Fatal Flight Read online

  She soaked in every inch of toned flesh, the curve of his pecs and the washboard stomach, even the several inches of bare flesh showing where the jeans hung low on his hips, the snap undone, and the zipper half down. He caught the direction of her look and pulled up the zipper, snapped the fastener.

  “You’re due for another dose of pain medication.” He lifted a vial from the bedside table and shook out two pills.

  “I don’t want them. They make me feel fuzzy headed.” Sky turned her face away like a recalcitrant child.

  “Tough. That was the condition of you coming home, against the doctor’s advice. Remember, take your medication, drink plenty of fluids, and rest as much as possible.”

  “You just want to knock me out again, so you can get more sleep,” she accused, knowing she was being unfair, but too grumpy to care.

  “Someone woke up with their feathers fluffed the wrong way.” His eyes warmed, teasing her.

  She winced dramatically. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I feel grimy, and achy, and nasty. But I shouldn’t take it out on you.” She accepted the pills and downed both with a drink from the glass of water.

  “Do you think I could have a hot shower?”

  “Are you still cold?” His eyes sharpened and he tucked the blankets tighter. “They wouldn’t let you leave till your core body temp registered normal. Maybe you’re having a relapse.” He straightened. “I’ll call Max.”

  “No, Adam.” She grabbed his arm. “I’m not cold, just achy, and I thought the heat would help.”

  “You’re still pretty weak, Sky. I don’t know about a shower.”

  She opened her mouth in protest, but he spoke before she could.

  “Would you settle for a soak in the tub? I’ll run a bath and get you all set up, so you won’t waste your energy.”

  “Deal.” She grabbed it before he could change his mind. The idea of settling into a tub of hot water was so enticing she’d fight a rabid wolf for the pleasure.

  He disappeared into the bathroom. She could hear the rush of water filling the tub. He closed the door when he came out. “Keep the steam in, warm the air,” he explained. “I threw in some Epson salts. They should help the bruising and stiffness.” He crossed to her dresser. “Let’s find you something to put on after.”

  He pulled out a pair of silk panties and a sleeveless undershirt. “The doctor prescribed a liniment. This will make it easier for reaching the bruises on your arms,” he answered her questioning look, before disappearing into the bathroom again. The sound of running water stopped.

  Sky pushed back the many layers of blankets Max had piled on her the night before and slid her feet over the edge of the bed. When Adam returned, she was still on her side, legs dangling and wondering if she had the strength to sit up against the pain.

  “Let me help you.” He pushed his arm under her and lifted her sideways into a sitting position in one smooth movement. Then he took her hands and drew her up and onto her feet. Her knees sagged, and she fell forward, but he had her safely supported with his hands under her arms in a flash of motion.

  “Maybe I should carry you,” he considered.

  “No, moving will loosen up my muscles.” She stood erect, inched her way along the edge of the bed, and feeling like she was setting off across the Pacific in the frailest craft, stepped into the interminable space between the end of her bed and the bathroom door. She shuffled across the wood planks, feeling like a nonagenarian. He followed like her shadow, but didn’t interfere.

  Inside the bathroom, he made sure she had towels close at hand, arranged her bath products along the tub, and tested the temperature of the water. “I’m leaving the door open a crack and waiting in your bedroom. Call me if you need me.”

  As Sky fumbled her way out of the flannel pajamas Pops had given her the day before, she wondered why Adam was being so circumspect. They’d been lovers. He’d seen her naked in every pose imaginable. Why was he keeping her at arm’s length now—figuratively anyway?

  She groaned with pleasure as the warm water closed around her bruised body, laid her head on the rim of the modern version of a claw tub, and reveled in the easing of her aches. The pain medication might be kicking in, as well. Sky didn’t plan on leaving the tub until the water cooled. She’d had too many bumps, bruises, and abrasions in the past month. She was tired of being in pain. She shampooed her hair, rinsing the soap free by ducking under the surface. With her eyes closed, she wondered what was up with Adam. He’d come the minute Pops had told him she was missing. She had hoped his coming meant he’d put what she’d said the last time they were together behind him. But today, she couldn’t reassure herself that was the case. His actions were caring but impersonal. He’d help his father or Pops the same way.

