Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1)

by Nora LeDuc

  “I hope Travis and Lisa haven’t gotten into something they can’t handle.”

  “There’s a good chance Travis is armed with a knife. So if you run into him, keep on running and call 9-1-1.”

  “I wish this would end.” She rubbed her forehead.

  “You should go home. I’ll take you.” At least they’d get a little time together if he drove her.

  She shook her head. “I have my car. Besides, today we got a lead. The person who put the bracelet in the flowers must have seen Lisa. She always wore it.”

  “We’ll find out,” he said as they waited before the elevator. “I’ll get the hospital’s security videos.”

  At the ding, the doors slid open and they stepped inside for the ride to the lobby. Teagan glanced at the numbers changing on the panel as they glided downward. “Talking to Stacey and worrying about Lucy have sapped my energy.”

  They headed to the walkway in front of the hospital, and Teagan picked up the conversation. “I’m surprised Stacey hasn’t gone back to work; though, she hoped to get an update from Lucy’s doctor to bring to Matt.”

  As they strolled along the sidewalk, the heat and humidity enveloped them. He guided her to the shade on the side of the building where they were alone. The fragrance of the cut lawn permeated the air. Lines tugged at her mouth as he put his arms around her.

  He skimmed his palm over her blouse and curled his fingers over her hip, enjoying her curves and her firm breasts. She wrapped her arms around him and rested her chin against his chest. The urge to be with her, enjoy more of her, consumed him. He wanted to take her somewhere, to escape from their problems and be together. Seize the moment, he told himself and focused on the expression of longing in her brown eyes to block out the sound of the traffic floating across the air toward them.

  She raised her face to him. Her lips parted, inviting him to taste them.

  The whisper of shoes against the blades of grass warned him. He swung around to the fist coming at him and ducked to the side, taking Teagan with him. The crunch of bones hitting against the brick wall was followed by a howl.

  Noah released Teagan, drew his gun and leveled it on Vic Taylor. “Don’t move.”

  Vic stood shaking his hand with reddening knuckles that had come into contact with the solid building instead of Noah’s chin. Vic’s lower lip jutted out with distaste, and his face reddened with rage. “Is this how you search for my niece, Cassidy? Miss Raynes, is this how you show concern for Lisa?”

  “I’ve had enough of you.” Noah took a menacing step toward Taylor

  “Don’t. Please.” Teagan gripped his arm and tugged at him to stop.

  “Afraid, Cassidy?” Vic taunted.

  Teagan pushed forward. “Of course he’s not. What’s wrong with you?” She demanded.

  Vic inched a safe distance from them while he eyed the gun still in Noah’s hands.

  “Why did you try to hit Detective Cassidy?” Teagan shook her finger at him. “He wasn’t doing anything to you.”

  “Nothing is what he’s doing to find Kara. How can you forget Lisa?” The man spit out the accusation.

  “I never forget her. Ever.”

  Noah’s anger ebbed at the sight of Teagan, the tiger. Then it was time to take charge. “I’ll handle him now.”

  Their gazes connected and he saw her silently pleading to let Taylor go, not cause a scene. He hesitated and then stepped back. “Taylor, you owe Miss Raynes and me an apology.” Noah kept his weapon trained on Taylor to make it easier for him to pay attention. “I always work a case by the book. I suggest you leave before I change my mind and arrest you for attempted assault. You can thank Teagan for my decision to let you go.”

  “Miss Raynes, be careful.” The man shifted his gaze over the grounds as though afraid or hoping someone was watching. “Detective Cassidy, You haven’t fooled me. You’re no more searching for my niece than the groundhog looks for his shadow. Lies. Miss Raynes, the man is using you. Think about it. Would he be interested in you if you weren’t always around while he looked for your foster teen? You’re a convenient distraction.” He spun around on his heel and fled.

  Noah holstered his gun. “The man’s certifiable.”

  “I guess we all act strangely under severe stress.” She glanced away from him and bit her lip.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, I’ll just go home and hope I don’t run into Taylor anywhere else.”

