Secret Obsession

by Robin Perini

  The quiet words held hope, but Noah couldn’t feel it. “Yeah. If Archimedes doesn’t decide she’s better off dead than alive.”

  Lyssa winced, pulling away. “I wish—”

  “Don’t say anything.” He reached for her hands. “I’m sorry. It’s not your fault. It’s mine.”

  “Aren’t you the one who told me Archimedes holds the blame?”

  Noah stood, pacing the small room, unable to light anywhere. “Don’t confuse me with my own logic,” he said, his voice laced with bitter humor he didn’t try to hide. “I had a disagreement with the family a few days ago. They couldn’t contact me...they were worried. They didn’t know anything about my—” he paused “—extracurricular activities for CTC. If I’d told them the whole truth, maybe Sierra would have taken more precautions. He might not have been able to take her.”

  “You did what you thought was best,” Lyssa said, walking into his arms.

  She rested her head on his shoulder quietly for a few moments.

  “Is that why you’re keeping your secret?” he asked softly. “For the best?”

  She stilled and clutched his shirt. “Yes.”

  He stroked her hair, its softness caressing his hand. “Don’t make my mistake.”

  Lyssa backed away. “It’s not the same. You don’t understand.”

  “Then explain it to me. How do you know I can’t help?”

  “Helping would make things worse. Helping might lead him to—” She took in a shaky breath. “I can’t say the words, Noah. I promised myself. I promised Jack.”

  His best friend’s name robbed him of his breath worse than a blow to the gut. What was he supposed to say to that?

  A rap sounded on the door, then another patterned knock.

  Lyssa met Noah’s gaze, unwavering, certain. His suspicions percolated. God, he prayed he was wrong.

  Noah stalked across the room and answered the door. “Did you locate Sierra?”

  The computer expert shook his head. “We were updating Elijah. He had news of his own. A woman’s body was found inside the lobby of the Justice Department.”

  Lyssa gasped.

  “The mole?”

  “That’s Elijah’s guess. She’d worked for Reid since he moved to D.C. Her name was Rose Wright.”

  “Can we connect—”

  “That’s not all, Noah. Rose was murdered exactly like Frederick Allen. Garrote. And there was a note attached to her body. A message for Lyssa. From Archimedes.”

  She slipped her hand into Noah’s, squeezing tight. “What does he want?”

  “He left an address and a box number. Archimedes wants you in Alexandria, Virginia. Today.”

  * * *

  LYSSA DIDN’T WANT to be here. Not on this plane; not going anywhere near Alexandria. Her nerves were shattered. She could barely breathe. Too close, they were going too close. She’d never been more terrified in her life.

  Her leg bounced up and down as she stared out the window, the sun having risen during the flight. This couldn’t be happening.

  “Lyssa,” Noah said. “Buckle up.”

  Absently, she fastened her seat belt.

  He knelt in front of her. “Look at me.”

  Reluctantly, she met his gaze. “What’s going on?”

  She just shook her head. “I...I can’t. Please don’t ask me again.”

  His jaw tightened, he rose and buckled in.

  She closed her eyes against the horror that suffocated her. Archimedes had taken Noah’s sister. The woman might already be dead. So how would revealing the truth help?

  She glanced at the air phone sitting next to her in the Lear. Was she wrong? Should she call Mary? Wouldn’t that be playing into Archimedes’s hands? She hadn’t contacted her best friend from high school since graduation prior to a call begging for help two years ago. Nothing should tie them together.

  With desperation she’d asked Reid to run a background check on Mary. Lyssa had taken a huge chance, but she’d had no choice.

  And now they were flying within a couple of hours of the high school where Lyssa had met Mary, where she’d met her prom date, Bill. Where they’d all gone to high school, and where Lyssa’s daughter now lived with a new identity—and her other mother.

  She sent a sidelong glance at Noah. The disappointment on his face hurt her heart. She rubbed her eyes. How could she choose? If anything happened to Jocelyn, she’d never forgive herself.