  His knuckles tapped on the door. “Sky, you haven’t fallen asleep in there, have you?”

  She rousted from a semi-nap and realized the water had cooled. “No. I’m getting out now.” Maybe she’d find out his thoughts, if she got him talking.

  She exited the bathroom a few minutes later, dried and dressed in the panties and undershirt. He stood by the bed, a tube of ointment in his hands, one of her sleep shirts laid on the sheet.

  “I’ll do your arms for you, and you can get the other spots.” He squeezed ointment into one hand and rubbed them together warming it. Sky settled on the edge of the bed. His hands swept up her arms, and down again, reminding her of the many times he’d caressed her arms before possessing her hands. Only then, it was the touch of a lover. This time, he handled her like a professional masseuse, nothing personal in his touch.

  She shivered, feeling the icy chill of fear. Adam had written her off, just as she’d suspected, when he’d left in anger. He was here because he was a caring man, as much to support Pops as to find her. She’d blown it by not trusting him, by testing him. And she had only herself to blame.

  “That’s great. Thanks.” She cooled her voice, pulled away. “I can manage the rest.” She reached for her sleep shirt and pulled it over her head to cover her stiffened nipples. “Did you say Pops was here?” she asked, keeping her voice bright.

  “You know, Sky. You’re making this really hard for us.” His eyes narrowed as he studied her closed expression.

  She wondered if he meant for him and Pops, or for the two of them. “For who?”

  He sighed and ignored the question. “Your dad’s sleeping in the spare room. My dad’s at the hotel. He’s picking me up soon.” Adam glanced at his watch before he moved, shoving his hands in his pockets. “Do you want a cup of tea? Something to eat?”

  “Tea and toast would be good. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Sky concentrated on squeezing ointment out of the tube. She’d need all that time to hide her hurt from Adam. He had no intention of staying, of giving her a second chance. And, why should he? She’d been as disappointing as she feared—to herself, as well as him.

  Pops came into the room as she reached the table by the big window. Sunlight poured in, and Pops’ careful hug warmed her further, but nothing could thaw the ice forming around her heart. She must rebuild her shield and let Adam go without making him uncomfortable. She settled in her chair, a smile fixed on her face.

  A knock on the door heralded Patrick. The four of them sat around the table, nursing tea and crunching toast.

  “The sheriff has charged Cooper with first degree murder. He’ll go away for a long time and won’t be bothering us again,” Pops told her.

  “That’s a comfort. But I feel so terrible I couldn’t get help for Ruby in time.” Sky grieved.

  “From the M.E.’s report, she died between 6:30 and 7:00 p.m. You would barely have left the cabin by then,” Pops comforted her. “He said her chances of survival, with such a serious wound, were minimal, even if they had gotten her into surgery.”

  “You helped her all you could, Sky,” Adam said. “A lot of people would have left her without even bandaging her wound or making her more comfortable. The woman set you up to die.”


  “I don’t think she knew Cooper planned to kill me, until he said so in the cabin. She helped me in the end, untied my feet and hands, so I could get away.”

  “Bless her for that,” Patrick said.

  Adam had thrown on his flannel shirt before the men arrived. Now he rose. “I’ll just get changed, Dad, so we can head out.” He retreated into the second bedroom.

  “Sorry we have to leave, Sky. I have an important meeting with the governor this afternoon I’d prefer not to postpone. Adam’s flying me back in the Gulf Stream, now we know you’re safe and all the people endangering you are locked away.”

  “I understand. You’ve already stayed two days, and I’m sure you’ve postponed plenty of meetings. I’m okay and appreciate so much that you came.” Sky clasped his hand.

  As Adam came out of the bedroom, wearing dress slacks and a button-down shirt, with a tie and a jacket slung over his shoulder, she searched for a few seconds more with him.

  “So, what happened with your cyber thief? Did you prove it was the man you suspected?”

