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

by Nora LeDuc

  “He can tell me a little.” Chelsea fell silent, and then bit her lip. “I’m sorry. You’re under much more stress than I am.”

  “It’s been tough, but I work on keeping the faith that Lisa will come home soon.” She rarely added the word soon, but tonight it sounded right. “I appreciate you letting me stay at your place this late at night. You’re not a social worker, are you?”

  “Me? No. I manage a dental office, boring stuff. And Noah’s never brought anyone here.”

  “I guess most people have family nearby that they crash with.”

  “Consider me your adopted cousin.” Chelsea gave Teagan a wide smile. “Wait.” She left the room and returned in a few minutes. “Here’s my card. I had them made up as a joke since Denny had some, but turns out I use them. Call my cell whenever you like, and you have the best detectives looking for Lisa. I’m biased, but it’s true. If anyone can find her, they will.” Chelsea’s card could be useful and why reject an offer of friendship? “I’ll put your number in my phone now.”

  Her hostess beamed while Teagan plugged in the digits before pocketing her cell. She was a pretty woman when she smiled.

  Chelsea ran a finger over the rim of her mug. “I’m sorry, but I’m a nosey person. You might as well know. Can I be blunt?”

  “Do you mean about Lisa’s disappearance?”

  “Ah, no, I was wondering if you’ve known Noah for long.”

  Teagan shrugged. Guess it was normal for Chelsea to speculate since Noah dropped Teagan, a complete stranger, off when everyone was asleep. “We went to camp together when we were kids, but we didn’t hang out. He was a counselor, and I was a lowly camper.”

  Chelsea folded her arms on the table and leaned forward on them. “Teagan, I was watching out the window. I saw you and Noah kiss before you came inside.”

  “Oh.” Teagan felt her cheeks warm. They’d kissed several times, reluctant to part. What should she say? How good a friend was this woman to Noah? She’d gotten out of bed and opened her home because Noah called and told her Teagan needed a place.

  Chelsea reached across the tabletop and patted her hand. “I apologize if I embarrassed you. I was just surprised and glad. Noah deserves to be happy. I’ve been trying to match him up with friends, but he’s a challenge. His family’s deaths were traumatic. He seems hard, but he’s not. I remember him as gentle with his wife and child, and he loves Denny, though he’d rather be shot than admit it.”

  She knew Noah’s family.

  A cell phone rang. “Denny.” Chelsea jumped up from her seat. “Excuse me.”

  Teagan glanced at the kitchen. The compact room contained a table and chairs for four. Did Noah sit in one of these seats when he visited? Once the case ended, they’d have no reason to see each other. He would go the way of other men in her life, and Chelsea would invite more friends to dine with them and Noah.

  The idea sent a wave of disappointment through her, but she’d adjust. She always did. People came and went. She was beginning to fear Matt was right about waiting until the investigation wrapped to examine her feelings for Noah, if he was still around.

  Her thirst vanished. She picked up her cup and poured the tea down the sink’s drain.

  Chelsea could fill her in on Noah’s wife and child. No, don’t open the door. She didn’t need to hear how much he loved his dead wife.

  Her hostess’ slippers shuffled against the tiled floor. “Denny is hung up for another hour at the station. I didn’t get a chance to mention you’re here. I hope he doesn’t wake you when he comes home. He usually doesn’t work this late.”

  “Don’t worry about it. In fact, if you don’t mind, I’m going to bed now.”

  Chelsea tilted her head and scrutinized her. “I bet you’re tired. Let me show you where we keep the towels.” She led the way to the linen closet by the bathroom.

  Teagan followed her. “Have you and Denny been together long?”

  “We met through a friend when Denny first joined the force. He proposed three months later and told me he’d been waiting. He was afraid I’d think it was too soon, but I knew right away he was the one. We said our vows at Christmas. Law Enforcement has a high divorce rate, but we’ll prove them wrong. We’ve been married ten years already.”

  “I’m sure you will.” A decade seemed forever to Teagan.

  Chelsea pulled out a towel and washcloth and gave her a tour of the two-bedroom condo. “You won’t get lost.” She flashed a warm smile when they’d finished. The woman was easy to be around.

