Christmas Amnesia

by Laura Scott

  That seemed a bit too early, but she was afraid that if she went to bed to get some sleep, Noah might sneak out to go alone. Unacceptable. She wanted to be there, at least as a lookout and helper.

  “Fine with me,” she said, finishing one slice and reaching for another. “Can you think of any other supplies we may need?”

  He shook his head. “No, besides, it’s too late to pick up anything else. The cameras don’t have to be mounted super high, just enough to record the activity at the doorway.”

  They finished the rest of their meal in silence. When she finished, she began cleaning up the mess. Noah pulled out the spare bulletproof vest and handed it to her. “Put this on just in case, okay?”

  “Sure.” She took the vest along with the sweatshirt Noah had purchased for her and disappeared into the bathroom to change. The vest was as bulky as she remembered, but there was no point in complaining. She knew Noah was wearing his, as well.

  Hopefully, they wouldn’t need them.

  Noah went through the equipment, checking each device to be sure they were working. Then he replaced everything in the bag and opened the door for her.

  Once again they walked back out in the cold December night. The snow flurries had stopped, but the clouds overhead still obscured any light from the moon.

  A strange sense of foreboding hit hard as Noah drove toward the warehouse. She told herself the darkness was their friend; it would help hide them and the cameras.

  So why the strange sense of dread?

  The trip down to the warehouse didn’t take long. They arrived twenty minutes before their designated midnight time frame. Noah parked a block away, then turned in his seat. “Do you have your disposable phone?”

  She nodded, pulling it out of her pocket. It rang in her hand, startling her. She pressed the talk button and immediately realized the caller was Noah.

  “Let’s keep the connection open—that way if either of us needs something, all we have to do is to say so. Okay?”

  “I like it,” she agreed. Knowing she could hear Noah if something bad happened made her feel better.

  He leaned forward and gave her a quick, unexpected kiss before sliding out from behind the wheel. He closed the driver-side door behind him with a loud click.

  She sat for a minute, a bemused expression on her face. Once Pietro was permanently behind bars, she was absolutely going to find a way to convince Noah to give them a chance.

  He was wrong about not doing relationships. She suspected he’d do just fine with the right woman.

  With her.

  A muffled grunt reached her ears, drawing her attention to the issue at hand. She heard more sounds of movement, then Noah’s voice suddenly spoke in her ear. “Maddy?”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “There’s a guy walking toward the warehouse,” he said, speaking in a low whisper. “I think I’m going crazy, because the guy looks an awful lot like Jackson.”

  She frowned, thinking she must have heard wrong. “Your partner? That can’t be right. We watched him die!”

  “I know, but I’m telling you, it’s either Jackson or his identical twin. Either way, I’m following him.”

  Maddy straightened in her seat, fumbling with her seat belt. “Noah, wait!”

  But he didn’t respond and in her heart, she knew he wasn’t about to stop.

  Filled with a steely determination, she pushed open her door and jumped down to the ground. If Noah was going into the warehouse, then so was she.

  They were in this together.

  SIXTEEN

  The man making his way down the street toward the warehouse wore a heavy winter coat and a black knit hat, but there was just enough bright red hair peeking out beneath the fabric to draw Noah’s attention.

  He was short, rather stocky and had red hair. Just like his partner Jackson Dellis. But that wasn’t possible. Jackson was dead.

  Wasn’t he?

  Yes. He and Maddy had watched him get shot in the chest, watched him crumple to the ground in a heap. So this guy couldn’t be Jackson. Unless his partner had a brother? Someone who looked just like him?

  The fact that the man was walking up toward the warehouse they’d already linked to Lance Arvani was enough to escalate Noah’s suspicions to frank alarm. Was Jackson’s brother working for Arvani? Had his partner been shot by his own flesh and blood?

  Noah didn’t know, but he intended to find out.

