She also had to leave because if she didn't, she was going to tell him that she had just lied to him. Whether he cooperated and helped them nail Northrop or not, he would probably still be facing the death penalty. She wanted to tell him because she wanted to see the look on his face when he realized he'd just been had.

But she didn't. She didn't attack him, and she didn't mock him. Her determination to control that primal part of herself was the only difference between her and the guy in the chair.

And she would be different from him. She would.

"He's all yours, Chief," she said.

Then she turned and ran out the door, in desperate need of sunlight and fresh air.

"This is going way better than before," Granny said as she sat in the big, comfortable pa.s.senger seat of Ryan and John's surveillance van and watched the action through the windshield.

Behind her, manning two different recording devices, were Savannah and Dirk. Chief La Cross was watching through a small side window with a pair of binoculars.

Directly ahead was William Northrop's big gla.s.s house. Hank Jordan was walking up to the front door.

On the lawn a couple of gardeners were raking the flower beds. They looked a heck of a lot like Ryan and John.

Two utility workers examining a nearby telephone pole bore a striking resemblance to the patrolmen Franklin and Rhodes.

"That's true, Gran. It wouldn't take much to improve on our last surveillance job," Savannah replied.

"I thought we weren't going to talk about that." Dirk was still decidedly grumpy about the topic.

"Would this have anything to do with the bruises on your faces?" La Cross asked.

Savannah sniffed. "It was a contributing factor."

La Cross lowered her binoculars and gave them a teasing look. "Good. I thought maybe you'd had a newlyweds' quarrel."

"Hey, don't even talk like that!" Dirk snapped. "Real men don't hit women. Real men hit men who hit women."

"Sometimes real women do, too," Granny added with a snicker.

"Amen," Savannah replied.

"You know, I like you two better than I did at first," the chief said.

"That, too, was an easy improvement. No place to go but up," said Savannah.

La Cross waved an arm, indicating all of Ryan and John's expensive equipment. "This is a nice setup your friends have here. Wish I had something like this." She sighed. "h.e.l.l, I'd be happy just to have that gadget that triggered the gate to open."

"Shhh," Dirk said. "I'm getting something here."

He pressed a b.u.t.ton on the recorder. A blue graph danced on a computer monitor in front of him as Hank Jordan's voice came in loud and clear.

"Hey, I gotta see you," Hank said. "Right now. We got a problem."

"You can't come here to my home, you idiot!" was the equally clear response from William Northrop. "How did you get through the gate?"

"It was open."

"Well, get the h.e.l.l out of here now before somebody sees you!"

"No, seriously, we've gotta talk!" Hank insisted. "This guy I know at the motel, he figured out what I did for you, and now he wants in on it, too."

There was a long pause; then Northrop said, "Get in here."

Hank disappeared into the house and the big door closed with a finality that would have bothered Savannah if it had been anyone other than a heartless murderer inside. She figured she should conjure up some concern for Hank Jordan's well-being, but she couldn't.

If a battle ensued, she wasn't sure which party, if anyone, she would be rooting for.

"You told somebody about it?" Northrop was asking Hank. "You had to go and shoot your mouth off to some other moron?"

"Hey, watch who you're calling names here. I didn't tell anybody. He got into my stuff, and he saw the backpack full of money you gave me. Now he's saying if I don't give him half, he's going to the cops."

"So give him half."

"I don't wanna give him half! That ain't enough for doing a murder. Especially of a woman. It wasn't easy killing a woman as good-lookin' as your old lady."

Everyone in the van held their collective breaths for the next response.

Come on, Savannah thought. Come on, Billy boy. Don't stop now! Dig that grave of yours a full eight feet deep.

"Listen to me, you stupid a.s.s," Northrop said. "You've gotten all the money out of me that you're ever going to get. Don't forget, if my wife's murder comes back on me, you'll go down for it, too."

"But I-"

"You nothing. You deal with this idiot friend of yours any way you have to, but don't you ever come back to me again. If you do, I swear, I won't even bother to hire somebody to kill you. I'll do it myself! You hear me?"

"Oh, darlin', we hear you," Savannah said, bouncing up and down on her seat. "We all hear you! And I can't wait till the jury hears you, too!"

"That's enough. Let's go get him," Chief La Cross said as she opened the van door and jumped out. Dirk hopped out with her.

"You go ahead, Chief," Savannah said. "You've got enough good backup there without me."

La Cross didn't have to be told twice. In a heartbeat, she was running toward the house. Dirk, Ryan, John, and Patrolmen Franklin and Rhodes swept en ma.s.se up the sidewalk to the front door with her.

"That's not like you, sweet pea," Granny said, "holding back when it's time to grab the bad guy."

Savannah smiled, watching La Cross charge through the front door, gun drawn, followed by the rest of her team.

"The chief there's the one who got her heart broken," she said. "He bedded her and betrayed her, and that kills an important part of a woman's soul. She needs this a lot more than I do."

"I love you, Savannah girl."

"I love you, too, Gran. You're the best!"

It didn't take long for Savannah to locate Dr. June Glenn. The entire island was abuzz about the fund-raising gala she had organized, and the festivities had just begun on the oceanfront in the harbor.

