“I figured that. Scarlet and Eli are heading up to New Hampshire right now for a long weekend at his estate. Scarlet will handle any contact with our client over the phone since the victim was taken in Europe. Maybe Riley could stay with them while you’re gone.”
“That’s actually not a bad idea. We need to relocate, anyway.” Noah stared up at the star-filled sky as he worked out the logistics. “I can drive Riley to Hawthorne first thing in the morning and then head back to Boston. Will that get me there in time? If not, we can leave here tonight.”
“The morning should be fine. I expect it’ll be at least another twenty-four hours before Luna can pinpoint the target’s location. This one’s a total cluster, and we’re waiting on intel.”
“I’ll take off as soon as Riley is delivered safely to Scarlet. She’s my top priority right now.”
“I know that, and I appreciate your willingness to be flexible.”
“Hey, Scarlet may not be running missions with us anymore, but I’d still trust her with my life. With Riley’s life, which is exactly what I’ll be doing. Honestly, I’m plenty pissed at myself for feeling complacent and letting this guy get the drop on us. I didn’t expect anyone to find us here this fast, but obviously I didn’t take enough precautions. This man is better informed than I expected.”
“You’re not careless. If you thought you were safe, you had good reason to believe it.” Wolf paused for a moment. “Which means the shooter has access to details about your personal life that shouldn’t have been readily available. Once we take care of the current situation in France, we’ll find out who fed him that information.”
“Anything to shed some light on the problem. I feel like we’re floundering in the dark.”
“If the cops can’t bring him in, we’ll nail the bastard ourselves.”
Noah smiled at the confidence in Wolf’s voice and hoped to hell he was right. “I need to get back to Riley. Give me a call if anything changes.”
“Will do. See you tomorrow, Patch.”
Noah picked up his gear and headed back to the house. When he tapped lightly on the door, Stormy barked, and Riley appeared a few moments later. She wore pajamas and a robe and held her cell phone pressed to her ear. After she unlocked the door, he pushed it open and set down his load. The scent of garlic bread filled the room, and his mouth watered.
“I have to go, Becca. I’m not sure when I’ll be back in Boston, but I’ll call when I get home. Okay, and congrats again on the new job. I’ll be in touch. Bye.” She stuck her phone in her robe pocket and turned to smile at him. “Dinner’s ready.”
“Good because I’m starving.” He glanced at the clock over the stove. “No wonder. It’s after nine. You changed your clothes.”
“My pants were wet from the knee down. How did it go with the boat?” She forked a porkchop onto a plate next to several slices of bread and handed it to him. “Go sit down. The salad is on the table.”
He stepped around Stormy and pulled out a chair. Riley joined him a few moments later, carrying her own plate.
“I rowed it into the boathouse. The outboard is toast. I’ll have to replace it.”
“That sucks.” She drizzled dressing onto her salad. “My fault your engine was ruined. I hate that you got shot—even if it was just a scratch—because of me.”
He ignored her sarcasm as he took a sip of Gewürztraminer from one of the Mason jars she’d used as wine glasses. “Nice. I like the hint of spice.” After setting down the jar, he stared at her across the table. “Blaming yourself is a waste of energy. None of this is your fault.”
“I feel like it is.”
“Well, you’re wrong.” He changed the subject. “Were you talking to your college friend earlier?”
“Yes, Becca. She’s starting a new job on Monday with a pharmaceutical company.”
He laid down his knife. “Which one?”
Riley glanced up and frowned. “She didn’t say. That’s when you walked in, and I cut the conversation short. Why?”
“A bit of a coincidence, don’t you think? Your friend gets a job working for a company that might very well be after your dementia research, and the idiot who’s made several attempts to kidnap you shows up with guns blazing? I wondered how the hell he knew where to look for us.”
“Except I didn’t tell Becca where I was.” Riley’s voice held an edge. “She didn’t know we were going to Maine. I didn’t tell anyone where we’d be.”
“Are you sure?”
“Positive. But you said you told your teammate.”