  The Lear’s wheels touched down. The moment they exited the plane, an SUV pulled up. Elijah.

  “Thought you needed backup,” he said with a frown. He grimaced. “Sorry about your sister, Noah.”

  “Update,” Noah responded, his voice curt.

  “Sierra seems to be safe enough. For the moment.”

  “I’m texting with my family. I know how she is. What about Rose Wright?”

  “No leads, but the murder happened at a different location. Justice is locked down tight. No one’s talking.”

  “So, basically, no leads.”

  Elijah’s jaw clenched. “Except the address Archimedes provided in his note. It’s on the south side in a sketchy section of Columbia Heights. The feds wanted to stake it out.”

  Noah blasted a curse through the vehicle. “They could cost Sierra her life.”

  “Ransom made a call. He’s got some friends in very high places.”

  Noah nodded. “How long do we have?”

  “Hard to tell. There’s a lot of pressure.”

  “How about Reid?” Lyssa asked. “Any news?”

  “They’ve taken him off the drugs. Hopefully he wakes up soon. It’s hard to tell.”

  Noah grunted, and for the first time he met Lyssa’s gaze. She recognized the emotions flaring in his eyes. Frustration, anger, accusation. And betrayal. She’d have to accept she’d ruined any chance of a future with him.

  She did trust Noah. She’d made herself more vulnerable to him than anyone since Jack. She just didn’t trust Archimedes.

  Elijah turned the car onto a street. A mailbox and copy shop sat at the corner. They passed the store then turned onto a new street. “I scoped it out before I picked you up. The place has surveillance. We should assume he’s watching.”

  “He’ll see Rafe walk in and retrieve whatever he has for us in the box.” Noah reached out to open the car door.

  Lyssa clutched his arm. “I should do it.”

  He glared at her. “You’re not going in there.”

  “What if it’s a trap? A bomb?”

  “I’ll be fine.” Noah pinned Elijah with his gaze. “Watch her. If it goes bad, I want you out of here. Get her to CTC.”

  Elijah tugged out his 1911 and nodded.

  Noah exited the vehicle. Elijah turned to her. “What the hell is going on between you two?”

  Lyssa gripped the armrest as he disappeared inside. “Nothing.”

  “I know you’ve had it rough, but Noah needs a clear head. His sister’s in danger, you’re in trouble. Don’t make it worse. One too many distractions and this thing ends bad. You get me?”

  Lyssa nodded.

  Noah didn’t take long. He carried an envelope and a prepaid cell phone. “It’s clean. Take us to a motel room. We need internet access. And we have less than one hour until he contacts us.”

  * * *

  ELIJAH CLOSED THEM into the motel room. Another Rafe special. Noah pulled out his laptop and set up the security. He glanced at his watch. “Thirty minutes.”

  Lyssa approached him. He stiffened in response. “What do you want?”

  “Can we talk for a minute?” she asked hesitantly.

  He couldn’t imagine what they had to discuss. She’d made herself perfectly clear. When it came down to it, she couldn’t believe
in him. So be it. He’d do this job and that would be the end of it.

  “There’s nothing to discuss. Besides, Archimedes provided a web address, I need to set it up.”

  He turned his back on her, and his phone buzzed. He glanced at the receiver and put the phone to his ear. “Did you find her, Rafe?”

  “Zane narrowed the signal to an old warehouse south of downtown. Lots of old buildings. Noah, she’s awake.”

  Noah turned on the computer, opened the browser and went to the URL. Sierra’s eyes were open. He could see the anger in her eyes—and the fear.

  She looked up at the camera, turned over and arranged her hand as if she were holding a bottle.

  “What’s she doing?” Noah asked.

  Sierra’s hand moved again. She created a fist. Then she repeated the last movement.

  “What is she trying to signal?” Noah asked.

  A whisper sounded through the phone.

  “Your brother thinks it’s sign language. CTC.”