  Teagan’s guard slipped. She should ask how long Noah had been married. Right? It would fit into the conversation. She glanced at the leather furniture in the living room, pretending to be interested in it while she debated how desperate she’d look to ask questions about him.

  “I leave for work at eight. Do you need a ride?”

  Teagan refocused her thoughts. “Noah will pick me up tomorrow.”

  “Of course, he will. The thermostat for the AC is near the bed. You can control the temperature for your room.”

  “Chelsea.” Teagan waited until her hostess turned to her, and then hugged her. “Thank you for your kindness. I appreciate it.”

  “You’re welcome. You must visit again and bring Noah.” She winked and Teagan felt an instant bond with her.

  A few minutes later, Teagan slipped into the twin bed. She lay listening to the drone of the air conditioner. Sleep, she wished she’d experience it. Lying in the strange place reminded her of her first months at Aunt Sophia’s. Whenever her mother had visited, Teagan would ask to leave with her.

  “Soon,” her mom always answered. “I’ve got to find someone to hire me. Then I’ll rent us a big house, and you’ll have one of those beds with lace over the top.”

  Teagan tossed on her side. No use torturing herself. Even when she was little, she doubted her mother would follow through with her word. She’d broken too many promises, but Teagan never expected her to disappear.

  Aunt Sophia held a memorial after two years of searching because a counselor recommended the ceremony to bring closure. At least it gave Teagan a response when anyone asked where her mother lived.

  Forget her. Tomorrow, Teagan was going home where she belonged, and she wasn’t running away again. She was done sleeping in unfamiliar places like a homeless child. Pulling the sheet to her chin, she pictured the gleam in Noah’s eyes when he bent to kiss her. She’d hold onto the memory to get through another night.

  Chapter 30

  The kid swept his blond hair out of his acne-marked forehead and smirked across the interview table at Noah and Hines.

  Hines glanced up from the notes on his tablet. “Hugh Smith. Nice name. You have information about Lisa Grant?”

  Hugh slouched in his chair. “I might if you’re not pressing charges against me.”

  Noah moved from the wall, where he’d paused to observe. The punk wanted to play cop and lawyer games? Let’s play. “Spit out where Lisa is, or you’ll be accessory to kidnapping.”

  “What?” The kid’s eyes popped wide. “I saw her at the park.” He swallowed and sat upright. “I’m not saying any more until you agree to let me go.”

  “Listen, kid.” Noah smacked his palms down on the tabletop and leaned into his face. “A girl could die while you pretend to be a big shot. Tell us what you know.”

  Hugh’s lip quivered. Hines cleared his throat, a signal for Noah to back off. He straightened and waited for his partner to speak.

  “Hugh, we appreciate your offer of help. Truth is, trading for a person’s life is a little unequal in your case and unethical.”

  “I was afraid you’d think I had something to do with her disappearance. My parents will kill me if they find out I’m a member of the Robin Hood Men. My father’s a bully. I’ll be grounded for life.” The kid’s defensive tone suggested he’d already recovered from Noah’s harsh words. “Besides, fair is fair. I give you what I know and you give me a pass.”

  “Enlighten us,” N
oah said, pacing while he kept his gaze on the teen. “We know you were at the park where you claimed, to what, run into Lisa?”

  “Okay, my friends and I used to meet there before the fire. That night I ran late for our meeting because…” The kid wet his lips and glanced away from them for a second. “Because I was late. I saw her when I was walking on the narrow path in the woods.” He folded his arms over his chest.

  Something wasn’t quite right with the kid’s story.

  “Don’t leave anything out,” Hines said. “Your dad might be upset, but in the end, you’ll be a hero for providing the lead to Lisa.”

  Hugh hunched his shoulders and remained mute.

  Noah stopped in front of their reluctant witness. Dealers used one or two of the wooded paths to sell their drugs. The police would make arrests, and then in a few months, the illegal deals started again. Noah had a hunch about the kid’s reluctance. “You were late that night because you were up to no good. Getting high before your get together, Hugh? Is that why you weren’t on time? Maybe we need to look a little closer at you, and then talk with your father.”

