“Harbor Lights” by Ed Wilson

The next Ethan McLaren on Kodiak Island mystery will be available in 2015!

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It was very quiet in the gym at midnight and she loved the stillness as she lay back lengthwise on the narrow bench, enjoying the sensation of the leather on her skin, and looking up at the barbell lying across the support pegs on the rack overhead. Above the bar her spotter smiled
confidently down at her.

“You can do this!”

She gripped the bar, her hands measuring the right balance points, felt confidence grow, and nodded.

“One, two, three,” the spotter said helping with the lift off.

Elbows locked until the bar stabilized, she began lowering the weights towards her chest. The forty-five pound bar with fifty pounds of added weight at each end would be a personal best in the bench press – 145 pounds.

As she dropped the bar towards her chest she became aware of the spotter’s hands hovering, poised to help if the weight was too much.

The bar touched for an instant across her breasts and she felt the momentary thrill as she began pushing it back up, feeling the physical and mental rush as her muscles responded and she knew she could do it.

Half way up the spotter’s hands gripped the bar.

“What the hell,” she said through clenched teeth. “I’m not in trouble. Let go.”

“I’m afraid you are,” was the answer, as the hands pushed the bar down and across her neck. “Though this lift was, forever, your personal best.”