Calculated Revenge

by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

  “Who said a pipe burst?” Her words contained an edge.

  “Well,” Noah paused, “Hank mentioned that as a speculation.”

  Miss Aggie sniffed. “A lot he knows. I got a plumber in here right away. He says somebody turned on the main and left it running.”

  Words dried up in Noah’s throat. Someone had sabotaged the school building, and someone had struck Laney and someone had abducted and killed a defenseless child eighteen years ago. The same person? Richard Hodge? Noah’s brow furrowed.

  The custodian had been rifling through the backpack when Noah came outside to secure the scene. Had the man been trying to convey the appearance of natural curiosity as a cover for a deeper motive—to give a non-suspicious reason for why his prints or DNA might be on the pack? Then how did Edward Foreman’s blood end up on Grace’s school bag? This case grew more confusing by the minute.

  Laney lay in a hospital bed with the head end elevated, and stared without seeing at a television program. She gnawed at her lower lip. Why couldn’t she be home with her parents and her daughter, instead of stuck in an institution for a night? Except for a nagging headache, masked by a painkiller, she was fine. Physically, anyway.

  Her dad had been torn, wanting to bunk here in her room and play guard dog and needing to watch over Briana, too. Her mom had offered to stay in the hospital while dad went with Briana, but Laney shooed them all away. Who could get to her with an FBI muscleman stationed outside her door? Now, Laney regretted her choice as she stared at four walls in a lonely room.

  Who was doing these awful things? Edward Foreman was off the hook—at least, for today’s assault. Was the real perp after her, or was he trying to get through her to Briana? If the creep was after her daughter, why warn her with these taunts? Why not go straight to the snatch? Something didn’t add up. Maybe Noah was right that more was going on here than a simple case of stranger abduction. But if the attacks were personal, why? Laney’s stomach knotted.

  Her bedside telephone rang, and Laney jerked upright, bringing a pulse of pain from her head. She expelled a breath. Probably mom calling to say good-night. She picked up the receiver. “Hello.”

  Harsh, heavy breathing responded. Laney’s skin crawled.

  “See how the players pay when the innocents suffer?” a male voice grated in her ear.

  Laney’s mouth went dry as sun-baked tarmac. A click announced that the connection had closed. “Wait!” She found her voice, but empty air mocked her.

  A sharp rap sounded on the hospital room door, and it began to ease open. Had this creep gotten past the agent outside? Laney let out a shriek. The receiver fell from nerveless fingers and clattered to the linoleum. Male shouts of alarm responded and two men burst into the room—one the burly agent, the other familiar and welcome.

  “Oh, Noah!” Laney cried. “I just had the most horrible phone call.” She held out her arms. He sat on the edge of her bed and held her while tears wet his shirt. “I can’t—do this—anymore. It has—to stop!”

  “Shh…shh. We’ll make it stop. Don’t worry. We’ll get the guy.”

  Noah’s tenderly spoken assurances soothed Laney’s heart, and his arms cocooned her soul. If only this moment could last forever. But of course it couldn’t. In fact, she was making a complete fool of herself. With a sigh, Laney pulled away. Eyes down, she picked at her sheet with thumb and forefinger.

  Noah’s hand cupped her chin. “Tell us what happened.”

  Her gaze found the agent standing beyond Noah, and heat seared her cheeks. Bad enough that she’d lost control with Noah, but a witness compounded the embarrassment with interest.

  “Someone called you on the telephone, ma’am?” the agent prompted.

  She nodded and returned her attention to Noah, who stood up and backed away a step. She’d probably made him terribly uncomfortable with her hysterical display.

  “It was a man,” she said. “I didn’t recognize the voice, but he whispered in this harsh tone, so maybe he was trying to disguise his voice.”

  Noah bent toward her. “What did he say?”

  “Something about innocents paying…No, that’s not right. I don’t—” She closed her eyes and fished for the exact memory among her jumbled thoughts. That blow to the head must have done more damage than she realized. “He said, ‘See how the players pay when the innocents suffer?’” She opened her eyes.

