by Laura Scott
Her condo wasn’t safe. The idea was terrifying, but then again, everything seemed surreal, as if this was happening to someone else, not her. Was that because she couldn’t remember her past?
“Okay,” she agreed, because really, what else could she say? She wasn’t in a position to argue. She had no idea where to go or who to turn to for help.
Only Noah Sinclair, her buoy in a rough sea.
“Is that your computer case?” Noah asked.
“I think so. There’s a file labeled Pietro inside. Although it’s odd that it would be here when I was supposedly working late. Wouldn’t I carry my computer with me?”
“I don’t know. You could have been doing prep work with a witness. Regardless, let’s take it with us,” Noah said, releasing her to snag the strap of the case off the counter. He swung it over his shoulder, then reached for her hand. The moonlight shining in through the windows provided enough illumination for her to see his dark frame now that her eyes had adjusted to the darkness. “Come on, we’ll need to take the back staircase down to the first floor.”
She wanted to ask how he knew about the back staircase, then realized he’d mentioned helping her move in. Ironic that he knew more about the place she lived in than she did. In fact, it was clear Noah knew everything about her, which once again made her wonder about their relationship. Were they friends? Something more? Had they dated at one point? Sneaking another glance at his handsome profile, she thought that if he’d asked her out, she’d have said yes.
Then again, maybe she already had a boyfriend. There were no rings on her fingers, which made her feel slightly better about being attracted to Noah.
Enough. Stay on track, she admonished herself. Her headache must be making her loopy. There were more serious issues facing her right now than wondering about her personal relationships or lack thereof. “Can I pack a suitcase?”
“No time. We need to get out of here right away.” His hand tightened around hers.
“Okay.” She closed her eyes for a moment, sending up a prayer for safety, before following Noah to the door. He cracked it open, peering in the hallway to make sure the coast was clear.
“Let’s go.” He slid through the opening, using his broad shoulders as a shield in front of her as they made their way to the exit sign at the end of the hallway.
The stairwell was brightly lit, causing her to screen her eyes with her hand, wincing at the pain ricocheting through her skull. She followed Noah down the stairs, trying to mimic his soft, stealthy movements.
The way he paused at each floor, opening the doorway and looking down the hallway as if searching for anything out of place, caused her muscles to knot with tension. What if the door-handle rattler came back and found them?
She trusted in Noah’s ability to protect them, but the thought of him putting his life on the line bothered her.
And as they made their way to ground level, Maddy couldn’t help but wonder if she’d ever feel safe again.
* * *
The stark fear in Maddy’s blue eyes made Noah grit his teeth against a surge of anger. This wasn’t right. Maddy was a lawyer doing her job; she didn’t deserve to be stalked by Pietro’s goons.
Yeah, there was the remote possibility that it was someone else who held a grudge against the assistant district attorney. Maddy had assisted in putting other criminals away. Rumor had it she was one of the up-and-coming ADAs with an impressive conviction rate. Yet the timing of the assault against her was suspicious. Noah firmly believed that Alexander Pietro was the mastermind behind these recent attempts on Maddy’s life.
Pietro had the most to lose. Maddy was the ADA standing in the way of his ability to beat the charges against him. The idea that Pietro might actually succeed in getting away with his crimes was unbearable.
For a second, his younger sister Rose’s face flashed in Noah’s mind. He remembered the way he’d last seen her—pale and lifeless, lying on the floor of her bathroom, with a needle and syringe still embedded in her skinny arm.
Dead from a heroin overdose.
Then there had been Gina, the girlfriend he’d broken up with because of her relentless partying. She’d later died from alcohol poisoning.
He stopped so abruptly that Maddy bumped into him from behind. He automatically reached out to steady her. “Sorry.”
“What’s wrong?”
The way she gazed up at him, as if she actually cared about how he was feeling, made him cringe. He felt like a fraud. If Maddy’s memory was intact, there’s no way she’d be here with him right now. In fact, she’d likely demand Noah stay far away from her.
But she didn’t have her memory and the danger surrounding her was all too real. He told himself to focus on the immediate threat. They were on the ground floor and unfortunately, he had left his squad car on the street directly in front of the building.
Smart, Sinclair. If the guy inside the apartment building was the same one who tried to run her over, he knows you’re here. Idiot!
Too late to do anything about that decision now. He eased the door leading outside open a bit, looking out to be sure that no one was waiting there for them.
He didn’t see anyone, but hesitated, unwilling to make another mistake, especially with another Callahan’s life hanging in the balance.
If anything happened to Maddy, her twin brother, Matt, would never forgive him.
Noah wouldn’t be able to forgive himself, either.
“What are we waiting for?” Maddy whispered.
Good question. Was he overreacting? Maybe the person outside Maddy’s door wasn’t trying to hurt her at all, but simply had the wrong apartment.
Then again, that wasn’t a risk he was willing to take. He could call for backup, too, but he didn’t like the idea of anyone with a police scanner knowing where they were. For all he knew, the guys working for Pietro could be listening in. “Stay behind me. I need to be sure that the coast is clear before we return to the squad car.”