Noah nodded. “Wolf doesn’t talk out of turn. Actually, I spoke with him again while I was down on the dock. Unfortunately, I’ll need to leave on a mission tomorrow.”
Riley dropped her fork and pushed aside her plate. “I guess I’ll go home, then.”
Irritation strung his nerves tighter than they already were. “What, you think I’m just going to leave you on your own?”
“That’s exactly what you should do. I’m not your responsibility.”
He counted slowly before speaking. “Wow, you’re in quite a mood.”
She leaned back in her chair and stared at him across the table. “You implied I’m to blame for that freak finding us here and basically accused my friend of ratting me out. That’s after suggesting earlier today that maybe my ex-boyfriend had something to do with my kidnapping. Who next, my grandpa?”
“There’s a leak somewhere. Maybe it’s on my end. Maybe someone questioned a friend or relative of mine about where I might go to get away for a while. Believe me, I intend to cover that base as soon as possible. It’s called keeping an open mind and looking for evidence wherever we find it.” He forced himself to take a bite of his porkchop and chewed.
“Maybe you should have led with that instead of being so judgmental.”
“I guess so. I’m not used to explaining my reasoning. My Counterstrike teammates all pretty much think the same way I do.”
“I can be logical, you know. I’m a scientist. That’s kind of our thing.” She picked at the dark edge of her garlic bread before wiping her fingers on a napkin. “I didn’t mean to let my emotions get the better of me.”
The strain she was feeling was evident in the tightness of her lips and the worry reflected in her eyes. Noah’s exasperation faded.
“I’m sorry. I’m not handling this very well. I’m the one who has every reason to feel guilty. Obviously, I didn’t cover our tracks the way I should have. I left you open to danger. That makes me angry . . . with myself.”
“So, we’re both stupidly accepting guilt for something we didn’t do?” A hint of a smile appeared. “Does that sum up the situation?”
“I guess so.” He reached across the table to take hold of her hand and squeezed. “I’m not leaving you unprotected while I’m working. You can stay with Scarlet and Eli at their place in New Hampshire. Scarlet won’t let anything happen to you.”
“You sound pretty certain of that. What if they aren’t interested in babysitting me?”
He grinned. “They won’t mind, and I’m one hundred percent certain she’ll protect you. I’ve never met a woman more kick-ass than Scarlet, even if she did give up her old position on our team.”
“Dare I ask what that position was?”
“Sniper. She’s one hell of a shot.” He couldn’t keep the admiration out of his tone. “Better than I am, and I’m no slouch.”
“Impressive. Who’d she marry, the Incredible Hulk?”
Noah laughed out loud. “Hardly. They aren’t married. Not yet, anyway. Eli writes books. Thrillers. The guy is always on the bestseller list.”
“Eli Croft?” Her voice rose. “Is that who you’re talking about?”
“I take it you’ve heard of him?”
“Who hasn’t? I have several of his books on my shelves at home.” Riley pulled her plate toward her and picked up her knife and fork. “Based on his book jacket photo, he could pose as one of his own heroes.”
No
ah raised a brow. “Fan girl much?”
“Just a little.” She smiled at him. “Hey, I’m in a better mood now.”
“Then I have nothing to complain about.”
Chapter Thirteen
“I’ll call you as soon as we get back. Hopefully no more than a few days.” Noah bent to kiss her, his lips firm and warm as they covered hers.
Riley was slightly breathless when she finally pulled away. “Please be careful. I know you’re all professionals and used to taking chances, but—”
“Any risks are calculated in our favor.” He kissed her again. “You don’t need to worry.”
“Maybe not, but I will.”
“Damn. I have to go.” He let out a frustrated breath. “Have a good time with Scarlet and Eli.”
“I intend to. Bye, Noah.”
“Bye, Riley.” He backed toward the car, not breaking eye contact. Finally, he climbed in, started the engine, and reversed down the long driveway. With a tap on the horn, he swung clear of the open gates and drove away.
