Worth Dying For by Trin Denise Read Free Book Online Page A

by herself.
    She was even more excited to learn from the sales clerk that the winery was located in Paso Robles, a three-hour trip down the coast. The clerk assured her that the view alone was worth the drive. She thanked the clerk for the information and went back to the Jeep, thinking she just might have to take that drive.
    With her new sunglasses on, she set off toward Half Moon Bay and before she knew it, she was pulling into the driveway at 22 Mirada Road. The house sat directly on the beach, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It would be an understatement to say it was beyond her expectations. The folks in Washington were definitely taking care of her.
    With bag and suitcase in hand, she let herself in through the front door and walked directly into the living room. She looked around in awe, thinking she must be one successful photographer.
    The living room ran lengthwise from back to front, with a counter-topped bar separating it from the small, eat-in kitchen. She noticed a small package sitting on the counter. No doubt, a gift from Laura , she thought as she surveyed the room. The house was decorated with a southwestern theme, and the fabric print on the furniture reminded her of the Navajo Indian blankets that are sold at flea markets. She found the cream and mauve tones comforting. A stone fireplace reaching from floor to ceiling covered one entire wall.
    She set her suitcase on the floor and walked over to the patio doors. She looked through the glass, her breath catching in her throat. She had a panoramic view that looked directly out into the Pacific Ocean. Without hesitation, she slid the door open and stepped outside.
    The scene that greeted her was breathtaking. The entire deck was surrounded by knee-high wild flowers in various stages of bloom, but the yellow poppies were something else. They were everywhere, stretching down the beach as far as the eye could see. She watched a seagull dive down deep into the water, only to come up seconds later with a fish in its mouth.
    She took a deep breath and allowed the fresh air to fill her lungs. She sat down on a lounger, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes. She could hear the waves slapping against the rocks and she imagined the sun setting in the evening. She looked forward to seeing it firsthand. After several minutes, she reluctantly opened her eyes. She had a job to do. She got up from the lounger and went back inside to put away the few items she picked up at the mini-mart.
    She grabbed a beer from the fridge and took a long drink before making her way through the rest of the house. The bedrooms were located on the opposite side of the house. She tossed her suitcase on the bed of the first room she came to. It was not anything too fancy and was decorated in the same southwestern theme as the living room. It had a queen-size bed, dresser, and two obligatory nightstands with lamps. It did however, have a window that looked out onto the beach. She thought about unpacking and then changed her mind. She wanted to see the other rooms first. She went across the hall and poked her head into another bedroom. It was just like the one she had chosen, but without the view.
    The next room she entered was set up like a state-of-the-art photo lab. Against the wall, sitting on top of a conference table, was a computer, printer, and Canon Rebel digital camera. She suspected the cost ran in the range of ten to fifteen grand for the computer system. The camera alone was worth at least two. She picked up the camera, thinking that they couldn’t have gotten her a better one. It would have been her first choice. A low grumbling in her stomach caused her to look at her watch. She couldn’t believe that it was almost seven.
    She made herself a bologna sandwich, took it along with the package from the counter, and went out onto the deck to watch the sunset. It didn’t disappoint. It reminded her of the Northern Lights. The sky was divided from top to bottom in a combination of