Josh placed his hand on the men’s room door then checked on Red, who was writing on a piece of paper. Riley was leaning up against the counter, and Charlie was staring at Josh.
Josh wanted to signal he wasn’t in any danger and didn’t need help, but when Riley began petting the dog’s head, Charlie looked up at her.
Josh ducked into the bathroom and waited, counting to ten. Then he poked out his head in one quick motion, a habit he had when checking rooms in buildings while on a mission.
The reception desk was empty. As quietly as he could, Josh hurried down to Liza’s office, which was two doors down. He gripped the handle then turned. Relief traveled through him that at least the door wasn’t locked. Before he went in, he took a breath as memories of that fatal day in Afghanistan bombarded him.
You’re in an office building of a fashion company, not in a place where bombs strapped to enemies are the norm.
Nevertheless, he glanced down the long hall one more time. The coast was still clear.
Once inside Liza’s office, Josh blew out a breath, mainly because a bomb hadn’t gone off. Then he crossed the carpeted floor, skirting around racks of clothes and a slanted table that had Liza’s latest dress design drawn out on paper. One of the reasons Liza had moved to Boston was for fashion school.
Josh settled behind her desk, quickly sweeping his gaze over the contents. Sticky notes covered the perimeter of her computer screen.
Riley’s flight info was on one. “Call Haley” was on another. “Get Taylor to run down to Berger’s fabric shop.” “Talk to Monroe.” “Prep for fashion show.”
Nothing stood out to him, and since her desk was one solid piece of glass, no drawers existed. Josh was about to peek into a filing cabinet that was located near the floor-to-ceiling window not far from him, when Charlie’s wet nose pushed on his hand. Josh’s heart skipped a beat as he zeroed in on Red, who had a scowl the size of California.
She crossed thin arms over her chest. “What are you doing? I should call the cops!” she practically shouted.
Riley came to an abrupt halt behind the lady, mouthing, “I’m sorry.”
Charlie wagged his tail at Josh’s side.
Stupid me for not bringing him with me, Josh berated himself, although by the time the dog would’ve alerted him to any noise, it would’ve been too late.
Josh held up his hands. “Look, I know you’re only doing your job. But my cousin Liza is missing. And whether your job is on the line or not, I don’t care. I need to find her.”
“I’ve given Riley Taylor’s address. I have your info. If I hear anything, I will call you.” She waved her hand at the door. “Now you both need to leave.”
Josh grabbed Charlie’s leash.
Maybe they would have better luck with Taylor.
Chapter Nine
“The redheaded receptionist, Candace, was rather sweet,” Riley said to Josh as he opened the door of Taylor’s apartment building. When Josh had gone to the bathroom, Riley had apologized to Candace for being a witch and mentioned how worried they were about Liza. After that, Candace had lowered her guard until she’d caught Josh in Liza’s office.
Josh stabbed the up button on the elevator. “So, you two bonded.”
The lobby area was rather dirty. Paint was chipping off the walls, and the elevator sounded as though it was on its last leg as it arrived.
The first thing that came to mind was that the company wasn’t paying Taylor enough money. Though the way she dressed did seem to say she was paid well.
Riley could continue the small talk about Candace and how the receptionist was engaged, but her mind was stuck on Taylor and the rundown building and neighborhood, which was a far cry from Liza’s upscale place. They stepped into the creaking elevator.
“Do you find it weird that Taylor lives in a dingy place that’s seconds away from crumbling?” Riley was making it a habit to always be on Josh’s right side so he could hear her.
The elevator moved slowly on its ascent.
“It’s expensive to live in the city.” He sounded detached.
“You know the sky is blue,” she returned.
“Yeah” was all she got. No jerk of his head, smile, or anything to indicate he was aware of her sarcasm.
Riley dragged her nails down his back.
He flinched then fixated on her lips. “Do that again, and you might not get off this elevator.”
Promises, promises. “Where are you? I just said the sky is blue. You’ve been quiet since we left Liza’s office.”
