Invisibility Cloak

  “Sammie, did your mother have the chance to tell you that we have to make a trip into town yet? The Harbor Falls police need to get some more information from you and your brother. You all right with that?” Ryder dished out the scrambled eggs onto a clean plate and plucked out the toast and buttered it.

  “Okay.” Nodding, she ducked her head, but then brought her chin up sharply. “Did something happen last night after I went back to bed? I heard a lot of noises.”

  “Well, honey,” Amanda began, but when her green eyes darted over to him, her forehead crinkled. He could tell she was struggling on what to tell her daughter, so he jumped in, to help her out.

  Walking over to the table, he set the plate filled with eggs and toast in front of Sammie. “I saw a prowler. But it’s taken care of. Really no big deal.” Ryder grimaced on the inside. He hated lying to Amanda’s young daughter, but he didn’t want her spooked. Shooting a helpless look back over at Amanda, he just really had no idea how to handle this situation. Give him a clear objective and target any day and he could handle that.

  But little girls? Shit, he was lost. The only thing that kept him going was Amanda’s worried look too. The need to help and re-assure Amanda’s little daughter won out.

  Sammie scrunched up her forehead in thought and picked up the fork and slowly ate the eggs.

  “That was the reason I ended up showing up last night, Sammie.” His gaze shot back over at Amanda and lifted his eyebrows in question to see if his explanation was on the right track with her.

  “So,” Sammie looked at up at Ryder. “What happened to the burglar?”

  “That’s why the police want to ask you questions about last night, sweetie,” Amanda went over to the table and sat down across from Sammie. “Sometimes you know things that will help them, but don’t remember until they ask you certain questions or things that can jar your memory.”

  “But I wasn’t up later.” She puckered her brows, “Oh you mean earlier? When the telephone guy wanted to come in?”

  “Yeah. I think it was the same guy, honey.” Ryder crossed over to stand next to Amanda.

  “Oh, okay.” Her troubled face turned up at him. “Will you be here tonight? In case he comes back, Ryder?”

  “Absolutely,” Ryder answered automatically not even worrying what Amanda would think if he stuck around some more.

  “Ryder.” Amanda crossed her arms. “I’m sure you have enough to do. I really do not expect you to stay here tonight to watch over us.”

  “I was planning on it anyway, Sammie.” Ryder said before he reached out and grabbed Amanda’s hand, intertwining her fingers with his. Jerking his head toward the family room, he walked her in that direction―pleasantly surprised that she followed him so easily and didn’t give him a hard time.

  Guiding her out of the kitchen he looked back at her daughter. “Eat up, Sammie. I’m going to talk your mother into catching a quick shower.”

  “Ryder.”

  Oh, so here it comes . . .

  “I really do not expect you to―” Amanda started to say as he led her out of the kitchen, but he cut her off.

  He held up his hand. “Amanda, I plan on being here every damn night until we get to the bottom of this.” Pulling her to the staircase because he didn’t want her daughter over-hearing, he said in a low voice, “Last night when I talked to Trent and Bob they told me they just do not have the extra man power to stake out a cruiser at your house. So you’re stuck with me for a while, darlin’. I’m sticking to you and your kids like glue until you are safe from any more hits.”

  “Well, I am going to speak to a few of Wayne’s colleagues today, I just have to.” She looked him right in the eyes with her jaw set.

  Ryder tensed. “No. It’s too dangerous. We don’t know who’s involved, yet.”

  “Ryder, don’t you see?” She looked at him pleadingly. “It just has to be what started this in the first place.” She placed her hand on his forearm. “I have to look at the projects he was working on. I just know it’s connected to whatever is going on.”

  “Not without me you aren’t,” he growled. “Damn it, Amanda. Someone he worked with could be a major player in all of this.”

  “Oh for God’s sake, Ryder!” Amanda yanked back her hand and repositioned both hands on her hips and shifted her posture. “He worked at a respected and highly regarded laboratory.” Now she angled her neck to the right side and glared at him.

