Rescuing Riley: The Gold Coast Retrievers, Book 2

by Alexander, S. B

  Dad’s neurologist couldn’t give him an exact time on when his ALS would escalate. On average, people with ALS lasted three years from the time they were diagnosed. Dad was at the beginning of his second year. In addition, he was taking medication to slow the process. However, slowing down his ALS only meant he could tack on two or three months to his life.

  The wind was playing with the waves, as was a surfer. Josh had never had the itch to try surfing, although the guy appeared to be in his element and having a good time. Josh’s idea of a good time was strapping on his SEAL gear, hanging out with his former team, and protecting his Navy brothers as well as his country. That always got him fired up.

  Josh had brooded for months after the doc told him he wouldn’t be going on any more missions. But he’d already known he couldn’t. The limp in his gait would’ve slowed him down, and his hearing would’ve only gotten him killed along with others. Josh had the option of a desk job at some military base in the US, but working behind some desk wasn’t him.

  “Josh. Josh,” Dad said again.

  The urgency in his voice made Josh’s heart fall to his feet. Josh rushed to his dad’s side. “Are you okay?”

  Dad smiled, allowing Josh’s pulse to slow. While Dad didn’t smile often, he’d come to terms with his ALS. “I was dealt this card, son,” he’d said many times. “Now I have to make the best of it.”

  Josh could understand the reasoning. With his own hearing impairment, Josh had to do the same with what fate had given him. Of course his situation didn’t have an end date like Dad’s.

  “Can you get me my glasses?”

  Josh snagged them off the coffee table and set them on Dad’s nose. “I need to go to the inn. Your caregiver should be here within thirty minutes. Will you be okay? Do you need to use the restroom?”

  Dad adjusted his reading glasses. “I’ll be fine. Any word from your girl?” His tone was charged with both excitement and trepidation. Josh knew he was worried about Liza.

  “You’re still trying to play matchmaker?” Josh teased.

  “You both like each other but aren’t doing anything about it. Why not? She’s beautiful, your type, and I like her.”

  Josh crossed his arms. “How do you know my type?” This he had to hear. He hadn’t brought any women home since high school.

  Dad cocked one eyebrow. “Son, Riley resembles Marybeth.”

  Josh could feel a deep crease forming in between his eyes. “I don’t think so.” Sure, Riley and Marybeth both had black hair, but Riley’s eyes were a stormy gray, and Marybeth had blue eyes.

  Dad reclined in his chair. “All I’m saying is ask her out.”

  Josh tucked his hands into his jeans pockets and lowered his gaze as if he were shy talking about girls, dates, and what Dad wanted for him deep down—marriage. “I did ask her to dinner and a movie.”

  Dad’s face glowed all of a sudden. “She said yes, I hope.”

  Josh glanced at the TV. Good Morning, Gold Coast was on. Dad recorded the morning show. He loved watching the mascot more than the host. Their mascot was a golden retriever named Star, who stole the show every time. Plus, Charlie seemed to notice the pretty mascot, as he barked at the screen on occasion when he was in the room. “It’s hard to date a woman who doesn’t live here.”

  “Distance doesn’t matter. Woo her as much as you can while she’s here. And make sure she knows how you feel, especially before she leaves. You do feel something, right?”

  Josh harrumphed. He felt lots of things around Riley that his dad didn’t need to know about. Regardless, Josh did want to get married someday. He wasn’t opposed to dating someone steady, and Riley was the perfect candidate. Actually, she was the only one who was worming her way into his heart and his head. If Josh were being honest, she was setting his body on fire—a fire that would rage until their lips locked and their bodies melted together.

  “I just met her. It’s not like one kiss and we’ll walk into the sunset and live happily ever after.”

  Dad gave one of those looks that said, Right. You keep lying to yourself. “That’s what happened with your mom and me. So don’t be so jaded about love.”

  Josh wasn’t jaded; he was just a realist.

  Star bounced onto the set, and the host, Dash Diamond, greeted her.

  As if Charlie knew, he came into the room, licking his chops. When they’d gotten home from Gold Coast General, Charlie had beelined for his food bowl, which he hadn’t touched yet that morning. He jumped up onto the sofa and got comfy as he gazed at the TV.

