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  “What if Cassandra hadn’t opened the door that night?”

  “I think Graham and Chelsea had thought they’d given her enough drugs to keep her out. George had found out that he’d rented a private plane and he was planning to leave the country tonight. If he and Chelsea weren’t away from the motel room making final preparations it might have been one of them who opened the door.”

  “I still don’t understand why they brought her to the motel in the first place that night?”

  “I think she’d been there the whole time,” Johanna said. “Chelsea was living in the country home all this time. She’d only go to the motel to check on Cassandra and have her rendezvous with Bunson.”

  “What’d they do with her when Bunson came over?”

  “Graham said they kept her locked in the other room. She was so out of it she had no clue.”

  “What about the check Graham gave us?”

  “I asked Martin Stedman what I should do with it and he said we earned it and should keep it since we did find Cassandra’s murderer.”

  “Wow!”

  “When you feel better I’d like to stop over to see how Mary and Bryn are doing. They must be relieved knowing they’ll never have to find new homes.”

  “That’d be nice.” She yawned, and then winced.

  “You need to get some rest now, babe.”

  “I will now that I’m in our bed with you and we’re both safe.” She squeezed Johanna’s shoulder.

  “We’ll always be safe as long as we’re together. Always, babe.”

  PARTNERS

  BOOK 2:

  THE OTHER WOMAN

  Chapter 1

  Frankie Barker peered at the two windows outside of the office she shared with her partner and love of her life, Johanna Obrien. Every time she saw the name Barker and Obrien Private Investigators stenciled on the windows on either side of the thick heavy door, it filled her with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

  She wouldn’t have dreamed years ago that the life of happiness and joy she had found with Johanna was possible. There was nothing she’d change about her life. They’d been together for over twelve years, meeting when both were police officers in Philadelphia. Two years later they mutually decided to leave the force and Philadelphia. They designed a log home on the outskirts of Charlestown, thirty miles outside of Philly, on a twenty-acre plot of land. They set up their private detective agency together in a strip mall, sandwiched between a hair salon and coffee shop in the center of Charlestown. Slowly they built up a steady client list, which afforded them a very comfortable lifestyle. The local sheriff, George Ryker, as well as several legal firms often requested their services so they were assured of a steady income.

  Frankie shivered as she hurried into the office carrying a cardboard tray containing two cups of coffee. She walked over to Johanna’s desk, which faced her own, took one of the cups from the tray and set it on the desk. “It’s getting nasty out there. It feels cold enough to snow. What time’s your mother’s plane getting in?”

  Johanna smiled. “Thanks for the coffee, babe. Her flight gets in at two if it’s on time. I figure I’ll take off at twelve thirty just in case we do get bad weather, and barring any traffic snafus. I checked with the Philadelphia airport and so far there are no flight delays so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.”

  Frankie patted Johanna’s shoulder then moved to her own desk, set down the tray holding her cup of coffee, then strode to the storage room at the back of the office. She removed her coat and hung it on the coat tree. “Just be careful driving. I wouldn’t be surprised if we get snow before the day’s over,” she said as she walked back into the room across the dark beige carpeting and over to her desk.

  Johanna nodded. “I’m always careful. That advice goes for you, too.”

  “I’m not as worried about the snow as I am about black ice.” She sat down. “I’ll hold down the fort while you’re picking up your mother.” She sighed happily. “I’m thankful we don’t have anything urgent going on right now so it should be an easy afternoon. After our last case I’m ready for a little break.” She leaned back in her large comfortable chair. “I’ll pick up the summonses from George and serve them this afternoon before I come home. I don’t think it should take too long. Anything else you need or want me to do?”

  Johanna shook her head. “Nothing I can think of. I’ll call if I remember anything. Tell George I said hello,” she said, closing a folder. She stood and walked to one of the six filing cabinets.

  “Should I also tell your favorite deputy, Arlan, hello, too?” Frankie asked with a wry smile.

