by Alison Stone
A new surge of fear swept over her. The news should be broadcasting the composite image soon. Had she done the right thing by pushing for the release of the image?
“This is crazy.” Sarah shook her head, muttering something. She bent over the microscope, indicating she was done discussing this.
A nagging feeling haunted Lily. “I’m going to walk down to HR and see if Talia called in.”
Her assistant’s head snapped up. “Wait. Do you think Talia’s in some kind of trouble?” Sarah fingered the top button on her lab coat. “I thought you said I’m not in any danger.”
Placing her hand on Sarah’s forearm, Lily said, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe she called in sick.” Fear radiated from Sarah’s dark eyes. “Unless you know of anything else that might be going on.”
Her assistant glanced down, then back up. She tapped a pen on the edge of the counter. “Talia’s absence probably has nothing to do with her being sick.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She told me not to tell you, but—” she hesitated a moment longer and tossed the pen onto the counter “—she didn’t get into the Ph.D. program.”
“Really?” Lily rubbed her forehead, confusion clouding her brain. “No wonder she seemed quieter than usual. She must have been devastated.”
“You could say that.” Sarah rolled her eyes. The two assistants had been known to butt heads. Sarah was well liked and had a quiet confidence. Talia was eager to please and boastful of her accomplishments. “Talia wanted to go to the state school so she could stay close by. Her mom’s not in the best health.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t get in. She had good grades. I wrote her a strong letter of recommendation. I wonder what happened,” Lily mused out loud. “Why didn’t she tell me?”
“Talia was worried you’d fire her. And I think she might have been embarrassed. She told everyone she was a shoo-in for the program.” Sarah picked up the pen and put on its cap. “You know what they say about counting your chickens before they’re hatched and all.”
“True, but she didn’t have to worry. She doesn’t need a Ph.D. to do the work she’s doing.” Lily’s gaze drifted to the spot where Talia normally worked. Maybe Lily’s letter of recommendation for Talia hadn’t held as much weight with the admission counselors as she had thought.
Sarah folded her arms over her white lab coat. “She doesn’t want to be an assistant forever. No one does.”
* * *
In the middle of the day, the halls of Medlink’s complex were bright and filled with people, a pleasant change from the gloomy atmosphere at night. Lily smiled and nodded at all the familiar faces, but kept her pace brisk. The employees didn’t bat an eyelash as she breezed past. She was never known for her idle chitchat.
“Hey there.”
Lily spun around to find Kara standing in the small kitchen nook in the front office. Her friend waved her over frantically. “Come here. I heard that guy who crashed the party has been relentlessly stalking you.”
Lily pulled her arms against her body. Stalked seemed like such a strong word. But he was stalking her, wasn’t he? She ran her fingers down the edge of her lab coat and forced a smile. “I’m fine, really. Thanks for asking.”
If Kara had registered Lily’s sarcasm, she didn’t acknowledge it. “Look over there.” Kara jerked her thumb toward Stephanie’s glass office. Muffled voices sounded through the closed door. “James and Stephanie are arguing.”
James is here? She’d thought he’d be at the clinic.
“They’re arguing? About what?” Curiosity made Lily’s scalp tingle.
Kara lowered her voice. “I can hear a lot better when I’m sitting at my desk.” She arched her brows. “But of course, Stephanie asked me for coffee right when it was getting to the good part.”
“The good part?” Lily’s pulse kicked up a notch.
“Stephanie wants you to get out of town. Like, yesterday. I’m only getting bits and pieces now because I don’t want to make it obvious I’m listening. But she doesn’t want you in the carriage house. She’s worried you’ll bring danger to their grandparents’ doorstep.”
“Seriously?” Lily’s stomach hollowed out. “But my research.”
Ignoring her, Kara tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “This guy actually left dead rats on your doorstep?” She turned up her nose. “How gross.”
“It was one rat.”
Kara twisted her lips. “Still creepy.” She glanced toward the closed office door. “Do you think the rat came from Medlink’s labs?”
Lily slumped her shoulders and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Denial?
“Listen,” Lily said, changing the subject, “did Talia call in sick today?”
Scooping the coffee grinds into the filter, Kara’s face brightened. “No. You mean to tell me the queen bee of research is out sick? She must really be sick.”
“Did Talia call in?”
“No. Maybe she’s too sick.” Kara went over to the sink and filled the coffee carafe. “Once I was so sick I could barely lift my head. But of course, Mrs. O’Reilly had urgent business I had to attend to.” She grimaced and glanced toward Mrs. O’Reilly’s office, which was next to her husband’s. She didn’t have an official job at Medlink. Mostly she ran social functions, but she still had an office. “Good thing I didn’t toss my cookies on her expensive imported rugs.”
“We’re not talking about you, Kara.” Lily gave her friend a close-lipped smile. “I’m worried about Talia. It’s not like her to not show up for work.” What if this stalker was targeting more than her? None of this made sense.
“Excuse me.” Kara brushed past Lily and poured the water into the coffeemaker and set the carafe on the hot plate. “Maybe she had a mental breakdown from telling everyone how great she is.”