  Was this how she got her kids to do what she wanted them to do? Too bad it won’t work on him. It was tough having to swallow his grin.

  “So?” He gave her his hard-ass Ranger’s look, the one that scared the shit out of most people. “That just doesn’t matter anymore, Amanda.” He shook his head. “Your ex was involved with dirt, honey. The lowest slime on God’s green earth killed him and I am not letting you out of my sight.”

  “You are being ridiculous!” She huffed out before she turned and walked to the staircase. He noticed she was walking slower but he knew she was pissed off. He bet it really grated on her that she couldn’t stomp away like she really wanted too. She stopped and swiveled her torso around at him before she headed upstairs.

  Hell, it was like she could hear my thoughts. Spooky.

  “I am going to take a shower.” Her hands were still on her hips, but this time she narrowed her eyes at him. “Is that okay with you? Or do you want to do some surveillance? Maybe stake out the area first?”

  Ryder morphed his expression so that it was unreadable because Amanda had such a fierce look on her face, just daring him to challenge her.

  What a little spitfire.

  “I can be in there with you to make sure you’re safe.” He took two steps toward her keeping his face looking serious. “I need to shower, too.”

  Her eyebrows flew up and she opened her mouth. But nothing came out. She considered him warily for a few seconds, and then abruptly closed her mouth, her lips pressed firmly together.

  “Well, darlin’?” He took another step. “What’ll it be?”

  He could not smile at her little bulldog expression. But man it was tough. Ryder bit at the inside of his cheek.

  He would not. The Army ingrained that serious as hell look and he perfected it down to a science. No one messed with him when he pulled on The Look. Matter of fact, a few times it even caused some to wet their pants. But it didn’t seem to faze her.

  Amanda stuck her little nose up in the air and turned her back to him. That’s when he saw it . . . it being her reaction to him. Little hellion flipped him the bird behind her back. Yeah, he winced at that one. With both middle fingers no less. Well, until she had to grab on to the railing with her left hand because she stumbled slightly on a step. He jumped to the balls of his feet wanting to help her up the stairs, but stayed right where he was. Her back was ramrod straight as she stalked up the stairs. It was only after he heard her bedroom door slam shut did he let a huge grin overtake his face. What he’d like to do―

  “Ryder?” The thought that was moseying around in his head, just fell flat when Sammie called him from the kitchen.

  What a perverted dick I am. He slammed down his thoughts while he jogged inside to find her walking her dishes over to the sink.

  “Yeah, Sammie?”

  “Where’s Mom and Nick?”

  “Your mother went up to shower and I think Nickel is still sleeping, but not sure.” He prompted her so it wouldn’t slip her mind, “Don’t forget, we all need to go down to the station in a little bit.”

  “Okay,” Sammie said as she strolled to the stairs. “I’m going to get ready.” She stopped before she left the kitchen. “And oh yeah, I need to pack too.” Grinning she told him, “My grandparents are coming tomorrow.”

  “Is that so?” Ryder turned on the water and squirted some dish soap on the
sponge he found by the sink. “You sound pretty excited to see them.”

  “Yeah, they are a lot of fun. They take us out to eat and to the movies.”

  “Hmmm, that does sound like fun. I guess you don’t get to do that much around here, huh?” After washing up the kitchen pots he used cooking the eggs earlier, he rinsed them with hot water and turned them over in the strainer.

  “Well, mom is really busy and she doesn’t like to go out to eat much. Last time we all went out to eat, mom said she could do a better job at home and for a lot less money!”

  “I can definitely relate with your mother on that front.” Ryder wiped his hands on the kitchen towel. “How about the movies? You go a lot?”

  “Sometimes, if mom has time, but then it is never on the weekends, because she says it is ridiculous how much the tickets cost then.”

  Ryder laughed. “Yep, she got that right.”

