"s.h.i.t, there's got to be another room or," she mumbled to herself but saw no other door.

Then to her horror, a light appeared. She saw the light shining through a crack in the wall and along the baseboard. Rae stood there for an instant, trying to figure out what was going on. Almost too afraid to move, she stupidly stared at the outline of light. She realized there must be a room behind the paneling. Then she realized she was not alone; someone had to turn on that light.

She looked around the dark room, then walked over to the far corner and turned off her flashlight. She just watched the light and waited. What was going on? she thought as she yawned again. Had to be drugs. Amy had to have been involved in something. Rae remembered her saying she was supposed to do something, but now she just couldn't. What? And why did she take her business card? She knew Mike Porter was related to this mess, as well, as was that Jerry Truman fellow.

Then she heard a noise coming from behind the wall. She strained to hear the m.u.f.fled voices. Then she heard someone cry out and took a step or two toward the wall. All at once, she was at the wall with her ear pressed against the panel.

"Don't stop f.u.c.king me," the woman's voice called out.

Rae heard bedsprings bouncing and a man growling and moaning. Rae's eyes widened, and she pulled back.

"s.h.i.t," she whispered, and as she turned to walk away, she stumbled into a chair, knocking it over. Instantly, the bedsprings stopped bouncing, and Rae heard m.u.f.fled voices again. Quickly, she righted the chair and headed for the storeroom door, quietly closing it, but leaving just enough open to see.

The secret door opened, and the light now lit up the rest of the room. Out walked Mike Porter, running a hand through his hair and wearing only his jeans. Rae squinted through the crack in the door and watched as he walked around the room. As he turned his back to Rae, she noticed the tattoo on his upper back of a snake across the top of his shoulders. Then a woman's voice quietly called out. She came into view. Molly Eastman, Rae wasn't surprised.

"What the h.e.l.l is the matter?" She wore only his shirt, opened as she walked up to Mike.

"I dunno. I thought I heard something," he said, and Rae noticed they were both excessively jittery. Both of them looked around, and Molly then jumped into his arms and giggled. "f.u.c.k me right here."

Oh, please, don't, Rae begged.

Mike pulled her hair back and kissed her neck. "We're not supposed to be here. If Truman knew, he'd skin us alive," he said nervously and looked around.

Molly wrapped her legs around his lean waist and squirmed back and forth. "Don't be a p.u.s.s.y, Mike. He doesn't care as long as we do what we're told," she said in an almost threatening voice. "Besides, the rewards are too good. I almost wish he were here now. We had a good time earlier. I get so turned on when you two-" She was stopped by Mike roughly kissing her.

Mike walked her back into the room and closed the door. Within seconds, the bedsprings were getting a workout once again. Rae rolled her eyes and left the same way she came in. As she stepped off the crates, she could feel someone behind her. The hair on the back of her neck bristled as her mouth ran dry.

She then noticed another broken crate next to her. She picked up the piece of wood and whirled around, ready to swing it at her attacker.

Someone let out a small screech. Rae stopped in midswing, noticing it was Sarah, standing there with her hands held up in a defensive pose.

"f.u.c.k me," she whispered helplessly and put a hand to her heart, dropping the wood.

Sarah was holding her chest as if she were having a heart attack. "You scared the life out of me," she whispered. "What are you doing here? I saw your jeep a block away, and I knew you'd be here."

Rae, making sure her heart was still in her chest, grabbed her by the elbow and led her down the alley. "You are insane. I swear, you're killing me. You must want me dead," Rae said angrily as she pulled her.

Sarah, trying to keep up, stumbled for an instant. "I'm insane? You're sneaking around in the middle of the night at this G.o.dforsaken place."

They both looked up when they heard it. The revving of a car engine made them turn around. It was on them so quickly; all Rae could do was push Sarah out of the way. The car streaked toward them, knocking over crates and boxes as Rae dove headlong into a pile of garbage.

The car screamed past them as it turned the corner out of the alley, tires screeching all the way out of sight. Rae unearthed herself from the smelly garbage and rushed across to Sarah, who tossed a crate off her.

"Sarah, are you all right?" Rae asked anxiously as she helped her.

"I'm fine," she said angrily as she brushed herself off, winced, and flexed her arm. "Sonofab.i.t.c.h," she swore, and Rae raised an eyebrow.