  He finished mounting the camera, making sure it was pointed toward the doorway across the street. He spoke softly as he moved away so that Maddy could hear him through his phone. If she knew what was going on, maybe she wouldn’t worry.

  The alarm in her tone when he’d left the truck bothered him, but not enough to make him hesitate. He pulled his weapon and darted across the street. He sidled up to the side of the warehouse, staying in the shadows, then peeked around the corner.

  The guy who looked like Jackson’s double glanced over his shoulder, as if sensing Noah’s gaze, then went up to the side door next to the loading dock. He opened the door without using a key and walked inside.

  Well, that was interesting. There didn’t seem to be anyone positioned outside the door to stand guard, so maybe the warehouse didn’t contain drugs or guns. Usually valuable items like that warranted some sort of patrol.

  Then again, the armed guards could be stationed inside.

  A sudden movement off to the left had Noah bracing himself for a possible attack. He turned to glance over and nearly choked when he saw Maddy heading toward him. He scowled and tried to wave her back, but she ignored him. She was talking on her phone, although he didn’t know who she was talking to, since their call had ended. She appeared to finish up the conversation, tucking the device back into her pocket. She lightly jogged toward him, her expression full of determination.

  Noah didn’t like it, but hung back waiting for her to catch up to him. He grasped her arm and drew her close to the building so they were both out of sight.

  “What are you doing here?” he asked in a harsh whisper.

  She glared at him. “Did you really think I was going to sit in the truck doing nothing? I called for backup. Matt is on his way.”

  Having backup wasn’t a bad thing, especially his former partner who he missed working with more than he’d thought possible. But at the same time, he didn’t want Maddy anywhere near the danger. “Good job calling Matt for help. But I need you to wait out here, okay? You’re not armed.”

  Her frown deepened. “Oh, yeah? Well, I don’t want you going in alone, either. Let’s wait for Matt. Are you sure that the guy you saw was Jackson?”

  “No, I’m not sure of anything right now. He sure looked like Jackson Dellis, but I only caught a glimpse of his face in the dark. Dellis never mentioned having a brother, but it’s possible that’s who I saw heading inside. I’d really like to check for myself to be sure.”

  “Do we have probable cause?” Maddy asked.

  He raised his brow. “A man who was shot in front of our eyes went inside the building owned by the man we suspected of shooting him. I think that’s enough for probable cause.” At least, he hoped so.

  She didn’t look convinced. “So what’s the crime in progress?”

  There were times when being teamed up with a lawyer wasn’t much fun. Like now. He thought fast. “Aiding and abetting a murderer.”

  Maddy rolled her eyes and shook her head. “We need to come up with something better than that.”

  He hunched his shoulders against the wind and glanced around the area along the side of the warehouse. He firmly believed there were illegal activities going on inside, headed up by none other than Chicago police officer Lance Arvani, but Maddy was correct in that the law required proof. Then again, claiming to see his dead partner would only make h
im look crazy, rather than working in his favor. If the front door was open and not locked, he wouldn’t be forced to break in. One minor point in his favor.

  If only they had something more. He looked around; at first he saw a whole lot of nothing. Then a sliver of brass caught his eye. Noah moved forward and squatted on his haunches, peering down at the ground.

  “What is it?” Maddy whispered.

  He carefully picked up the bullet with his gloved fingers, attempting to preserve any potential prints, and showed it to Maddy. “This is the same ammo that’s used in the Smith & Wesson M&P 15 tactical rifle. Matches the slugs found at the crime scene at the Racine Marina.” He rose to his feet. “I think that’s enough of a link to establish probable cause, don’t you?”

  She reluctantly nodded. “Yeah, that works.”

  His phone vibrated and he pulled out the device. His boss. Stifling a sigh, he answered. “Sinclair.”

  “We have some interesting results on the blood you found on the ground in Arvani’s driveway,” O’Grady said bluntly.

  Noah’s pulse spiked with anticipation. “Yeah? What?”

