Deep Waters

pier." The toe of Charity's shoe brushed against an object lying on the floor. "What in the world?"
    She groped for the hall switch, flipped it on, and glanced down. A medium-sized brown envelope lay on the floor.
    "I'll get it." Elias scooped it up and handed it to her. "Someone must have shoved it under your door while you were out this evening."
    She frowned at the sealed envelope. There was no address or name on the outside. "How long have you been waiting on my front porch?"
    "About half an hour. Whoever left that for you must have come by before I got here."
    "Which brings up an interesting question. Why are you here?" Charity started to unseal the envelope.
    "To tell you that I've decided you're right. I've been thinking about it all day. I'm going to Seattle tomorrow to see Garrick Keyworth."
    The bleak determination in his voice shocked her. Charity dropped the unopened envelope on the hall table and turned toward him. "Are you sure that's what you want to do?"
    He was motionless in the open doorway, his face an unreadable mask. "I doubt if it will do either me or Keyworth any good, but I can't think of any other way to handle it."
    Charity went to him, wrapped her arms around him, pressed herself against him. "Neither can I."
    For a few seconds he stood, rigid and unyielding in her embrace. Then, with a wordless groan, he locked his arms around her.
    "Something's happening to me, Charity. My training, my philosophy. The things I've used to keep myself centered since I was sixteen. They're all starting to fade in and out. It's like watching lousy reception on TV."
    "I think you've probably been going through some of the same things Crazy Otis did after Hayden died."
    Elias gave a hoarse laugh that held no trace of humor. "Maybe we should rename the pier after all. Call it Crazy Elias Landing."
    "The situation with Keyworth didn't help matters, that's for sure. It was too much on top of Hayden's death. The thing with Keyworth was unresolved, and now it's come back to haunt you."
    "Complete with ghosts." He tightened his hold on her. "Damn, I wish I could talk to Hayden one last time."
    "What do you think he would tell you?"
    Elias was silent for a long while. "To study the reflections in clear water. Water that was not distorted with images of the past."
    "Do you understand what that means? Because I'm not sure I do."
    "I think it means I have to see Keyworth one more time."
    "I'll go with you."
    "To Seattle? No. I appreciate the offer, but I have to do this alone."
    "I know. But I can drive into the city with you. Davis said something about being out of town on business this week, but I'll do lunch with my sister while you're busy with Keyworth."
    "I'm not going to argue." He hesitated. "I've got to tell you, Charity, lately, sometimes you're the only thing that feels real to me."
    A shiver of deep uncertainty chilled her to the core. She hugged Elias with all her strength, but the warmth of his body did not banish the cold sensation his words had created within her.
    If Elias was drawn to her only because the passion they generated between them was powerful enough to cut through the mists of his melancholy, what would happen when those same mists lifted? she wondered.
    She could only hope that he would learn to love her once he no longer needed her. Because she suddenly understood with blinding clarity that she was in love with him.
    She raised her lips to his.
    Elias claimed her mouth with a sensual hunger that was powerful enough to drive out the doubt and the fear. At least for a while.
    An hour later, Elias roused himself from the sweet lethargy imposed by sexual satisfaction. He shifted on the soft mattress, rolled onto his back, and looked up at the bedroom ceiling. Beside him, Charity snuggled, warm and soft and wonderfully curved.
    It was amazing how things were beginning to seem more solid and real now that he had made up his mind to talk to Keyworth. He had no idea what he would say to his old nemesis, but the decision to see him was the right one. It had to be done. Elias knew that he owed Charity, not Tal Kek Chara for that insight.
    He also knew he had reached a turning point of some kind. He was reluctant to explore all of the ramifications. But there was no getting around the fact that this decision to see Keyworth was a radical departure from his usual path. It was the first time since he had been a teenager that he had consciously selected a crucial course of action without consulting his