  “I didn’t do anything wrong.” The kid shifted with discomfort. “Okay. I’ll help you, but don’t tell my parents about the park meetings.”

  “Who’s the leader of your group? Cause if you happen to mention a few facts about the Meter Feeders—”

  “We prefer Robin Hood’s Men.”

  “Sure you do,” Noah reassured. “Now if you give us the dirt on both, we’ll forget your little detour at the park and the fact you withheld evidence about Lisa Grant. Otherwise, if anything happens to her, you’ll be the first person we arrest.”

  “What? No way. He’s lying. Isn’t he?” The teen turned to Hines. “He can’t do that. I never helped anyone hurt her.”

  Hines motioned his hand up and down. “All right. All right. Talk. After, we’ll let you go home, and your parents will be none the wiser.”

  Hugh sat silent for a few minutes then nodded. “Basil is the leader, not me.”

  “That’s a surprise.” Noah dragged out a chair to sit next to Hines.

  “Is Basil the tall, dark-haired boy with the ponytail?” Hines asked.

  “Yeah, that’s him. Plugging the expired meters and our meetings were his ideas.”

  Noah tapped his fingers on the table. “What do you have on the missing girl?”

  “I can leave as soon as I tell you?”

  “You got it.” Hines signaled for him to continue.

  “The day after the Fourth, the Robin Hoods planned to meet in our usual spot and time at the park. We changed to the lake after the fire. That night, I ran late like I said. I cut through the woods near the hiking path. That’s when I saw her.”

  “Who?” Hines asked.

  “Lisa Grant. She was standing at the bottom of the hill not too far from the tennis court.”

  “How close were you?” Hines asked.

  He shrugged. “Close enough. I didn’t know who she was, but after the posters went up around the city, I recognized her.”

  Hines sat back in his seat. “Are you enrolled at All Saints?”

  Hugh ran his index finger over and over a dent in the table and shook his head. “I go to public school. But it was her. I got a good look.”

  “Did you let anyone know you’d seen her?” Noah asked

  “No. I figured you guys would find her.”

  The selfish kid deserved to be locked up. Noah was glad he wasn’t closer to him.

  “What was she doing?” Hines asked.

  “She must have been waiting for someone, and then Albino Man came.”

  Noah exchanged a glance with Hines who shook his head.

  “Who’s Albino Man?” Noah asked, a bad feeling eating at his gut. “Another kid?”

  Hugh blew out a breath of disbelief. “The old guy with long white hair who hangs around the park. He’s about five-six, thin, and always wears the same T-shirt and sweat pants. He can’t talk. Ask him anything and he just makes sounds that make no sense.”

  Albino Man sounded like Teagan’s intruder. “Where’s he live?”

  Hugh shrugged. “In the park, I guess. Once I saw him near the pizza shop.”

  “Is he part of your group?” Hines asked.

  “Nah, he’s about sixty. I’ve heard a couple of different theories about him. Some people say he had a stroke. Others blame his problems on PTSD from fighting in the Mid-East or another place with lots of bullets and bombs.”

  “What happened to Albino Man and Lisa?” Noah pressed. “Did they talk?”

  “No. She started jogging down the path toward the street, and he took off after her.”

  “Was he chasing her?”

  “He went after her. I watched until they reached the curve. Then they were out of sight. She was ahead though. I doubt he’d catch her. He doesn’t run fast. When they disappeared, I went to join the guys. I never saw her again.” He glanced from Noah to Hines. “Are we done?”

  “How many minutes did you watch her?” Hines asked.

  “Less than five.”

  Had the kid made up the story to get himself released? “What’s the albino’s full name?”

  “I don’t know. We dubbed him Albino Man because of his hair. No one calls him anything else. Are we done?” Hugh put one foot out ready to leap from his chair.

  “We’ll need you to describe the man to the sketch artist,” Noah told him.

  The kid tilted his head to the ceiling and moaned. “Why did I bother to talk to you?”