Riley stared after the disappearing car before turning to face the Croft mansion. Stormy and Scarlet’s funny little dog, Watson, romped across the lawn, fast friends after meeting ten minutes earlier. The entire estate was surrounded by a tall fence. Essentially, the place was a fortress.
Scarlet walked down the steps from the portico—where she’d retreated to give Riley and Noah a moment of privacy—and met her in the driveway. She studied her for several moments before reaching out to squeeze her arm. “You look stressed. If you’re worried about Patch, don’t be. He’s smart and cautious and very good at what he does. He’ll be back once their mission is accomplished, completely unscathed.”
“That’s basically what he said, although not in those words.”
“It’s the truth.” Her eyes narrowed. “If you’re wondering whether the asshole who tracked you to Maine will find you here, I kind of hope he does because I guarantee he won’t walk away. That may be the simplest solution to your problem.”
Riley envied Scarlet her confidence. She wasn’t boasting, just stating facts, and Riley was certain she meant every word.
“Maybe, but I’d rather have a peaceful weekend. My nerves are shot after last night’s drama.”
“I can relate. Let’s go inside. Eli’s cooking breakfast.” Her hostess reached down to lift the cooler Noah had set on the stone walkway, while Riley grabbed her overnight bag and computer case. “You didn’t need to bring food with you.”
“Noah didn’t want to leave perishables in Maine to spoil after our abrupt departure. I really appreciate you and Eli taking me in, but I hate to crash your weekend getaway.”
“Any friend of Patch’s is more than welcome.”
They walked between tall white Doric columns, crossed the wide portico, and entered the expansive foyer of the mansion. Straight ahead, a curving staircase rose to the second floor, grand and imposing. To the right, Riley caught a glimpse of a formal living room, while the door to a study lined with books stood opened on their left. As her tennis shoes squeaked against the marble floor, she felt a little anachronistic in her jeans and down jacket. A hoopskirt would have been more appropriate.
“This place is completely over the top elaborate.” Scarlet pointed. “Set your bag there by the stairs. You can take it up after we eat.”
“The house is gorgeous.”
“That’s one word to describe it. Eli inherited this monstrosity last spring. He’s still trying to decide what to do with it. The estate has been in the Croft family for generations, but—” She broke off and shrugged. “It’s a dilemma.”
“I can imagine the upkeep alone on a house this size is a challenge.”
“He has a groundskeeper and a cleaning woman, but it’s still a time suck.” She stepped into the bright kitchen where the heavenly smell of bacon greeted them.
Eli turned away from the stove and waved a pair of tongs. “Did Patch take off?”
“Yep.” Scarlet set the cooler on the granite countertop with a thump. “By the way, please call me Jaimee. The team can’t seem to break the habit of using my old nickname, even though I’m no longer active in the field.”
Riley grinned. “I thought Scarlet went rather well with the Gone with the Wind vibe of this place.”
Eli snorted. “She’s got you there, hon. I can tell we’re going to get along great, Riley.”
“I’m already a huge fan of yours. After I lost my memory, I started re-reading books I found on my shelves since I couldn’t remember any of the plots. Your latest was the first one I picked up.”
“Okay, now I may have to marry you since Jaimee won’t cave in and set a date. She snoozes. She loses.”
Jaimee rolled her eyes as she took milk out of the cooler. “You’ll have to fight Patch for her.”
“Better Patch than Wolf. I wouldn’t stand a chance against him.”
Riley could feel herself relaxing as the teasing continued. When Eli handed her a plate filled with bacon and eggs, she took it. They’d left Maine before dawn, and all she’d eaten that morning was a bagel in the car.
They sat at the bar counter, chatting about the drive to New Hampshire, the unusually cold temperatures, and the book tour Eli had coming up before Thanksgiving. When Watson scratched on the door to the back patio, Jaimee got up to let both dogs in.
“Stormy is sweet. How long have you had her?”
Riley broke off two pieces of bacon and held them down to the dogs. “Not very long. Noah and I found her outside my house in Cambridge after it snowed last week. I couldn’t bear to take her to a shelter.”
