Night Waves by Wendy Davy Read Free Book Online Page B

haven’t had any luck yet, and I need direction from You. What do I do? Where do I go?
    She opened her eyes and looked around. The only thing she noticed, that she hadn’t before, was a set of hungry seagulls circling overhead, and a group of sandpipers greedily poking their beaks into the sand in search of food. She sighed. “What did you expect? A huge sign pointing from the sky saying ‘look here Cali’?”
    She stepped around an older couple who sat close together, sharing a large beach towel. The woman spoke up, “You know the heat’s getting to you when you start talking to yourself. Maybe you ought to head inside and get a drink before you start hallucinating, too.” The woman’s tender, grandmotherly smile reminded Cali of her own grandmother.
    Cali laughed. “I guess I should.” She hesitated. “Inside where?”
    The woman pointed to the right. “Over there. Past that dune.”
    Looking closely, Cali’s heart raced. Thank you, Lord. She had found her next destination.
    Night Waves

Night Waves
    Chapter Six
    The sight of the well-populated, quaint beachfront restaurant restored Cali’s hope. A large teal and white striped canvas awning provided a barrier to the midday sun, while an array of decorative aluminum patio tables and chairs invited beachgoers to walk up in their swimsuits and sandals to enjoy a casual meal. Cali stepped into the shade, instantly relieved to be out of the direct sunlight. She felt a slight breeze coming from several ceiling fans spinning in lazy circles overhead.
    She removed her sunglasses and noticed a handwritten sign that read, ‘please seat yourself’.’ She scanned the outdoor tables and found every one of them full. Her latent appetite awakened and hit full force as her gaze landed on a set of young men. A large, oval plate full of French fries topped with layers of melted cheddar cheese and crumbles of real bacon sat between them, and the smell of the salty fries and freshly cooked bacon made her mouth water. Her empty stomach tactfully reminded her it was time to eat. Forcing her gaze from the sinful sight, she immediately witnessed another.
    A tray filled with a wide assortment of foods ranging from fried onion rings and grilled hamburgers to tossed salads and colorful side vegetables sat behind her, ready to be distributed. Cali caught her gaze scanning the tray and forced her focus away from the tempting plates. With nothing more than her keys and Serena’s picture in her pockets, she considered turning around and heading back to her car to retrieve some money for lunch. After a moment, she decided she could wait for food; finding a lead to Serena’s location was much more important.
    She passed through the patio and walked inside the restaurant. Standing in the doorway, she let her eyes adjust to the inside lighting. Scanning the interior of the restaurant, her hopes of speaking to the staff diminished as she caught sight of how they scrambled to keep up with customers’ orders. Her only hope in grabbing their attention was to find a table and wait for one of them to come to her.
    Cali searched the room, and her gaze landed on several conversation-filled customers as they dined and enjoyed their meals. Then her gaze caught on a familiar face and stopped in mid-scan. Sheriff Justice sat at a corner table, his deep-blue eyes already locked onto her. Her heart lurched into high gear, as if it had an agenda of its own, and she sucked in a deep breath forcing herself not to look away. Considering his profession, he had probably been aware of her presence since the moment she stepped through the door. Most lawmen were keen observers, and it was obvious that Sheriff Justice was no exception.
    A deputy sitting across the table from the sheriff turned to see what had captured his boss’s attention. With both sets of eyes on her, Cali felt self-conscious, as she stood immobile in the doorway of the hectic restaurant.
    Sheriff Justice lifted his head a notch to