Killer Exposure

by Lara Lacombe

  “I’m on my way out the door. I have to pick up Jeffrey for soccer practice, but it was so good to see you!” Shelly went in for another hug, and Hannah shot him a “save me” look over her shoulder. Owen hid a smile, although the other woman continued to ignore him. “You should give me a call sometime. We need to grab lunch and catch up! I know Tim would love to see you, too.”

  Hannah smiled, but Owen noticed it didn’t reach her eyes. “Sounds great. You take care.”

  Owen waited until Shelly was out of earshot before turning back to Hannah. “Having fun yet?”

  Hannah huffed out a laugh. “Loads.” She was quiet for a moment while they walked, then said very softly, “That’s exactly why I didn’t want to come here.”

  He cast about for something to say that would make her feel better but came up empty. “She seemed nice enough,” he said lamely.

  She shook her head. “Shelly’s harmless. I just didn’t want to stir things up again.”

  “I’m sorry,” he replied. It was the truth. From what he could gather, she’d already been through a lot, and he didn’t like forcing her to relive some of the worst moments of her life. But he had a case to solve, and all clues pointed in this direction. Hannah was his best shot at cutting through the red tape, and he had to take advantage of that.

  Even if it did make him feel about two inches tall.

  She shrugged off his apology. “Not your fault. Let’s do this.” Drawing up her shoulders like a woman preparing to do battle, she led him down a white corridor. Small windows high on the walls allowed glimpses of laboratory space behind closed doors, but he couldn’t see enough to form a complete picture. Many of the rooms were dark, their occupants having gone home for the weekend.

  At the end of the hall sat a large glass enclosure. Hannah led them inside, and they approached an older woman sitting behind a desk. She glanced up but didn’t stop typing, the click of her keys the only sound in the otherwise silent room.

  “What do you need?”

  “We’re here to see Marcia Foley,” Hannah said.

  The secretary returned her focus to her computer monitor. “She’s not available right now.”

  Owen stepped forward, pulling out his badge. “Sure she is.”

  The woman’s hands paused, the only indication of her surprise. She reached for the phone. “Let me tell her you’re here.”

  “Don’t worry,” Owen said, walking past her desk. He grabbed Hannah’s hand as he went, enjoying the feel of her soft skin against his palm. “We’ll show ourselves in.”

  Chapter 4

  Hannah blinked, too stunned to do anything but trail along in Owen’s wake. How long had it been since a man had held her hand? It felt good, too good, having that warmth surround her. It was something she could get used to, and fast.

  He’d been so casual about it, reaching out and grabbing her with strong, gentle fingers. Even now, his hand was wrapped protectively around hers, his grip solid and sure. It felt natural to be touching him like this, and the realization made her stomach do a little flip.

  Marcia’s office hadn’t changed in the three years since Hannah had left the company. A huge glass-and-brushed-chrome desk dominated the space, centered in front of an abstract painting done in swirls of gray and white. Two skeletal metal chairs sat in front of the desk, looking cold and unfriendly. It was clear their presence was a mere formality, and that the owner of the office did not encourage her visitors to stay long. Overall, the ultramodern furniture and white carpet gave the room a cold, sterile feel. Hannah had always thought it was an accurate reflection of Marcia’s personality: aloof and icy.

  The woman herself sat at her desk, which was clear of anything but her silver computer. Her back was ramrod straight, her ankles crossed on the floor and tucked under her chair. She was the very picture of a cool and composed executive.

  “Detective,” she said, not bothering to look up. “This is highly unorthodox.”

  “I just have a few questions for you,” Owen replied, dropping Hannah’s hand and crossing his arms. He presented an imposing figure, and Hannah was glad she wasn’t on the receiving end of his stare. Once had been quite enough.

  “Questions that couldn’t wait for an appointment? My time is valuable.”

  “As is mine. So let’s get started.”