He could feel Maddy’s fingers grabbing on to his belt and her simple trust had him deepening his resolve to protect her no matter what. “Whatever you say,” she whispered.
The icy wind greeted him as he pushed the door open. Moving outside, he stayed close to the wall, grateful they were both wearing dark clothing that would help them blend into the night. He swept his gaze over the area, seeing nothing out of place as Maddy let the door close softly behind her.
They were on the south side of the building, and the street where he’d left his squad car was in the front facing west, so he edged closer to the back side of the building.
There was a narrow alley there, the darkness impenetrable. Noah considered their options. They could circle the building, making sure it was clear before making a run for the squad car. Or they could leave the car, making their way on foot until they could flag a taxi or car service for a ride.
He’d rather have his own set of wheels. While taxi and service drivers needed to pass criminal background checks, he knew the checks weren’t foolproof. Decision made, he crept through the narrow alley between buildings until he reached the north side of the condo.
Peeking around the corner, he still didn’t see anything out of place. Feeling better, he made his way up to the street where he’d left his vehicle.
“Ready?” he asked, glancing over his shoulder at Maddy.
“Yes.”
“Here’s the plan. I want you to stay behind me. I’ll protect you until you’re safely inside the car.”
“I don’t think—” she began, but he shook his head.
“Not open for discussion. I’m wearing a vest beneath my uniform.”
“Fine.” She didn’t look happy but kept her hand on his belt. “Let’s go.”
Noah held his weapon ready as he cleared the corner of the building. The squa
d car wasn’t as far away as he’d anticipated, so it didn’t take long to reach the passenger door. Yanking it open, he swept his gaze over the area as Maddy ducked into the passenger seat. He shut the door, then quickly jogged around to the driver side.
He jammed his gun into the holster and then cranked the key, bringing the engine roaring to life. Pulling away from the curb, he made a quick right-hand turn and headed east toward the lakefront.
“We made it,” Maddy said softly.
He didn’t say anything, keeping a keen eye on the rearview mirror for a possible tail. The hour was approaching one thirty in the morning and he was grateful traffic was light this time on a Monday night.
“Thank you, Noah.”
He wanted to tell Maddy not to thank him, that if she knew who he was and how many people he’d let down, she’d never thank him for anything ever again, but he held back. For one thing, her memory loss was hardly her fault. And for another, it was easier to keep her safe when she was cooperating with him.
Headlights flashed behind him, the high beams blindingly bright. He was on Lake Drive now, following the shoreline of Lake Michigan, when the headlights grew closer and impossibly brighter.
“Who is that?” Maddy asked, grabbing for the door handle as Noah took the curve faster than the speed limit recommended.
“Hang on,” he warned, pressing the accelerator.
There was a loud bang as the car behind them rammed into the back of his squad car. Noah wrestled with the steering wheel, straining to keep the car on the road.
He reached for his radio to call for backup when the car rear-ended them again.
This time, his police cruiser skidded sideways off the road, heading straight for the icy waters of Lake Michigan.
He hit the brakes, but the car didn’t slow down. He tried again, desperate to avoid the freezing cold lake. If they went under, they’d surely die.
THREE
“No!” Maddy screamed as Noah yanked on the steering wheel, doing his best to keep the car from going into the water. They spun, but then hit something hard, bringing the vehicle to a stop.
She was thankful Noah had gotten things under control, but then the vehicle abruptly tipped backward, the rear tires dropping over the edge of the embankment lining the shore. There was a hiss as something hot, maybe the muffler, sizzled, the back end of the car sliding into the freezing cold water.
She fumbled with her seat belt, the car teetering precariously on the ledge. She knew that if she and Noah ended up in the lake, they risked severe hypothermia and possible death.
“Maddy!” Noah must have already unlatched his seat belt, reaching over to help her. “Hurry! We have to get out of here.”
“I know.” The hood of the car was raised up at an angle, the back end submerged. She gasped in alarm as the car slid backward another inch. No doubt the trunk was filling with water, and she had no idea how much longer they had before the rest of the vehicle would sink silently beneath the inky surface.
Hurry! Hurry!
The restraint fell free and Noah grabbed the computer case that was nestled between her feet. He looped the case over his shoulder, accidentally knocking the police radio off his collar in the process. Using both hands, he pushed open the driver-side door, then reached down to grab the radio before jumping out of the car.
“This way,” he said, keeping his arm wedged beneath the heavy door. Maddy climbed over the console, sucking in a harsh breath when she cracked her elbow against the computer mounted on the dash. The space from the floor of the car to the ground was farther than she anticipated.
She lightly jumped down, but the uneven terrain caused her to stumble against Noah. He caught her up against him, holding her close and preventing her from hitting the ground. But she accidentally hit the radio draped over his arm, sending it down into a pile of slush. She knew water and electronics were a bad combination and Noah must have agreed because he didn’t bother attempting to retrieve it.
Headlights pierced the night, pointing directly at them. She averted her gaze from the blinding glare, searching for someplace to hide.
