Gone in a Flash Read Free

the shallow end of the pool. He grinned and used his left hand to shove the swimmie on his right bicep up a little farther. She shifted on her seat and adjusted her sunglasses.
    But she couldn’t help noticing that the man to her left kept staring in her direction. She refused to acknowledge that he was starting to make her nervous.
    Seems like she remembered seeing him as they boarded the ship.
    Maybe.
    Chills crawled up her arms and she shivered.

    Connor saw the look on his wife’s face and knew she was planning something. Probably something he didn’t want to know about but wouldn’t be able to ignore. Because he was determined to be involved every step of the way.
    “So,” he said. “What’s the plan?”
    Her attempt at an innocent look didn’t work. She gave it up and said, “I want to find that body.” She tapped her fingers against her lips. “Where would you stash a body on a cruise ship?”
    “I have no idea.”
    “I wish I had my crime scene processing equipment. I’d go over that bathroom and the area right outside of it.”
    “The area’s been compromised by now,” Connor stated. “But we could still watch those tapes.”
    Samantha didn’t waste any time in agreeing with him. “Come on.”
    After a quick question to one of the staff, they headed for the security office.
    All it took was a flash of Connor’s badge and they were in. Officer Ponder looked a bit put out at their presence, but he didn’t argue. Motioning them over to the middle of the room, he waved a hand at the monitors. “This is the camera you want. The one facing the restroom. I’ve been going through the video and this is what I’ve got.”
    He pressed the button.
    “Sir?” A young officer approached. “We’ve got a situation near the pool. Young girl with a kid says someone tried to grab the little boy.”
    Connor snapped to attention and looked at Sam. “Jenna?”
    Samantha went white. “Andy!”

4
    Connor bolted for the door. Samantha and Officer Ponder pounded after him. Her heart thudded. A cold sweat broke over her skin and all she could do was pray, Please God, not my baby . Her mind flashed back to when he was six months old. He’d been kidnapped by a serial killer and she’d thought her life would end. They bypassed the elevator and took the stairs two at a time, up nine floors. Adrenaline spurred her on even as her legs threatened to give out.
    Dread and terror mingled through her. There was no way she would survive it if Andy disappeared again. The thought gave her strength to rush on.
    They pushed past people, the head of security blowing on a whistle to alert those in front of them. The crowd parted and soon she found herself on the pool deck.
    Shoving the glass door open, her gaze immediately went to the kiddie pool.
    And landed on Jenna sitting on a lounge chair with Andy in her lap. Samantha skidded to a halt, her knees suddenly weak, her breathing came in pants.
    Connor grasped her upper arms and she leaned in to him. He stumbled, then caught himself. She realized his own legs might be feeling pretty shaky.
    “He’s safe, he’s fine,” she whispered.
    “We overreacted?” Connor huffed.
    “I don’t know, but . . . I don’t want to go . . . rushing up and scaring them to death. Let me get my breath . . . and we can see what’s going on.”
    “Good idea.”
    The security officer followed their lead and stood quietly, waiting.
    Finally, Samantha gathered herself together enough to walk over. “Jenna, is everything all right?” Her arms ached to snatch Andy into them, to smell his sun-drenched, chlorine-bathed little body. But she resisted.
    The girl looked up and Sam belatedly noticed the young security officer had moved to stand next to Jenna and Andy. Jenna’s chin jutted and she narrowed her eyes. “Someone tried to grab Andy.”
    Fear fluttered in her stomach as Andy reached for Connor. “Daddy. Hold me.”
    Connor did and Sam could see the relief winning out over the