Josh couldn’t say he disagreed, but that dinky and dingy apartment probably rented for at least fifteen hundred dollars a month.
“I’m going into the city first thing in the morning to talk to Taylor,” Riley said as sure as Charlie was snoring.
Josh jerked so hard, he almost fell on top of her. Over my dead body. “You’re not going alone.”
You can’t stop her. You don’t have any say in what she does. And let’s not forget you’re handicapped. With your slight limp and lack of hearing, you wouldn’t even hear a gun being cocked until it was too late.
Dad set the receiver down. “No answer. Also, I have my quarterly appointment with my neurologist tomorrow at Gold Coast General.”
“Then we’ll go after your appointment.” Josh could make arrangements for one of Dad’s caregivers to take him, but Josh wanted to be there. That way, he could hear firsthand what the doctor had to say, especially if they had to make decisions on the next steps of Dad’s medical care. The neurologist had recommended a feeding tube at some point. Dad wasn’t quite there yet, but he was starting to have problems with swallowing.
Riley rested a hand on Josh’s thigh. “You take care of your dad. I’ll be fine. I’m just going to talk to Taylor. Besides, she might open up to me without you there. I think she’s afraid of you.”
Josh pushed his tongue against his teeth to keep from groaning at how good her hand felt on him. Maybe he was exaggerating a little on how she affected him, but the woman had some kind of hold over his mind and body.
“And what if the black SUV shows up? Or they follow you this time?”
The more Charlie got rubbed, the more Josh pouted, wishing he were a dog. How crazy is that?
“They don’t know who I am.”
“So those men didn’t see you in the car as they passed by?”
“Maybe. But I was petting Charlie when they drove by, which was another reason I didn’t get a good look. I was trying not to bring attention to myself. Besides, they probably didn’t even think twice about a girl and her dog. I promise I’ll call you as soon as I’m done and on my way back here.”
Josh studied her and realized she had a beauty mark just below her left eye.
Dad cleared his throat, bringing Josh out of his lust-filled haze.
Focus, man.
A wild laugh broke out in his head. As long as Riley was near him, his head would be fuzzy.
“Josh,” both Dad and Riley said at the same time.
Josh blinked and found Dad grinning as though he knew what Josh was thinking. Dad probably did since he was a man too.
“Promise you’ll call me as soon as you leave the city,” Josh said to Riley, knowing deep down in his gut that he was going to regret not going with her.
Chapter Fifteen
The drive into the city was horrible. Boston had traffic, but not like the Bay Area. The cars were backed up for miles on the Golden Gate Bridge.
Josh had said rush hour started at five in the morning and that by nine, most commuters were at their desks.
The clock in the car read 9:15 a.m. He’d been so wrong.
Maybe summer vacation was responsible for all the traffic. The GPS indicated that Riley had thirty minutes to her destination, which was a short five miles away.
Taking in a much-needed breath, Riley gripped the steering wheel as she hit the gas, only to move an inch before she pumped the brakes. It had been like that for the last forty minutes.
Traffic was the bane of her existence. Maybe she should find a place in the country, away from the bustle of the city—any city.
You love the energy, the atmosphere, and the fast-paced city life. Riley had grown up listening to horns blowing outside her bedroom window and the noise of engines purring at all hours of the night.
The marine layer hovered over the city in the distance, and the temperature was a cool fifty-five degrees. Riley pushed the down button to crack a window then closed it quickly when too much exhaust from the cars suddenly filtered in.
She had plenty of time to think about what she would ask Taylor, and the more Riley noodled on everything the woman had told them, the more something bothered her. Taylor hadn’t sounded as concerned as Riley and Josh were about Liza. It almost sounded as though she knew Liza was fine. Riley wasn’t holding out hope that Taylor would tell her anything. But if Taylor was being loyal to Liza, there was something commendable in that. But by golly, if Taylor knew anything, Riley would do her best to yank it out of the woman.
Riley pumped the brake when her phone rang and shut down the radio. Then she hit the connect button.
