Rogue Diamond Read Online Free Page A

and Rosemary went to bed, Alex lay wide-eyed and alert. The questions that had driven her all day long still plagued her.
    Where is Jenni? How is she? Is she being taken care of? Is she lonely and crying? As long as there were no answers to those questions, Alex wouldn't give up the search.
    Realizing that sleep was not imminent, she slipped out of bed. F rom a desk in the bedroom she took out a pen and paper and dashed off a mis si ve to her f riend Carol, relating the terri fying events of the day. She just felt the need to reach out, to express her sorrow and her outrage. But writing about it made the whole ordeal so very real.
     
    Nick Diamond checked his watch.
    2:29 AM .
    He set the chopper down and cut the lights.
    They sat in the pitch dark for a minute or two, neither speaking.
    Finally, Jose brok e the si lence. "You okay, Capita n?"
    "Yeah. Close call, Jose . I don't like it."
    "You think someone squealed?"
    "Damned if I know. I just hope no one saw us escape. They came in too damn fast. I'll talk to the boss tom orrow. See if timing can be con trolled. Otherwise, we're goners."
    " Si , Capitan ."
    Nick si ghed heavily and ran a large hand roughly over his angular face. His finger lingered on the scar that ran along his cheek. Another close call. A few more inches and . . . "I'm tired, Jose . Tired of these late-night runs. Tired of the risks."
    "My wife, she is tired of it, to o, Capita n." Jose chuckled nervously. "Every day she asks me if this is the last time."
    "When we ha ve a night like this, when some body else screws up and my life is at stake, I wonder if it's worth the risk involved. Of course, for you it's a greater risk. What is it, three kids?"
    Jose nodded. "Twins and a little girl."
    "Aw, hell. We're just tired tonight. Tomorrow it'll look different."
    "It's already tomorrow." Jose pointed to his watch.
    "Yep," Nick growled. " And I’m a day old er ."
    "Maybe you need a woman waiting in your bed at night, Capitan . She would rub your back. Keep you warm," he said as he moved to get out of the helicopter.
    "Hell, a woman wouldn't solve anything. She'd only create more problems!"
    Jose chuckled in the darkness.
    "What's up for tomorrow?" Nick asked.
    "Nothing."
    "Good. That's exactly what I want to do for the next three days. Nothing!"
     
    The next morning, Alex and Rosemary sat on the small back patio eating breakfast amidst the bougainvillea and fragrant gardenia bushes.
    "Sam's gone to play tennis. He has a couple of buddies he would love to beat." Rosemary smiled as she poured them more coffee.
    "I hope you didn't stay home because of me."
    "Not at all." Rosemary tucked her robe tighter before si tting. "Sometimes it's fun to be lazy. I wanted to stay and keep you company. Be si des, he's beat me three Sundays in a row and I think it's time for hi m to work out with someone his o wn si ze and skill!"
    Alex smiled and reached for another pastry. "I c an't believe I'm eating like this."
    "After yesterday, I'm sure you can afford a few e xtra calories. I'm sorry that Sam was so rough on y ou last night, Alex. He means well, it's just that h e's so realistic!"
    "I under stand, Rosemary. Maybe I needed s omeone to plant my feet solidly on the ground."
    "Leave it to Sam to do the planting." Rosem ary rolled her eyes dramatically. "I don't think he understands how deeply you feel about Jenni, Alex."
    "Do you remember the night she was born?" Alex mused softly.
    "Oh, God, do I ever! We paced the living room of your house like a couple of prospective fathers. And when the midwife called for help, I knew I couldn't do it. I'm the one who faints when I prick my finger."
    Alex laughed gently. "I'd never done anything like that before. It was an experience I'll never forget. . . ."
    When Alex's voice trailed off, Rosemary picked up the memories. "The sound of that squeaky, little cry . . . what a feeling! It meant every thing was all right."
    "I love her, Rosemary. And I won't give up until I find her," Alex