  “It’s not human. Belongs to the bovine family.”

  His gaze crashed with Maddy’s as he grappled with the news. “Cow’s blood? I don’t understand.”

  “Me, either. Can you explain how else the blood got there? You thought it belonged to your partner, but that’s obviously not the case.”

  O’Grady was right about that. He and Maddy had been there when the shot was fired. They had watched Jackson go down. But what if that was nothing but a big show?

  He sagged against the side of the building. Why would Jackson do something like that? Noah didn’t understand what his partner and his accomplice had hoped to gain from the charade.

  Other than maybe setting a trap to kill him and Maddy?

  And if that didn’t work, framing Noah for his murder?

  The more he considered that option, the more it grew on him. Especially since he’d almost rushed forward with Maddy to meet Jackson when he’d stepped out of his truck at the marina. Only Maddy had held back.

  “Sinclair? Did you hear me?” O’Grady demanded.

  “Yeah, boss. I don’t know why cow’s blood was in the driveway, but that doesn’t matter right now. I just saw Jackson heading into a warehouse owned by Arvani.” Noah knew now the man he’d seen was actually his partner. “I’m heading in.”

  “I’ll send backup.”

  “Good idea. Matt Callahan just arrived,” Noah said, noticing the dark vehicle without lights that pulled up to the curb. He could see the familiar face of Duchess, Matt’s German shepherd, in the back. “We’re going in. Make sure the other squads that respond come in without lights or sirens.”

  O’Grady snorted, then hung up. Noah slid the phone back into his pocket and glanced at Maddy. “I need you to go back to the truck to wait for us.”

  “Not happening.” Her tone was firm.

  He hoped Matt would be able to talk some sense into her. Matt and Duchess quickly joined them.

  Noah quickly filled him in on the bullet he’d found and the owner of the warehouse. He finished with how he’d witnessed his partner heading inside.

  Matt scowled. “What’s the plan?”

  “I’m going in. I’d like you and Duchess to back me up, and Maddy to wait in the car.”

  “His lieutenant is sending additional backup,” Maddy interjected. “We can always wait for them to arrive.”

  The sounds of loud voices wafted from inside the warehouse. Then the sharp retort of a gunshot ripped through the air.

  Noah knew there wasn’t time to wait. He turned and ran toward the doorway. It wasn’t locked, so he drew it open and flattened himself against the inside wall, raking his gaze over the area.

  The inside of the warehouse wasn’t a wide-open space the way he’d expected. It was partitioned off into separate rooms. The entryway where he stood was clear, but he could still hear the raised voices arguing heatedly. He slid along the edge of the wall, trying to pinpoint exactly where the argument was coming from.

  Noah could tell by the slight click of toenails on the concrete that Matt and Duchess had come inside to join him. He hoped and prayed Maddy had returned to the truck.

  Since thinking about Maddy being in danger was nothing but a distraction, he pushed it from his mind and slipped farther into the warehouse.

  Matt tapped him on the shoulder and pointed to a room off to the right, indicating that was where the shouting was coming from. Noah nodded and turned in that direction.

  A few steps brought him within arm’s reach of the door. The arguing continued, only now he could distinguish what was being said.

  “You failed to get rid of the ADA,” someone said. “Why should we pay you?”

  “Because I need the cash to complete the task,” the other one shouted. The voice sounded an awful lot like Jackson’s. “There’s still time. I’m doing my best considering she has cops all over her.”

  “You should have taken care of her and your partner on that first night, before they left town.”

  Noah wondered if the latter voice belonged to Arvani. His memory of the guy who’d trained with him at the academy was faint at best. They hadn’t been friends, and Noah had been focused on learning everything he needed to be the best cop he could be.

  Only that hadn’t worked out very well, had it? His inability to keep a partner didn’t bode well for his future as a cop. At least now he understood why Jackson hadn’t given him any grief about trusting Noah to have his back.

