Jim watched her. "Somethin' wrong?"

Rae shook her head, then pinched the bridge of her nose. "No, Jim. I just need sleep," she said and drove through the gate. The driver looked very familiar, she thought as she pulled into the parking lot.

She took the elevator to the seventh floor, then walked into the familiar boardroom. There they sat, all four of them.

"Good morning, all." Rae set her briefcase on the table, then poured herself a cup of coffee. She looked around the table as all four board members greeted her. After a few pleasantries, Rae sat and sipped her coffee.

"Well, what's the verdict?" Rae asked.

"We've decided to go with your proposal. Now what do we need to do?" Mr. Billings asked. He was the oldest of the four. White-haired and a cigar sticking out of his breast pocket, he was on the portly side and looked like Santa Claus.

"First, I need the employee records. I'll do a background check on all of them. And past employees, just in case. You have to give me everything. You've got important government contracts now, gentlemen. You cannot be too careful. I can't stress that enough. Then I'll call my contractors. They'll start installing the equipment this week. Within two weeks, we should be up and running," Rae said.

"That seems rather fast," one board member said.

"Yes, but I've been gathering everything in the hopes you would come to a decision at some point. So my guys are in a holding pattern, just waiting for my okay. They've already looked over the blueprints and are eager to get this going."

"Surely, you don't need all the employees?" Mr. Billings asked.

"Yes, I need all of them. It's extremely important," she a.s.sured them.

Mr. Billings started to say something. Rae watched, trying to suppress her obvious surprise of this silly question.

"Of course, it is. That's fine, we can get all of them for you," one said and left the room.

"Absolutely. We've vacillated long enough on this. We need to get this going. I'll have them for you now if you like," the other said in agreement. "I've had Human Resources preparing for this."

Finally, Rae thought, someone took some initiative. They were all on the same page, and for the first time in months, Rae breathed a sigh of relief. After waiting for an hour or so, she left with the employee records.

She then checked in with Jane and Pam. They heard nothing from Amy all weekend. McGrath called, but he had nothing new. So she continued on her way to the university.

It was a beautiful October morning as Rae drove down Sheridan Road toward Northwestern. Lake Michigan was choppy and wild as the wind blew off the lake. She loved Chicago; even in the worst weather, nothing beat Lake Michigan. And she was thankful she had the smarts to put the top on the jeep that morning.

As she pulled into the parking lot, she noticed a car parked a few spots down. "Is that the same car I saw this morning?" She shook her head. "And now you're talking to yourself, Jefferson."

She locked her jeep and walked through the Evanston campus. The leaves rustled beneath her feet as she walked up to University Hall. She found room 124 and quietly stood looking in the windowed door.

Sarah Connelly sat on the desk, her feet crossed and swinging. She wore a gray pantsuit with a black silk blouse. Rae noticed then she wore gla.s.ses. Dark-rimmed, they framed her smiling face beautifully. She found herself leaning against the door and just staring. Sarah was reading from a book, and all eyes were on her. Though she could barely hear her, Rae knew her quiet lilting voice captivated her students.

"Are you lost?" A voice came from behind her. Rae whirled around and found the old teacher from the other day. She smiled down at the woman.

"No, I was just waiting for Professor Connelly," Rae whispered, and Betty reached over and opened the door.

Rae's eyes widened in terror as she tried to stop her. "No, no. I can wait."

Betty smiled wickedly as Sarah glanced toward the door and turned five shades of red as she took off her gla.s.ses. "Professor Whitfield," she said self-consciously and glanced at Rae, who didn't know what to do.

"Professor Connelly, this woman would like to sit in on the remainder of your cla.s.s to see if she'd like to take it next semester."

She pushed Rae in, then closed the door. Rae swallowed as all eyes were on her. Sarah gave her a smug grin. "Well, Miss..."

"Jefferson."

"Well, Miss Jefferson, there's a seat in the back," Sarah offered and put on her gla.s.ses once again. "Okay, where were we? Hmm, let's skip to...Sh.e.l.ley."

Rae's head shot up just as she sat; she glared at Sarah. She then settled in, her tall frame just a bit too much for the desk.

