A few minutes later, they left the estate, crossed the creek bordering the property, and headed north into the woods. The wind rattled the bare branches of elms and maples and set the limbs of pine trees swaying. Beneath their feet, curled brown leaves crunched, while a crust of snow from an earlier storm remained in the deep shadows. The dogs ran ahead, wagging their tails and sniffing, letting out an occasional woof when they caught the scent of a squirrel or other forest animal. The simplicity of their surroundings soothed Riley’s ragged nerves.
Jaimee stuck her hands in the pockets of her fleece jacket and kicked a pile of dead leaves, sending them swirling into the air. “I miss the forest when we’re on Cape Cod, not that I don’t enjoy walking on the beach this time of year, after all the tourists have gone.”
“Is that where you live most of the time?”
She nodded. “It’s a balancing act between my work for Counterstrike in Boston and Eli’s writing and commitment to publicity events, but we’re managing. Long weekends away from it all are a welcome reprieve, even if I’m technically still on the job.” She studied Riley through keen gray eyes. “How are you holding up, really? Can I do anything to help?”
“I think my memory loss is worse than knowing some freak is out there trying to find me. I can’t begin to explain how awful it was waking up and not knowing one thing about myself. I felt like I was in some sort of void with no past and no chance for a future. Getting pulled out of that nightmare by the Counterstrike team saved my sanity.”
“Is that why you hooked up with Patch, because he saved you?”
“Maybe it’s the reason I grew attached to him initially, but then I found myself falling for the person he is. Kind. Thoughtful.”
“Do his hotness and bedroom eyes factor into the equation?”
Riley laughed out loud, and both dogs turned to stare at her. “They don’t hurt.”
“How do you feel about what he does?”
“I’d probably be more comfortable if he were working in a hospital or a clinic. But that isn’t who he is. Noah mentioned a stint in Africa before joining Counterstrike. Obviously practicing traditional medicine isn’t in his DNA.”
“Probably not. Everyone on the team sacrifices some degree of normalcy to willingly face difficult situations. I’m not saying they’re fearless, because we’ve all had our moments out in the field, but they’ll never give up or give in. I stepped away from missions last year when a situation overwhelmed me, but leaving Counterstrike wasn’t easy. Assisting in the coordination efforts is a compromise that lets me stay involved.”
“Everyone on the team is clearly dedicated to helping people. When Noah went all in to save me after we returned to Boston, Wolf and the others backed him one hundred percent.” Riley pushed a branch aside as they hiked up an incline. “You didn’t hesitate to take me in for the weekend, and I appreciate that.”
“I’ll always have Patch’s and my other teammates’ backs. Eli understands that and fully supports me.”
“So why haven’t you said yes to marrying him yet?”
Jaimee grinned. “It makes him a little crazy that I want to hold off on an official engagement. He’s impulsive, and I’m methodical. I love him more than I can say for giving me the time I need to ease into the next stage of our relationship. When he brings up the subject of marriage again, I may just surprise the hell out of him and tell him I’m ready to take the plunge.”
“Good for you! Congratulations. I expect you’ll be very happy with your decision.”
“I know I will be.”
Her eyes softened to the color of smoke, and Riley wondered what special memory made the other woman look so happy. Or perhaps it was a vision of the future waiting for her with Eli. Either way, Riley couldn’t help the sharp prick of envy, wondering if she’d ever find that kind of joy with a man, unencumbered by her foggy past and uncertain present.
Climbing a final steep pitch, they reached a ridge with a sweeping view of the White Mountains. Bare trees mixed with stands of evergreens in a patchwork pattern spread out across the valley below.
Riley shivered as the chill wind penetrated her jacket. “I bet this view was even more spectacular a month ago.”
“The color up here is unbelievable early in the fall. However, cell reception is spotty at best, so I should probably head back in case my contact needs to reach me.”
“I’m fine with that. Today, the cold cuts straight to the bone.” Her breath fogged as she blew it out.
Jaimee glanced over her shoulder. “Careful on the downhill. All these dead leaves make the trail slick.”
“Doesn’t seem to hinder the dogs.” Riley smiled as Stormy chased Watson, barking in excitement as they tore down the path.
“No, they’re having a great time.”
At a loud crack in the distance, Riley’s foot slipped out from beneath her. She went down hard, and her head thumped backward against the ground. The sky above her wavered for a moment as her vision went fuzzy.
“Are you okay?” Jaimee knelt over her, but her attention was focused on the woods to the west.
Riley gasped for air. “I think so.” When Stormy pushed close and whined, she reached up to pet her. “I’m not hurt.”
“That was a pretty hard whack. Don’t move until you’re sure.”
“The leaves cushioned the blow.” Her head throbbed a little, and she poked at her memory, wondering if the jolt to her brain had set back her progress. She could clearly picture Noah’s face, his quick grin and sexy eyes. A relieved breath slipped out. “I’m fine.”
Jaimee helped her to her feet. “Let’s get the hell out of here, then. I don’t want some idiot hunter to mistake us for deer. At least I hope it was a hunter.”