  “I predict you two will be married within a year, two at the most,” Dad said.

  Josh full-on belly laughed, petting Charlie. “Hey, boy. Do you think I’ll be married to Riley one day?”

  He yawned.

  On that note, Josh checked his phone to see if his bride-to-be had texted or left him a voice mail. Bride-to-be. That thought made him laugh again.

  “Nothing from Riley.” Josh kissed Dad on the head. “Charlie is staying here for a couple of hours. He looks as tired as you.”

  Josh usually gave Charlie a day or two off, although the golden retriever liked to be at the inn, greeting people on occasion and staying by Josh’s side.

  “We’ll be napping until my caregiver gets here. Let me know if you find out anything on Liza.” Worry plagued Dad’s voice.

  Charlie curled up, yawning once again.

  Josh kissed the dog too. “I’ll be back shortly.”

  As soon as he was outside, Josh called Riley. He’d been dying to talk to her since he’d hung up with her about two hours before. He’d been checking his phone constantly too. Josh pressed the phone to his ear, and the line rang three times before Riley’s voice mail picked up. She was probably still talking to Taylor. He didn’t leave a message. He didn’t want to come off as desperate, even though he was for two reasons. He was finding that her voice had a way of calming him, and he wanted news on Liza.

  Josh’s next call was to Liza. Not surprisingly, her voice mail picked up the second the line connected. Then he called the SFPD to see if they had any leads on Liza since he’d filed a missing person report.

  Josh waited to be connected to Officer Tanner as he sauntered the one block to the inn. When he arrived at the main entrance, Tanner’s voice came through the line.

  “Josh, I don’t have any leads. I’m sorry.”

  Josh wondered if Tanner or anyone within the department was even trying hard. “Thanks. I also wanted to tell you that the FBI is looking for my cousin too.”

  “What? Since when?” Tanner asked.

  “Since yesterday.” When Tanner and his partner had dragged Josh down to the precinct, Josh had brought them up to speed on who Liza had worked for back in Boston and what he suspected.

  “Honestly, maybe they’ll have better luck than us. We have a high caseload.”

  That wasn’t exactly what Josh wanted to hear. He believed they had a better chance if they all worked together or if they at least had everyone looking for Liza. “Please keep trying.”

  “I’ll call you if I find anything,” Tanner said.

  Pocketing his phone, Josh ambled into the inn with one purpose in mind—to find Agents Wallace and Dennison.

  Drake waved Josh over as soon as Josh stepped inside.

  Josh circled the front desk then tapped a few keys on the computer until he found Wallace’s room number.

  “I take it there’s no word on Liza. Did Riley get anywhere with that assistant?” Drake rubbed his bald head. “And where’s Charlie?”

  “No on Liza. Don’t know on Riley, and Charlie is napping with my dad.” Josh dialed Wallace’s room. “Agent Wallace, Josh here. Any word from the hospitals?”

  “I was just coming down to find you,” Wallace said. “None of the hospitals report anyone by the name of Liza Bandon, but I do have other information. Are you free to meet me in the restaurant?”

  Josh’s pulse quickened so fast, he had to catch his breath. “Can you tell me over
the phone? Did you find Liza?”

  “I’m on a call right now with the Boston office. We might have a breakthrough. Meet me in fifteen minutes.” He sounded indifferent, giving Josh no hint of good news or bad.

  Several expletives fell quietly from Josh’s lips as his stomach coiled. It was going to be the longest fifteen minutes of his life.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Taylor picked at the nail polish on her thumb as she and Riley both sat across the mahogany desk from Mr. Gansett.

  The atmosphere was rife with tension so thick, one would’ve needed a chisel to break through it. Actually, a chisel sounded good right about then. Maybe Riley could’ve used the tool to knock the information out of Taylor about what else she wasn’t saying.

  Taylor fixated on her Jimmy Choo navy-blue heels. Rent might have been expensive in the city, but she could’ve afforded a decent place other than the dump Josh and Riley had found her in. That much, Riley was sure of, particularly since Taylor was wearing a tailored blazer over a knee-length skirt that probably cost more than Riley’s plane ticket.