  “Yes, Adam’s plan worked. The FBI has him in custody until his hearing. They don’t go lightly on acts of treason, so I imagine after they interrogate him and find his buyer for the fake plans, he’ll serve a long sentence. I’m just glad Adam safeguarded his design.”

  “He thinks like a chess player,” Sky said in a subdued voice, remembering all the times Adam had anticipated her needs. She watched while he shrugged into his jacket and glanced at his watch and over at his father. He couldn’t get away from her fast enough.

  “Thanks again for helping with the search, Adam. I hope your work didn’t suffer too much from the delay.”

  “He’s working on a drone with new capabilities. For a while there, we thought it might have been handy in checking out the cabin, without endangering the law officers,” Patrick explained, as he rose to his feet.

  “Well, good luck with it.” Feeling awkward, Sky stood and offered him a hug. He wrapped his arms around her so carefully she felt like precious porcelain.

  “You take care, Sky.” Patrick’s gruff words warmed her scorched heart. “I care about you, so let me know how you’re doing every so often, will you?”

  She nodded. Her throat squeezing any words she could utter. Tears pooled in her eyes.

  She approached Adam, her arms dangling at her sides like a puppet whose strings had been cut. “Thanks again, Adam. Fly safely,” she whispered.

  His eyes darkened. His face seemed paler than usual, his mouth tight.

  “Take good care of her, Max.” He looked away from Sky and to the older man. They shook hands.

  Max pulled Adam in for a hug. “You bet. I’ll take care of our girl.”

  Adam didn’t respond or look at her again. He lifted his leather soft-sided case and opened the door. Patrick passed through; Adam followed, closing it with a sense of finality.

  At the soft sound of the wood against the frame, all the strength drained out of Sky. She wavered where she stood. Pops got a hand under her arm. “You’ve been up too long, pet. Let’s get you back into bed.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Sky’s body healed with the speed of the healthy and young. Her mental state, however, stayed in a decline, at times taking quite a nose dive. For a few days, she rested at the insistence of Pops and Gita, who’d flown over the day Adam left. Soon their hovering concern only emphasized Adam’s absence. She insisted on resuming work, hoping it would distract her. She carried out her responsibilities at the airfield, instructing, doing the books, and interviewing for a new front office person. The charter service had taken off and continued to heat up. Pops had the Beech 90 in the air most days, booking groups who wanted an aerial view of the famous lake straddling the border between California and Nevada. Fashioned over two million years ago out of ice melt, Lake Tahoe was renowned for the clarity of its water and the panoramic views of the mountains circling it.

  Tourists were fascinated that its depth of over sixteen hundred feet made it the second deepest lake in the United States, while it boasted the title of largest alpine lake. Sky had spent a lot of her summers fishing the twenty-two-mile length with her mom and Pops, and later, water skiing and racing boats across its pristine surface. She never tired of looking down at it when she flew over and could see why so many visitors wanted the same bird’s eye view. Pops loved taking them up and telling them everything he knew about the lake and the surrounding Sierra Nevada mountains. He was happier than she’d seen him in many years.

  Her unhappiness seemed even more extreme, in contrast. She couldn’t get Adam out of her thoughts. Her body hungered for his, her mind thirsted for one of the stimulating talks they’d shared. He had always showed an interest in what she thought about a subject and fascinated her with the breadth and depth of his knowledge. She’d sucked up his information like a high-powered vacuum. She missed him, their exchanges, and their lovemaking as if she’d lost a limb, and all day, the phantom pain reminded her it was gone.

  “Yahoo. I can’t believe it.” The shouting and banging coming from the flight school sent Sky across the hangar in a run.

  Hands grabbed her around the waist as she ran into the room. She was lifted, swung in several circles, and then hugged. “I did it. I passed my instrument test. They gave me my rating. All because of you.”

  She was spun in another circle, then set on her feet. Hank’s hand slapped her enthusiastically on the back. “Can you believe it?”