  “I’m going upstairs.” Sammie took a few steps toward the stairs, but turned back around quickly and just stood there looking at him. Ryder wasn’t sure what she was up to, so he waited to see what she wanted. She smiled and looked down at her feet. Her fingers plucked at some unseen thread on her shirt.

  “I ah, I just wanted to . . .” She tipped her face up at him. “I just wanted to say thanks for the eggs, Ryder.”

  Ah Shit. “Hey, no problem, Sammie.” A lump formed in his throat and his chest knotted up. “Ah, anytime, honey.” He had to clear his throat a few times before he could talk. “Now go on and get dressed.” He listened as her feet padded up the stairs. Sniffing once―only because he thought his allergies may be acting up―he told himself. Now, he needed to go home to shower and get into some clean clothes as well.

  This may be the ideal opportunity to run home, because he had a feeling that if Amanda knew he was leaving she may just try and go rogue and take off by herself. And he had another feeling that she would love to pull something like that. But what she didn’t understand was that these people wanted something from her. The Cartel wanted a letter the perp babbled on about and they were ruthless killers. These people took no prisoners. They killed to set examples to others foolish enough to become involved with them.

  Time to go, before anyone knew he was gone. Their protection without him here flashed through his mind, but he’d be back in ten, fifteen minutes tops. But thinking of their safety, he pulled out his phone.

  “Jeremy? Hey, buddy you got a few minutes?”

  “Ry? What ya need?”

  “A drive-by Amanda Harris’ house in oh―” Ryder glanced at his watch. “Five minutes?”

  “Sure thing. I’m out and about anyway; just verify the address for me.”

  After Ryder snapped his cell shut, he grinned at the memory of those three taking him on last night as he walked out the back door locking it behind him. His mood lightened knowing Jeremy offered to do a drive by.

  Opening the garage door, he glanced around. No one would even realize he was gone.

  Hopefully.

  Amanda reluctantly shut off the blessedly hot water and grabbed her towel. She rubbed her hair out first, then bent over to dry off the rest of her body, wondering how much time she had before they needed to get down to the station. There might be just enough time to run into the Institute of Physics to speak with Terrence Montgomery or Ginny Sullivan. Pulling on her clothes, Amanda prayed that Ginny was at the lab today. She always liked the older, straightforward woman. Just thinking Terrence Montgomery’s name, made her cringe. He always gave her the creeps, especially after he made a pass at her at a scientific symposium in Miami a few years ago.

  Terrence just couldn’t seem to understand the word No or No thank-you or No, I’m going to call the cops if you don’t leave me alone. It was real creepy how he followed her everywhere. She tipped her head back and silently prayed, please let Ginny be at Wayne’s office.

  Stepping back into the bathroom to pull a brush through her hair she spied her bracelet. For some mysterious reason, just seeing her silver-orbited chain made her feel serene. When she noticed it in the jewelry store window years ago, she felt the same calming feeling overtake her then too. Smiling, she fastened the silver bracelet onto her wrist and instantly felt better, more sure of herself. After brushing her teeth, she realized she’d better tell her kids where she was off to. She’d have a standoff with Ryder later, she was sure, and wasn’t looking forward to butting heads with him, again. Well, so soon anyway. But it was kinda fun. She smirked at herself in the mirror.

  But honestly . . . She knew Wayne’s colleagues wouldn’t breathe a word of any of the classified projects Wayne was in the middle of if Ryder glared over her shoulder at them. Looking like he would flatten any one of them with that look of his. Ryder’s dark brown eyes, short black hair, and that day-old beard peppered on his chiseled jaw flitted through her thoughts and she grinned. He was just so big, and rugged and tough looking.

  He thought he could intimidate anyone by that hard-ass expression he wore, but she knew better now. He just looked tough. On the inside he was as soft as a puppy. She’d seen his eyes warm up to that liquid sable color when he was aroused. Sometimes, that muscle in his jaw would start working too; causing that bad-boy persona to come through, but she got his number.

  Actually she was getting to know him pretty well over a short time period, something that she’d never done with another individual other than her children. She checked herself once in the mirror before heading into Sammie’s room to let her know she was running up to the Institute and would be back soon.