He chuckled. “Thinking. Has Liza ever mentioned a Haley or Monroe? I saw their names on sticky notes on her desk.”
The doors opened on the fifth floor.
Riley knew a Haley. “Haley is a gal Liza used to work with at Moretti Retailers. I’ve never heard the name Monroe.”
Burn holes dotted the carpeted hallway, and the floor creaked as they approached apartment six.
Taylor’s voice boomed behind the green door. Riley didn’t know if Josh could hear it, but Charlie nudged his hand before sniffing the threshold.
“Is something going on inside?” he asked.
Riley sharpened her hearing.
“You weren’t supposed to do that,” She heard Taylor say.
“It sounds like she’s arguing with someone,” Riley said.
Suddenly, Grayson’s words hit her. Maybe Taylor was arguing with the same person Liza had been.
Josh pounded his fist instead of knocking.
Taylor’s voice died.
A minute passed, and they heard nothing.
Josh banged again. “Taylor, open up. It’s Josh.”
After one click and a squeak, the door creaked open. Taylor had her cell phone to her ear. “I got to go.” She lowered her phone. “How did you get my address?”
Riley scanned Taylor’s apartment as best she could from the hallway. The place was empty from what she could see. “Candace, one of the receptionists at your office.”
Josh pushed his way past Taylor. “Who were you arguing with? Liza?”
Taylor mashed her glossy lips into a thin line. “Hey, you can’t just barge your way in.”
Josh let go of Charlie, who took off into the bedroom.
Taylor ran after Charlie. “My cat is in there, and she doesn’t like dogs.”
Josh hurried to get Charlie. “Hey, boy.”
Riley stepped in, taking inventory of the sparse apartment. The room had a fabric chair, a narrow end table, one stool at the bar that overlooked a kitchen, a stove, a fridge, and nothing else. The place was drab and felt cold and detached.
The cat screeched and came running out with Taylor trying to grab her furry tan-and-white animal.
Charlie trotted out with Josh holding his leash.
Once Taylor scooped up her cat, she cooed, “I’m sorry, Ivy.”
“Sit,” Josh said to Charlie, who obeyed his master.
“Why are you here?” Taylor asked as she put Ivy back into the bedroom and closed the door.
Josh walked around the kitchen, almost acting as if he thought Liza was hiding in a cabinet.
“We wanted to see if you’ve heard from Liza,” Riley said, not moving from the door. “We were also worried. If I’m right about the men from Boston, you could be in trouble since you work for Liza.”
Taylor sat on the arm of the dilapidated chair. “Thank you for your concern, but I’m fine. And I talked to Liza earlier today. She was on her way back to her apartment. Apparently, she had a client meeting in the city that I didn’t know about.”
Riley’s jaw came unhinged. “Why didn’t you call us?” She was ready to scream. “We’ve been worried out of our minds.”
Taylor picked at a nail. “I’ve been busy. I still have a job to do.”
Josh crossed his arms over his chest and gave her a death stare. Even angry, he was handsome.
Riley’s intuition was telling her something wasn’t right with Taylor, but she couldn’t pinpoint what. Still, a sen
se of relief washed over her, but it didn’t stick. Riley wanted to believe Taylor’s story, but she knew her best friend. Liza would’ve called. She wouldn’t have left Riley hanging, especially when they had plans and Riley had traveled all this way.
Riley gripped the strap of her cross-body bag. “What time did you talk to her?”
“Around noon. Look, I have to meet my fiancé for dinner.”
Maybe he was the person she’d been raising her voice to on the phone.
“You don’t sound all that concerned about Liza,” Josh said.
“I have my own problems going on. Besides, she sounded fine on the phone, although she was in a hurry. She said she was late in meeting you.” She pointed at Riley.
Charlie guarded the bedroom door as though he wanted to protect Ivy.
