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Both Selma and Barbie came downstairs. Sudie showed the men to their rooms, allowing them to settle and announcing she was setting up refreshments in the main room downstairs.
Rafferty was the first one to rejoin them. “Should I infer anything from the fact that all the rooms are full, and your bag is nowhere in sight?”
Thorn laughed and wrapped his arm around Jessica. “I think my go bag is still up at the B&B…”
“No sir,” interrupted Sudie. “DeeDee brought it down just after the two of you left this morning. I took the liberty of putting your things away.”
“So we don’t need anyone to double up?” asked Rafferty provocatively.
“Would you like me to punch your friend in the face?” Jessica asked sweetly.
“Okay, now I’m really jealous,” teased Rafferty. “Seriously, if I offended you, I apologize. I’ve just been waiting to see the big guy fall for years. He is, bar none, the best man I know.”
Jessica turned to Thorn. “Okay, he can stay.”
Rafferty drew up a schedule for those who would be in charge of keeping Selma and Barbie safe. “Ladies, we’ll go over your protocols in the morning.”
Dinner was a lively affair and Jessica could see Selma and Barbie relaxing. After dinner, people began to look to their own amusement. Rafferty, Thorn and Jessica retreated to her office and Thorn removed the computer from the hidden safe, leaving the original documents inside.
“Techs have been working on what we sent them and think they’ve broken the encryption. They want us to boot it up and connect to the internet so they can remote in and get the rest.”
They opened the laptop and hit the power button once they had the tech online. The computer came up and seemed to be fine. Just as they connected to the internet with a secure MCU mobile hotspot, the computer began to make fizzling noises and then blinked three times before blacking out completely.
“Shit,” said the tech. “I was afraid of that. We must have triggered some kind of self-destruct.”
“Not to worry,” said Thorn, “we have a lot of documentation we didn’t send to you guys, and we have two of the people Thompson blackmailed who are not only willing to testify, but willing to help.”
Rafferty rubbed his hands together. “I’m heading up the taskforce. This is going to be big. We’ll probably be collaborating with the Bureau and maybe even Interpol.”
“In that case,” said Thorn, “let me give you the keys to the safe and turn this stuff over to you. Once we find out who the murderer is, we’ll probably need copies to take to trial.”
“That’s not a problem. As soon as we can get it up to Augusta, I’ll have copies made and sent directly to you. As things get decoded, I’ll send you updates.” He glanced at his watch. “I want to get a little shut-eye before I take my shift. Jessica, it was nice to meet you.”
“You too, Rafferty.”
“What do you say we head to bed?” she asked Thorn.
“Sounds good to me. If you’re uncomfortable with everyone knowing…”
She stood on her tiptoes, pressed her lips to his and silenced him with a deep kiss. “I couldn’t care less who knows about us or what they know.”
He grinned and swung her up in his arms to carry her to their bedroom. The living area was pretty much deserted, and they might have made it had Tracer not decided to announce to the universe that they were all going to bed.
“Discretion is not his strong suit,” she said with a grin.
Thorn carried her through the bedroom door and then closed it with his foot. “Neither is mine. You,” he said pointing to Tracer, “go lie down until I tell you otherwise. You,” he said pointing to her, “get naked and get in bed.”
“You know,” she said, walking her fingers up his chest, “I think discretion is highly overrated.”
CHAPTER 17
THORN
This time there was no gentle exploration, no gentle uncovering of each other. Tonight was about need and pleasure, and he meant to see to both. Jessica was undressed first, and she stretched out on the bed, propped up on her elbows as he discarded his trousers and briefs. Freed from its confinement, his cock stood at attention.
“Oh my,” she all but purred, “is that for me?”
“It’s all yours, baby, now and forever.”