Lily scratched the back of her head. “Talia’s really not that bad, is she? She’s a smart girl lacking just a tad in the social arena.”
“You think?”
“Be nice.” The smell of the rich coffee filled Lily’s senses. “Do you know if Talia lives alone?” She found her gaze drifting toward Stephanie’s office. From this angle, all she could see were James’s hands and arms as he gestured to his cousin in what seemed to be a heated discussion.
“I think she might live with her mother.” Kara opened the cabinet and pulled out two mugs. She glanced over her shoulder. “Can you imagine? And I hear her mother puts a lot of pressure on her. Talia’s the first one to go to college.” Kara shrugged. “Maybe that’s why she always goes on and on about her research and her plans for a Ph.D.” Lily detected a hint of compassion in her friend’s tone.
Lily tore off the lid to a coffee creamer. “Am I the only one who didn’t know Talia was rejected from the Ph.D. program?”
A flicker of a frown pulled at Kara’s lips before she recovered. “You’re always busy working. You rarely take lunch. The rest of us chat in the cafeteria. Besides—” she took the creamer and set it next to one of the mugs “—ah, I shouldn’t say.”
“What is it?”
“No.”
“Please, tell me.” Lily struggled to bite back her mounting frustration.
Kara leaned on the counter and braced her hands behind her. “Talia was upset because she assumed it was the letter of recommendation that was lacking.”
Lily’s chest grew heavy. “Why would she think that?”
“Apparently, she’s supersmart, has really good grades—she certainly tells us all the time—so she assumed the letter of recommendation did her in. Maybe she’s taking a few personal days because she’s mad at you.”
Lily smoothed a finger across her eyebrow. She had written a glowing letter of recommendation highlighting Talia’s attention to detail.
Perhaps she’d contact the university and see if there had been a mistake in the admissions process.
Lily turned to Kara. “Any chance you can get Talia’s phone number? I’d like to check in on her.”
“Sure.” Kara lifted two mugs. “Let me wait for the coffee, then I’ll look up her home number on the computer.”
Lily hung back while Kara finished making the coffee. Based on the posturing she observed in the glass office, the intensity of the discussion between Stephanie and James had escalated. After arriving at Kara’s computer, Kara clicked a few keys, then wrote something down. “Here’s the number.” Kara handed the Post-it note to her friend. “Talia has also been talking about some guy. Maybe she’s all tied up in a new romance.”
“Missing work for personal reasons doesn’t sound like Talia. Work has always been important to her.”
Kara scrunched up her face. “You’re right. Let me try her phone number.” She dialed the number and waited. After a minute, she hung up. “Maybe she’s sleeping.”
Lily nodded. “Thanks. I’ll try her again later.”
The ache in the back of Lily’s throat told her something was wrong. Very wrong.
* * *
James found his cousin, Stephanie, in her well-appointed office adjacent to their grandfather’s windowed corner office. His grandfather spent less and less time here. James thought he’d never see the day. He ignored the nameplate to the right of his grandfather’s. It bore the name James O’Reilly, but it had been intended for his father. Not him. Those plans had come crashing down when he was fifteen. Now—in his grandparents’ eyes—it was James’s turn to take over since his father wasn’t around.
The thought of being stuck in a corporate office made him want to sign his reenlistment papers before he became trapped here.
Yet James also possessed a keen sense of obligation and a heavy dose of guilt. But just how much did he owe his grandfather? James stopped in Stephanie’s doorway. She had on a tailored suit and her blond hair was pulled back in a smooth bun away from her perfectly made-up face. Seated in a rich leather chair behind an expansive mahogany desk, she looked comfortable. As though she belonged. A feeling he’d struggled to achieve for most of his life.
Stephanie slowly lifted her gaze from the paperwork in front of her. Her eyes widening behind rimless glasses, she flipped a file closed and rested her laced fingers on it. “What brings you here? I figured you’d be at the clinic.” She turned her wrist, checking her expensive watch. James leaned on the credenza against the glass wall separating her office from the reception area. “We need to talk.”
Angling her head, she pursed her red lips. “Something that couldn’t be discussed over the phone? You’ve got me worried.” Her gaze shifted toward the door, then back to him. She lowered her voice. “Security briefed me on the incident in the parking lot.”
“Lily’s had more trouble since then.”
“Like what?” Stephanie’s expression read intrigued, but not overly alarmed.
“Someone left a rat on her doorstep.”
Stephanie slid her glasses down her nose and set them on the desk. “You have to make her go.” She held up her finger and stepped from behind the desk. “Kara, would you mind putting on some fresh coffee?”
Kara pushed away from her computer. “Sure, coming right up.”
James sat in one of the leather chairs. “Did Security get anything on tape from the incident in the parking lot?”
Stephanie closed the door. “No, the footage was blurry because of the rain. I told them to tie in with the police department to catch this guy.” She leaned back on the edge of her desk and crossed her arms. “Lily’s in real jeopardy. You have to convince her to go someplace safe.”
James sighed heavily. “She won’t listen to me. Her research is too important.”
Stephanie stared off in the middle distance and shook her head. “You’re friends with the chief of police. What does he make of all this?”
