Stranded

easily, and yet he was friendly enough to win over those same victims. She remembered him giving her the cap and making her feel like a part of his team.
    “If you don’t have the manpower to find Lily and Buzz, just tell me now,” Maggie told him.
    There was silence and she waited it out. He was probably thinking of the media fallout if he said no. Or worse, if it leaked that he hadn’t acted on an FBI agent’s request.
    “Are you going to want to question him when we bring him in?” he finally asked.
    “Yes. As soon as you find out his name, text it to me.”
    “Sure enough.”
    “And, Sheriff, please let me know the minute you find Lily. You might check the house at the farm.”
    “There’re people crawling all over the place. I doubt that she’s there at the house.”
    “Check the house.”
    He didn’t bother to muffle his heavy sigh. Then he added a second “Sure enough.”
    Creed sat on the corner of the other bed and when she looked over at him he held out a can of Diet Pepsi.
    “Turns out they have your brand in the vending machine.”
    “Thanks.” She tried not to be impressed that he remembered her favorite soda.
    He’d already popped the tab on both cans. She took a sip. Felt his eyes watching her. She turned around and shut off the TV. She could hear Tully’s voice in the next room. She knew he had the more difficult phone call—their boss.
    This was the first time she and Creed were alone together since they had kissed and … whatever that incident was on the bed. She wasn’t sure what she was supposed to say. Maybe that sort of thing was a common occurrence for him. It certainly was not for her.
    “About before,” she said and immediately his eyes told her he knew exactly what “before” she was referring to and that she didn’t need to finish the sentence.
    “Don’t worry about it.”
    “It’s no big deal?” she asked too quickly, surprised at the slight sting. Isn’t that what she wanted? That it not be a big deal.
    But his face was serious. There was no trademark hitch of a smile at the corner of his mouth when he said, “Only if you want it to be.”
    And there it was. She could feel it all over again. Electricity. Too strong for comfort.
    He stood up but his eyes stayed on hers even as he took two steps back, away from the bed, away from her. His attempt to break the circuit?
    “You should try to get some sleep,” he said.
    She nodded. Smiled. “I haven’t been sleeping much lately.”
    “Insomnia?”
    “Guess it comes with the territory.”
    “I’ve found that Scotch or bourbon usually works.”
    “You, too, huh?”
    “There’s a legend that says when you can’t sleep it’s because you’re awake in someone else’s dream.”
    She thought about that. Took a few more sips of the soda, then said, “Someone else’s dream? Or someone else’s nightmare?”
    That’s when Tully came into the room. His hair stood up where he’d raked his fingers through it too many times. Maggie noticed a fresh stain on his shirt—pizza sauce. He looked exhausted. He leaned a shoulder against the wall as if he needed it to prop him up.
    His eyes found and held Maggie’s. “Sounds like you and me are going to Florida.”

CHAPTER 51

    Before Agent Tully could finish explaining why they were being sent to Florida, Creed’s phone began to ring. It was Hannah. He left the two agents and retreated to the other room as he checked his watch. His jaw clamped tight. Only bad news came at this time of night.
    “Is everything okay?” he asked in place of a greeting.
    “Everything’s fine. Don’t get your Jockeys in a twist. I knew you’d spazz out but I also knew you’d be awake.”
    “Dogs are okay?”
    “Everybody is fine. How’s Grace?”
    “I can pick her up at seven tomorrow morning. Actually, this morning. I called and checked on her two hours ago and they said she was resting. Doing good.”
    “She’s a tough girl, but I won’t lie, I’ll be glad to have her back home where I can fuss over her.”
    That made him smile. Hannah probably already had a place set up for Grace in their office where she’d be able to watch her.
    “I just got a phone call from Agent Alonzo,” she said. “He wants to know if we can provide a cadaver dog and handler on Saturday here in our neck of the woods.”
    So that’s where Maggie and Tully were headed. Creed hated that his first response was a twinge of excitement.
    “Felix isn’t back until next week. Andy is still