  Johanna laughed. “I don’t know how George puts up with him.” She located the filing cabinet she sought and opened a drawer and deposited the file, then closed the drawer.

  “Well being sheriff does give George the advantage.” Frankie shrugged as she pushed a strand of brunette hair away from her brow. “He can put Arlan in his place and there’s not a damned thing Arlan can do about it. I think that secretly George loves picking at him.” She watched Johanna move back to her desk.

  “Do you think Kate Allen will put Arlan in his place?” Johanna raised her eyebrows. “She’s only been working with him for a few months and it’s obvious when we’ve seen them together that he’s putting on the charm where she’s concerned.”

  Frankie wrinkled her nose. “Yeah, I think she’s smitten with him from the way she looks at him and hangs on every word he says. I like her, though, and I don’t want to see her get hurt. I’d sure like to fill her in on the real Arlan Paton.”

  “She’ll find out soon enough, I’m sure.” She peered at Frankie as she swept a hand through her long auburn hair. “Do you think they’re fucking?”

  Frankie choked with laughter. “I don’t know, but from the way she acts around him my guess would be probably. They’d just better not let George find out or they both might get canned.”

  “I don’t think George would fire them. He’d probably just warn them to keep a low profile and look the other way himself.” She paused. “Kate is likeable and isn’t afraid of hard work. Every time I’ve been to the office she’s working her ass off.”

  Frankie leaned back in her chair. “She definitely isn’t afraid to tell it like it is, either. She’s all spitfire.”

  “She just might be the one to knock Arlan off his high horse.”

  “I’m still trying to get the visual of Arlan fucking anyone out of my head. He’d probably stop in the middle to comb his hair. I don’t know who built his ego so high, but they certainly did him a disservice.” She shook her head, still laughing, as she opened a folder.

  Johanna sighed heavily. “I’m surprised there was the need for another deputy. I guess it’s a sign of the times. Even our peaceful little city isn’t immune.” She fell silent.

  Frankie made some notes in the folder. She sensed Johanna’s eyes on her and looked up. Johanna eyed her carefully. “What?” she asked.

  Johanna placed an elbow on her desk and propped her chin on her hand. “I know it’s not easy on you when my mother visits. Especially this time with an extended visit. Are you sure you’re okay with her staying for two weeks?”

  Frankie met her eyes and smiled. “She’s not so bad. This visit will give her and me a chance to get to know each other a little better. She means well. She just wants the best for you.”

  “And that would be you. If she hasn’t seen in twelve years how happy I am then she never will.”

  “I’m sure she sees it.” She smiled. “It doesn’t seem like it’s been twelve years since we met.”

  “Transferring to the Philly police force was the smartest thing I ever did. If I hadn’t I never would have met you. Leaving the force, building our log home and opening up our practice together is the second smartest. I’ll never regret any part of my life since I met you, Frankie.”

  Frankie sighed contentedly. “I feel the same about you. I wouldn’t change anything about our lives.”

 
“Me either, baby.” She popped the lid off her coffee then opened the accounts book. “I’m going to get these invoices ready for the mail before I leave for the airport.”

  “Good. I’ll mail them on my way to George’s office.” She removed the lid from her coffee. “Do you want me to cook something special for dinner tonight? What do you think your mom would like?”

  Johanna was thoughtful for a minute as she looked up from the accounts book and peered at her. “Why don’t we take her to that new steakhouse? It would give you a break from cooking, too. You deserve a night out.”

  “She’s probably going to be exhausted after her trip, but whatever you want to do is fine with me…unless we get a storm. Then we’re staying put.” She reached for the phone. “I’ve got a few calls to make.”

  Johanna frowned. “Frankie, wait. I want to talk to you for a minute.”

  “Is something wrong?” She frowned.

  “Nothing’s wrong with me, but I think something’s bothering you. After all these years together I know when something’s worrying you. You may be able to hide it from everyone else, but not from me. Out with it.”