  Marcia lifted her head then, the strands of her platinum-blond bob swaying gently with the motion. “Please, have a seat.” She gestured to the metal chairs with a polite smile. Then her ice-blue gaze cut to Hannah. “Dr. Baker, what a nice surprise. I see you’ve recovered from your injuries.”

  Hannah nodded, not trusting her voice. Bad enough they had run into Shelly—the last thing she wanted was for Marcia to fill in the details about her injuries.

  Marcia returned her focus to Owen. “What is it you think I can do for you?”

  He pulled a notebook from his back pocket before settling into one of the chairs. Hannah took the other, and immediately wished she hadn’t. The cold metal bit into her legs and back, but no matter how she moved, she couldn’t find a comfortable position. She glanced at Owen, who sat perfectly still. Either he didn’t have the same problem, or he was too stubborn to show any kind of discomfort in front of Marcia. Given what she knew about him so far, she figured it was the latter.

  “I’m investigating a series of suspicious deaths that have occurred over the last several weeks,” he began.

  Marcia quickly cut him off. “Then I’m sure I can’t help you.” She softened her words with a smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I can assure you, I have nothing to do with people dying.”

  Owen flashed her a quick smile of his own, and Hannah felt a spike of jealousy. He hadn’t smiled at her like that when he’d come to her office asking questions. Why was the Ice Princess getting such special treatment?

  It seemed Hannah was not the only one who appreciated the gesture. Marcia’s shoulders relaxed slightly, and her eyes took on a warmer glow. She leaned forward, the movement smooth and graceful.

  If Owen noticed the effect he had on her, he didn’t show it. “I’m confident you’re not involved,” he said. His voice was deep and smooth, almost like a caress. Even though he wasn’t talking to her, Hannah felt goose bumps rise on her arms. “I just want to talk to you about the chemicals your company works with, as the evidence shows a related compound was found in the bodies of the victims.”

  Marcia swallowed. “I see.” She wet her lips with the tip of her tongue. On anyone else, the gesture would have seemed like a reflex. But Hannah thought it was a bit too calculated to be real. Unless she missed her guess, Marcia was playing the part of a seductress. She was being subtle about it, but the vibe was definitely there. Was she trying to deflect suspicion? Or had she simply realized Owen was an attractive man and she wanted to get closer to him?

  Marcia lifted her hand and ran a finger under the edge of her collar, down to where the buttons of her suit jacket closed across her breasts. Then she stood and rounded her desk, coming to a stop in front of Owen. She leaned back, crossed her legs and placed her hands on the desk. The position showed off her slim figure and thrust her breasts forward for display. Hannah resisted the temptation to roll her eyes. Could the woman be any more obvious?

  She glanced over at Owen, expecting to see a flat, bored look on his face. Instead, he cocked one eyebrow, and his mouth curved up in a sexy grin of pure male satisfaction.

  Hannah’s stomach dropped. Was he really falling for this act? Surely he was smarter than that!

  She studied him as he continued to question Marcia. He appeared to be relaxed and enjoying the show the other woman was putting on, but Hannah caught the way he kept tapping his pen against the side of his leg. It was a small gesture, but it made Hannah think he wasn’t as affected as Marcia would like him to be.

  “I can as
sure you we have stringent tracking measures in place to document the uses of all our chemicals,” Marcia said, practically cooing. “I’d be happy to show you around if you like, or if you’d rather, we could discuss this further over dinner?”

  Owen smiled up at her. “Your offer is very tempting, but I’m afraid I’ll have to take a rain check.”

  The corners of Marcia’s mouth turned down in disappointment. “Very well.” She sighed, then reached into her suit pocket and withdrew a business card. She took the pen from Owen’s hand and scribbled on it, then leaned forward and tucked it into the pocket of Owen’s shirt, her fingers lingering against his chest. “All of my contact information is there, including my personal number. I hope you’ll use it.”