“Obviously, she didn’t meet me.” The sarcasm tumbled out. Riley’s nerves were fried. Her stomach was all in knots, and she had that bad feeling she’d gotten at the airport, multiplied a million times over.
Riley plucked her phone out of her purse and tapped on Liza’s number for probably the thousandth time that day. The line immediately went to voice mail.
Josh glanced at her. “No answer?”
Riley shook her head. “Taylor, when we spoke at the office this morning, you mentioned the two men from Boston. Why weren’t you supposed to say anything about them?”
She was still fidgeting with a nail. “Liza didn’t want anyone to know.”
Riley rubbed her neck. The day was catching up with her, and tiredness was setting in. “So Liza knew the men?”
“She knew one of them,” Taylor said as a matter of fact. “She wouldn’t tell me anything more than that.”
“Did Liza speak with them?” Josh asked.
“No. As I said, they left without speaking with Liza.”
Josh bit on his lip. “If they didn’t speak with Liza, then how did she know one of them?”
Great question.
Taylor toyed with her one-carat diamond. “I described them to Liza.”
Riley understood that rent could be high in the city, but everything about Taylor said she came from money or had money. As far as Riley was concerned, Taylor was their number-one suspect. Regardless, they could probe the woman for hours. She wasn’t going to tell them anything else. Besides, if Liza was at her apartment, they had a chance to catch her since she wasn’t answering her phone.
Once they were outside, Riley asked, “Do you think she’s telling us the truth about talking to Liza?”
“Not sure,” Josh said. “Maybe Liza’s into something we don’t know about.”
Riley prayed she wasn’t doing work for the mafia.
Chapter Ten
When Josh pulled into a spot across from Liza’s place, he noticed two men sitting in a black SUV. Riley had her hand on the door handle, eager to see if Taylor was telling the truth.
“Wait,” Josh said.
She flashed her gray eyes his way. “What’s wrong?”
“I think we have company in the black SUV two cars down and across the street.”
Riley sat back, smoothing a hand over her hair. “The men from Boston?”
The car could have been government, mafia, or anyone. “Don’t know. I can’t make out who it is from here.” The windows were slightly tinted. “Wait here with Charlie. I’ll run in and see if Liza’s home.”
Riley grabbed his arm. “I think we should stick together.” Her calm voice belied the fright in her eyes.
“Get behind the wheel. I want you to get out of here if anything happens.” Josh prayed that nothing would. But the warning bells were going off in his head. The people in that car had to be watching for Liza.
Riley’s pretty features turned dark. “I’m not leaving you here.”
Josh placed his palm on her cheek. “Baby doll, I know how to handle myself.”
She leaned into his hand. “You should at least take Charlie.”
He should have, but Charlie would slow him down. “I won’t be long.” Josh rubbed his thumb over her smooth cheek.
Her eyelids became heavy. “What if you can’t hear someone coming up behind you?”
Josh sat back. “Give me your phone.” When she did, he punched in his number then called himself so he would have her number. “Text me if those guys follow me in.” Then he darted out before he changed his mind and had her come with him, and before he kissed her.
Josh kept his head down, ignoring the men. He didn’t want to call attention to himself, and he wanted to make it look as if he lived in the building. He fired a quick look over his shoulder at Riley before he entered. She’d gotten behind the wheel.
Good girl.
He gave a passing glance to the black SUV, but he still couldn’t see the people inside clearly. His gut was telling him that Liza wasn’t home. Or maybe she was, and those men were waiting for her to leave. Either way, Josh rushed up to the third floor, taking the steps two at a time. He didn’t want to leave Riley alone for too long.
But she was right. He probably should’ve taken Charlie with him. At least Charlie could’ve alerted Josh to noises or someone following them. Deep down, though, Josh didn’t want to put the dog in harm’s way. As protective as he might be, Charlie wasn’t an attack dog.
Josh made it to Liza’s door, when his phone vibrated in his jeans pocket. His pulse quickened. He had no way to protect himself other than his fists. He felt naked without all his tactical gear, something he’d thought he would never need again. But as the hours were passing with no signs of his cousin, Josh had a feeling he would need some type of weapon to protect Riley and himself.
