”
    â€œI don’t know.” She remembered the intense way he’d stared her down in the interrogation room. “He seemed pretty serious about it.”
    â€œThat’s just his way. Though I’ll admit he can be intimidating,” Sami agreed. “However, once he relaxes a bit, he’s not so bad.”
    â€œHe relaxes?” Liz couldn’t imagine it. The man appeared so buttoned down and rigid. But that brief smile earlier lingered in her mind. She’d like to see him fully smile again. To hear him laugh. Would he have a deep laugh? She couldn’t imagine him laughing. “That I’d like to see.”
    Her breath caught on the admission. No, she wouldn’t, she silently scolded herself. She wanted this situation over and done with so she never had to see Blake or the inside of an interrogation room again.
    She wanted to go back to her quiet life on Hilton Head Island, back to the store and her own home with her sister where the only excitement she had to contend with were the tourists who came during the warmer seasons or the storms that blew through off the Atlantic.
    Liz and Sami left the bedroom and joined the same Canada Border Services officer Liz had met last night at the dining table. Nathanial Longhorn stood and hurried around the table to pull out Liz’s chair. “Miss Cantrell, you’re looking lovely.”
    â€œThank you,” she murmured,