  Owen reached for his pen, his fingers sliding across Marcia’s in a gentle caress that made Hannah frown. “You should expect to hear from me soon.” He stood, but Marcia didn’t move to give him room, so they wound up only inches apart. “Thank you for your time,” Owen said, smiling down at her.

  Marcia nodded. “Of course,” she murmured. Then she rose to her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to Owen’s cheek. “Call me anytime, day or night.” Hannah heard the slight emphasis on the word night and clenched her jaw. How tacky could the woman get?

  Before Owen could reply to the invitation, Hannah jumped up from her chair. “Good to see you again, Marcia,” she said, faking a cheer she didn’t feel. “You take care now.” Not bothering to wait for a response, Hannah marched over to the door and flung it open. The secretary let out a startled squeak, but Hannah didn’t stop to apologize. She strode down the hall, her shoes clicking out a fast rhythm on the tile floor.

  She heard Owen start after her, but she didn’t slow down. She needed to get as far away from Marcia as possible—she’d had enough of the woman’s cloying presence. Seeing her again had reminded Hannah of all the things she’d hated about working with Marcia to begin with. The woman was a ruthless, coldhearted snake who manipulated people and situations to her advantage without compunction. Hannah had seen her befriend people, only to betray them later when it suited Marcia’s needs. She was a toxic person, one Hannah hadn’t been sorry to leave after her accident.

  It didn’t take long for Owen to catch her, not with those long legs eating up the distance between them. His hand was warm on her arm, pulling her gently until she stopped and turned toward him. His expression of concern was so earnest and sincere it made her heart clench, and she had the sudden desire to press herself against him, to feel him hold her so she could put ChemCure and Marcia and her accident out of her mind. Being back here had stirred up emotions she’d buried long ago, and it was difficult for her to pretend everything was fine when she wanted nothing more than to run away.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded, swallowing hard before trying to speak. “I’m good. I just needed some fresh air.”

  His brows relaxed, but his eyes remained watchful. “Does it upset you to be back here again? If I’d known about your accident...” He trailed off, but the apology was clear.

  Hannah smiled faintly, acknowledging his point. “It’s okay. It’s just a little hard. Being here brings back some memories I’d rather not revisit.”

  Owen nodded and didn’t press for more details. “Let’s get going, then.”

  She waited until they were back in the car before asking, “Did Marcia tell you anything useful?” Hopefully this hadn’t been a wasted trip. She really didn’t want to come back.

  Owen huffed out a laugh. “Oh, yeah. She’s a real piece of work.”

  Hannah turned to look at him, feeling her stomach sink. Did he need to question her again? “What?”

  “Let me ask you something—does she normally lay it on that thick? Or am I just special?”

  “Um. You’re just special, I guess.”

  “Turns out my mom was right, then.” He winked at her before returning his focus to the road, and Hannah realized what his interactions with Marcia had been missing: warmth.

  He hadn’t been rude to Marcia, but there was definitely more depth to his tone now that it was just the two of them. Hannah couldn’t help but feel special, as though she was seeing a side of him not everyone knew was there.

  After all, yesterday she hadn’t even known he was capable of teasing.

  “Did this help your case?” She needed to keep talking, needed to distract herself from the bad memories dredged up by this visit. After all, the last time she’d been here, she’d left in an ambulance.

  Her hand drifted up to her neck, and her fingertips brushed along the smooth, raised scar tissue under her collar. Still there. Sometimes she forgot about the accident and her painful injuries, and she felt normal again. The sensation never lasted long, and it always hurt when reality came crashing down on her. After being back at ChemCure Industries and seeing Shelly and Marcia, Hannah knew it would be a long time before the memories of that time receded.

  “Marcia didn’t say much, but it was the things she didn’t say that make me think she’s hiding something.”

  “Oh?” Hannah didn’t know whether to be disturbed by the possibility her former boss was involved in these deaths or happy that Owen had discovered a clue that might help him solve his case. It was a little far-fetched, though. Marcia was definitely not the type to get her hands dirty, although she had no problem delegating to others. Who, though, would help her kill people? And more important, why?