  “Absolutely.” She smiled at the thirty-year-old, who’d attended every class and worked his butt off for his rating. “You earned it. I had no doubt you’d qualify. This calls for a celebration.” She whipped out her phone, tagged the number of one of her other students in South Tahoe, and told them she’d ordered pizza and would he pick it up before driving out. Then she phoned the pizza place and ordered enough pizza to feed the guys arriving for night school.

  “You have bragging rights for the next year.” She grinned at Hank. “Now, what do you plan to do with your life?”

  “Well, did Max talk to you about taking me on?”

  “He might have mentioned letting you ride right seat in the Beech till you build up enough hours to qualify for your multi-engine rating, then taking over some of the charter business.”

  Hank grinned. “Is that okay by you?”

  “I have no problem with hiring you, but you know we’re only paying a ground level wage. You’re not going to be able to fly for us for at least six months. It will take you that long to build your hours, and meanwhile, we have Scott handling the grunt work, detailing the planes, cleaning the hangar.” Sky knew Hank had a wife, who was expecting their first child.

  “I think I have a solution for that. You’re looking for a front-end person to handle the bookings and do some of the bookkeeping. I could take on that job and fly with Max in the hours I’m free.”

  “Are you qualified?” Sky sank her hip onto the corner of the table and gave him her complete attention. So far, she hadn’t interviewed anyone she liked for the job. Hank knew how to be unobtrusive, had never shown up late, got along with everyone she’d schooled, and always looked neat and well-groomed. If only he could type.

  “I took two years of business college, before I realized I wanted to fly for a living. I know how to set up spreadsheets on the computer and handle simple bookkeeping, plus I’d have no problem handling your correspondence and the bookings.”

  “Looks like you’re our new front-end person,” she laughed. “I’ve spent so much time looking for someone, and I could have tripped over the perfect person, without realizing it. Of course, I’ll want Pops to sign off on it, and I’m giving you a one-month trial period, but I see no problems with either.” She offered her hand.

  Hank whooped again. She backed up before he could spin her in another victory circle. “Who’d have thought I’d get my instrument rating and a new job in the same day.”

  Car doors slammed outside the hangar. Youthful voices,
full of energy, carried on the crisp fall air. “The students are here. Pull some sodas out of the fridge, will you? I’ll grab some plates and napkins.”

  Sky let their enthusiasm and happiness for Hank carry her through the next hours and lift her out of the gray world that framed her life since Adam’s departure. For a while, she was young and happy, surrounded with people who looked up to her and liked her.

  She didn’t know why when she crawled into bed she broke into tears. Burying her face in her pillow, she sobbed herself to sleep.

  ****

  In Houston, Adam threw himself into his work. The team who’d built the drone and modified the infrared capacity, according to his schematics, set up a cheer when they completed the field test with a hundred percent rating. Adam felt happy for them. They were a great bunch of men and women, highly qualified and giving their best to Hamilton Aeronautics. He tried to get into the spirit of things, but all he could think about, now he had time to think, was Sky.

  She’d wanted space, and he’d given her plenty. He’d gone through hell, traveled back, and gone through it again when he’d heard she was missing, murdered, then lost. When he’d searched, found, and lost again. When she’d insisted on leaving the hospital after twenty-four hours, he’d stayed, hoping they would have a chance to talk and at least give him an idea of what she was thinking about their relationship. He’d had a lot of hope when he’d opened his eyes on the sofa and met hers. Hunger, longing, and a type of awe had streamed from her remarkable eyes. He’d crossed to her, desperate to hold her, reassure himself she was alive, well.

  Her pain had blocked out his need. In helping her get more comfortable, he’d lost whatever ground he’d made up by coming. She hadn’t let him follow his natural impulse to carry her, stroke her, comfort her. Instead, she’d closed down. At first, he thought the pain killers were dulling her response, but when she’d walked into the kitchen, her face held the same cool withdrawal she’d displayed when they first met. Bewildered, wondering what he’d done in the short amount of time he’d helped her with her bath and ointment, he’d waited for her response. She’d sheltered behind Max’s arrival, then his father’s, finding questions for each of them, giving them her full attention, while she pretended he didn’t exist.