  Entering her thirteen-year-old’s soft lilac room, she found Sammie lying on her bed reading a book.

  “Hey, Sam, I’m going to do an errand. I’ll be back within the hour.” Her little girl looked so pretty against the delicately pale purple striped wallpaper that graced her room. Extremely pleased that it turned out so well, because she really wasn’t sure it would work with the other colors Sammie had picked out for the room. She had to hand it to her child, she knew how to put those hues together so the yellow, and cornflower blue looked stunning against the pale lilac paper. Perhaps she’d let Sammie go at it with some of the other rooms in the house. Amanda had never been into decorating or even shopping for that matter and she knew her house paid the price. The only shopping she enjoyed was the weekly grocery shopping at the market down the road. Fresh vegetables and fruit were the mainstays, along-side healthy chicken dishes. But clothes shopping?

  Blah. Thank God for online shopping. As long as she could remember, she’d always been that way. When her friends in junior high and high school were running round the malls trying on clothes and make-up, she stayed home to read or do her homework. Amanda didn’t really notice the difference between herself and other teenage girls until she entered high school. That time in her life was extremely lonely and she felt terribly displaced, until she went to college.

  At Duke University she’d blossomed. Everyone accepted her for who she was; a science nerd. She loved life back then. Looking back over at her beautiful little daughter, she realized Sammie had so much to look forward to, and her life was really just beginning.

  Yes, her daughter definitely had a flare for decorating, but she was a procrastinator, and she needed some prodding, like now.

  “Why don’t you get ready to head on down to the police station? Shower and do your hair, I know how long it takes you to fiddle with your hair, Goldilocks.” Amanda smiled when she called her daughter that pet name. Ever since Amanda could remember, Sammie would primp her pretty blond hair for hours. “I really won’t be long. The afternoon will be here in a blink of an eye, Sam, and it isn’t fun to have to scramble to get ready to go. So get moving.” Amanda playfully tugged on her daughter’s foot.

  “Ugh,” Sammie grunted as she heaved herself up off the bed. Carefully book-marking her place in her latest read with a long white e
nvelope, she turned and set in on her nightstand table. “Okay.”

  The jagged handwriting caught Amanda’s eye. It looked like her ex-husband’s impatient-styled penmanship. Did her daughter miss Wayne more than realized? She rubbed her fingers over her forehead. Perhaps she should talk about him more with the kids; in a good light and bring up happy memories.

  Sammie headed out of her bedroom and into the bathroom, then came to a halt and turned around to look at her. “I don’t think Ryder will be happy with this, Mom.”

  “Oh, honey, please,” Amanda hugged her from behind. “Mr. Neurotic does not need to be so on guard. I’m sure this is all over the top. I am only going to find out what your father was working on. No biggy. I’ll just speak to the other scientist I know and head back home.”

  “Mom, I do not think you should go alone. Ryder said . . .”

  “Oh phooey,” Amanda cut her off. She was getting tired of having to answer to him all of the time. She was a grown woman for heaven’s sake! She had good judgment. “Just get ready sweetie, I’ll be home before you know it. Oh, and wake up Nickel will you? I’m worried he’ll be late as well.”

  “Okay.” Sammie walked into the hall bathroom.

  Now, time to deal with Mr. Ryder Stevenson. Amanda squared her shoulders and walked down the stairs. She knew he would do his darnedest to not let her go alone to the Institute, but he did it out of concern for her well-being. He had a certain honor code that clung to him like a spur. She giggled as she pictured the thorny spurs that grew on the plants around there. They stuck to a person like Velcro and it was hard to pull them away. Yep, that about sized up Ryder right there. She felt like she was falling a smidgen in love with him already. That thought brought her up short, causing her heart to quickly thud against her chest. How was that even possible when she just met him? Pushing off thoughts of Ryder, she focused on the next mission; to get to the Institute of Physics. Alone.