With his lack of hearing, the only thing going for him was his sense of smell, and that only worked if the person had any kind of body odor or was wearing perfumes or colognes.
Liza’s apartment was still a mess, and there were no signs of life. Josh was glad he’d taken Salem home. She was currently lounging with his dad.
“Liza?” Josh called as he fished out his phone.
A text from Drake said, Did you find Liza?
Josh didn’t have time to answer. He checked the bedroom and bathroom, inhaling a few times to see if there were any fresh smells of anyone, including his cousin, who always wore a flowery perfume.
He got nothing. Walking out of the bedroom, he froze.
Two police officers had guns drawn on him.
Instinctively, Josh raised his hands.
The cop with the larger build didn’t move while his partner cuffed Josh.
“I can explain,” Josh said. There was no use fighting them off. Josh would only end up in jail.
Once Josh wasn’t a threat, both cops did a quick sweep of the place. The thinner cop returned to Josh, while his partner started talking into his radio.
Josh couldn’t hear what was being said, but he didn’t have to. The cop was probably reporting what they’d found so far.
The one in front of Josh moved his lips, but he wasn’t talking loud or close enough for Josh to hear.
So Josh angled his head.
In a flash, the cop’s hand was on the gun at his side.
“I can’t hear all that well. You need to talk into my right ear. Or speak up.”
He visibly relaxed. “Name,” he practically shouted.
“My girlfriend is outside.” The word girlfriend came out easily as if Riley and Josh had been dating forever. The thought of her being his girl appealed to him in so many ways. She lives in Boston. Long-distance relationships don’t work. “Can I make sure she’s all right? Then I’ll answer all your questions.”
“That’s not how this works,” he said.
The name on his uniform read Tanner. “Officer Tanner,” Josh said politely. “You can arrest me, but please, I need to make sure she’s okay. She’s in a blue Honda with my service dog.”
One eyebrow rose. “Hodge,” Tanner said to his partner. “Can you check a blue Honda outside?”
Hodge nodded, revealing a double chin
as he stalked out.
Josh slumped his shoulders. “My cousin Liza Bandon lives here. I think she’s in trouble. Is that why you’re here?”
Tanner glanced around. “No. A Grayson Shield called. He reported that people have been in and out of this apartment all day.”
Josh knitted his brows. “Did he say if my cousin was one of those people?” Surely, Grayson wouldn’t report anything to the cops if Liza was here or if he didn’t think she was in trouble.
“No. Do you know who tore up the place?”
“No clue.” The more the hours ticked by with no sign of Liza, the more Josh’s stomach knotted. “I was here earlier today… ”
Hodge returned. “There’s no blue Honda outside.”
The blood drained from Josh’s face. Stars coated his vision. Don’t panic. Riley probably sensed danger and took off. You did tell her do that.
“Did you notice a black SUV with two men in it parked outside?” Josh asked, holding his breath.
Hodge shook his head.
Josh had to be as pale as the walls in the apartment. First Liza. Now Riley. Liza’s last words were “take care of Riley.” Josh’s heart skipped a beat. The cuffs were cutting off his circulation. And suddenly, the room was becoming claustrophobic. “Please take these cuffs off.” His tone was lethal.
Tanner’s eyebrows climbed to his dark hairline. “It’s time to take you down to the station for more questioning.”
“I need to find my girl.” Josh did everything he could to soften his tone, but he knew firsthand that appealing to a cop never worked. Josh could talk until he was blue in the face. They were only doing their jobs. Case in point: Dad had called to say Mom was in the hospital and that he didn’t have good news.
“Get here as fast as you can,” he’d said.
Josh had explained to the officer that night that he was headed to an emergency.
“As much as I would like to believe you, I get that excuse all the time,” the officer had said.
Rescuing Riley: The Gold Coast Retrievers, Book 2 Page 6