Desire Part Three (The Desire Series Book 3) by Ava Alexia Page A

grasp her camera bag. She took out the camera and the long range lens. She secured the lens to the camera. “This is probably the best time I’ll have to take some pics. I won’t be long.”
    “I’ll come with you,” Jaclyn said as she sat up.
    “No. Stay here and occupy the guys should they come out of the water before I return,” Tess said.
    Jaclyn looked dubious.
    “I don’t think you should go off alone. What if something happens to you?’ Jaclyn objected.
    Tess stood up.
    “Nothing is going to happen to me. I’ll be back before you know it,” Tess smiled.
    “I have a bad feeling about this. Maybe you should leave it alone. Matt said he would handle it,” Jaclyn urged.
    “And I can help him immensely by getting some incriminating photos,” Tess argued.
    “I don’t like it, Tess. Don’t go,” Jaclyn insisted.
    “I’ll be fine. See you in a bit,” she smiled.
    Tess hung the camera on her shoulder and briskly walked off. Jaclyn felt uneasy as she watched Tess walk away. She picked up her cell and looked at the time. She would only give her twenty minutes. After that she was calling in the cavalry.

    *****

    The men came out of the river a little later and collapsed onto the towels and blankets in exhaustion.  
    “Where’s Tess, Jax?” Matt asked immediately.
    “She went to take more pictures. She should be back in a few minutes,” Jaclyn mumbled.
    Matt looked at her keenly. He noticed that Jax looked uncomfortable and continued to glance at her cell phone.
    “Are you expecting a call, Jax?” Matt inquired.
    “What?” Jaclyn asked distractedly.
    “You keep looking at your phone. Are you expecting a call?” Matt asked.
    “Oh, no. I was just checking the time,” she mumbled.
    Tony and Ollie had lain back to take a snooze while Matt observed Jaclyn unobtrusively. When she began looking toward the far end of the grounds he became nervous. She was gazing at the waterfall area as if hoping to see Tess.
    “Did Tess want to capture more photos of the waterfall?” Matt asked.
    Jaclyn’s nerves had gotten the better of her and twenty minutes had elapsed.
    “Yes and she should have been back by now,” Jax said.
    Ollie and Tony had heard their conversation and sat up abruptly.
    “Maybe we should look for her,” Tony suggested.
    “Maybe we should,” Matt agreed with alacrity.
    The men and Jaclyn trotted off in the direction of the waterfall. Jaclyn prayed that Tess was alright. She’d been on edge from the moment that Tess left. She now wished that she had never made the suggestion of Tess taking those pictures.  
    “How long has she been gone?” Matt asked.
    “About twenty or so minutes. That’s not so very long but I would feel better if she were here with us,” Jaclyn sighed.
    “We’ll find her. I’m sure she’s fine,” Ollie said reassuringly.
    Tony looked at Matt and saw the look of worry on his face. Something else was going on here. He grasped Matt’s arm to pull him to a stop. The others paused as well.
    “There’s something wrong, Matt. I can see it in your face. What is it?” Tony asked.
    Matt sighed and told them about Tess’s photos.
    “Who do you think those men are?” Ollie asked.
    “I don’t know. But I doubt if they are up to anything good,” Matt said. He turned to Jaclyn. “Tess wanted to catch their illegal activities on camera. Are those the pictures she wanted to take, Jax?”
    Jaclyn looked miserable.
    “Yes,” Jaclyn admitted softly.
    “My God! Do you know the danger she could be in?’ Matt stormed.
    “I tried to talk her out of it but she was determined to go and she wouldn’t let me go with her,” Jaclyn cried.
    “It’s a good thing that you didn’t. At least you’re here to tell the tale,” Matt said sharply.  
    Ollie surveyed their surroundings. He climbed a rocky hill and scanned the expanse.
    “This is the perfect area for drug smuggling,” Ollie called back down to them. “It’s remote and well concealed by the surrounding