"Are you all right, Charlie Chan?" she asked, and Rae stifled a chuckle.

"Fine. Let's get out of here before he makes a command performance."

Rae flipped on the light in the kitchen as Sarah walked in. She turned, and her eyes widened in horror. "You're bleeding," Rae exclaimed and ushered Sarah to the dining room and pushed her into a chair.

"I am? Where?" Sarah looked down at herself.

Rae came out of the bathroom with her own a.r.s.enal of first aid.

"Your shoulder. Sit still now."

"My good blouse, d.a.m.n you."

Rae ignored her as she examined her shoulder through the tear in the blouse. "Is this an expensive blouse?"

"Yes, and it's ruined. Do you know how much...?" Sarah let out a small cry as Rae ripped the blouse from shoulder to elbow.

"Do you feel a draft?" Sarah asked over her shoulder, and Rae laughed quietly.

"Sit still, you crazy goof." Rae opened the bottle and smiled wickedly. "Your turn to cry like a little girl."

Sarah gave her an exasperated glare. "Very funny." She then sniffed the air. "Don't you take out your garbage?"

"That's my new cologne, sit still."

She cleaned the sc.r.a.pes on her shoulder. Sarah winced and pulled away. "Owie..." she whined pathetically.

"You big baby," Rae scolded and blew on the stinging antiseptic. Rae finished with the first aid, then bent down and lightly kissed her shoulder, then her neck. "All done."

"My, Commander Jefferson, you can be quite gentle when you want to be." Sarah looked at her, and for the first time, she saw a worried look in her eyes. "I'm fine."

She looked like she was going to say something, and Sarah watched her, waiting. Then a dark, almost sad look came over her face, and she let go of Sarah's hand.

"Why don't you stay here? I'll take you home in the morning."

Sarah was sound asleep, snoring as Rae stared at the ceiling. She looked over at Sarah, who lay on her side, her hand resting on Rae's shoulder. She knew the inevitable. Sarah was too good to be saddled with such a mess of a woman as herself. They should have never made love. It would have been easier if they hadn't. Sarah Connelly would be better off, she told herself. Then she tried desperately not to think about it.

Her mind instantly wandered to that night's mess. They were both almost killed. She knew it was no accident, and she knew Sarah knew it was no accident. She knew someone was trying to kill, or at the very least, scare the h.e.l.l out of them. And after telling him, she knew Lieutenant McGrath would know this, as well.

With all of this great knowledge flying around, you'd think she could figure out who in the h.e.l.l this someone was.

Chapter 27.

Sarah was of no good use to anyone. Her students looked at one another as she stared out the window. She thought of Rae and how she left that morning-she had that confused, faraway look, and although she kissed Sarah deeply, Sarah felt the connection between them dissipate. Perhaps it was her imagination, but it worried her.

Finally, she looked at her puzzled students and chuckled.

"Okay, beat it. Go play." She waved them all off.

Sitting behind the desk in the now empty cla.s.sroom, she glanced at her watch. It was only ten thirty, and she didn't have another cla.s.s till midday. So she thought of going to see Delia.

On her way out, Betty Whitfield stopped her. "Sit down, I need to talk to you." She ushered her to the teachers' lounge.

Sarah looked across at her old friend and knew what was coming; she waited patiently.

Betty set a cup of tea in front of her and sat. "Now what's going on? You look...bedraggled."

Sarah chuckled quietly and told her of the night's escapade. She told her everything, including her feelings for Rae. Betty listened as she sipped her tea, watching the sad look on Sarah's face.

"So why the glum look? It seems you're falling for her. Is that bad?" she prodded. Sarah took a deep breath and shrugged. "As I asked before, my dear, is it s.e.x or is it love?"

Sarah looked into her eyes. "It's love for me." Her voice trailed off as tears sprang into her eyes.

"But you're not too sure about Rae," Betty finished for her. Sarah nodded and pulled a hanky out of her pocket.

"She's been through too much, been alone, and lonely too long. She doesn't think she's good enough, or worthy, or something equally as asinine," she said angrily and waved the hanky. "d.a.m.n that woman. Why did she have to come into my life now? Now when I was all set to-"

"To what? Set to be alone? To hide behind the ivy-covered walls? That's not you, and you know it. If you love this woman, don't give up on her. I see the way she looks at you. It's not all physical. There's deep affection there, trust me. I may be old, but I know love when I see it. Perhaps you're right, she's too scared to commit, too long alone." She shook her head. "Love, wasted on the young."

