Silent Fall

Joanna’s voice sent the image from her mind.
    "I found this brochure on her desk," Joanna said.
    Catherine turned toward the other woman and took the folder from her hand. It showed a resort in Hawaii. Was that where Erica had gone, number three seven four?
    "I’ll check the bedroom quickly, and then I really have to go," Joanna said.
    While Joanna disappeared into the other room, Catherine moved to the kitchen counter, her gaze settling on the pad by the phone. Erica had jotted down a number, but there was no name attached to it. It could mean nothing, or it could be important. Catherine ripped off the page and stuffed it in the pocket of her jeans. Then she saw Erica’s checkbook. Her heart began to pound. Erica’s bankbook might show who was paying her. She swiped it off the counter and stuffed it in between the layers of her coat as Joanna returned to the room, shaking her head.
    "Nothing else," Joanna said. "She must be in Hawaii."
    "I’ll give this place a call," Catherine replied as Joanna ushered her to the front door. "Maybe she just forgot to tell me or got the dates of my trip mixed up."
    "She’s had a lot on her mind," Joanna said. "Frankly I wouldn’t be surprised if she never came back here, after what happened. You can’t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when it belongs to a senator. Did she tell you what she did?"
    "Yes. She got trapped in a bad situation," Catherine said slowly. "She feels terrible about everything that happened."
    "She never should have talked to that reporter. She should have kept her mouth shut. I thought she was smarter than that."
    "She was afraid she’d be next," Catherine said. "I hope nothing has happened to her now."
    For the first time a shadow passed through Joanna’s blue eyes. "I hope not, too. But I’m sure she’s just lying on a beach somewhere, drinking a margarita and working on her tan." Joanna locked Erica’s door behind them. "If Erica comes back I’ll tell her you were here."
    "Thanks. I’d appreciate it."
    Catherine let out a breath of relief as Joanna returned to her condo. She walked down the street quickly, quite satisfied with herself. She’d actually stepped outside of her safe zone and taken a risk, and it felt good. It felt as if she were living again, instead of hiding in the shadows. And it was about damn time.
    When she reached the Java Hut she found Dylan pacing impatiently by the front window. "What happened?" he demanded.
    "Where’s my tea?"
    He tipped his head to the cup on the nearby table. "It’s probably cold by now. It took you long enough."
    "Because I did a good job," she said with a proud smile.
    "I saw you got into Erica’s condo. How did you manage that?"
    "I told Joanna I was worried about Erica. She found this brochure. She said Erica told her she was going on vacation and this is probably where."
    Dylan took the flyer from her hand. "Hawaii, huh? I doubt she’s managed to get that far, but perhaps that’s where she’s headed."
    "I got a couple of other things." Catherine pulled out Erica’s checkbook and saw Dylan’s eyes light up. "Not bad, huh?"
    "Not bad at all. With her account number I might be able to find a money trail between her and whoever paid her to set me up."
    "This was written on a pad by her phone." Catherine handed him the piece of paper. "I don’t know who the number belongs to, but maybe it’s important." She took a quick breath. "And I had a vision of Erica digging through her pockets for a key. There was a torn piece of paper attached to the ring, and the numbers three, seven, four. There were also some directions: right after the bridge, left on Falcon, pink flowers in the window box," she said, trying to remember every word. "I don’t know where the key goes -- maybe to a room at the Hawaiian resort." She opened her purse and pulled out her memo pad as she finished speaking. "I’d better write it down before I forget." She quickly jotted down the directions.
    "You did good," Dylan said with an impressed nod.
    "I know," she said, unable to keep the pleased note out of her voice. "And I think I deserve a reward."
    "I already got you your tea."
    "I was thinking of something a little more interesting."
    "Oh, yeah? Like what?"
    She threw her arms around his neck and pressed her mouth against his, letting herself go, savoring the heat of his mouth, the dizzy spin her head took with each kiss. She