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with Jake’s death?”
    “I think it has everything to do with it,” he said softly.
    Georgie turned her head and stared out the window. She didn’t speak again.

 
    CHAPTER FOUR
     
    GEORGEANNE STOOD ON THE screened-in back porch of a small cottage on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, arms folded over her chest, staring out at the creek running past the house. It was late afternoon and the sun gleamed golden on the water. A blue heron picked its way along the shore on the opposite side, and marsh grass waved occasionally in the slight breeze called up whenever a bird took flight.
    This was not at all what she’d expected to be doing when she’d awakened this morning. But now she was here, and her head was still reeling from everything she’d been through. She heard a sound behind her and turned as Sam strolled outside. He’d changed out of his military uniform and into a pair of faded jeans that sat low on his hips. He wore a navy T-shirt that clung to the broad muscles of his tattooed biceps and chest and made her mouth water.
    Tattoos? Sam hadn’t had tattoos before. A black tribal design appeared to surround his right bicep. She couldn’t tell what was on his left, but she saw a hint of ink when he crossed his arms over his chest.
    “You doing okay?”
    She shrugged. Belle had calmed down the instant they’d walked inside and she’d been let out to roam the house. Now she was standing on her hind legs, her front paws on the screen, watching the birds in the yard. Her tail swished back and forth happily.
    Georgeanne was anything but happy right now. “I’m a bit out of sorts, actually.”
    Sam shoved his hands in his pockets and walked over to join her. “Understandable.”
    After the call in the truck earlier, he’d told her they had to make a stop. She hadn’t expected him to drive onto a military facility or up to a compound surrounded by razor wire, but that’s exactly what he did. She’d only been allowed inside a big room near the entrance of the compound, where they permitted visitors, but it had soon swarmed with large men in uniform who’d gazed down at her with deadly serious expressions.
    The one with silver birds on his shoulders—thank God for her time with the military so she could at least recognize a colonel now—came over and held out his hand. “Colonel Mendez, little lady. You doing okay?”
    Everyone wanted to know if she was okay. Hell no, she was not okay—but she hadn’t told the colonel that. Instead, she’d made some sort of answer, listened while the colonel talked, and then sat down to wait while all the men, including Sam, disappeared into the inner building. A uniformed soldier came back with an offer of coffee, and she was alone again.
    Sam didn’t return for an hour, but when he did, he’d told her they were going to the Eastern Shore where they would stay for the next few days.
    She’d stood there feeling so helpless and out of control.
    “I have classes, Sam. I can’t just disappear.” She winced the moment she said it, because it was damned insensitive after what had happened to Jake.
    “The colonel will take care of everything. All you have left is finals, and someone will make sure they’re proctored. You’ll get the exams to grade. It’s non-negotiable, Georgie.”
    “So it’s not just you anymore?” She’d nodded her head toward the giant steel door through which he’d just come. “It’s all of those guys in there too, right?”
    He’d looked somber. “That’s right. Jake Hamilton didn’t fall into the Potomac by accident.”
    “So why hasn’t it been on the news? A body in the Potomac isn’t something you can keep secret for long.”
    Sam lifted an eyebrow. “Depends on who wants it kept secret.”
    “I still don’t understand why the police aren’t involved. Or why the military is.”
    He’d put his hands on her shoulders. “Because there are some things the military is better equipped to do. This is one of those things,