  “Get Ransom on the phone,” Noah barked. “See what he knows about this.”

  “Does she know who you work for?” Rafe asked.

  “I didn’t think so.”

  Rafe cleared his throat. “Look, Noah, you need to be aware, the signal is coming from an area where there’s a whole block of buildings scheduled for demolition. Today at noon.”

  Noah couldn’t move. “Can you stop it?”

  “Your father’s calling in all kinds of favors. We’re working it.”

  Elijah tapped his watch.

  “Rafe—”

  “I’ll get her out. I promise.” He hung up the phone.

  “What’s up?” Elijah asked.

  “They’re closing in on Sierra,” he said.

  “Thank God,” Lyssa said.

  “They don’t have her yet.”

  Noah sat down and typed in the URL Archimedes had provided. The screen was blank. “I’m cutting the connection,” he said. “We don’t go in until the time. I don’t want Archimedes to have a chance to trace us here.”

  Lyssa paced back and forth. She’d broken his heart. If the past few days had taught him anything it was that secrets weren’t worth it. His mistakes may have cost Sierra her life. And he refused to give his heart to a woman who couldn’t trust him.

  She’d given him her body; she’d trusted him with her life, but she wouldn’t trust him with her soul. He’d witnessed his father and mother together. They’d been a team, each other’s best friends. The trust between them was never spoken. It was just there.

  He wanted Lyssa, he couldn’t deny that, but he wanted to spend his life with a woman who had complete faith in him.

  Lyssa didn’t.

  A piece of his soul disintegrated with the realization. Somewhere inside of him he’d prayed someone like Lyssa would come along, someone he could share everything with, and here she was, a fantasy woman who drove his body wild, was everything he wanted—except the most important thing.

  The wall he’d erected around his heart solidified. He’d finish this job and go back to CTC. That’s where he belonged. The life his father had, the life his brother Mitch had found, it wasn’t for him. He was expecting too much.

  Lyssa approached him while Elijah worked on the computer, trying to pretend he wasn’t listening.

  “Are you going to talk to me again?” she asked.

  “Of course.”

  She sighed. “I know you’re upset—”

  “Now’s not the time. It’s almost over, Lyssa. Then you can have your life back. And I’ll have mine.”

  He stepped away from her tempting scent and pulled a signal booster and decryptor from his bag. Neither were on the market, they were in a testing phase. He’d come up with the idea when Daniel and his new wife had been lost in the desert of West Texas during a lightning storm. How to boost a signal and follow it.

  Lyssa disappeared into the bathroom. He let out a long sigh.

  “You two okay?” Elijah said quietly once she’d closed the door.

  “Fine.” Noah met his colleague’s gaze. “I need this to be over.”

  “I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t screw this up, Noah. She’s something special.”

  “She doesn’t trust me...us,” he said, attaching the last connector into place. “I can’t live that way.”

  “Lyssa’s been on the run for two years.”

  Noah leaned forward. “How much do I have to prove that I can be trusted? She’s keeping a secret from me, Elijah. A big one. I’m willing to die for her, and she can’t tell me what she’s hiding. That chips away at a guy’s heart, you know.”

  “Yeah,” Elijah said quietly. “I know. Been there. Without trust, there’s nothing.”

  They both returned to work, letting the sour memories settle between them.

  Ten minutes later, Lyssa appeared from the bathroom. Noah tried not to notice the red puffiness of her eyes.

  “Are you ready?” he said.

  She nodded.

  At exactly nine o’clock, Noah opened the browser window and entered in the URL again. The black screen appeared.

  One minute passed, then two minutes.

  Lyssa paced back and forth and retrieved her shotgun. Elijah went to the window, perusing the parking lot.

  “Is he out there?” she asked. “Is this just a trick to find us?”

  The phone left in the mailbox rang.

  “Answer it,” Noah said.

  She pressed the speakerphone. “H-hello?”

  “Alessandra, my dear. You’ve been keeping secrets. You’ve been a very naughty girl.”

