“You were right yesterday. Those words that seemed out of place were the key. I got the flash drive open.” Cade dropped a huge stack of papers in front of her and Gemma felt like groaning. “And I can’t read a single one of them. They’re all in that language of yours. However, there were a couple of photographs and you’re holding one of them. I may not know what’s on these pages, but I’m guessing that woman is important. Do you know who she is?”

Cade and Cy came to stand beside her as they looked at the woman with the blonde hair and oversized sunglasses. “She looks familiar, but I just can’t place her,” Cy said as he examined the photograph.

“Me too. It’s nagging at me. Hopefully, my sister will have her name somewhere in this pile.”

“If you work with me, I may be able to build a program to translate it. It'll take a couple of hours up front but could save you a lot of time,” Cade suggested.

“You could do that?” Cy asked. Cade just gave him a look and Cy nodded. “I shouldn’t have asked. But I need a favor. I want to think over some things and I do that better moving around. I don’t want to be in Gemma’s hair, but I don’t want to leave her alone either.”

“I got it. It’ll take us a while to get this program written and then I can help her go through it.”

“Thanks, Cade. Is that okay with you, sweetheart?”

“Sure. You were about to drive me crazy with your pacing, so it works out perfectly. We’ll just meet up for lunch.”

Gemma raised her lips for Cy as he gave her a quick kiss before heading out. She turned to see Cade grinning like an idiot and just shook her head. “You ready to get started?”

“Sure am. Let’s see that alphabet you have.”

*     *     *

Cy found his brother at a peewee football game. Marshall stood by the sidelines between two tables filled with sweets. The Bearcats’ mothers had pies in hand while Pam Gilbert and some other mothers from the Keeneston Cougars team held stacks of cookies as if they intended to toss them like throwing stars at the opposing mothers.

“Arrest them, Sheriff!”

“For what, Pam? Selling baked goods?”

“This is our fund-raiser for our team. They’ve been doing this all through the league and we’ve had enough. It’s in the league rules that the home team is allowed to have a bake sale to raise funds for equipment and uniforms. Not away teams. They’ve been purposely bringing in baking ringers to have better goods so they make all the money and the other teams suffer for it.”

“And why would they do that?” Marshall asked as he held up his arm to keep the opposing mother from cutting in.

“Because, bless their little hearts, they suck. They’re the worst team in the league. But by outselling us, they’ll have all new equipment and we’ll have nothing. They’re baking us out of competition.”

“Is this true, Ginny?” Marshall asked the huffing mother.

“It’s not my fault we’re better bakers. I hope you choke on that overly dry cookie, Pam.”

“Enough. Where are these league rules you were talking about?” Marshall asked as he intercepted a cookie that was launched at Ginny.

“Here.” Pam thrust a book at him. “Page thirty-six, paragraph B, section two.” Marshall opened the book and read the cited area.

“Sorry, Ginny, but Pam’s right. Now while it’s not illegal and I can’t arrest you for violating league rules, they could kick you out of the league if I were to turn this incident in. So let’s pack up those tasty pies and sell them only at your home games. Got it?”

“This isn’t over, Pam,” Ginny snarled before turning to Marshall. “Thank you for your discretion, Sheriff. Have a pie as our thank-you.” Ginny handed Marshall a pie and the women grudgingly packed up their table.

“Yes, thank you. Have some cookies, Sheriff. Maybe your brother would want some, too,” Shelly Duffy, Katelyn’s secretary, said as she batted her eyes at Cy.

“You do know your husband is ten feet away on the field coaching, right?” Marshall asked as Cy sent her a dazzling smile.

“It would be rude not to acknowledge him standing right there and if southern women are one thing, it’s not rude,” Shelly said she handed Cy some cookies.

“That’s right. Try my cookies, Cy.”

“Mine are double chocolate, Cy.”

“Mine won first place at the county fair."

“Ladies,” Cy smiled as he held up his hands. “I’ll try them all as I'm sure each will be perfect, just like their bakers.” Cy gave them a wink and saw Marshall roll his eyes. He pulled out his wallet and tossed down a fifty before holding out his arms for the pile of cookies he had just bought.

“Way to make me look bad,” Marshall mumbled to Cy as he took out his wallet too. “Good luck at the game, ladies.”

Cy walked with his brother back to where he parked his now slightly banged-up truck next to Marshall’s cruiser.

“So, what’s up?” Marshall asked as he took a bite of one of the cookies.