  “Because you’re trying to avoid jail and your parents finding out what you’ve been doing while they looked the other way,” Noah said.

  Hugh straightened. “Can I go home now and speak to the artist tomorrow? My parents will be worried.” He flicked a peek at his watch. “I don’t usually stay out this late. Really, my dad’s going to be bull.”

  “Maybe you should have worried about that before you joined the group.” Noah followed Hines from the room while their witness sat groaning.

  They entered the chief’s office and reported the latest on Lisa Grant.

  “Albino Man sounds like the guy who broke into Teagan’s house,” Noah said when they’d given their summary of the interview. “He might lead us to Lisa, if our source was truthful.”

  “The patrol covering Pretty Park will bring him in. It’s near midnight. He might be sleeping or hiding, but we’ll find him. Let’s hope he didn’t move out since the fire.” The chief sat forward in his leather chair. “Let Hugh call his parents, and release him when they come in. While he’s waiting, he can scroll through our mug shots and talk to the sketch artist tomorrow. I’m sure his dad and mom will have plenty to say to me about their precious son ending up at the station. Cassidy and Hines, go home. I need you fresh in the morning.”

  “Hugh might not be reliable,” Noah said, “and this Albino Man might have nothing to do with Lisa Grant.”

  “That’s why we work with evidence, Cassidy. If the patrol can’t locate him at the park, we’ll search the usual places the homeless hang out.”

  “Hope he’s a late riser. What time is our meeting?” Noah asked before his boss scowled over his sarcasm.

  “I’ve an early briefing with the mayor. We’ll meet at nine thirty sharp when I’m done with my meeting at the mayor’s office. Leave before I change my mind and have you explain the facts to Hugh’s parents.”

  The men exited. “I’ll meet you for breakfast,” Noah told Hines as they reached their cars.

  “You’re buying?”

  “Nope. I’m stopping by for your guest, Teagan Raynes. Chelsea agreed to take her in for the night.”

  “You brought Teagan to our apartment? I’m not sure that was a good idea, Noah, on lots of levels.” Hines shook his head and frowned. “Forget breakfast. I want to eat with my wife.”

  His reaction was the opposite of what Noah would have predicted. “I can get Teagan right now. Why wait?”

  “Forget it. Ch
elsea would throw me out.” He jumped into his car and slammed the door.

  He was mad. His partner was never angry. “Hines! Hines!”

  “Tomorrow,” he shouted through his window and drove off.

  What was going on with him?

  ****

  Teagan called Matt before dawn and gave him the Hines’s address. Matt always rose before the sun. So there was no need to worry about waking him. She left a note for Chelsea on her table. Next, she texted Noah that she had a ride and breathed a sigh of relief when she fastened her seatbelt in the old Rambler.

  “Thanks for coming, Matt.”

  “Are you going to explain why you spent the night away from your house?” he asked as they merged into the street.

  “A homeless man tried to break in to my place last night. He couldn’t get inside because I’d changed the locks. I frightened him, and he ran away.”

  “When did this happen?”

  As usual Matt spoke in his even tone, but his pinched mouth clued Teagan in on his disapproval.

  “He showed up close to ten or eleven. Luckily, he ran off and Detective Cassidy showed up to investigate.”

  “Detective Cassidy bought you here?”

  “Yes. His partner’s wife let me crash, which was kind of her since it was late.”

  “What about the officer at your house?”

  “He showed up after the man ran.”

  Teagan, you can’t go home.” He pulled to side, stamped on the brake, and shifted into park.

  Now she had to diffuse this situation. “I’ll be fine. I’ll call the locksmith as soon as he opens. Before he dropped me off, Detective Cassidy told me the DNA test results come in today on the remains found in my kitchen. The lab pushed the tests up. I’m nervous about those and want to be home when they arrive. Please, don’t add to my stress.”

  “I can find you another place to stay with privacy. Lots of people would like to help.”

  “I’m not letting anyone drive me from my house.” She clenched her jaw and forced herself to relax.

  “Keep the idea in mind.” He pulled out onto the road. They rode in silence a few minutes before Matt spoke again. “I’ll look around before I leave.”