“Hold on to me,” Noah said, keeping his arm anchored around her. “See the rows and rows of boats stored up on blocks? That’s where we’re going.”
She didn’t answer, concentrating on following his lead as they quickly ran, slipping and sliding over to the closest row of boats.
The sound of a car door slamming shut caused her heart to leap into her throat and she imagined the driver of the car was already running after them. She clung to Noah, grateful for his support as she struggled to keep up. The boats were large and provided some cover from the bright headlights, but not enough that they wouldn’t be seen.
Fear tightened around her throat. Did Noah believe they could outrun the guy behind them? Maybe if he was alone, but she knew her being here was an added liability.
If only she was wearing her running shoes.
Did she have running shoes?
This wasn’t the time to worry about her lost memory. With the threat before them, the throbbing in her temple had lessened a bit, and she tried to ignore it. Pushing the ridiculous thoughts from her mind, she focused on following Noah as he moved from one boat to the next. He seemed to be checking them out, for what she had no idea. Plastic shrink-wrap covered most of the boats, protecting them from the harsh winter weather.
When they reached the middle of the sea of boats, Noah stopped. She leaned against a fiberglass frame, using the opportunity to catch her breath. Noah was doing something with the boat next to her, unlatching bungee cords holding a tarp in place, rather than the usual shrink-wrap. Peering through the darkness, she could see that two of the boats had tarps in lieu of plastic, and Noah worked on both of them.
She hoped he didn’t plan on using one of them as a hiding place. Considering most of the boats were covered, it wouldn’t take a genius to figure out that they’d take refuge in one of the two boats not shrink-wrapped in plastic.
Straining to listen, she attempted to pinpoint where the guy following them might be located. For a long moment she heard nothing but the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. She was about to whisper to Noah that they should keep going when she heard the distinct sound of a muffled thump.
Noah froze, turning toward her. She stared at him, wondering if the noise was from the guy on their tail or from the squad car falling the rest of the way into the lake.
She reached for Noah’s hand, needing his reassuring strength. As if he knew what she was thinking, he pulled her close and lowered his head so that his mouth was next to her ear. “We’re going to be okay.”
The tightness around her chest eased, enabling her to take a deep breath. Noah gently tugged on her hand, indicating they needed to keep moving. When she passed the two boats he’d been fiddling with, she realized he’d unlatched several of the cords holding the tarp, leaving a slight gaping hole.
Why on earth? Then it occurred to her that Noah had done that to make it look as if they’d chosen to hide inside the empty boat. If the attacker believed they were inside, he might waste time searching for them inside the boats.
Good thing she was on the run with a smart cop. One she trusted to keep her safe, no matter how steeply adversity was stacked against them.
Dear Lord, thank You for bringing Noah Sinclair into my life when I needed him the most. Please continue guiding us and keeping us safe in Your care. Amen.
The whispered prayer formed in her mind without conscious thought and she immediately felt a sense of peace and hope wash over her.
Noah was right; they would be okay.
When they reached the edge of the boat storage area, she tightened her grip on Noah’s hand. Now what? This area of the marina was brightly lit, without offering many places to hide.
Surprisingly
there was a boat still in the water, anchored to the pier. It looked as if the motor was running. The water around the engine was swirling. There was no sign of the boat’s owner, but that didn’t mean he—or she—wasn’t nearby.
But they didn’t have time to waste searching, either.
“See that boat?” Noah asked in a hushed tone. “That’s our target.”
She resisted when he tugged her forward. “We can’t,” she hissed. “That’s stealing!”
“Borrowing,” Noah corrected. He pulled his cell phone from his breast pocket, showing it to her. “I’ll call it in as soon as we’re safe.”
She didn’t like it, but then again, allowing the guy on their heels to capture them wasn’t a good option, either. “Okay, let’s go.”
Leaving the shadows to step into the light took a tremendous amount of courage. She hunched her shoulders, trying to make herself a smaller target as they approached the dock. Walking along the pier was just as treacherous, the moisture from the lake mixing with the snow to create a slick surface. She walked as fast as she dared, following Noah as he approached the boat.
She glanced around, expecting the owner to be somewhere close by. Why else would the motor be running? Then again, the guy could be on the boat, too.
The lapping waves caused the boat to rock against the buoy in a rhythmic pattern. Noah braced his palms on the edge of the boat, really more of a small yacht, and used the flashlight on his phone to peer inside.
“Hurry,” he urged, gesturing for her to come over. Maddy swallowed a wave of apprehension, putting her trust and her faith in Noah.
“You first,” he whispered. After slipping his phone back into his shirt pocket, he held the boat steady while assisting her aboard.
The rocking motion caused her to stumble, and she accidentally yanked on Noah’s hand, tugging him forward. She widened her stance, trying to find her balance. The fact that her head still ached didn’t help, although pain was the least of her worries.
Noah leaped into the boat, then leaned over to unleash the ties. The boat immediately drifted away from the pier, so she hurried over to assist. Her arms weren’t long enough, so she could only watch helplessly as he stretched out to unhook the second tether.