“Something happened last night that I need to talk over. But I’m antsy. I was hoping we could get a little training in while I bounce some ideas off you.”

“Sure. Let’s go to my place.”

Cy threw a punch and Marshall blocked it with his forearm. Sweat poured off Cy as he and Marshall lobbed punches and kicks at each other on the soft grass in front of the house. Bob, Marshall’s Vizsla, sat perched on a low-hanging limb of a tree watching them. Marshall had shed his uniform and put on a pair of athletic shorts similar to the ones Cy wore. Shirts had long ago been tossed to the side as they battled each other.

“So the body just disappeared?” Marshall asked as he delivered a strong kick to Cy’s midsection.

“It makes me think they went back and cleaned it up. When they didn’t follow us into Keeneston and now this, I’m sure they’re waiting for their moment. I just don’t know why.”

“Seems to me they don’t want attention drawn to it. It’s going to be man-to-man. And, by not calling the cops, you’ve accepted those terms.”

“Honor among thieves,” Cy swept Marshall’s legs and shot him a smug look as Marshall landed on the grass.

“Exactly,” Marshall said before tackling Cy to the ground. “Now, while you’ve recounted what happened last night, you said Gemma’s name no less than thirty times. Want to talk about it?” Marshall asked as they stood up and faced off once again.

“When we’re together, it’s amazing. We click and the chemistry . . . but I feel sometimes she’s hiding who she is. She won’t just let go.”

“You’re one to be talking,” Marshall said and he ducked a punch.

“What do you mean by that?” Cy asked as he dropped his arms and stared at his brother. It cost him as his brother landed a punch to the jaw.

“It means you’re hiding who you are, too. You’re still Mr. Hollywood and that’s not you. Well, not all you. You’ve always been a little cocky,” Marshall grinned as he rested his hands on his hips.

“True. But, when I’m with her, I’m me again.”

“You've got it bad. Why don’t you invite her to Dani and Mo’s going away/baby shower tomorrow? Katelyn says we’re going. It’s some picnic thingy.”

“I don’t think I’m invited,” Cy said. It was a good idea, though. Try to bring some normalcy to his life. Give him a chance to unwind and try to forget about Mr. Hollywood, as his brother called him.

“I think you’re about to be.” Marshall pointed to the black Mercedes making its way up the drive.

“Who’s that?” Cy asked. “He looks like a small version of Ahmed.”

“Ah, that’s mini-Ahmed. His real name is Nabi . . . well, Nabi is good enough.”

“Mr. Cy Davies?” Mini-Ahmed asked.

“Yep, that’s me.” Cy held out his hand and accepted an envelope. “So you’re Nabi.”

“Nabi Ulmalhamsh Mosteghanemi,” he said with a slight bow of his head.

“Right.” Cy knew his limits on language and that was it. “So you’re working for Ahmed.”

“Yes. I’m very privileged,” Nabi said while looking back and forth between the brothers. “Were you training?”

“Yes, we were. Would you like to go a round?” Cy asked as Nabi looked around as if to see if he was being watched. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone that you took some time off. I’m good at keeping secrets after all.”

Gemma held her breath as she read the last page Cade had printed from the translated flash drive. She was having trouble seeing through the tears rolling silently down her cheeks as she read the letter her sister had left for her. Gia had known she was in danger and had left this note the morning she was killed, just in case. She said she had a feeling something was wrong.

“I never told you how proud I am of you,” her sister wrote among the meaningful stories, the special moments, and the hopes for the future. Gemma sucked in a ragged breath as she finished the letter. “Live life to the fullest for us both. I’ll be checking in on you to make sure you do. I’m your big sister, after all.”

The heartbreak was complete. The feeling of being ripped in two was so overwhelming that Gemma curled into a ball and sobbed.

“Gemma? What is it?” Cade asked quietly as he put a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“My sister left me a note. I should be with her now. It should've been me. I was running in circles, but she was going places. She was making a difference in the world with her reporting.”

“Gemma, you can’t do this to yourself," Cade reassured her. "Your sister loved you and there is no way she would want you to blame yourself. I’ve only known you a short time, but it’s clear to me that you have great things ahead. Your sister would be very proud of you. I know my brother is.”

Fresh tears started and Gemma couldn’t stop them. She knew she looked a mess. She was an ugly crier, but right now she didn’t care. Although Cade’s slightly nervous look caused her some comic relief.