"Good evening, Sam."

The guard started slightly and looked sheepishly from the novel he was reading. "Oh, hello, Artemis. Sorry, I didn't see you." He lifted the book. "Joselyn Chamber's new one came out this morning." He stuck a piece of paper between the pages and closed it. "I love all her books but this one is particularly good."

Artemis dropped a cup of coffee onto the window sill of the guard house and motioned to it. "Black as my soul, just the way you like it." He lifted his chin toward the book resting on the table. "It's so unusual in today's age to see someone still enjoying a hardback. I thought everyone had one of those electronic things with a thousand books at a time."

Sam took a sip, "Mmm good coffee and exactly what I needed." He chuckled. "My wife loves e-readers. She's an avid reader but dislikes carrying books around. She said when she was younger, she always kept one or two paperbacks in her purse and hated the bulky weight. Now she has no less than four e-readers scattered around the house." He shook his head. "Give me the smell of paper and being able to feel the book in my hands any day. Not to mention, you can't get autographs on electronic readers." He picked up the hardback again and shook it carefully. "I'm hoping to get this one signed soon."

"May I?" Artemis motioned toward the book.

Sam handed it to him and watched him look the volume over, turning it in his hands and reading the back dustcover. Opening the front, he read the front blurb and nodded his head. Handing it back he smiled. "Looks like a good one. I'm usually more into the classics but there's nothing wrong with a good murder mystery. I'm not sure I've heard of this writer before. Is she new?"

Sam placed the book carefully on the little table housing the two gate screens and his keys. "She's still new but extremely good. This is her third one and so far, the best. I understand the fourth in this series is set to come out this fall." He glanced around and leaned in toward the man. "She lives right in this community! Can you believe it?"

With a widening of his eyes, Artemis looked around. "Really? We have a famous author living here? Where?"

Sam sat back. "I can't say, privacy and all. She's out of town for a while but when she gets back, I'm going to ask her to sign this copy." He placed a hand on the book. "I highly recommend trying one of hers. I have a paperback at home of the second in this series. If you like, I'll bring it so you can read it."

The man stared thoughtfully at the book, chewing his lip. He seemed lost in his thoughts so Sam nudged Artemis' hand where it sat on the guardhouse window sill. Artemis glared at him a split second and pulled his hand back. Smoothing his face, he smiled again. "Excuse me for my inattention, Sam. Blanked out there for a minute. You were saying?"

"I asked if you would like to read one of Ms. Chamber's books? I have a paperback copy at home.

"I would appreciate it, Sam. Thank you. If I like her, do you think I could get her autograph as well?"

Sam lifted his shoulders in a shrug. "I suppose you could leave a book with me and I'll get her to sign it when she gets back. I'm betting you'll like her. She is a bestselling author on several lists. Her stories are awesome."

"Hmmm," Artemis murmured. "There's a problem. You see, the Progues will be home soon and I'll be leaving the area. Unless she's coming home in the next couple of days, I'll miss my opportunity. What a shame. Even if I wasn't a fan right now, I hate missing out on an opportunity to get a signed copy of a bestselling author's book. You have no idea when she will return home?"

Sam shook his head and looked at the book again. With a slight incline of his head, he made a decision and leaned out the window. "Alright, I'll tell you what I'll do. There's a box that came today for her. It'll be forwarded to her tomorrow morning. If you get a copy of her book and give it to me, I'll slide it in with the other stuff and ship it out to her. I'm sure she'll be happy to sign it and return it before you leave," he said conspiratorially. "She loves her fans and will normally do anything to make them happy."

He grinned. "Fantastic! I'll go get a copy and bring it back. Thanks a lot, Sam. I appreciate it." He glanced at the boxes sitting at Sam's feet and nodded. "You have no idea how much I appreciate this."

* * *

Well, that had gone better than he thought it would. When the man known as Artemis King had first spied Sam reading Joselyn's latest book, he had hoped to gain some insight into how long before his Little Rose returned to her garden. Glancing over at the house where she lived he paused on the Progues porch and let his thoughts run. It was a stroke of pure luck that a connection to her present location was sitting in the pile of boxes in the guard shack. He rubbed his bottom lip with a perfectly manicured thumbnail and thought. How would he use this information? Could he lure her home early? Some sort of emergency with her house may do it. He shook his head. With the police watching her house so carefully, he didn't dare return there although he longed to. A glower marred his face as he recalled the narrow miss a few days ago. He had almost been caught in her back yard. It was pure fortune he was able to climb the pergola in the garden and jump over her wall. Reaching down, he scratched the cut the spike had left on his ankle. The fact he had escaped with only a tiny scratch cemented in his mind the powers-that-be wanted him to obtain her. There could be no other reason.

He stared at the guard shack and tapped his lip slowly. Making friends with the outgoing security guard had been a stroke of pure genius. The bumbling oaf hadn't realized how much information he had fed him concerning The Rose's actions and whereabouts. Pulling his key out of his pocket, he let himself into the Progues house. Good thing too. Once that soldier had whisked her off a few weeks ago, the calendar he had downloaded from her cell phone had become worthless. She had been scheduled for two personal appearances and both had been canceled. There was a convention in Nashville in a few weeks but he wasn't sure if she would attend. Inquiries to the event coordinators had gone unanswered. Besides, he didn't want to wait another month. He couldn't wait. He forced himself to go slowly and enjoyed the pursuit but only as long as his quarry was in view. Instead, she had slipped his grasp and he had no idea where she had disappeared. The thought infuriated him.

He made his way up the stairs to his room and sat on the bed. Pulling out a box, he opened it and withdrew one of the books. Running his hands over the cover, he smiled. Yes, he could sacrifice one of them to be sent off for her signature. He could easily replace it tomorrow. Pressing it to his lips, he kissed it reverently before hugging it. Waiting an hour to return to Sam's little house wouldn't be too bad. His hands shook as he formulated a plan.

Precisely an hour later, he handed over one of his cherished books to Sam who chose a box and placed it on the table. Taking a piece of paper, he hastily penned a note explaining the novel's presence and placed it inside. As Sam opened the box to nestle it among cellophane bound bundles of pictures and printed materials, Artemis memorized the address printed on the shipping label.

Mississippi. She was in Mississippi.

He smiled and thanked Sam for his invaluable help. He would have her back where she belonged. It was almost harvest time. Little Rose would be in perfect bloom.