“Riley, it’s Josh. Did you make it?”
Riley giggled. “Um, no. I’m sitting on the bridge in traffic. You’re worried about me, aren’t you?”
Quietness ticked over the line. Riley had to look at the screen of her phone to see if they’d gotten disconnected. “Josh, are you there?”
“Yes, I’m worried. I hate that you’re doing this alone.”
She warmed at the knowledge that Josh was worried about her. But she couldn’t sit around anymore and wait for information on Liza.
“What time is your dad’s appointment?” Maybe Riley could take his mind off of her.
“In about an hour. But I want you to call me after you speak with Taylor.” His voice was deep and husky, causing the butterflies in Riley’s stomach to take flight. He also sounded as if he were the leader of an army. She imagined some of his Navy SEAL training was idling on the surface, waiting to come out and take charge.
“Yes, sir,” she teased.
“And Riley,” he said softly that time. “After we find Liza, would you like to get dinner and go to a movie?”
Those butterflies fluttering around in her belly went wild. Riley wanted to blurt out “yes, yes, yes.” But a little voice in the back of her mind was cautioning her. She had to get back to Boston and her job soon. She wasn’t sure how much longer she could stay. Her assistants were doing a great job filling in for her, but they could only do so much for so long. Moreover, Riley had the wedding of all weddings coming up in about a month. The mayor of Boston’s daughter was getting married. Riley had been fortunate to secure that contract two years ago. She had to be there and not just for the wedding day. The two weeks prior to a wedding were always an extremely busy time to get every detail ready for the big day.
“Can we find Liza and then talk?” He had to know that she was returning to Boston.
Silence ticked—one second then two. “Sure.” Disappointment laced his tone. “My dad is calling me. Talk soon.” Then the music filled the car.
The last thing she wanted to do was hurt Josh or get hurt herself.
One date doesn’t mean marriage. Maybe not, but it could lead to feelings that they couldn’t explore if they were on opposite ends of the country.
Riley tuned in to the radio as she inched another foot. She couldn’t think about her love life, so instead, she ran through some questions in her head that she would ask Taylor when she arrived.
After forty-five minutes, Riley was walking into Stitches, Inc. Her body was tense from the stop-and-go traffic, and it didn’t help that she’d been gripping the wheel so tightly, she thought her fingers were going to fall off.
Candace, the receptionist who’d caught Josh in Liza’s office, was sitting at the reception desk. When she lifted her blue eyes and found Riley, she winced. Then a scowl formed.
Riley imagined someone had reprimanded the woman or at least Taylor had told. Either way, Riley didn’t regret what Josh and she had done. She would’ve done anything to find her best friend.
Candace stood up, smoothing a hand down her soft, gray, sleeveless dress. “Liza isn’t here.” Her lips were pursed so tightly that her red lipstick cracked.
Riley gave one of her fake business smiles that she painted on when she met clients. As a professional, it was polite to put on that happy face. “I would like to see Taylor Manning.”
Candace pinned Riley with a glare. “Yo
u don’t have an appointment.”
Riley lost her smile. She thought she and Candace had bonded a smidge the other day. Then again, if Candace had gotten into trouble for giving out Taylor’s address, any connection Riley had made was gone.
In their previous conversation, Candace had said she was engaged. Riley wasn’t into bribing people, but the circumstance called for extreme measures. She dipped into her purse and produced a business card. “I’m sorry if you got into trouble because of me. But I would like to make it up to you.” Riley handed over her card. “I can give you a discount on a cake for your wedding or even cut you a deal on the cost of the venue.”
Candace read the card, pinching her perfectly manicured eyebrows. “This says Boston on it. I’m getting married in San Francisco. Do you have an office out here?”
Riley tucked hair behind her ear. She’d left her hair down instead of twisting it up on her head that day. “I work with a lot of companies outside of the New England area.” She didn’t do business with anyone in California. Yet if Candace said where she was having her reception or who was making her cake, Riley would pay ten percent of the bill, which could be significant if Candace chose to accept the offer.