Sarah smiled inwardly as she talked to the cla.s.s. She noticed a female student glancing at Rae, who smiled and nodded. Oh, brother, she thought.

"What's your opinion of Sh.e.l.ley, Mr. Adams?" Sarah hugged the book and sat behind her desk. Rae watched her, becoming unexpectedly aroused. All sorts of scenarios were flashing through her mind.

The young man thought for a moment. "I don't know. He was so..." He couldn't find the right word.

"Brooding. I've heard him described as a brooding sap," Sarah offered. Everyone concurred, and a few chuckled. "But he was very romantic in a brooding sort of way."

"Maybe he just needed someone to find him and understand him," Rae said from the back of the room. A few heads turned her way as she looked at Sarah, who took off her gla.s.ses and smiled slightly.

"Perhaps, Miss Jefferson, you might be right."

With that, she looked at the clock and closed the book. "Okay, beat it. Chapters six and seven for next week." Everyone groaned, and Sarah walked around behind her desk. "Oh, quit grousing, it's just poetry. I'm not asking for your kidneys."

Rae waited for everyone to leave, then walked up to Sarah's desk and put an apple on the corner of it. Sarah laughed and shook her head.

"I'm going to kill Betty."

"Me first," Rae said, and as if on cue, Betty poked her head in.

"All clear?" she asked, laughing. Both glared at her. "Oh, where's your spirit of adventure? Heavens, you two act older than I do. So is my protege treating you well?"

Rae smiled down at Betty. "Better than I deserve."

Sarah avoided her face and shuffled papers on her desk.

"She's trying to be coy." Betty winked at Rae, who laughed out loud.

Sarah hid her eyes and shook her head. "Was there something you needed, dear?"

"Heavens, I almost forgot. That Molly Eastman is out on the steps with Mike Porter and that other fellow. I don't..." She started and Rae excused herself and flew out the door.

Sarah shoved the papers into her briefcase. She hurried to the door. She then ran back, picked up her apple, and kissed Betty on the cheek.

"This is so much fun," she exclaimed and ran out the door.

"Impetuous children." Betty sighed and followed the nutty professor out the door.

Rae stopped short of the heavy double doors that led to the steps outside. Sarah came to a screeching halt right behind her, breathing heavily. Rae turned her head slightly.

"You need to get into better shape," she said to the gasping Sarah.

"If I wasn't sure...I'd need it after my...stroke, I'd give you...a piece of my mind," Sarah wheezed and watched.

Rae laughed and opened the door slightly and heard Mike Porter.

"I have no idea. This is getting too intense."

"Calm down," the other young man said.

Rae took inventory of this fellow. Reddish hair, scruffy beard. Earring-diamond stud, left ear. Mole on the left side of his neck. He smoked, which now had Rae dying for one. He was a nervous sort, constantly looking around.

"I agree with Mike," Molly said as the wind whipped around the building, causing a whirlpool of leaves and papers. It was then that Rae saw it. As Molly's hair blew off her neck, Rae got a glimpse of a tattoo. Under her jacket, she wore a flimsy, tight T-shirt. It was on the side of her neck, just above her collarbone.

"Hmm," Rae grunted, and Sarah looked at her. It was a tattoo of the head of a snake.

The three of them quickly walked off the steps and headed for the parking lot. Rae turned to Sarah. "Okay, go home. I'll call you later." She patted her shoulder and started for the door.

Sarah pulled at her arm. "I'm going with you."

Rae craned her neck to keep tabs on the trio. "Sarah, please. I have to go. Now I'll call you," she insisted and dashed out the door.

Sarah quickly followed her, trying to keep up. "Rae," Sarah called quietly.

Rae stopped and turned around. "Do you know how stupid we look?" Rae grabbed her arm, half dragging her down the walk. "If I lose them because of your stubbornness..."

They continued to Rae's jeep. The trio piled in the car Rae had noticed earlier. As they pulled away, she pushed Sarah toward the pa.s.senger side.

"This thing is yours?" she asked horrified as she climbed in with a groan.

Rae put the clutch in gear and took off. She said nothing as she drove through the campus, keeping an eye on the red sedan. "I know I've seen that car before, but where?" she asked out loud.