  Frankie bit her bottom lip. “I’m fine…really.” She hesitated. “I just hope your mother is comfortable in the guestroom. I think it looks great since we added the new furniture, but do you think the colors are too drab? Maybe we should have painted it off-white instead of light tan.”

  “The colors are fine. It’s relaxing and peaceful. It’s a beautiful room and she’ll be very happy in it.”

  Frankie’s eyes shifted. “This is the first time in the ten years we’ve had our own home that she’s ever agreed to stay with us instead of in a hotel.” She sighed. “I don’t think it matters how long we’re together, she’s not comfortable around me. She doesn’t like me and I don’t know how I can change that.” She toyed with the lid of her coffee cup. “I always say the wrong thing around her and end up making a fool of myself.”

  “No, sweetie, you don’t. You try too hard that’s all. Just relax and be yourself. Besides, she does like you, Frankie. On her previous visits we were always mired in a case and she opted not to stay with us because she didn’t want to be in the way. This is the first time in ages we’re actually taking time off at the same time for more than a few days. I’m looking forward to some R&R.”

  “No we took time off a couple of months ago, remember?” She made a face.

  Johanna rolled her eyes toward the ceiling. “Don’t remind me. But that definitely doesn’t count. You were recovering from that brutal encounter with Nick Bower.”

  “Ah, but it was nice having you take care of me.” She grinned. “And I loved those erotic sponge baths. Mmm. It almost made it worthwhile.”

  Johanna’s eyes narrowed. “I’d never let anyone else bathe you and no one had better try.”

  Frankie tossed her head back and laughed. “You always make me feel better.”

  “Good. My mother’s probably still going to want to go to Philly to stay with her friends for a couple of days like she does every year, too.” She lifted an eyebrow. “That’ll give you and me some downtime together.”

  Frankie seductively ran the tip of her tongue over her lips. “I’ll take all the downtime I can get with you.” She gazed admiringly at Johanna. Today Johanna was dressed in a black business-length skirt, light green silk blouse and black blazer. A pair of two-inch heels adorned her feet. At forty she stood five feet six inches tall with the same curvy figure, long slender legs, swanlike neck and beautiful thick flowing auburn hair that had first attracted Frankie to her. Her classic poise and beauty seemed to grow more pronounced with each passing year. She desired Johanna as much today as she had upon their first meeting. She never worried about them drifting apart as they grew older; instead they seemed to become even closer with each passing day.

  Johanna wadded a piece of paper and threw it at her. “You have a one-track mind, woman.”

  “Only with you, baby.”

  “It had better be only with me.” She rose, then slowly moved over to Frankie’s desk, stood behind her and placed her hands on Frankie’s shoulders. “Do you know how much I love being with you?”

  Frankie leaned her head back catching the light fragrance of Johanna’s lilac perfume. “I hope as much as I love being with you. My life is perfect.”

  “We’re fortunate, baby,” she replied as her slender fingers began massaging Frankie’s shoulders.

  “Have I told you lately how much I love you?”

  “Not in the last ten minutes or so.”

  Chapter 2

  Johanna loaded her mother’s luggage into the trunk then stepped into the car. “Was your flight smooth, Mom?” she asked, glancing toward the passenger seat as she started the car.

  “It was very nice, dear,” Gracelyn replied absently as she secured her seatbelt. “The only problem was the slight delay in Chicago. But it gave me a chance to finish the novel I’ve been reading.” She glanced at her cell phone then quickly closed it.

  “Well, I’m pleased that you’ve decided to stay at the house with Frankie and me. This will give you an opportunity to really get to know her.”

  “How is Francine, Johanna?” Gracelyn nervously smoothed the creases of her navy blue skirt.

  Johanna smiled. “She’s fine. She’s looking forward to getting to know you better, too. In all these years you two have never had the time to spend any quality time together. The next time I visit California I’m going to bring her along. She’s been anxious to visit.”

  Gracelyn peered out of the window as Johanna exited the airport parking lot. “It’s odd that she’s never come with you before this.”

  She shrugged her slender shoulders. “The timing was never right.”