Candace blew out a breath. “I don’t take bribes.”
The fifteenth floor of executive offices was as quiet as it had been the other day when Riley had visited. She wondered for a split second if people actually worked on that floor. “It’s my way of saying I’m sorry.”
Candace studied her for a second before saying, “You’re lucky I didn’t lose my job.”
Riley was curious as to what Candace would’ve done if she had lost her job. She didn’t seem like the type to take revenge on anyone. In fact, she came across as fragile and desperate.
Riley leaned onto the counter. “Look, Candace, I don’t want any trouble. I know Liza isn’t here. I need to talk to Taylor. She might know where Liza is.” Riley’s tone was low and soft. “I need to find my best friend. Her family is quite worried too. Wouldn’t you do anything if something happened to a loved one?”
The area around Candace’s eyes crinkled. “I would call the cops.”
Riley held back a snarl. “Sadly, we did. The SFPD doesn’t have any leads to go on. The FBI doesn’t either.”
Candace’s features softened as she sat down. “Taylor said she didn’t want to be disturbed.”
Riley figuratively scratched her head. Taylor was an assistant, not an executive of the company who could give that type of order.
“Then I’ll wait,” Riley said. “I’m not leaving here until I talk to Taylor.”
Candace’s chest lifted as she considered Riley. “Are you serious about a discount?”
Riley nodded.
Candace scraped her nails through her bright-red hair. “I could use a discount for the cake.”
“Done. Now can you get Taylor?”
She lifted the phone’s receiver and pushed a button. “Yes, Riley is here to see you.” There was a brief pause. “Sure.” She set down the phone. “She’s finishing up a call. She’ll be a few minutes.” Candace pocketed Riley’s card. “My wedding isn’t for another two months. So I’ll call you with the details of my cake.”
“Great. It was a long drive in. Can I use the restroom while I wait? I know where it is.” Riley didn’t give her a chance to answer, seriously needing to use the ladies’ room.
On her way down the hall of offices, Riley could feel Candace watching her. When she reached the bathroom, Riley sent a smile back toward the front desk before going in.
She quickly took care of business and had every intention of returning to the waiting area until she heard Taylor’s voice coming from one of the offices. Riley checked for Candace, but the redhead had stepped away.
Clutching the strap of her purse, Riley inched down the black-carpeted hall like a cat burglar, looking over her shoulder every few steps for Candace or security.
“Where are you?” Taylor asked.
Riley stopped outside Liza’s office then peeked in.
Taylor was at a glass desk with her back to Riley, facing the city view out the floor-to-ceiling window.
If Riley weren’t mistaken, this was Liza’s office. Or maybe it wasn’t. When Candace had caught Josh the other day, Liza’s office had had racks of dresses hiding the furniture. This one had been cleared out as though Liza had been let go.
Riley scanned the hall and the doors. No nameplates existed on any of them. She should’ve knocked, but she wanted to eavesdrop some more.
However, she didn’t get a chance to even take her next breath before Candace shouted, “Riley!”
Riley almost cowered as if she’d been caught passing a note to her best friend in junior high. It had been an embarrassing day when Ms. Fennel had taken that note and read it to the class.
I made out with Daniel. He kisses sloppy.
The entire class had laughed as Riley had turned a million shades of deep red.
Candace hurried down the hall then came to a full stop, planting her hands on her thin hips, in front of Riley. “You don’t belong down here. I should get security.”
And Riley should’ve screamed at the top of her lungs. Why didn’t anyone at this company care that Liza was missing? So Riley mimicked Candace’s body language right down to the scowl. “I think I’ll call security. What don’t you people understand? Liza Bandon is missing. I believe someone around here knows where she is.”
A door popped open down a few yards from where Riley stood, and a chunky man with gray hair and a gray mustache walked out, wearing a sharp business suit. “What’s going on?”
Taylor threw her door open, her blue eyes wide. “Nothing, Mr. Gansett.” Her voice cracked.
