The breeze from the beach was warm, but with the heat the sunrays were pouring onto the beachers, it felt nice and cool. In the water there were some crazy surfers and down the coast you had girls splashing each other. Someone shouted and she looked to her right just as a beach ball blocked the sunlight. She put her hand up just in time to block the impact and the ball landed at her feet. When she picked it up, she spun it around in her hands and looked down the beach.

Stef and Kari were waving at her to join them and a couple of guys at the beach ball court. She sighed and slowly got to her feet while her hands brushed the sand off her legs. As she walked, she regretted ditching her shoes back at the parking lot and ran to keep from burning her feet. When she reached the court, she tossed the ball to Stef and walked over to the two girls. Stef sent the ball back over the net and then turned to her.

"So, you up to a game or two?"

A small smile showed and she said "Anytime."

Kari laughed and said "Well, then let's get this game started. You just made the teams uneven so I'll sub."

Kat rolled her eyes and said "Chicken-wuss."

She got a laugh in response and Stef said "Let's go knock their socks off."

They walked over to the net and Stef introduced Kat. Once the four were set, the brown-haired guy served the ball high and back. Stef took the dig and Kat set it for a spike. The ball landed right on the line and the two high-fived one another while the guys shook their heads. The game was long, but exciting to where Kari was shouting ridiculous remarks at some of the plays.

When the first game ended, everyone took a five-minute break and the two players joined Kari on the bench. She gave each of them some water and they eagerly accepted. As they doused the water, Kari watched the guys talking. The instant she started laughing, Kat stood and drug her onto the court. At first the woman protested, but when she saw which guy she was up against, she shut up.

The guy smirked and said "Too bad I have to whip your butt."

Kari laughed and said "In your dreams, bucko."

She tossed the ball back to Kat and the second game started. As the four played, Stef's phone vibrated and she answered her cell. She tried to keep her voice hushed enough the players wouldn't hear her. When she hung up, she saw the winning ball land in the sand and she clapped. The two women walked over to her and she congratulated them.

When she looked down the beach, Kat asked "�Stef, what's up?"

Stef smiled and said "Nothing really. I'm just being paranoid."

Kari nodded and said "And I thought I was paranoid!"

They laughed and one guy asked "Ready ladies?"

Kat rolled her eyes and said,"I'm gonna head back to the house to check in with my boss. Take my place Stef and good luck."

Stef nodded and said "You know I don't need it!"

Kari pouted and said "Kat, you're suppose to be on vacation! That means no work! Do I have to spell it out for you?"

She shook her head and said "I can spell perfectly, but Travis told me to check in daily incase something came up."

The two women sighed and Stef said "Well, just be careful on your way back."

She nodded and watched the two walk onto the court before she picked up her stuff and headed into town. True she needed to check in with Travis, but actually all she wanted was some time to think. She stepped onto the main sidewalk and began the walk to Stefâ's condo. When she passed a couple sitting on a bench talking, she rolled her eyes and continued on. Three little kids ran past her and she watched them run down the sidewalk to the beach.

Eventually she reached the condo and as she entered the key into the lock, she looked down the road. There was a black car parked across the street down at the next block and she looked at the emblem on its hood. It was a stratus and she felt her muscles stiffen. She walked into the condo and shook her head at the stupid thought. She dropped the keys onto a table next to the door and made her way into the back section of the condo.

Her bedroom was next to the screen porch and she picked up her cell to check in with Travis. As she waited for him to pick up, she walked onto the screen porch and sat in the swing. When she propped her feet up on the opposite end of the swing, Travis finally picked up.

"Hey, is there anything new going on?"

Travis laughed and said "Like there never isn't!"

She rolled her eyes and said "What a way to make me feel good."

He laughed again and said "Always business with you. Anyways, yes we had something come up that we could use your help with."

He briefed her on the situation and said "The boss wants you back here in his office the day you get back. That is only three days from now, right?"

She sighed and said "Yes, I'll be back in three days."

She hung up and put her phone on the table next to the swing with a little twinge of annoyance. When she rubbed her face, she sighed and let the swing rock slowly to the sound of the waves. Sleep was slowly creeping up on her, but she wasn't ready for it so she forced herself back onto her feet. She walked back into the condo and left a note for Stef and Kari. Then she grabbed her key and walked out the front door.

She walked down the street to downtown L.A. and watched other people spend the day carefree. When she reached a corner street with an ice cream stand, she saw a mother buying her two kids come chocolate ice cream and kept walking. At the front of a big restaurant, she saw a young man waiting next to the door and repeatedly checking his watch for someone. As she left the downtown section of L.A., she found the big park and made her way over to some swings. She sat in a leather swing and let her legs rock her back and forth while she thought about everything.

PGS