  “Did you notice how she went right to seduction?” Owen asked, keeping his eyes on the road. “I barely got my first question out before she started flirting with me.”

  “So it was obvious to you, too?”

  Owen gave her an arch glance. “Please. I know what I look like. I’m no Quasimodo, but I’m a pretty average looking guy. Women typically don’t fall all over themselves when I open my mouth, and in my experience, the ones that do are hiding something.”

  Hannah made a noncommittal noise, but a part of her brightened at the implication that the detective didn’t date much. Something they had in common, apparently.

  “What do you think she’s trying to hide?”

  He shrugged. “I’m not sure. But based on the way she tried to deflect all my questions, I’m guessing the chemicals found in the bodies are somehow connected to ChemCure Industries. And I think she knows about it.”

  “How did you get all that from a kiss on the cheek and an invitation to dinner?”

  Owen’s tone was thoughtful, and Hannah got the impression he was thinking out loud. “Because if she hadn’t known about the chemicals, she would have gone straight to denial not distraction. She would have called in the company lawyers and had me thrown out on my ass. But she didn’t. She wanted me to think she’s cooperating, but what she’s really doing is finding out what I know and what I suspect. Those aren’t the actions of someone who is blameless.”

  “Wow.” Hannah felt as if the breath had been knocked out of her. As much as she hated to admit it, Owen’s logic made a sick kind of sense. And while Hannah had never liked Marcia, she would never in a million years have dreamed the other woman was capable of murder. “I can’t believe it,” she said quietly.

  “It’s still a theory,” Owen cautioned. “But the more I think about it, the more I’m convinced that woman is hiding something.”

  “Do you think it’s just her? Or is the company itself dirty?” Who else knew? Shelly? Tim? Nausea curdled in her stomach at the thought that the people she’d once considered friends were somehow involved. They had seemed so nice, so trustworthy. But what if they weren’t? What if that was just the face they presented to the world?

  What other parts of her life were not what they seemed?

  Owen’s words broke into her reverie. “I’m not sure, but I think if it were a widespread thing, she would have run to the company for cover. She didn’t, so it might just
be her.”

  Hannah nodded, not knowing what to say. The car picked up speed as it rolled along the freeway. This late in the day, traffic had died down and they moved easily, orbiting the city like a tiny planet. She was glad of it, because it meant they’d get back to her car soon. She needed to spend some time alone tonight to regroup and process the day’s events. Nothing like hearing your former boss and coworkers were potentially involved in a string of murders to make a girl reevaluate her life choices.

  “Are you okay?” His voice was soft and comforting, like a cozy blanket. She wanted to wrap herself in the sound and tune out the world.

  “I just need some time to think,” she replied.

  Owen was silent for a moment. Then he took a deep breath, as if preparing himself to say something important. “I know this has been a difficult day for you. And I just want you to know, I appreciate you coming with me. I’m sorry if it stirred up bad memories for you.”

  Sudden tears prickled Hannah’s eyes, and she blinked, turning away to look out the window so Owen didn’t see. “I’m fine,” she said, waving off his concern. “Nothing a hot bath and a glass of wine won’t fix.”

  He swallowed hard, and his knuckles whitened as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel. Had she said something wrong? Maybe he was just stressed and worried about the case. After all, now that he had a potential lead, he had to decide what to do next. She didn’t envy his job—it seemed like a giant ball of knots that he had to untangle, one by one.

  Owen was quiet for the rest of the drive, and Hannah let him think. While she was curious to know what he planned to do next, it was better if she stayed out of it. She’d done her part today by taking him to ChemCure Industries and introducing him to Marcia. The rest was up to him.

  “Say, would you like to grab a bite to eat?”

  Hannah blinked, taken aback by his question. She’d assumed he was lost in thought, focused on his case, but apparently he hadn’t forgotten she was there after all.