Known for its casual lifestyle, Santa Tesla Island wasn't accustomed to having ladies in evening gowns and men in tuxedos stroll her pier. But tonight, the island's elite were doing just that as they sipped champagne, chatted, nibbled hors d'oeuvres, and enjoyed one sultry jazz number after another, performed by a twelve-piece orchestra.

Savannah felt woefully underdressed in her linen slacks and simple b.u.t.ton-down shirt. But then, she wasn't here to raise funds, nibble, or sip. She had good news to deliver . . . and a new husband waiting for her back at the lighthouse keeper's cottage.

It was a simple task, locating Dr. June Glenn. As Savannah had expected, the doctor was at the center of one of the largest conversation circles. Wearing a floor-length red gown that draped her slender form, her hair in an elegant updo, she was easily one of the loveliest women present. Interestingly, much of her beauty had to do with her grace and her pa.s.sion as she presented her point of view to those standing around her.

Something told Savannah she wasn't lecturing them on the weather or sharing the latest fashion tips. Whatever the topic was, Savannah knew it was something important, and she was reluctant to interrupt the business at hand.

But the moment Dr. Glenn spotted her, standing patiently on the sidelines, the doctor left her companions and hurried over to greet her.

"Good evening, Savannah," she said, extending her hand. "I'm so glad you could join us."

"Oh, I'm not joining," Savannah told her. "I just stopped by to give you an update."

Glenn looked concerned. "Not more bad news, I hope."

"No. Very good news. I'm happy to tell you that a suspect has been arrested for killing Amelia Northrop."

"That's wonderful! Who is it?"

"Hank Jordan. It appears your instincts were right about him."

Dr. Glenn's excitement turned to sadness. She shook her head. "People only hurt our cause when they use violent means like that."

"He didn't do it out of concern for the environment. It was murder for hire."

The doctor's eyes widened. "Really? Who paid him?" She thought for a moment. "Was it William Northrop?"

"Yes. He's in custody, too."

"Good."

Savannah smiled. "I guess that solves your problem, too, huh? Now you don't have to worry about his big casino complex destroying your beautiful beaches."

Dr. Glenn turned and looked up at the sweeping hills, which were turning purple in the glow of the setting sun. The lights of the island's homes and businesses were coming on as Santa Tesla's golden daylight charm faded into sparkling nighttime splendor.

"No," she said. "It doesn't solve my problem. I still have a community in desperate need. That's what all this is about tonight." She waved an arm, indicating the gala. "We have to find a way to bring tourists and businesses to the island. It doesn't need to be a casino. It could be a family-oriented complex, one that doesn't negatively impact the environment." She sighed. "We'll think of something."

Savannah's eyes were warm as she said, "I'm absolutely sure you will. This island is lucky to have you, Dr. Glenn. Both the animals and the people."

"Thank you," she replied, offering her hand in farewell. "This island was very fortunate that you and your husband chose to honeymoon here when you did. Please come see us again, under more pleasant circ.u.mstances."

Savannah looked around, taking in the glimmering hills, the pier, the beach, and the harbor. "Don't worry. We will."

Chapter 25.

When Savannah and Dirk strolled up the sidewalk toward her door, she looked up and saw the moonlight streaming through the bougainvillea arching across her porch. She breathed a sigh of relief.

It was so good to be home.

Once the case had been closed, the remaining days on the island were a pure delight. Ryan and John had even convinced Betty Sue to allow them a couple more nights at the lightkeeper's cottage.

But, sooner or later, all good things come to an end. Savannah was more than happy to be returning to her house, her kitties, and her mundane, routine life.

"Vacations and honeymoons and trips are all nice, but I think the best part is coming home," she said.

"I think the best part for me is coming to your house and thinking of it as my house now," Dirk told her, slipping his arm around her shoulders and pulling her close against his side. "I keep feeling like I'm just dropping you off and heading back to my trailer."

"Nope, I reckon if you want, we could have a sleepover. I'll blow up the air mattress, and you can sleep on the living-room floor."

"Wow! What an offer!"

She unlocked the front door and prepared herself for what she knew was coming.

She knew.

Dirk didn't.

As they walked into the dark foyer, they heard a slight rustling near the staircase.

"Hey, the kitties are still up," Dirk said.

But no sooner had he spoken than the lights came on and Tammy and Waycross jumped out from under the stairwell, shouting, "Surprise! Surprise!"

Savannah wasn't sure how Dirk was going to take this. He wasn't so big on surprises-let alone surprise homecomings when they were both exhausted.

But when Tammy had suggested it on the phone that afternoon, she had sounded so excited, Savannah hadn't had the heart to deny her.

After all, she and Waycross had worked so hard.

"Gee," Dirk said with obviously feigned enthusiasm, "what's all this?"

"Just us welcoming you two home," Tammy said. "Especially you, Dirko."

He looked very confused and moderately pleased. "Why me? I don't get it."

"You will," Waycross told him. "Savannah's got something to show you."

Dirk turned to her. Now he was totally confused. "You do?"

She grinned and nodded. "I do. Well, actually, the three of us do. Come upstairs."

He allowed her to lead him up the steps as Tammy and Waycross tagged along behind.