“Was that a gunshot? It sounded like a backfire.” Riley brushed leaves from her back. “The echo made it hard to tell where the sound came from.”
“It was a gunshot, probably from a long-range rifle, which is why I want to get out of here.” Jaimee held onto her arm and practically dragged her down the slope into thicker forest. Finally, she slowed her pace and gave her as assessing look. “You’re a little pale. We’ll take a break for a minute.”
Riley braced her feet to keep from swaying. “I can manage.”
“Better to rest. I don’t want to have to carry you if you keel over.” A pair of crows squawked raucously in the treetops nearby before taking flight. The other woman turned slowly to scan the woods, her expression intent. “Patch said the men tracking you want you alive, not dead. Was he wrong?”
“I hope not.” Riley shuddered and wrapped her arms across her chest. When a gust of wind rattled the branches of the elm above her, she jumped. “Let’s keep going. Now I’m totally freaking out.”
“It was probably a hunter, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.” Jaimee whistled sharply, and Watson burst through the underbrush with Stormy not far behind him. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Riley offered a feeble smile in response. “Don’t worry. I’m getting used to being a nervous wreck. God, I’ll be glad when this is over.”
Jaimee squeezed her arm. “Having been in your position, I can sympathize.”
Keeping a steady pace, they reached the creek bordering the estate twenty minutes later. Riley let out a sigh of relief as they made their way back to the road and crossed the bridge. Jaimee entered a code to open the pedestrian gate next to the driveway and shut it behind them with a solid click.
“Call me paranoid, but I feel better inside the fence.”
“Not paranoid. Smart.” The other woman led the way across the lawn to the portico and shooed both dogs into the house. At the foot of the stairs, she paused to pick up the overnight bag. “I’ll show you to your room, and you can rest for a while, maybe take some ibuprofen. You’ll probably have bruises and a headache from that fall.”
“Sounds like an excellent plan.” Riley grabbed her computer case and followed her hostess up the stairs.
Jaimee en
tered a room decorated in shades of lavender and set the bag on the end of the queen-size bed. “The connecting bath is through that doorway. Make yourself at home, and just ask if you need anything.”
“Thank you, I will.”
Stormy scampered into the room as Jaimee left, shutting the door behind her. The dog flopped down onto the throw rug covering the hardwood floor and let out a sigh.
“Did Watson wear you out?” Bending, she rubbed her dog’s ears before heading into the bathroom. She paused in front of the mirror, and her eyes widened. “Good God.”
A couple of leaves were stuck in her hair, and she looked pale and strained with tight lines bracketing her lips. Carefully, she plucked out the foliage and lifted her hair to check her wound. No sign of any new trauma, thankfully. Bracing her hands on the counter, she wondered what Noah was doing right now. Probably sitting in a plane, soaring high over the Atlantic on his way to God knew what sort of situation.
She let out a long breath, took a couple of ibuprofen tablets from the bottle she found in a drawer, and then stripped off her clothes. After turning the water temperature to as hot as she could stand it, she stood in the shower, letting the warmth seep into her cold limbs. Finally, she stepped out onto the mat and toweled dry before dressing in a pair of bright turquoise yoga pants and a Trimountaine logo sweatshirt. The puffy comforter on the bed looked inviting. Resisting the urge to take a nap, she pulled her computer out of its case and sat at the desk angled near the window overlooking the backyard. While she waited for the laptop to power up, she gazed across the lawn toward the creek.
Something dark moved in the trees on the other side. She blinked and stared, wondering if she’d imagined the shadow fading into the woods. Though she watched for another minute, nothing materialized. Possibly an animal . . . or her imagination. Stormy certainly didn’t seem concerned, snoozing on the floor in a bright ray of sunlight.
Overactive nerves. With a shrug, Riley went online to the medical database she’d accessed before. As she studied the text, half-formed memories surfaced. She opened a blank file and let her fingers fly over the keyboard, recreating a formula. Two hours later, she straightened and shifted, her back stiff from hunching over the computer, amazed at what she’d produced.
At a soft knock on the door, she pushed her chair back from the desk and stood. “Come in.”
Jaimee opened the door and peeked inside. “I thought maybe you were asleep.”
“No, I was working.”
Coming fully into the room, she glanced at the computer screen. “That looks like gibberish.”
“A few days ago, I wouldn’t have understood any of it.” Excitement sizzled along Riley’s nerve endings. “But this formula make sense now. The more I manipulated the data, details about targeting the CCL2 gene—” She broke off and frowned. “I’m confident this is what I was working on before those two thugs abducted me, but I would need a fully equipped lab to test my hypothesis. Even then, I’d have no way of knowing if the treatment would be successful without—” Her voice faltered, and she gripped the edge of the desk. An image of her grandfather lying on a narrow bed as she slid a needle into him hovered at the edges of her memory. “Jesus,” she whispered.
“Are you okay?” Jaimee grabbed her arm when she swayed.
“Yeah. Sorry.” Riley took a couple of deep breaths. “Sometimes the returning memories hit hard when I’m not expecting them.”
“But it’s terrific you’re getting your life back. That must feel pretty damn good.”