  “I don’t understand why it wasn’t. You two work and live together,” she said pointedly.

  Johanna entered the highway. “That’s true, but sometimes we work alone on smaller cases. We get more done that way and our client list is growing by leaps and bounds. We’re doing very well, Mom. All of the hard work building our client list has paid off.”

  “Isn’t it monotonous spending so much time together? Don’t you two ever get on one another’s nerves?” She shook her head.

  “Never. Frankie’s my best friend and I treasure every moment we spend together. I hate every minute we’re apart. I’d hate if we had separate careers and only saw one another in the evening or on weekends. It’s fun sleuthing together.”

  Gracelyn cleared her throat. “I suppose I don’t understand. As much as I loved your father, and still miss him terribly, I don’t think I could have stood being with him almost every waking moment of every day. It would have driven me out of my mind.”

  “I can’t explain it, Mom. It’s how I feel inside. I don’t think I could stand spending so much time with anyone else, but it’s different with Frankie. It feels like a part of me is missing when we’re separated. There’s a loneliness that I can’t even begin to describe. She’s a part of me and it’s as though I need her to be whole.”

  “You have something very special then, Johanna.”

  “I do.” She smiled stealing a glance at her mother. “You look tired, Mom. Are you okay?”

  “I am a little tired, dear.” She shivered pulling her long all-weather coat tighter around her. “I can’t get used to these cold temperatures here.” She opened her cell phone then closed it a few seconds later.

  Johanna turned the heater up. “That’s what I thought when I moved here, but it didn’t take me too long to get used to it. After surviving the first winter I became a pro with the ice and snow. I’ll admit sometimes the long winters get to me when they seem to drag on forever, but I love the changing seasons.”

  Gracelyn chuckled hollowly. “I suppose with enough time one gets used to anything.”

  Johanna knew something was wrong. Her mother was usually chatty especially when they hadn’t seen one another in months. She was edgy and ill at ease. Was she worried about sp
ending the next two weeks with Frankie? Ever since she’d met her in the airport terminal, Gracelyn had appeared jittery and tense. Why was she constantly checking her cell phone? “Are you expecting a call, Mom?”

  Gracelyn stiffened. “No. Maybe. One of the women in my club, Naomi, is having surgery today and I was just checking to see if her daughter left me a message. She said she’d let me know when Naomi is out of surgery.”

  “I hope it’s nothing serious,” Johanna said, focusing on the road.

  “She should be alright. She’s having a cyst removed. The doctor assured her that he doubts it’s cancerous, but nowadays one never knows. I’ve heard of someone going in for a simple procedure and two weeks later they’re dead.” She set her cell phone in her lap then folded her hands.

  “I’m sure everything will turn out well for her.”

  “I’m sure it will, too, dear. Naomi has always been one of the healthiest women I know.”

  Johanna kept her eyes on the road as the traffic became heavier. She wondered what Frankie was doing. Just the thought of the slender beautiful brunette who’d captured her heart and still held claim to it brought a smile to her lips. Her love for Frankie intensified with each passing day and she couldn’t even imagine, nor would she want to, what her life would have been like if she hadn’t met her. She sighed with satisfaction. It was a feeling no one would understand unless it happened to him or her.

  “Is something wrong?” Gracelyn asked with a touch of concern in her voice. “You have a funny look on your face.”

  “No, Mom. I was just keeping quiet so you could rest.”

  “I’m fine. I can rest when we get to the house. I do hope I brought enough warm clothes, though.”

  “If you didn’t, I’m sure we’ll find something for you to wear. Frankie and I also have several heavy coats.”

  “It’s beginning to snow,” Gracelyn remarked. “It looks so pretty.”

  “The first snowfall’s always the best.” Her thoughts drifted to the first winter in their log home. She and Frankie had loved being snowed in for three days. They’d made love for hours in front of the crackling fireplace. When they weren’t making love they read to one another and Johanna cherished the memories of lying on the sofa with her head in Frankie’s lap as Frankie recited romantic poetry to her.