Sarah wasn't listening, she was too busy finding the seat belt and looking around the drafty vehicle that lurched every time Rae changed gears.

"Where in the world did you get this? Why in the world did you get this?" she asked, honestly bewildered.

"Hey, this is an authentic World War II jeep. It was a going-away present. They don't make these anymore. I had it a.s.sembled," Rae said proudly as she watched the road.

Sarah gave her a wary grin. "Really? a.s.sembled? As in instructions?" she asked as the jeep found a pothole. She thought for sure her knees. .h.i.t her chin. "Shocks sold separately?" She instinctively put an arm across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s-one more pothole, and she'd knock herself out.

Rae chuckled as she shifted gears again. The red sedan drove south on Sheridan Road back toward Chicago. Then it took a side street and headed into Evanston.

"Hold on," Rae said and made a quick turn.

"To what?" Sarah asked seriously and held on to the seat belt.

Rae weaved in and out of the streets, trying to keep up. Sarah was petrified and at the same time impressed.

The sedan then pulled into a driveway, and Rae drove by down the street, then circled back and parked a few houses down. She reached over, opened the glove compartment, and took out a pair of field gla.s.ses. Sarah noticed the bottles of aspirin. Driving in this contraption, she could see the necessity. However, she knew the aspirin were for another reason; this had her heart aching for Rae.

They sat there for fifteen minutes with no activity. Rae took the gla.s.ses away from her face, then wrote down the address. She took out her cell phone and put Delia on speakerphone. She gave her the address and license plate number. "Run them for me?" She peered once again through the gla.s.ses.

"Sure. Are you alone on the mission, Commander?"

Rae gave Sarah a smug grin. "I tried. Believe me. The good professor is with me."

"Excellent, then you two made nice-nice?"

"Goodbye-bye. Call me later." Rae snapped the phone shut.

They sat there for a few more moments in silence.

"Do you think they have anything to do with this?" Sarah asked. Rae shrugged as she opened her door. "Where are you going?"

"It's getting dark. I'm just going to go look. Now if I'm not back in ten minutes, call the cavalry," she said and winked.

Sarah held her arm. "Rae, don't. Why not call Delia and have the police take a look?"

"The police have no cause to snoop. If Delia knew I was doing it, she'd stop me." Rae c.o.c.ked her head. "Worried about me?"

Sarah glared at her. "Yes, I don't know how to drive this ridiculous vehicle."

Rae chuckled, then unexpectedly, she leaned over and gave her a quick kiss. "For luck..."

Sarah pulled her back and kissed her deeply. Rae gasped in surprise. However, she returned her kiss, not wanting to pull away.

Sarah pulled back and smiled. "For lots of luck," she countered softly.

Rae blushed like a schoolgirl, then quickly got out of the car.

Sarah watched her as she jogged across the street and down the driveway of another house. She was out of sight, and Sarah just watched, waiting for some sign of her. It seemed forever, and Sarah was just about to call Delia when she saw Rae jogging across the street and limping slightly.

"G.o.d, now what?" She leaned, and with a deep groan, she opened the door.

Rae jumped in and started the engine. Sarah noticed her ripped slacks at the knee. "What happened? Why are you limping?" she asked as Rae backed up and headed away from the house.

"My good slacks," she complained. "I got caught on a fence. They're still in there, sitting at the kitchen table. Nothing seems out of the ordinary. Do you mind going back to my place? I can change." Rae stole a glance at Sarah's worried face.

"Make yourself at home, I'll be right out. We'll go out for dinner," Rae suggested as she headed for the bathroom.

Sarah's stomach fluttered when she remembered the kiss. She wondered if Rae felt the same thing.

"Probably not," she muttered to herself as she heard the shower going. With s.e.xual scenarios flashing through her mind, her stomach was now in knots. After a few minutes, she went to the refrigerator, took out a beer, and opened it. Taking a healthy swig, she took a deep breath. Get a hold of yourself, Connelly, she thought as she stood by the couch.

"Drinking alone is a bad idea, trust me." Rae's voice came from behind her. Sarah whirled around. Rae had a towel to her head and her robe slightly opened; Sarah caught a glimpse of her breast and took another drink.