Thunder in the Night (Crimson Romance) Read Online Free Page A

close. “Graduated top of my class.”
    I laughed out loud then had to stifle a yawn.
    “And now I’m boring you,” Mart teased.
    “Not at all. It’s just been a busy day.”
    “Wait until tomorrow. We’re touring the ruins at Tikal. Then on Wednesday, after the early morning nature walk, you can go snorkeling. Or there’s tubing on the river. And some caves to explore.”
    “Whew! Sounds exhausting. It’ll make for some great articles, though, and that’s what matters.”
    Mart gave me a thoughtful look. “What brings you to our humble zoo trek when you could be covering some art gallery opening or fancy society wedding?”
    I wrinkled my nose and looked off over his shoulder. There had been plenty of those in the last few weeks. “I’m climbing my way back to real news. I hope.”
    Mart spun me out again, turned another circle. “You hope?”
    “Fervently. I want to report on important stories. I want to investigate issues, put them on the front page.” I was talking too much, I knew, but I couldn’t seem to stop. “I want my work to matter!”
    “Music to my ears,” Mart said. “Why do you have to climb back?”
    My sigh was long and deep. “I was low man — or woman — on my last job. When the staff cuts came, out I went.” I shrugged in dismissal.
    Mart waited a second, two. “That can’t have been easy.”
    “No.”
    The tune came to an end. Mart released me and I smiled.
    “Thanks for the dance. It was lovely.”
    “You’re welcome. I have to say, I’m glad you lost your old job,” he said. “Because now Rochester has you.” He gave my hand a squeeze, ran his thumb over my fingers.
    “If I do a bang up job with this trip, Rochester could have me for quite a while.”
    Mart hesitated, seeming to choose his next words with care. “This could be a very important story, if you ask me.”
    “Oh?”
    “Sure, depending on your angle. It’s all in the angle.”
    I yawned again behind my hand then apologized. “I’m so sorry. It’s not you, it’s the hour. Can we talk more about this, when you have time?”
    Mart nodded. “It’s a long ride to Tikal. Maybe then.”
    “Yes, then. And now, goodnight.”
    Mart lifted a hand in farewell.
    In the elevator, I leaned against the back wall and watched the doors slowly close, reflecting me in their mirrored surface. I looked as tired as I felt, but at least my hair was still tidy in its chignon and my dress hadn’t wrinkled too much in my suitcase. I closed my eyes, still feeling Mart’s arm around me, still smelling his scent.
    Too bad about the girlfriend, I thought sleepily.
    The elevator doors opened to take on another passenger. I stood up straighter when I saw Clark, sans Sylvia. He was looking down, frowning and reading a text on his cell phone, so he didn’t see me at first. When he did, he made a move to pocket the phone, but missed. It slid across the floor of the small space, landing squarely up against my right ankle.
    He bent to retrieve his phone then hesitated. He could hardly reach for it there himself.
    “I’ll get it,” I said.
    The cell phone had settled face up, so I could see the text message he’d been reading. I didn’t really mean to read it, but put words in front of my eyes and it’s hard not to.
    The message said:
    Thursday’s shipment — twenty five airborne, thirteen grounded. Delay arrival. Uncle visiting.
    I frowned. What could that mean? Shipment of what? Whose uncle?
    Quickly, before Clark could think I’d read his mail, I handed the phone back and smiled.
    In a minute, in my room, I’d write those sentences down and puzzle over them.
    “I heard about your big win at the slots tonight,” he said, taking the phone I handed to him. “Nice way to start your vacation.”
    “Yes,” I agreed. “Very cool.”
    I noticed a ruddy tone to his cheeks. Sunburn, perhaps, or the result of too many drinks in too little time. He led the way off the elevator when it reached the third floor, lifting a hand