  “I’ll call Paul to follow you. He’s on duty until six tonight. Then another officer will take over for him. Taylor won’t get near you.” Noah dug out his cell phone and spoke to the officer.

  She clutched her keys in her fist. “If you’d arrested Vic, he’d have made himself look like the victim and crucified you in his blog.”

  She was telling the truth. Taylor had the attention of many in Hawick Falls with his controversial posts, and Noah didn’t need the notoriety of the editor’s piece pointed at him. They crossed the lot to her vehicle. Once they reached it, he checked her car for unwanted passengers. At least he was satisfied nobody was hiding inside to ambush her.

  “Noah, what was Vic Taylor doing at the hospital?” she asked as he held her door.

  “I could give you several theories, but I’d vote for following one or both of us.”

  Chapter 27

  Teagan sat up on the sofa and rubbed her eyes. Daylight had fled long ago and the darkness had taken over the house, except for the outside light filtering in through the living room window.

  She’d fallen asleep. Fragments of dreams spun in her head and ended with Vic Taylor’s snarling face. All afternoon she’d been unable to shake the feeling of someone watching her. Was it Taylor? Had he followed her to the hospital, home, everywhere?

  She turned on the lamp and shut the book she’d tried to read. A fragment of her last dream burst into her mind. A blood-spotted heart dangled around the neck of a burned corpse.

  “No!” Jumping up, she paced the floor until the image faded.

  She glanced at the clock. It was almost eleven. Jogger meowed from the threshold between the living room and the kitchen. The cat was overdue for her supper. “Tuna delight dinner, coming up.”

  She crossed to her pet who ran for the refrigerator in the dark room. The motion detector light flashed on in the backyard and spilled through the window above the sink.

  Teagan froze. What was that? Her thoughts leaped, searching for a reason for the light. Had Travis returned? What about the creep who left the burned body at her table. No, it was probably a neighbor’s dog who’d escaped outside.

  She angled to the side of the window but only caught the edge of a blur of black. Could it be Travis? Just to be sure, she whirled around, scrambled to the coffee table, and grabbed her gun. Perspiration dripped from her chin as she crept across the floor and cracked the kitchen door enough to slip into the mud room. In a few more steps, she’d be able to peek out the screen door. She’d prove to herself she was overreacting, or catch whoever treated her home like a graveyard.

  The last thought filled her with anger. Stuffing her hand in her pocket, she hit the number for the duty officer sitting in front of her house. His phone rang.

  Who the heck was in her yard? Why didn’t the officer answer? Turning the knob, she pushed the door open a slit for a better view, and peeked out across the grass.

  Chapter 28

  Five feet from her, a person was bent over the bulkhead. He was twisting something in the keyhole. He was trying to break inside, and he could be in her house in a few seconds. She’d had enough. Anger poured through her, boiling her blood, and clouding her brain. She shoved her cell in her pocket. Leveling the barrel of her weapon on the target, she blinked at the sweat dripping into her eyes and shouted, “Stop or I’ll shoot.”

  The man straightened and his eyes widened as he turned to her. He was about five-seven, wore a torn T-shirt, work gloves, and sweatpants. The overhead lamp illuminated his white hair. He shot a glance toward the woo
ds before his gaze returned to land on Teagan’s gun.

  She held the weapon steady with her clammy hands. At least he was afraid of her. He looked about forty; although, the few teeth he showed when he licked his lips gave him the appearance of someone older. His dirt-stained sweatpants and top hung from his thin form.

  Tightening her two-handed grip, she demanded, “What are you doing in my backyard?”

  He retreated a step.

  “Do you know Lisa?”

  He remained mute.

  Maybe if he was hungry and she fed him, he’d talk to her. “Do you want to eat? You can have milk or juice. Would you like that?”

  A strange glow gleamed in his eyes. He wasn’t quite right, Teagan realized. A shiver of fear passed over her. “If you wait a minute, I’ll bring you a snack.”

  The white-haired man whirled around and sprinted to the trees.