“Bull,” Riley said as she stalked up to Mr. Gansett.
He smoothed a hand down his blue tie as he hovered just outside his office.
Taylor rushed forward and grabbed Riley’s arm, her nails digging into Riley’s skin. “I’ll handle this, Mr. Gansett.”
Candace joined them. “I’m sorry, sir.”
Both Candace and Taylor were nervous, leading Riley to believe that this well-dressed man had some clout at the company.
Riley jerked out of Taylor’s hold. “Touch me again, and I will give you the shiner of your life.” Riley wasn’t one to punch or physically fight. She left that to Ross, who didn’t mind throwing a punch when he needed to. But she wasn’t one to let people grab her or walk all over her. The last girl who’d pushed Riley in the schoolyard in the eighth grade had ended up with a bloody nose.
Mr. Gansett held up fat fingers. “Ladies, calm down. Candace, return to reception. Taylor, in my office.”
Candace practically ran as if Mr. Gansett would cut off her head… or fire her. Taylor, on the other hand, sashayed into Mr. Gansett’s office as though she weren’t afraid of the man, which belied the fear in her voice.
“Now what’s this about?” Mr. Gansett asked Riley in a polite tone.
“I believe Taylor has information on the whereabouts of Liza Bandon.”
He angled his head. “It is my understanding that Liza is away on a business trip.”
Riley let out a manic laugh. It was clear to her that this man didn’t know what was going on, or maybe he did and didn’t care. But Riley’s intuition was telling her that he believed Liza was on a business trip.
“Look, Ms.…”
“Lewis. I’m Riley Lewis.”
He grinned as though something had dawned on him. “The wedding planner, Riley Lewis? As in the one planning the wedding for the Boston Mayor’s daughter? Liza’s best friend from Boston?” Awe washed over him as if Riley were some big celebrity.
Liza had screamed in excitement when Riley had said she’d gotten the contract of her career. It seemed Liza hadn’t been able to contain how proud she was. Not that the news of Riley’s contract was a secret. In fact, the newspapers in Boston were all abuzz with speculation on the dress and the guest list, almost as if Brenda Nuñez,
the soon-to-be Mrs. David Williams, were royalty.
The anger that had taken hold of Riley’s stomach weakened for the moment. “In the flesh.”
“Why didn’t you say so? I’m Liza’s boss. She told me she would be spending time with you. Are you saying that didn’t happen last weekend?” His bushy eyebrows rose slightly.
“The last time I heard from her was the day she was supposed to pick me up at the airport, which was almost a week ago now. Her family is as worried as I am. The FBI is looking for her too.”
He flinched then waved a hand into his office. “Why don’t you come in, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
Agent Wallace had said Liza’s boss hadn’t been in the office when he and Dennison questioned the employees.
Riley sighed quietly. Finally, someone wanted to help, someone who seemed to care about Liza’s welfare.
Chapter Sixteen
Josh transferred Dad from the wheelchair to the recliner in front of the TV in the family room. Their house was located on the same side of the street as the inn, which meant that Dad’s property had a view of the Pacific, although the view wasn’t as spectacular as the one from Redwood Cove Inn. Part of the view was obstructed by the cliffs off to the right.
Nevertheless, the family room had accordion glass doors that opened to a deck. Josh cracked open one side of the glass panel to let in the cool ocean air.
Dad flicked on the TV. “I just love when the breeze comes in.”
Josh loved everything about living there. Memories of Mom accosted him every time he walked into the family room. He would always find her sitting in her chaise lounge, crocheting hats, scarves, and other items for the humanitarian group she belonged to at the local church.
Josh didn’t think he would ever move. When Dad passed, Josh would inherit not only the house, but Redwood Cove Inn. Josh clutched the back of his neck and focused on the waves, trying not to think that far into the future. Losing his mom had been heart-wrenching. He didn’t want to go through something like that again. Yet he knew that was a pipe dream.
Rescuing Riley: The Gold Coast Retrievers, Book 2 Page 9