  Mr. Gansett loosened his tie, scrutinizing both women.

  Taylor fidgeted as she stole a look at her boss’s boss.

  His leatherback chair squeaked as he rolled it toward the desk. Then he knotted his fingers together and propped up his elbows. “Taylor, you told me Liza was on a business trip to LA this week. Is that true or not?”

  Riley literally choked, ready to unleash all her anger on the thin and frail blonde—frail in the sense that she was cowering under his scrutiny.

  Riley crossed one Capri-clad leg over the other and pierced Taylor with a hard look.

  Taylor stuck out her angular chin. “Liza is on a business trip. At least that was what she told me. It was a last-minute change in her schedule. Ms. Norton wanted one of her designs changed. Liza had to fly to London.”

  Riley had no idea who Ms. Norton was and didn’t care. “If that is true, then why can’t I reach her on her phone? Why hasn’t she called me to let me know? She wouldn’t drop our plans last weekend without a phone call or an explanation. You’re lying, Taylor. What are you hiding? Are you involved in Liza’s disappearance? Should I have the FBI check into your background?”

  Taylor sucked in the woodsy-scented air. Mr. Gansett seemed to have bathed in a bottle of men’s cologne. She swallowed loudly. “I’ve done nothing wrong.”

  Riley interlocked her fingers, mostly so she wouldn’t use them on Taylor. Riley sighed, trying to get her nerves under control. “Look.” She softened her voice. “I get the feeling you’re loyal to Liza. But I also get the feeling that you know where she is.”

  Taylor’s jaw hardened. “How many times do I have to tell you? I don’t.”

  Riley wanted to strangle the blonde, yet she had to take a step back. No matter how hard Riley probed, it was clear Taylor wasn’t going to tell them anything. Riley looked to Mr. Gansett for help and hoped he got the silent message she was sending him with her eyes.

  He cleared his throat. “Riley, tell me about the FBI and why they’re looking for Liza.”

  Riley pushed a nail into her palm. She wasn’t sure how much to tell him with Taylor present, although Taylor had told the FBI about the two men looking for Liza. Then again, Riley didn’t really know much except that Liza had called them. “I’m not sure. But I’m glad they’re involved. Maybe they can find Liza.”

  Mr. Gansett considered Taylor.

  As if his intimidating glare jolted her, Taylor said, “The FBI was here yesterday, asking to see Liza. They wanted to speak with you, but you weren’t here.”

  He swung his gaze between both women before lifting his eyebrows at Riley. “Let me get this straight. Almost a week ago, you flew in to see Liza. But you never saw her and didn’t spend the weekend with her.” His eyes shifted to Taylor. “And you’re now telling me that Liza is on a last-minute business trip to London to see Ms. Norton. Is that correct?”

  “Yes,” Taylor said meekly.

  “Taylor.” Mr. Gansett’s voice was deep and intimidating, reminding Riley of her loser father before she thought he was a worthless person. “I know you need this job. So if I find out you’re lying, I will fire you on the spot.” He pressed a button on his phone. “Candace, please get me Ms. Norton on the phone ASAP. Also, check with accounting to see if a plane ticket was recently booked in Liza’s name to London.”

  Candace’s light and airy voice came through the speakerphone. “Sure thing, sir.”

  As they waited, Mr. Gansett said, “Riley, is there anything else you can tell me about the FBI and their involvement with Liza.”

  Taylor, meek and scared, eyed Riley. She was becoming an enigma. When Josh and Riley had spoken to Taylor at her apartment the other day, the woman seemed to have a little more courage than she did now. Sure, Mr. Gansett was on the verge of firing her if Liza wasn’t meeting with Ms. Norton, and every ounce of Riley’s being knew that Liza hadn’t flown to London.

  Riley sat up straighter, shaking her head. “I can put you in touch with an Agent Wallace.” It was best if Agent Wallace spoke to Mr. Gansett directly.

  He smoothed two fingers over his mustache. “Does this have anything to do with her former employer?”

  Riley suspected that Liza had been required to divulge her past employers on her resumé when she’d applied for the job at Stitches, Inc. “Possibly.”