  The guy himself had probably been involved with Pietro’s business dealings all along. Nothing else made any sense.

  Focus, he told himself harshly. He glanced at Matt, struck by a horrible sense of uncertainty. Should they wait for the rest of their backup to arrive? Or barge in?

  Matt steadily held his gaze, giving the impression he had confidence in Noah’s decision. Too bad he wasn’t so sure he deserved it.

  Noah was about to give the signal to move in when the door behind them barged open. A man entered, pulling Maddy along with him, a gun pointed at her head.

  Lance Arvani. The bitter taste of failure stuck in Noah’s throat, knowing that he and Matt were now outnumbered.

  If Maddy was injured or worse, he knew it would be his fault.

  He’d failed her once again.

  * * *

  Maddy hated seeing the sick expression on Noah’s and Matt’s faces. Her stubborn insistence on sticking around until their backup arrived had not only placed herself in danger, but Noah and Matt, as well.

  She wasn’t sure who had her, but the gravelly voice had been all too familiar. It was the same guy who’d assaulted her outside the courthouse the night she’d lost her memory.

  “Okay, let’s stay calm,” Noah said, raising his hands up in the universal gesture of surrender. “You really don’t want to shoot a couple of cops and an ADA, do you?”

  “Release Pietro and we’ll see what we can work out,” the gravelly voice said.

  It took every ounce of effort she had not to react to that ridiculous demand. Even if she believed the gunman would let them all go, which she didn’t, there was no way she’d allow Pietro to walk away from his crimes.

  Never.

  There had to be a way out of this. There just had to be!

  Noah’s gaze met hers for a long moment before shifting to the man holding a gun on her. In that second, she knew that Noah planned to do whatever he deemed necessary in order to save her life.

  That he’d sacrifice himself to avoid having another death on his conscience.

  But this mess was her fault for not obeying his directive to return to the truck, not his. And really, all she needed to do was to stall until the rest of their backup arriv
ed. In fact, she was a bit surprised they hadn’t shown up already.

  Tension shimmered in the air as the gunman faced off with her brother and the man she’d grown to care about.

  To love.

  Maddy didn’t let herself dwell on that thought; she needed to stay focused on finding a way out of the situation she’d gotten them into. The gunman held her tightly, but not so much that she couldn’t move.

  She’d grown up with five older brothers, each of them making it their mission to make sure she knew how to protect herself. There had to be a way to escape. Even if none of the scenarios her brothers had taught involved a man actually holding a gun to her head.

  Maybe she could improvise.

  “Come on, Arvani,” Noah said. “Let’s find a way to end this in a way that we’re both happy.”

  The man, obviously Lance Arvani, snickered. “I don’t care what you want. I’m the one holding a gun to the pretty ADA’s head. You’ll both do exactly what I tell you. Drop your weapons and kick them toward me, nice and easy now. Any wrong move and I’ll shoot the woman.”

  She doubted he’d do that since they still outnumbered Arvani, at least for the moment. But she was sure the men arguing inside the room off the hall would be coming out soon. Their voices were still raised in anger, or they might have heard the commotion already.

  Maddy nearly missed the hand signal Matt gave Duchess, but suddenly the dog let out a series of ferocious barks. Arvani instinctively recoiled, moving backward a step, and she took advantage of the gunman’s momentary distraction to twist out of his grasp, pushing his gun up and out of the way.

  “Get down,” Noah roared seconds before shots filled the air.

  This time she listened without question, dropping to the ground and rolling away from Arvani. Noah’s aim was true; his shot hit the Chicago cop in the chest, sending him staggering backward. She wondered if he was wearing a vest, too, since he didn’t go down and there was no evidence of blood. Arvani sagged against the wall, struggling to breathe.

  Unfortunately the sound of Noah’s gunfire brought the others running from the adjacent room. Matt stood with his legs wide and his weapon raised. “Stop! Police! Put your hands up where I can see them!”