“The symbol Lily saw on her attacker’s cap was a gang symbol. The most logical thought is that gangs were trying to break into the clinic for drugs. But why is this guy relentlessly pursuing Lily? If it’s because he doesn’t want her to identify him, it doesn’t make sense. Every time he makes contact, he risks getting caught.” He ran his palms across the arms of the chair. A growing uneasiness hollowed out his gut.
“Any chance the first attack at the clinic was someone targeting her—targeting Lily—and not out to get drugs?” Stephanie folded her hands primly in her lap. “Did that ever cross your mind?”
“No, it hadn’t.” He rose to his feet and crossed his arms, a muscle ticking in his jaw. “She’s lived in the lab these past few years. She’s spent all her time on Regen.” He couldn’t imagine Lily having any enemies. She didn’t even mention having a former boyfriend. “No, I don’t believe someone came to the clinic looking for her. Lily doesn’t have enemies.” He rubbed a hand across his jaw. “What about the gang symbol?”
Stephanie gave him a blank stare as if saying it wasn’t her job to come up with every possible scenario.
“I moved her into the carriage house last night. I don’t want her alone until they catch this guy.”
“Why put her in the carriage house? You’ll draw trouble right to our grandparents’ doorstep.”
“I’ve contacted Medlink security and the police. Grandmother and Grandfather will be safe.” So will Lily.
Stephanie lifted one silver ball on the pendulum set on her desk and released it. It smacked the adjacent ball, sending the one at the opposite end into the air. “Nothing’s ever easy, is it?” She ran a finger under her bright red lips. “Why do you suppose this man is toying with her?”
James narrowed his gaze. “What do you mean?”
“If this man is really some big, bad gang member, why didn’t he kill her when he had a chance?” She held up her hand to stop him from interrupting. “Sure, he didn’t have a chance at the clinic because you stopped the attack. But why hasn’t he taken the opportunity other times? At the pool the other night, in the parking lot...at her house?” Stephanie seemed to be deep in thought. “He had more than one chance to eliminate a witness. Why didn’t he?”
James’s blood ran cold, realization dawning. “He needs her alive.”
Stephanie breathed out sharply through her nose. “I don’t like this at all. You need to take Lily and get her away from here before he decides she’s better off dead.
“If it gets out that our top researcher is being stalked... Well, we can’t deal with the negative publicity. It’s going to scare away potential investors.” Her tone held both a hint of disgust and determination. “I’ve already taken phone calls from investors who witnessed the chaos at Grandfather’s birthday party. I assured them it was nothing. Just a party crasher.”
She gestured with her palms facing the floor. “Keep everyone calm.” She levered off the desk and smoothed a hand over her skirt. “What are the financial ramifications if our rock-star researcher is killed?”
He gritted his teeth at Stephanie’s matter-of-fact tone. She must have realized her blunder and added, “I’m looking at this objectively. Like a CEO. I want Dr. Lily McAllister to be protected as much as you do. You must get Lily to leave town.”
He huffed his frustration. “She’s not going to leave.”
His cousin patted him on the arm. “I see she’s out in the reception area. Go work your charm. Convince her to take a mini vacation until this madness blows over.”
James opened the office door and forced a smile. “What brings you out of the lab?”
Lily tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I wanted to check on my lab assistant Talia York. She hasn’t been into work for a couple days and she hasn’t called in sick. It’s unlike her.” Lily lowered her voice. “And in light of recent events...”
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“Did you call her house?” James asked.
“No answer.” Kara handed Stephanie a steaming cup of coffee. “I made a cup for you.” She glanced over her shoulder at James.
James waved Kara off and met Lily’s gaze. Worry lingered in her eyes.
“Do you have her address? Let’s go check on her.” A coincidence like this sat like a spoiled bologna sandwich in his stomach.
NINE
The home Talia York, Lily’s lab assistant, shared with her mother was a small ranch nestled on a street along a row of small ranches. They must have been built during a time when uniformity was in. All the lawns were well tended and flowers bloomed in the flower beds.
Except at the Yorks’.
The overgrown landscaping and the furniture stacked on the porch would have landed the ranch under the TLC section of the real-estate advertisements. Or on an episode of Hoarders. Renewed uneasiness swept over Lily.
“Are you sure we have the right address?” James pointed to the tall weeds hugging the side of the house. “This house has seen better days.”
“Talia’s too young to worry about landscaping. I understand she has a lot of student debt. Maybe they can’t afford the upkeep.” As if on cue, a lawn mower fired to life across the street. An older gentleman made a straight line across his lawn, glancing over at them from time to time.
Lily caught James’s arm as they headed up the walkway. “If Talia’s not home, we have to be careful what we say. We don’t want to worry her mother.” It wasn’t unusual for young adults living at home to take off for a few days without informing their parents, although it did seem uncharacteristic of Talia.
James gave her a curt nod. She stepped onto the porch, testing her weight on the creaking planks. Through the open screen door, she noticed newspapers stacked inside the entryway. A television sounded from somewhere deep inside the house. Lily brushed a cobweb away from the doorbell and pushed the cracked button. “I don’t think it works,” she whispered.