"Perhaps she doesn't love me. We've only known each other for a short time. How can you fall in love that fast?" she said decisively and drank her tea.

"Well, there's one way to find out. Back off and let her be for a while. I know you're involved in this Amy Davis debacle. However, when it's over and done...fade away for a bit and let her think clearly. It might be that whole, 'let them go and if it's meant to be, they'll come back' nonsense," she said sarcastically, and Sarah laughed out loud. Betty had a folded piece of paper in her hand. She held it out to Sarah. "A message for you. She called twenty minutes ago. Read it."

Sarah frowned and took the paper, expecting it to be from Rae. Her eyes widened, and she looked at Betty, who smiled wickedly and nodded.

"No, I can't," Sarah scolded gently and read it again. "Should I?"

Betty nodded again. "Yes, you should. This might be a good time to back off and give Rae some s.p.a.ce."

"I feel like I'm playing a game. I don't know if I..."

Betty leaned in. "Is your goal to hurt Rae?"

"Of course not."

"All is fair in only two things in life-love and war. This is war. You fight to keep what you love. Make the call, or I will."

Sarah bit at her bottom lip and picked up the phone. Betty nodded. "Then go see that poor policewoman. Be back for your one o'clock cla.s.s."

As Betty stood, she held on to Sarah's arm. "Please be careful, dear. There's someone out there who doesn't like Rae very much."

"Thanks for reminding me," she said dryly and dialed the number.

Delia was quietly flipping through a magazine, her leg itching in its cast. d.a.m.n, she thought, and tried to wriggle her toes. She looked over and chuckled. There sat Rae, her long legs sprawled out in front of her, sound asleep in the chair. The nurse told her she came in while Delia was sleeping.

She watched her for a moment and smiled at her as she peacefully slept. Her door opened, and Sarah poked her head in.

Delia put her finger up to her lips and motioned to Rae. Sarah shook her head and crept into the room.

"She's been sleeping for an hour. I don't have the heart to wake her," Delia whispered, and Sarah watched Rae.

"The big lug," Sarah whispered, and Delia stifled a laugh as Rae stirred but still slept.

With that, the door opened, and a nurse cheerfully came in. "Good morning, Detective," she rang out, and both of them gave her the big "shush."

She stopped dead in her tracks and noticed the sleeping visitor.

"Hey, who's the patient here?" she asked and walked up to the bed.

Now Jane opened the door, and all three of them put their fingers to their lips. Jane stopped and noticed Rae; she nodded in acknowledgment and tiptoed up to the bed. She was carrying a bag and a bouquet of flowers.

"For me?" Delia smiled, and Jane nodded, blushing horribly.

The nurse put a thermometer in her mouth, and Delia rolled her eyes. Jane smiled and took her hand.

The nurse glanced at them as she checked Delia's pulse. "You'd better leave her alone. I'll never get a good reading," she said, and Delia turned a nice shade of red, ignoring Jane's smiling face. "You're doing just fine. I think you can go home in a day or two," she said nicely and walked out.

Rae moved in her sleep and woke.

"Good morning," they all said, and Rae chuckled, rubbing her eyes.

"Sorry," she said sheepishly as she stretched. "How do you feel?" she asked Delia, who shifted uncomfortably.

"I wanna go home."

"Stop fussing. The nurse said you can go home in a few days." Jane smoothed the covers on her bed. "Can I get you anything?"

Delia raised an eyebrow and grinned. Jane blushed as she straightened the newspapers. "A gla.s.s of water for a start."

"Okay, I can see you're in good hands. I'm going up to see Mark Rhodes. I'll be back in a bit." Rae kissed her forehead. She turned to Sarah. "Will you be here?"

"No. I have a full day of cla.s.ses." She looked into her eyes.

Rae nodded. "Well, I'll stop by this evening."

"I won't be home tonight. I've got dinner plans," she said, not taking her eyes off her. "If you like, stop by my office tomorrow. I'm free till noon."

"Oh...okay. I'll see you in the morning," Rae offered awkwardly.