Page 4 of CJ

“Yes, he was,” said Sgt. Brenner. Jill shook her head. “Jill, the water was really cold, and the ice closed over him, honey. They’ve been searching for hours, but there’s no way he could have survived that.”

“He did survive,” she said, shaking her head. “I know my dad. He survived!”

No matter what they said to her, the little girl was certain that her father could have survived the ice and frigid river. They waited three days before declaring him dead. On the fourth day, Jill had to face the truth. His body was found downriver, completely frozen.

Years later, Jill learned that the woman intentionally drove her vehicle into the river. She often wondered why she wasn’t charged with the murder of her father, but no one could seem to give her answers.

Mrs. Clausen became her permanent guardian, raising her to become valedictorian of her high school, college, and grad school. Jill Morgan was a brilliant young mind and lawyer.

“I’m so proud of you, Jill,” said the old woman, hugging her.

“I owe it all to you,” she smiled. “Do you have everything packed and ready for Florida?”

“I do. My sister is excited that we’ll finally be spending more time together. Will you come and visit when you can? I know you’ll be busy at the Pentagon, but maybe you can find time.”

“I’ll find time,” she smiled.

She was remembering that conversation today, on the fifth anniversary of Mrs. Clausen’s death. She’d gotten so wrapped up in work and then Tim, her boyfriend, she lost sight of what was really important.

Tim was an Army Ranger whom she’d met during a dinner with friends. They hit it off, started dating, and before they knew it, they were living together on and off.

Jill believed that things were progressing as they should. Date, fall in love, move in, and get engaged. But Tim seemed less and less happy, and she couldn’t figure out why. The morning she met their new neighbor, something in Jill changed.

She was leaving for the Pentagon, and Tim was headed back down to Norfolk for the week. They’d had another argument about the amount of time they were spending apart, and she just wanted to get to work and forget about it. She never imagined she would run into a six-foot-seven brick wall.

“Hi,” she smiled. “You must be the new neighbor. I’m Jill Morgan.” She extended her hand, feeling it shake with strange nerves. Watching the man, he shuffled the box beneath one big, rippling, muscled arm, and she couldn’t help but raise her brow in appreciation.

“CJ. CJ Abbott,” he said, taking her hand. There was a strange feeling working its way up her arm, and she couldn’t put her finger on it. She’d never felt anything like it before in her life.

“Nice to meet you, CJ. I have to run to the office, but maybe we can chat later,” she smiled. Behind her, Tim stepped out in his uniform and gave him a nod. “Oh, Tim. This is CJ.”

“Hey. I have to run, Jill. I’ll see you later.” Jill wanted to scream at him because he was so rude to their new neighbor. Turning, he left her standing there without even a kiss on her cheek.

“Brother?” asked tall, dark, and handsome. She almost wanted to lie and say, ‘sure.’

“Uh. No. I mean, no.” She was confused and hurt by Tim’s dismissal of her and their neighbor. He never used to be so cold and callous. “No. He’s my fiancé.”

“Ah. Well, he’s a lucky man,” said CJ.

“Yeah?” she said with a sad grin.

“Definitely. Nice to meet you, Jill.”

“You too, CJ.”

She walked toward her car wanting to turn and say more than hello to the man on the steps of his condo next to hers. She wondered if he’d heard them arguing that morning but knew that she never raised her voice, even when arguing. Her superpower was always being able to remain calm.

As she tossed her briefcase and coat into the passenger seat, she caught sight of Tim’s truck at the traffic light. He should have turned left, but he didn’t. He went right.

“What in the world?” she whispered. She could feel her new neighbor’s eyes on her, watching.

“Need any help?” asked the sexy voice. She jumped, turning to see CJ grabbing two more boxes from his truck.

“Oh, no. Just wondering about something.”

She waved and quickly put Tim out of her mind. Her job at the Pentagon kept her busy all the time, and it was part of the reason she and Tim had argued. Her work was important, and she was passionate about it.

With a full load of cases to review at the Pentagon, including a young sergeant whom she was sure was innocent of what he was being accused, she wanted to get there early. She never imagined that she would get a call a few days later from an old friend, that would change her life forever.

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