Riddles that Kill Read online

  “Well then …” Maria hesitated.

  “Come on. Just say it,” shouted Justin, who still waved the wedding certificate.

  Maria giggled—an actual giggle. Bending her neck back slightly and looking directly into Rod’s eyes, she paused a moment to bask in the affection she saw there. Next, she took a deep breath and answered, “Rod … I love you. I would love to be your wife. Let’s not get an annulment.”

  The small group of friends and family cheered.

  Rod enveloped Maria in his arms, sending shock waves down to the center of her being. He kissed her again, this time slowly, bringing with it a feeling of belonging Maria had never felt before.

  Justin, Zach, and Brenna jumped up and down squealing. Grant pumped his fist in the air. “You go, bro!” Beth broke from the group and ran toward Maria, slightly impatient for Rod and Maria to finish their embrace. She held out open arms to Maria. “Girl hug?”

  “Heavens, yes!” Maria held her friend and was, again, grateful for the amazing woman she was.

  Beth whispered in Maria’s ear. “You deserve every minute of happiness waiting for you. Life is good, Maria. Don’t forget that.”

  How could a woman who had so recently faced the possibility of losing her son maintain an attitude like that? Maria wanted to know her secret, but she feared it might take her a life time to learn it.

  As the cheers echoed through the canyon below, Beth released her hold and Maria saw a line had formed behind her. Justin, Zach, and Brenna were next. Maria bent down to give the kids a one-armed hug. Justin hung onto her for an extra-long time. He looked up and said, “Chief, thanks again for finding me. You’re my hero.”

  Maria kissed the top of his head. “And you’re mine. You keep doing your relaxation exercises and beating your dad in basketball, okay?”

  “I will.” Justin grabbed her hand and squeezed it three times while mouthing the words “I. Love. You.” One word for each squeeze.

  Maria’s already tender heart turned to mush. She squeezed his hand four times back. “I. Love. You. Too.”

  Justin’s face shone—he had a ways to go, but he would make it through the horrible ordeal he had just experienced. Love would be his best defense.

  Maria’s mother was the last one to congratulate her on her non-annulment ceremony, as they were now calling it.

  “I’ll come back when you exchange real vows,” she said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I’m so happy for you. You deserve this.”

  A pang of guilt shot through Maria, but she refused to let her mind go back to her failure in Tehran. “Thanks, Mom. It’s kind of crazy.”

  At Maria’s side, Rod had been dishing out back-slapping hugs to everyone in the crowd as well. Grant was at his side. “Dude,” he said, “you seriously hit the jackpot.”

  “I know.” Rod grinned. “You will too, Grant. You will too.”

  After the last congratulation had been given, Maria turned back to look at Rod. An odd shyness swept through her. “Uh … well. So, now what?”

  “Mrs. Thorton,” said Rod, his eyes bright with excitement, “you are about to have the most exotic week of your life on a private island in the Caribbean. It’s a non-annulment gift from my parents. Our pilot is waiting. Your mom put the suitcase you packed yesterday in the back of the helicopter just in case you said yes. Hopefully you’ve got a swimsuit in there. Now, let’s get out of here.”

  “What? Are you serious? I can’t just leave work for a week.”

  “Really? Cause the last I heard you were on medical leave.” Rod reached over, scooped Maria into his arms staying clear of her sling, and whispered into her ear. “And, by the way, we have a lot of time to make up.”

  “Time to make up?” Maria looked at him quizzically.

  “Do you realize we’ve been married for almost a month and I still don’t know what color your toothbrush is?”

  Underneath her olive complexion, Maria’s cheeks flared pink. “I guess I hadn’t thought about it like that.”

  “Well,” said Rod, kissing her full on the mouth. “I have.”

  The walk back to the helicopter was eventful, to say the least. A few times Maria worried Rod was going to drop her as he precariously navigated her over the rocky ground, shielding her injured side from harm.

  With the helicopter engine back on, Rod opened the door and set Maria inside. He had to nearly shout over the noise of the blades which had begun to pick up speed. “I guess this will have to count as me carrying you over the threshold.”

  Maria smiled, kissed his cheek, and helped herself into the leather seat. Once inside, with the door shut and the noise muted, Rod leaned across the gap between them and stole a nibble at Maria’s ear. She pretended to swat off his advances. He sat back and pulled Maria onto his lap. “Do you know how happy you make me?” he whispered.

  It was a question Maria didn’t have to ponder long. If she made him as happy as he made her, then yes, she did know.

  Rod’s lips found Maria’s once more. While it might have been just another kiss, the message behind it was different. It was a promise—a commitment of a life to come.

  As they embraced, Rod’s hands reached behind her to pull down the shades to the helicopter windows. Maria stole a quick look outside at the majestic view of the valley and gorges and then turned back to Rod, knowing her most exciting adventure was yet to come.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The town of Jarbidge itself still stands to this day, featuring remnants of the Wild West gold mining town it once was. Nowadays, the Jarbidge Wilderness remains one of the most remote, serene, and least polluted natural areas in the country. Every visit will be delightful, so long as you steer clear of Jarbidge Canyon, where Tsawhawbitts may still be lurking around.

  “Jarbidge Wilderness” Atlas Obscura. http://www.atlasobscura.com/ places/jarbidge-wilderness

  The text message came while Maria and Rod were on his parents’ private plane, returning home from their non-annulment honeymoon in the Caribbean. Rod slept in the seat next to her. His body was exhausted and sleep deprived, but his face carried a serene expression even recognizable in slumber.

  During the last seven days Maria had felt like she was living someone else’s life. It was the happiest she had ever been. She and Rod had spent every moment together. They had gotten to know one another in a way that Maria hadn’t known was possible.

  Rod had become her everything. Physically, emotionally, and mentally he was hers. She had felt love to its fullest and dreaded having to return to “real” life.

  That is why the text was so unexpected.

  That and the news it delivered.

  It was from her friend at the CIA, Doug, the one whom she had texted in the middle of the night a month earlier after having one of her nightmares about Ryan on her black ops team.

  Doug had never responded to the text, and Maria had forgotten she’d even sent the inquiry.

  The message was short, but it sank deep into her soul.

  Maria, sorry for the delayed answer to your question. I’ve been doing some checking about Ryan for you. We just got new intelligence out of Tehran. Ryan is alive. He needs extraction.

  Will you lead the mission?

  Join Lois D. Brown’s VIP Fan List to get behind-the-scene secrets about Maria Branson, including the CIA-ordered psychological profile Dr. Roberts wrote five weeks after Maria was rescued from Tehran.

  Yes, I’d like to join the VIP Fan List!

  If you enjoyed reading this book, please be sure to let your friends know by telling them and leaving a review online.

  About the Author

  Former Washington, D.C., news correspondent Lois D. Brown has turned her interests to mysteries of the southwest, appearing in television shows such as “America Unearthed” and “Myth Hunters.” Her nine published novels include a crime series Robbed of Soul that is based on the legends of Montezuma’s treasure.

  To learn more about other books by Lois, please visit her website:
/>   loisdbrown.com