Depressed, she went to her closet for a clean blouse and skirt. Susan Fletcher stood wrapped in a towel and dripped on the neatly folded clothes she’d set out the night before-hiking shorts, a sweater for the cool mountain evenings, and the new lingerie she’d bought for the nights. An emergency? In Crypto? She couldn’t imagine. Emergency? She had never heard the word cross Commander Strathmore’s lips. “Susan, I’m calling because I need you in here. The commander’s voice turned suddenly stern. “Hoping for a younger man?” The voice chuckled. “Oh.” She was unable to hide her disappointment. Susan bolted upright, sloshing water on the floor as she grappled for the receiver she’d left on the sink. She was about to get out when her cordless phone buzzed to life. Gradually the water around her went from hot to lukewarm and finally to cold. She submerged herself in the soapy water and tried to forget Stone Manor and the Smoky Mountains. Later that afternoon Susan sat dejected in the tub.

Susan Fletcher lay awake for hours waiting for him to call back. I’ve really got to go they’re calling for me. “What’s going on? Why would the university…?” I’ll call you from the plane and explain everything.” “I really can’t go into it now, they’ve got a car waiting. You do remember we’re engaged, don’t you?” “Tonight was supposed to be special-to celebrate six months. “But I made reservations,” Susan said, hurt. We can head up first thing in the morning. We can sleep in before we head north.”ĭavid let out a frustrated sigh. She gasped, sat up in bed, and fumbled for the receiver. It was the sound of the phone that fully awoke Susan Fletcher from her dream. She reached for him, but her arms clutched empty air. As she stared into his deep-green eyes, somewhere in the distance a deafening bell began to ring. Looking up from their canopy bed, she knew he was the one. They were in the Smoky Mountains at their favorite bed-and-breakfast.

The digital fortress