  The agent nodded, gaze distant. He pulled out a cell phone and strode from the room.

  “Good job.” Noah smiled at her. “We’ll let the federal guys try to figure out where that call came from, but I doubt they’ll have any luck.”

  “What do you think that man meant by players paying? Like gambling?”

  “I don’t know, Laney. Maybe your parents will have an idea.”

  She scowled up at him. There he went again with the insinuations. “Why should they have a clue? Neither of them has a gambling problem.”

  Noah’s gaze remained tender against hers. “Then there must be another meaning.”

  Laney’s hands fisted. “Every time I turn around some new taunt blindsides me.”

  “You said a mouthful there.” He frowned. “The focus seems to be on you, and the attacks are escalating to physical now. I agree. This has to end pronto.”

  Laney sat forward. “Do you think this creep isn’t after Briana after all?” The notion brought up a whole new train of thought of a way to help protect her daughter and work toward catching this guy at the same time.

  “I can’t say that yet.” Noah scratched under his ear. “Extreme precautions need to be taken with her, as well.”

  Laney nodded. “My dad has hired private security guards on top of whatever the FBI has on us. He told me he’s upgrading his security system at home tomorrow, too.”

  “Good for him. You should be pretty safe holed up there until this is over.”

  She lifted her chin. “I’m not ‘holing up,’ as you put it. If this guy wants me, then I’m going to make him come after me…away from my daughter.”

  Noah’s brow knotted. “What are you talking about?”

  “Humor me for a minute while I explain my logic.” She held up a palm at his skeptical expression. “The backpack was left for me to find. Only I would know its significance. Then the doll was sent to me. And you know what?” She snapped her fingers. “Bree has light brown hair. The doll was blonde like Grace. This guy really is after me. It’s like he’s trying to finish what he started. Maybe he intended to take us both the day he got Gracie.”

  Her breath caught. Could it be that her irresponsible behavior had spared her life after all? That her parents were right to be thankful she wasn’t with Grace that day? She shook her head. What if she’d been able to save them both if she hadn’t run off and left her sister alone to deal with a monster?

  “Earth to Laney.”

  Noah’s voice jerked her attention back to the present. “Sorry. I was following a rabbit trail. The bottom line is this.” She folded her hands together on her lap. “If this guy wants me, I’m going to make him come after me. We’re going to end this nightmare once and for all…back in Grand Valley, where the horror started.”

  If she’d exploded a bomb in his face, Noah couldn’t have looked any more shell-shocked.

  ELEVEN

  Briana snuggled next to Noah as he read her a storybook in her grandparents’ living room that evening. How could anyone even think about hurting someone so cute and precious and innocent? He’d always been outraged that monsters existed who targeted children, but this little girl was special—as special as her mom.

  Noah closed the book, and the child looked up at him and smiled. “I’m glad you came back, Mr. Ryder. Can you stay now?”

  He ruffled her soft hair. “I’m afraid I have to return to Minnesota tomorrow. Your mother is coming with me. Are you okay with that?”

  Laney’s parents weren’t. They’d rushed to the hospital to see their daughter when they heard about the phone call, and a long an
d heated discussion had ensued at Laney’s bedside while the federal agent entertained Briana in the hallway by showing her his badge. At least that’s what Noah had caught him doing when he checked on them. A margin of calm had descended between Laney and her parents when Noah updated them that law enforcement was hot on the trail of Richard Hodge. In the end, Noah had come back to the Thompson’s home with an agitated Roland while Loretta insisted on staying the night with Laney at the hospital.

  Briana looked untroubled by the prospect of her mother leaving. She pursed her lips, then nodded. “If you’re with Mama, then it’s okay. The bad man won’t get her then.”

  Noah’s rib cage squeezed in on itself. He’d better be up to the challenge…this time. Or die trying. There was no way he could look into this child’s face, or his own in the mirror, if he let anything happen to Laney.