  “Stop! Do you know Lisa? Did she send you for something?”

  The sound of his feet crashing through the bushes faded and disappeared.

  “Miss Raynes? Miss Raynes?” the officer’s voice spoke from her cell in her pocket.

  ****

  Noah had joined his team for the raid on the beach, but Teagan’s call changed his plans. He wasn’t sad to miss the night’s foray.

  Teagan. His desire for her ate at him no matter where he was. She was always on his mind and blotting out thoughts of her had become an hourly challenge.

  He cleared his departure with the chief and headed away from the water. The sting was in less than twenty minutes, but he doubted he’d make it in time to round up the soon-to-be-un-merry men. The chief, Hines, and the rest of the uniforms would handle the action.

  Paul had been excited to join the group tonight and hand over his surveillance duty at Teagan’s to another newbie officer. First, Noah would have a few words with this officer about his surveillance techniques. Teagan had been reluctant to discuss the man’s failure to investigate when her security light had flashed on in the rear yard.

  The quiet of the night and the dark homes in the village gave him a feeling of being alone in the world. On Teagan’s street, her outside light blazed in the blackness. He drew up beside the cruiser and signaled the patrolman to open his window.

  The guy was sweating and avoiding eye contact with him. He reported nothing unusual until Teagan knocked on his window and asked if he’d seen a white-haired man run across her yard.

  “I don’t have a view of the rear exit or the woods behind the building that the intruder used to enter and escape from the property,” the officer said, rubbing a hand over his eyes.

  The officer’s guilty expression revealed the truth. Noah would bet the man fell asleep. “A good cop stakes out all entrances and stays on top of the situation no matter how mind-numbing. Remember this in the future. Your career depends on your wakefulness.”

  “Yes, sir, I secured the point of entry used by the suspect and inspected and found no signs of tampering with the homeowner’s locks.”

  Noah nodded and hit the gas. He turned into Teagan’s driveway. More reprimands could wait.

  She opened up before he pressed the bell. He didn’t say a word, simply pulled her inside, took her in his arms, and kicked the door shut. He’d wanted to do this since she called him.

  “Are you hurt?” he asked, conscious of the tightness in her body.

  “A little scared,” she muttered against his chest.

  “I’m glad you’re okay.” He released her and stepped away. “What happened? Tell me.”

  “I fell asleep on the couch.” She gestured to the other room. “I woke up and found a man about forty with long white-hair trying to break into the cellar.”

  “How was he dressed?”

  He wore a baggy T-shirt, sweatpants, and gloves to break into my house.”

  “Doesn’t sound like we’ll find prints.”

  “I guess the new lock held. I hope he doesn’t come back.” She ran her hands through her hair.

  “I thought he might have seen Lisa and know where she is.” Her eyes widened with hope. “It’s a wild idea. I imagined she sent him here for food.”

  “He came for something.” She was reaching for proof that Lisa was alive.

  “I’ll look around outside first.” Noah put on the latex gloves for his search. He crossed to the bulkhead and shone his penlight on the lock. No signs of tampering. The guy was either a professional or had no idea how to break the lock. He scanned the grounds and returned inside to check the cellar.

  The wooden stairs creaked as he made his way into the basement. Noah walked back to the center of the cellar. The furniture and trunks seemed untouched. The last barrel lay on its side with clothes and plates scattered on the cement floor. He counted the boxes by the settee. Hadn’t the pile been higher?

  The sound of light footsteps on the stairs broke his attention.

  Teagan approached and stopped a few feet from him. “See anything important?”

  “No, but tomorrow after my men will investigate.”

  “I never spent much time down here.” She moved around, scanned the concrete floor, and finally shook her head. “I’m glad I changed my locks.”

  “It’s time to go high tech, Teagan.” How professional was this white-haired man? Noah slid his arm over her shoulders, and they walked together to the stairs where he stepped aside for her to go first.