  The buzz of the phone trilled, causing Taylor to flinch. Riley had never seen someone so nervous to the point that a sheen of sweat coated her made-up face. At any moment, Taylor’s foundation would start to melt.

  Mr. Gansett pressed a button on the phone.

  “Patching Ms. Norton through,” Candace said.

  The thick tension in the room solidified into cement.

  “Wayne,” Ms. Norton said. “How are you?” Her voice had a rasp to it as though she were a long-time smoker.

  “Delia, I’m good. I was calling to see if Liza made it to London.” Mr. Gansett’s hard look was riveted on Taylor.

  Riley held her breath. If Liza had taken a plane to London, that would’ve explained why all Riley’s calls had gone straight to voice mail.

  “Liza’s in London?” Delia asked.

  Taylor hung her head, and a tear fell on her tan skirt.

  Mr. Gansett bit his lip before responding. “So she’s not meeting with you about your designs?”

  “No, Wayne. What’s this about? Is Liza all right?”

  Mr. Gansett played with his mustache. “She’s fine.” He didn’t sound all that convincing.

  Riley was relieved to know that she was right. Liza wasn’t on a business trip. Yet the notion of Liza being hurt or worse freaked Riley out more than ever. She couldn’t think about the worse. However, statistics had shown that the longer a person was missing, the more likely she wouldn’t be found alive.

  Tears stung Riley’s eyes. She felt as if a swarm of bees had found a home underneath her eyelids. She picked a focal point past the hefty man behind the desk and counted the number of windows on the building across the street. She’d gotten to twenty when Mr. Gansett almost shouted, “Taylor, you’re fired.”

  Riley blinked once then twice, a tear escaping down her cheek.

  “I swear to you that Liza told me she was headed to London to see Ms. Norton. I swear it.” Taylor’s voice cracked in so many places.

  As for Riley, she was trying to breathe.

  Taylor’s nostrils flared as she swiveled her head slowly toward Riley. “This is all your fault.”

  Riley’s mouth fell to her lap, where she was digging her nails into her palms. “How so?”

  Taylor mashed her lips into a thin line. “I needed this job.”

  Riley couldn’t help but laugh.

  “Taylor, I need you to clean out your desk,” Mr. Gansett said as though he were used to firing people, which he probably was, given that he was the boss.

  Courage seeped into Taylor’s eyes and washed over her body as she wagged h
er finger at Riley. Meek Taylor was gone, and a demon of sorts bloomed to life. “You will pay for this”

  Mr. Gansett became a water stain on the window as Riley narrowed her focus to Taylor. “Tell me what you know about Liza.” she said rather than asked.

  Taylor’s blue eyes were telling Riley nothing but showed defiance. Taylor was standing her ground. Maybe she wasn’t lying after all. But one thing bothered Riley.

  “Who were you talking to when I found you in Liza’s office?”

  “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you,” Taylor said calmly. Then she rose, tugging down her tan blazer. “I’ll pack my things.” She started for the door.

  “Taylor,” Mr. Gansett said. “It might help your situation if you answer Riley’s question.”

  Slowly, she turned, her arms hanging at her sides. “I doubt it. But if you must know, I was talking to Liza.” Then she left without another word.

  Riley didn’t have time to gasp before her phone rang in her purse. She was certain it was Josh checking on her. But her body seemed glued to the chair.

  She couldn’t say how long she sat dumbfounded, but the ringing of her phone once again zapped the life back into her.

  Riley grabbed her bag and bolted out the door. She had to find Taylor.

  Mr. Gansett called her name, but Riley kept going. Taylor was the only person Riley wanted to talk to.

  The hallway was empty. She ran to every office on the floor. No Taylor. Riley checked the restroom. No Taylor.

  Riley asked Candace where Taylor went.

  “She ran out and into the elevator,” Candace said. “What’s going on?”

  Riley wished she knew.

  Her phone would stop ringing then start up again. She took the elevator down to the lobby, but she struck out in finding Taylor.

  Riley had to give the woman props for her disappearing act.

  Riley hurried outside and into a cluster of people going in all directions, when her darn phone went off again.

  “What?” she answered in a rude tone. Then she held her breath. If it were a client, she would be mortified.

  “Oh my God. Finally.”

  “Liza, is that you?”