  He fully sympathized with her parents’ reservations about the plan. His heart had hit the floor when Laney said she was going with him. How did he let her talk him into taking her along anyway? Roland was right about those big blue eyes. Plus, she’d produced a surprising stubborn streak wider than the Mississippi Delta. But the reasons went beyond that. Her proposal made sense, as much as he hated for her to continue to act as bait. Whoever was doing this had it in for her, and he wasn’t going to stop until he was caught.

  A half hour later, Briana was tucked into bed, and Noah told Roland he was heading there himself. He was exhausted.

  The other man sent him a long look. “My granddaughter adores you. I’m a little jealous. I’ve never seen her like that with another man.” He lifted a brow. “Tread carefully. You seem to be working your way into the hearts of some important ladies in my life, and I don’t want to see them hurt.”

  Noah swallowed against a dry throat. “Believe me, I don’t, either.”

  In bed, he tossed and turned, seeking sleep that lurked beyond his reach. Was there a chance for him and Laney when this was over? She’d felt so right in his arms when he held her at the hospital. If he could move beyond the past, maybe he could take a chance on a future with an attractive special ed teacher and her charming little girl. And he wanted more kids, too, if he were honest with himself. But until this murderous scum was caught, none of them would have the opportunity to find out what might be. Until then, he needed to keep his mind off romance. Hadn’t he learned his lesson about that the hard way?

  He fell into a doze, and dreams of Renee teased him. Her tall, lithe figure flitted past his mind’s eye. Her laughter caressed his ears. Then she stood before him clear and strong and smiling. “Goodbye, my darling.” Her brown gaze sifted him. She turned and walked away, and he let her.

  He opened his eyes the next morning to the gray haze of dawn filtering around the window shades. Something was different. His senses perked up. No, not in his surroundings. Inside himself. Something bound up tight in his core had begun to unfurl. The feeling was scary and exhilarating at the same time. Could he really move on from Renee? If he’d never met Laney and her sweet little Briana, he probably wouldn’t even be considering it.

  But that was the point. Right now, he needed to quit thinking about it. Unfortunately for his peace of mind, the task of reining in his attraction to Laney was about as simple as herding cats. How could he be with her constantly in Grand Valley and not give away how he felt?

  Noah groaned and got out of bed and headed for the shower. Lord, if you’re there for me at all, I could use a truckload of help staying sharp and focused on what matters—catching the creep that threatens these precious people’s lives.

  Soon Loretta brought her daughter home to pack her luggage. Laney spent long minutes bidding Briana farewell, and the child had a big hug for Noah. Roland watched the leave-taking with his arms crossed and lowered brows, while Loretta flitted around fussing about whether Laney remembered to take this or that.

  Finally they piled into the car. Loretta drove, and Laney rode shotgun. In the backseat Noah kept an eye out for anyone who might be following them. All he spotted was the unmarked federal sedan he’d picked out almost as soon as they left the driveway. Conversation was sporadic, and Laney’s mother fidgeted with her hair and her clothes and the air conditioning and the radio.

  Casual topics of conversation were in short supply, but the mundane seemed like an insult to the situation. If only he’d get word from Hank that they’d cornered Richard Hodge. But Noah’s phone remained stubbornly silent.

  Laney had been as baffled as her parents why the custodian had it in for the school, much less why he might have been Grace’s kidnapper all those years ago. Noah’s inquiries into Hodge’s background didn’t flag the tendencies of a pedophile, so lack of motive made a flimsy case for the kidnapping, though opportunity and attitude made him suspect number one in the flooding. They’d have to wait until the man was caught to find out more.

  Seated at the gate waiting for their flight to be called, Noah’s phone rang, and his pulse jumped. It was Hank. “What’ve you got for me?”

  Next to him, Laney stopped leafing through a magazine and stared at him.

  “No sign of Hodge’s vehicle at either airport in Minneapolis,” the sheriff said. “I put out the word to the Sioux Falls PD, too. Some folks fly out of there.”

  Noah sighed. “I guess that’s all you can do until someone spots him.”

