Free The Fire Within by Dana Marie Bell Page A

a job as a grocery bagger.
    “...then he mentioned the badger chasing him down Old Baltimore Pike...”
    What the hell? Beth almost allowed herself to be distracted, but Sam’s puppy eyes kept her focused.
    Sam bit her lip nervously. “All right. I’ll kick Wyatt off my resume if this job interview doesn’t work out.”
    “Good.” Beth relaxed once more. Sam was sweet-natured and deserved to find happiness. “I might have some work for you soon.”
    “And that was my first trip to the psych ward.” Dante leaned back, grinning as Andi giggled.
    “Oh. Good.” Sam seemed relieved.
    Beth stared at Sam. That soft, dreamy smile hid a mind like a steel trap when it came to computers. Sam could get lost for hours digging up obscure bits of data that no one else was capable of finding.
    She decided to have a little chat with Sam after the Blessing interview. Maybe her friend could find something she couldn’t. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d asked for Sam’s help on a case. Plus, she was willing to bet Sam could use the money.
    “Trust me, Sammie. I think the job interview is going to work out just fine.” Andi patted Sam’s hand and ignored Beth’s curious gaze. “So, detective, what are you two up to, hmm?”
    “Trying to catch the bad guys, ma’am,” Dante said in his best lawman’s drawl. He even tipped his non-existent hat at her friends.
    Andi laughed in delight. “I do love me a man in uniform.”
    “The Blake murder?” Sam asked quietly, her gaze intent on Dante’s face. “We heard about it on the news.” She turned her worried gaze to Beth. “When we heard about where it happened we were worried about you.”
    Beth patted Sam’s hand. Sam could be annoying with her dreamy ways, but she wouldn’t hurt a fly, and she loved her friends deeply. She was loyal to the bone, and Beth treated her like the kid sister she’d never had. “I’m fine, Sammie.” Beth winked at Sam. “But don’t ask me to discuss it with you. I can’t.” Not yet , anyway. At least , not with Dante sitting right here. There was no need for the lovely detective to know anything about Sammie’s hacking skills.
    “Mmm. Not a very good lunch topic.” Andi grinned with delight as the waiter began placing the dishes in front of them. He must have seen them sitting with Dante and Beth and prepared the usual meal the women ordered. “I love this place.” Andi sighed happily, picked up her chopsticks and began digging into her moo goo gai pan with relish.
    Beth pulled out her notebook, absently writing down the things she needed Sam to do for her, and how much she’d be able to pay her friend. Looking into the missing Blessing campaign funds would be a good start. Beth often tossed work Sam’s way, but she knew it wasn’t enough to keep Sam in dog kibble. She was afraid Sam really would do something illegal just to put food on her table. Sam was getting dangerously thin, even on good days.
    When she boxed over half her lunch, Beth wanted to howl in frustration. She couldn’t embarrass Sam in front of Andi and Dante, but damn it. No one should have to live the way Sam did, not when they had the brains and the dedication to take on almost any computer job out there.
    Beth pushed her glasses up her nose. As soon as this damn Blake case was over, she was going to find out the real reason Sam had been fired.
    They would pay for making the sweetest person she’d ever met suffer the way Sam had.
    As they left the restaurant, Andi pulled Beth aside. Sam rested against the counter with Dante as he paid the bill, probably arguing that she could afford to pay for her own. Beth hoped Dante knew better.
    When she saw him pat Sam on the head and hand over his credit card to the hostess she sighed in relief. She’d have to find a way to pay him back.
    “So...”
    Uh-oh. Andi scented blood in the water. “So?”
    “Nice to see you out with a man.”
    Beth glared at Andi. She was almost as much of a romantic as Sam, just