Birthright

off. Had a cool way about her. That’s one I’d take a second look at if I were you. Had a cool way.”
    “Thank you. I will. And I’ll be sure to let you know what I find out.”
    “Got some orderlies on there, too. That Jack Brewster, he was a slick one. Always sniffing around the nurses, be they married or not.”
    “Dr. Dunbrook?” Jake sauntered up. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but you’re needed at grid thirty-five.”
    “Oh. Of course. You’ll have to excuse me, Mrs. Poffenberger. But again, I appreciate your time and trouble.”
    “Don’t you worry about that. You just give me a call if you need anything else. Like a mystery story.”
    Callie tucked the paper in her back pocket, stepped back from the fence as Betsy climbed in her car. “There is no grid thirty-five,” she announced.
    “You were sending off panic signals, so I decided to ride to the rescue.”
    “That wasn’t panic, it was my ears ringing. She doesn’t shut up.” Callie blew out a breath. “And she did me an enormous favor. I’ve got names. At least a dozen names.”
    “How do you want to handle it?”
    “I think I’ll start with a search on the net. See how many are still alive, still in the area. Go from there.”
    “Want some help?”
    “You’re awfully accommodating these days.”
    He stepped forward, leaned down, caught her bottom lip in his teeth. “I’m going to bill you later.”
    “I could use the help. And I might even be willing to give you a down payment on that bill.”
    “Babe.” His lips hovered a breath from hers, then retreated. “Don’t worry. I trust you.”
    When he walked away, Callie shook her head. “Just another mystery story,” she concurred.
    B ill McDowell got a little drunk. It didn’t take more than a single beer to manage it, but he had two, just to be sure he’d stay that way awhile.
    He’d seen the way Jake had moved in on Callie. And worse, he’d seen the way she’d moved in right back.
    She wasn’t going to come back to the site that night to hang out, to talk. To let him look at her.
    He wasn’t stupid. He knew what was going on, right now, right this minute while he was sitting out here drinking that second beer and listening to that local jerk Matt play some lame version of “Free Bird” on the guitar.
    Lynyrd Skynyrd, for Christ’s sake. Talk about your artifacts.
    Right now, while he was drinking beer under the stars, listening to “Free Bird” and watching the fireflies go nuts in the dark, that goddamn Jake Graystone was putting it to Callie.
    She was too good for him. Anybody could see that. She was so smart and pretty. And when she laughed those three dimples just about drove him crazy.
    If she’d just give him a chance, he’d show her how a guy was supposed to treat a woman. He sucked his beer and imagined whipping the shit out of Jacob Graystone.
    Yeah, that was going to happen.
    Disgusted, he got to his feet, stood swaying and struggling to focus.
    “Easy there, Poncho.” Amused, Digger took his arm to steady him. “How many those brews you got in you?”
    “ ’Nough.”
    “Looks like. Where you off to?”
    “Gotta piss. You mind?”
    “Don’t mind a bit,” Digger said cheerfully. “Want to use the john in the trailer?”
    “I wanna walk.” Unwilling to be befriended by any associate of his nemesis, Bill jerked free. “Too damn crowded around here.”
    “I heard that. Well, don’t go falling in the pond and drowning yourself.” Deciding a bladder break was a fine idea, Digger wandered toward his trailer.
    Bill staggered away from the tents, away from the music and company. Maybe he’d just get in the car and drive out to the house. What the hell did he want to stay out here for when Callie was there?
    He didn’t know she was in bed with Jake. Notabsolutely. Maybe she’d wanted to come out to the site, he thought as he circled into the trees. Maybe she’d wanted to come, and Jake had strong-armed her.
    He wouldn’t put it past the son of a bitch.
    He could go on out there, stand up to the bastard and get Callie away from him. She’d be grateful, he mused as he relieved himself.
    Oh Bill, thank God! I’m so glad you came. He’s crazy. I’ve been so afraid.
    Yeah, that’s how it could be. He’d just drive on out there and take care of everything.
    He imagined Callie clinging to him, imagined her lifting her face, those dimples trembling as she smiled at him.
    And imagining that first hot, grateful kiss, he didn’t hear the