Free In Plain Sight by Fern Michaels Page A

and those mistakes could have a domino effect. Now that we all have her back, the chances of that happening are just about zip. Do you agree, Charles?”
    “I do. So, what would you like to do now, dear? A nightcap? The eleven o’clock news? A last walk with the dogs? Maybe a midnight snack?”
    “Oh, Charles, that’s all so boring. Why don’t we throw caution to the winds and race each other up the stairs. I have it on good authority, from a dear old friend of mine, that ripping off one’s partner’s clothes with one’s teeth is very exciting!”
    Charles was at the top of the steps gnashing his teeth before Myra could even catch her breath.

Chapter 6
    J ason Woods was a hard worker. His supervisor at the Home Builders Depot wished he had six more employees like Jason Woods. A dozen would be even better. He watched Jason now as he unloaded hundred-pound bags of peat moss like they were five-pound bags of sugar. He wasn’t smiling today, which was odd. In fact, he looked angry. He wondered if he should talk to him, but he hated getting personal with his help. Better to leave well enough alone, he decided. He was going to miss him when he left in August to return to college even though he said that he would work weekends if his schedule permitted. He moved off to check on another delivery of topsoil.
    Jason knew that his boss was watching him. He must be giving off bad vibes or something. How could he not? He’d just allowed himself to become embroiled in what he was beginning to think of as a nasty domestic mess, but his gut was telling him it was something way worse than domestic violence.
    The tall, well-built young man swiped at the sweat dripping down his face. Damn, it was hot. But, then again, it was mid-July. He looked at his watch. Four more hours till quitting time. Home to shower, change, grab something to eat, then make the two-hour ride to his family’s cabin, where he’d stashed the two women.
    Jason almost jumped out of his skin when he felt a hard push to his shoulder. He whirled around expecting to see law enforcement but instead saw the laughing face of Emily Appleton’s friend, Stacey Copeland. “Hey, Jason!”
    Jason removed his Redskins ball cap and swiped at his soaking-wet head. “Hey yourself! Things so boring in the paint department that you had the urge to smell peat moss and manure?” He laughed, but even to his own ears it sounded phony and forced. And who are those two women standing by the wilted petunias? They’re staring at me and trying to pretend they aren’t. His heart kicked up a beat.
    “Something like that,” Stacey said. “Hey, what’s up with Emily? She hasn’t been in for four days, and she hasn’t called in either. She isn’t answering her cell phone. Since you two are you know . . . kind of an item, I thought maybe you might know what’s going on. Do you?” she asked bluntly.
    Jason swallowed hard. He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her. I tried calling yesterday, but the call went to voice mail. And we’re not an item, we’re just friends,” he lied. Who is that young guy checking out the clay pot planters? He looks familiar. He almost missed the look the two women shot his way and the young guy’s almost imperceptible nod. The muscles in his stomach tied themselves into a knot. They were together, he was sure of it. And they were checking him out. Shit, shit, shit! He could feel the panic starting to build in his stomach inch its way up to his chest, causing him to gasp for breath. He broke out into a cold sweat.
    “Can you take a break, Jason? I’m on mine. Let’s go get a cold soda or something. I’m worried about Emily.”
    Not half as worried as I am, Jason wanted to say, but he didn’t. Instead, he waved to his supervisor and said he was taking his break. He followed Stacey to the back of the store to the employee kitchen or what they called the break room, where he popped two bottles of cola and offered Stacey one. He gulped at his, his