  She sank onto the chair at the table, and he sat in the chair beside her. “Now that he’s gone, I’ll admit he looked frightened, hungry, and dirty. He had the odor of the homeless. Even from the rear steps I caught a whiff of a body denied soap, water, or deodorants for too long.” She wrinkled her nose. “I remember it well.”,

  “Any possibility, he was a friend of Travis Bodell?”

  “I never saw them together. Why?”

  “They both were wandering in your backyard.” Noah’s phone buzzed. A text from Hines popped up on his cell’s screen.

  In position.

  Noah texted back. Good mojo.

  “My team will be out in the morning. You know the drill. I’ll take you to a hotel for the night, and don’t argue about leaving. You can come back when it’s safe. I’ll let the patrolman know he’s off duty. Do you need to pack a bag?”

  “I’ll call Matt. He offered—”

  “No.”

  She startled and he realized how loudly he’d spoken.

  “Don’t bother the priest. I have a better idea.” Forty-five minutes later, Noah walked into the station and into the chief’s office where Hines was already seated.

  “Nice of you to join us, detective. What happened with the break-in at Teagan Raynes’ house?”

  “A homeless man was attempting to break into Miss Raynes’ home. He escaped. I secured the home and found no evidence of tampering with the lock. Miss Raynes is at a friend’s place for now. I’m interested in the fact that Travis Bodell took one of Miss Raynes’ silver bowls to sell from the basement, and maybe this guy was interested, too. He chose the cellar for entrance. Travis was fencing his on the web.”

  “We’ll look for a connection at the pawn shops and online.” The chief tapped his fingertips on his desk. “We brought in six teenagers tonight, four males and two females, from the sweep. We’re in the process of separating them for questioning. Remember, if they ask for a parent to be present during the interview, we oblige. Otherwise,” he closed his hand into a fist, “apply pressure.”

  “Sir, what happened with the search at the Clark residence?” Noah asked.

  “We found nothing to connect Grant and Clark. The men took some fibers and combs, but we’re shooting in the dark there. Go interview the kids.”

  Noah and Hines rose when someone knocked on the door. The chief signaled for them to sit before he barked, “Come in.”

  Paul entered, swallowed, and glanced around. “Sir, I have good news.”

  “Spit it out.”

  “The blond boy we’re holding knows something about Lisa Grant
.”

  The chief scowled. “Did he tell you?”

  “No.” Paul gulped. “He wants the charges against him dropped in exchange for his information.”

  The three men swapped raised brows of surprise.

  “Is his father a lawyer?” Hines asked.

  “Maybe his old man gets arrested a lot and taught his son the ropes,” Noah added.

  “I d-don’t know,” Paul stuttered.

  “Ignore them,” the chief ordered. “Hines and Cassidy suffer from a case of weak humor. Put the boy in the room across from my office.”

  “Yes, sir.” Paul turned and left.

  “I’d let the Meter Feeder kid stew awhile, but since we’d like a couple of hours sleep, find out now if he’s telling the truth.” The chief gestured for them both to leave.

  Outside the boss’ door, Hines turned to Noah. “I’d hoped to go home to Chelsea tonight. It’s not looking good.”

  “Don’t worry. She won’t be lonely.”

  Chapter 29

  Teagan sipped her tea while Chelsea Hines placed warmed muffins on a plate and slid into the chair across the table.

  The last thing Teagan wanted was food. The strange gleam in the white-haired man’s eyes kept flashing in her mind. Her home was no longer a safe haven.

  Chelsea picked off a piece of the baked goods and dropped it on her plate. “If you change your mind and feel hungry, grab a bite. You know who’s likes to cook? Noah. He used to work at a grill when he attended Granite Edge College. He’s invited us to dinner a few times. Lasagna is his specialty.”

  “I’m not much of a cook. The microwave is my best friend.”

  Chelsea put her muffin on the saucer in front of her. “Denny should be home soon. A lot has been going on with his case, but he doesn’t talk about it. Sometimes I worry we’ll run out of things to say to each other because his life is his work.”

  “Must be nerve-racking never knowing what’s happening with him.”