  * * *

  LYSSA’S BREATH STOPPED. No. Reid was still unconscious. He was the only one who knew. She hadn’t told Noah. She hadn’t told anyone. He was bluffing. He had to be.

  She met Noah’s unyielding gaze.

  “I...I don’t understand.”

  “Don’t lie to me, Alessandra. Don’t ever lie to me. Your friend Mary lies. She disrespected me. She has to pay.”

  The screen blinked on.

  Mary Patterson was strapped to a chair, her eyes dark with pain. Archimedes stood nearby, a strange smile protruding from the mouth of his balaclava.

  Perfectly straight teeth. The odd thought flitted through Lyssa’s mind even as disbelief washed through her.

  No!

  “Alessandra!” Mary cried into the camera. “God, I’m sorry.”

  Archimedes grabbed her chin. “Do you recognize your good friend, Alessandra? The person you trusted the most? She tried to lie, but she knows better now.”

  The camera panned down to Mary’s hands. Two of her fingers were missing.

  Lyssa’s knees buckled.

  “Don’t you know I’m the only one who lives up to my promises, Alessandra?”

  The camera panned to the left. A toddler sat crying in a Pack ’n Play, reaching to Mary.

  “Marmie! Marmie!”

  “God, no!” Lyssa moaned.

  “That’s right, Alessandra. I have your daughter.”

  Noah caught Lyssa when she fell. He cradled her in his arms. She gripped his arms, gaze frozen at the computer screen.

  Archimedes repositioned the camera and leaned in. “Alessandra. Don’t you want to know how to get your daughter back?”

  She gripped the phone tight. “Please, don’t hurt them.” Tears streamed down Lyssa’s face. She trembled in Noah’s arms. “I’ll do anything.”

  “That’s better,” he said, those teeth grinning in a way that made her shiver in revulsion. “First, you must understand that lies are unacceptable. For example...” Archimedes’s voice trailed off.

  “Your friend lied about the identity of your daughter to the world for e
ighteen months. She lied to me today. She still hasn’t admitted the truth.”

  He clucked his tongue at Mary.

  Lyssa froze at the resigned expression that settled on Mary’s face. She covered the phone. “What’s he doing?”

  She couldn’t see what Archimedes held in his hand.

  “Please,” Mary whispered. “Alessandra...tell my family—”

  Mary’s body seized in the chair. A flash sparked.

  “Stop!” Lyssa shouted. “Stop it. What are you doing?”

  “He’s electrocuting her,” Elijah shouted.

  Seconds later, Mary’s body sagged in the chair, her body charred.

  Lyssa couldn’t stop the sobs.

  Archimedes chuckled. He panned the camera to Jocelyn. Her daughter was screaming, terrified.

  “Please,” she whispered into the phone.

  The camera moved up. A symbol hung on the wall. Noah quickly copied the strangely shaped v.

  “The time for running is over, Alessandra. Decipher my message if you want to live. Be at the rendezvous point in two hours with the answer and come alone.” He smiled. “I hope you can decipher the clues, Alessandra.

  “If you don’t, your daughter will die.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Noah propped Lyssa up and held her in his arms. Her desperation palpable, she clutched at him. “What does it mean?”

  “The last symbol is Urdu,” Noah said. “The number seven.”

  “Three—eight—four—nine—seven? We only have two hours.”

  He turned her to face him. “Look at me,” he said softly. “Two hours isn’t that long, so we know he’s nearby. We’ll figure it out.

  “Hand me the laptop,” Noah ordered Elijah. He entered the number into a search engine and scanned the list. “What has a five-digit number?”

  Lyssa took a slow deep breath. “Addresses, phone numbers, zip code. She scribbled the number, placing dashes between the numbers, then slashes. “A date?” She scribbled. “The three could be March.” She shook her head. “No, that doesn’t work. 3/84/97.”

  “Wait a minute.” Noah pulled up a spreadsheet. He entered the number then changed the format. “May 5, 2004?”