  “That’s not the end of the frustrating news,” Hank growled. “They’ve released Edward Foreman. He remains a suspect, but the prosecutor refuses to take the case to court after what happened with Laney yesterday.”

  “I expected that much.” Noah sniffed. “Did you find out what excuse Foreman gave for his blood on that backpack?”

  “I played the ‘need to know because this guy lives in our area’ card and got a transcript of the interview with him from the feds.” Papers rattled in the background. “Seems the guy finally admitted he was at the playground watching his daughter the day the pack was left. He pinched some skin off his finger when he gripped the chain link. Before he left that day, he spotted the pack sitting outside the fence. Good citizen that he is, he didn’t want someone coming along and making off with it before the student could claim their property. So he picked it up, cut finger and all, walked over to the entrance opening and set it inside the fence, and then skedaddled.”

  Noah groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. “If this guy’s telling the truth, where the pack was found wasn’t where it was left, and any forensic evidence collected from the grounds wasn’t even from the right spot.”

  Hank clucked his tongue. “You win the award for tip-top deduction.”

  Noah informed the sheriff about Laney’s twisted phone call last night and of his plans to visit Grand Valley with her in tow. Hank told him to be careful, and they ended the call.

  “I take it the news isn’t the best,” Laney prompted.

  Noah grimaced and filled her in on what Hank said.

  Without a word, she looked toward the gate desk. Noah followed her gaze. Increased activity warned that they’d be calling the flight soon.

  “You know something?” she finally said. “I believe this Edward character is telling the truth. His story is goofy yet detailed enough to be exactly what happened.”

  “I hate to admit it.” Noah frowned. “But you could be right.” And there went a very promising suspect.

  Now if only law enforcement could lay their hands on Richard Hodge and Glen Crocker. One of them could be the perp they were looking for, and then the ordeal would be over…And that could be the beginning of possibilities for him with Laney. He glanced at the delicate-framed, strong-spirited woman next to him. Her gaze was veiled behind long lashes as she studied her shoes.

  Suddenly she jerked to attention. “I remember something about the attack.”

  Noah stiffened. “What is it?”

  “The man’s tennis shoes. The seam by the big toe of the left foot was splitting out.”

  “Exactly the problem with the fake postman’s shoe tha
t Mattie described.” Noah’s breath caught. “The footwear must be more significant than a random piece of this perp’s disguise.”

  Laney fixed a wide gaze on him. “We’re looking for someone with a foot deformity. And I just thought of something else.” She poked a finger at him. “Richard Hodge wore steel-toed shoes. I know. I tripped over them in the crowded office the day I found that backpack.”

  “And steel-toed shoes could hide a foot problem.”

  “Exactly.” She smacked her palms together.

  Tingles ran up Noah’s spine. This was a hot lead. “I didn’t know to ask former employers if they were aware that the man had any foot problems. I’ll rectify the oversight when we get to the hotel in Grand Valley. Right now,” he nodded toward the gate desk where the attendant had picked up the microphone, “I think our flight is about to be called.”

  When they finally reached Minneapolis and got on the road south toward Grand Valley, silence blanketed the vehicle. Laney studied Noah out of the corner of her eye. His gaze was intent on the ribbon of highway. Both hands gripped the steering wheel as if it might attempt to spring away from him at any moment. A muscle in his jaw jumped from time to time.

  “Did we have an FBI watcher on the plane?” she asked. “I can’t tell like you do.”

  He glanced at her, sober-faced. “An agent followed us to the gate, but stayed behind. One was noticeably absent when we debarked, but I suspect they’re ahead of us at our destination. They’re going to want to see if our perp makes a run at you again.”

  “I don’t imagine Agent Burns is any too happy that you’re in the picture.”

  Noah cracked a smile. “That’s Supervisory Special Agent Burns to you.” His tone mimicked the agent.

  Laney laughed. “You already know how I met the guy and why I don’t like him. You obviously have a history with him, too. Care to share?”

  Noah’s nostrils flared and the smile faded.

  Laney looked down. She’d trodden on forbidden territory. “Sorry. That was nosy.”