“In a way, I rescued Watson, too.” Jaimee sipped her coffee. “He belonged to Eli’s grandmother. After she was murdered, I took him in.”
Riley dropped her fork. “Murdered? I’m so sorry, Eli.”
“Long, nasty story.” He rose from his seat and took his empty plate to the sink. “I’m sorry, too, but at least Jaimee and I got to know each other during the nightmare that followed Grandma Maureen’s death. However, right now, I want to hear about your situation. Jaimee said you were kidnapped because you discovered a cure for dementia? That’s incredible.”
“I honestly don’t know how far advanced my research was since my memory is gone.”
“Is the loss permanent?” he asked.
“Noah doesn’t think so. I’m beginning to recover bits and pieces, mostly memories of people and places from my childhood. Random events seem to trigger the recall. I hope to God I’ll eventually be able to recreate my work.” Riley laid her fork on her plate as a shiver slid through her. “Someone obviously believes I still have that information locked in my mind.”
Jaimee tucked a strand of her long red hair behind one ear and frowned. “Isn’t the CEO at Vortex the one targeting you? They haven’t arrested him yet?”
“I don’t think the police have enough evidence. Also, we aren’t certain he’s the person responsible for the most recent attacks. Hopefully Luna can put together a few more pieces of the puzzle once the team gets back from wherever they’ve gone on this mission.”
“Speaking of which, I should check in with my contact.” Jaimee glanced at her cell phone lying on the counter and frowned. “He was supposed to call me again and hasn’t. Afterward, we can go for a hike, if you’re interested, let the dogs get some exercise.”
“That sounds great, but I don’t want to disrupt your day.”
Eli squeezed her shoulder as he walked past. “That’s exactly what she’d be doing if you weren’t here. Anyway, I need to write while the house is quiet.”
“In that case, I’ll clean up in here. Go, both of you. Let me feel useful.”
“Since you put it that way, I’ll gladly relinquish dish duty.”
When Eli followed Jaimee out of the kitchen, Riley slid off her stool and stepped around the waiting dogs. “You two are out of luck. We ate everything.”
She was just finishing up the dishes when her phone vibrated in the pocket of
her jeans. After wiping her hands on a towel, she pulled it out. Not Noah checking in. Disappointment hit her like a blow to the chest. She tried her best to dismiss it as she swiped to connect.
“Good morning, Charles.”
“You certainly sound calm. My uncle said you barely escaped a shooter last night. Under the same circumstances, I’d be a basket case.”
“I’m fine. Is Detective Brasher supposed to share information like that with you?”
“He knew I was freaking out after what happened at Harbor House. Jesus, Riley, it’s one attempt after the other on you. Where are you now?”
She hesitated. “I’d rather not say. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the fewer people who know, the better.”
“I guess so. As long as Noah keeps you safe.”
“Actually, he’s working, but I’m with someone he trusts implicitly. You don’t have to worry.”
“That’s a relief. Any luck recovering more of your memory?”
“Actually, yes. At this point, I’m feeling pretty hopeful.”
“That’s great news. I guess I’ll see you when you get back to Boston.”
“Okay. Bye, Charles.” She hung up and turned when Jaimee entered the room. “Did you learn anything new from your contact?”
“No, but Luna figured out where they’re holding the hostage. Wolf is expecting Patch to meet them at the airfield within the hour.”
“Having been in the kidnap victim’s situation, I know every minute counts.” Riley clenched her fists at her sides. “I hope they reach him or her in time.”
“You didn’t delay their departure, if that’s what you’re thinking.” Jaimee gave her a quick smile. “The team was waiting on intel. Once they got it, they had to file a flight plan. Even though Counterstrike travels by private jet, they can’t go wheels up the minute they have a destination.”
Riley let out a relieved breath. “Oh.”
“Are you ready for that hike now?”
She nodded. “A big dose of fresh air sounds wonderful.”
Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2) Page 15