She managed a nod in response. For the first time since her kidnapping, she wondered if she wanted to remember everything in her past. Or if what she’d done—who she’d been—was better left hidden.
Chapter Fourteen
“Riley’s here, just as I suspected. Noah dropped her at the Croft Estate before heading back to Boston.” Charles stood on the wooded side of the creek, staring up at the second-floor window where a shadow moved every now and then. He clutched the phone a little tighter in his gloved hand. “I got a good look at her when she let the dogs out into the yard earlier this evening. Then one of them started barking, so I ducked back into the trees.”
“Any chance you can grab her?”
“She hasn’t left the estate since I got here, and I’m pretty sure she isn’t going anywhere tonight.” He shifted and stomped his feet, to keep the blood circulating. “I’m freezing my ass off. I’ll find a motel room somewhere nearby and come back in the morning.”
“Pay in cash.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“No, you’re not. Figuring out which member of Counterstrike left Boston alone, then tracking her to New Hampshire was pretty damn brilliant.” His benefactor let out a harsh breath. “I almost had her in Maine, but almost isn’t good enough, and I couldn’t risk sticking around with police canvasing the neighborhood. Once Dr. Kimball returns from wherever their team went, he’ll be all over Riley again. Now’s the time to make a move.”
“Except the estate has fairly extensive security, and Riley isn’t alone. Both Scarlet and Eli Croft are with her. I have a feeling I’m no match for that woman. Unless Riley goes off on her own . . .”
“For Christ’s sake, figure something out.”
Charles rolled his eyes. “Maybe you should have hired a professional who knows what the hell he’s doing. That certainly isn’t me.”
“But I can trust you to keep your mouth shut.” His hard tone held nothing but confidence. “Hired muscle might try to blackmail me down the road. Since I don’t need any more complications, maybe try the direct approach.”
“What’re you talking about?”
“Call her and tell her you need to see her immediately. Make up something. I don’t care what. Draw her out.”
“Then she’ll know I’m involved. I was planning to—”
“Don’t be naïve. Staying anonymous is no longer an option. Once we get the final adjustments she made to the formula, I’ll deal with her. Permanently. That idiot Murdock is making noise about another attempt on Riley, despite the scrutiny on him. If he does something stupid, I swear to God it’ll be the last dumb-ass move he makes.”
Charles didn’t want to think about another complication . . . or Riley’s ultimate fate. He clamped his teeth together to choke back a protest. “Maybe if I bring her back to the lab, something there will jog her memory. She did sound pretty confident it was only a matter of time. Finesse may work better than force with her. Walking away from this with the treatment you need and no one the wiser was always our primary goal. Too bad if Vortex can’t patent the process before she goes public with it.”
“I don’t care what the hell you do as long as I get that data. Soon. Not in the nebulous future. Is that clear?”
“I’ll talk to Riley again. I’ll figure it out.”
“You do that.”
* * * *
Noah entered his house, dropped his bag on the floor, and slumped against the wall. He hadn’t slept much since they’d left, and simply putting one foot in front of the other required an effort. Sucking it up, he headed across the living room to his desk in the corner and fell onto the chair. After a minute of staring into space, he pulled out his cell and called Riley.
She answered on the second ring. “Are you back?”
“Just walked into my house. Mission accomplished.”
“Was . . . whoever . . . okay?”
“Battered but not broken.” Noah leaned his head against the chairback and closed his eyes. “We pulled him out before the assholes holding him hostage went too crazy. How’s everything with you?”
“Fine. I’m enjoying Jaimee and Eli. Nothing threatening has happened, if that’s what you mean.”
“Good. Uh, as soon as I get a few hours of sleep, I’ll come pick you up.”
“Actually, you may not have to. Charles texted me, totally freaking out. He said he needs to talk to me ASAP. Something about his grant being pulled if he can’t finish his dissertation on sch
edule.”
Noah straightened in the chair and opened his eyes. “What does that have to do with you?”
“The research we were doing is key to his dissertation, and when I erased all the files—”
“His conclusions are irrelevant without the data to support them.”
“Pretty much. Actually, I had sort of a breakthrough yesterday. When I texted Charles that I’d recovered more of my work-related memories, he was beyond thrilled.”
“You remembered your dementia research? In detail?”
“The basis for it. I was targeting the immunoresponse gene. Obviously, I’d need to test the models in a lab to make sure I’m recalling the formula correctly, but what I was able to recreate was pretty amazing. And a little frightening.”
He frowned at the bottom desk drawer, which was open a crack. “Why do you say that?”
“I’m nearly positive I didn’t have FDA approval for a trial. If I had, there would have been talk in the medical community.”
“I imagine so. Maybe you weren’t to that stage of development yet.”
“But my grandpa—” Her voice broke. “I didn’t go through proper channels. I didn’t wait for approval.”
A weight pressed down on him, filling him with dread. He was too tired to deal with a moral dilemma right now. Too tired to consider the consequences of what she was saying. “Can we talk about this in person instead of on the phone?”
“Of course. What I started to say is you don’t have to come get me since Charles volunteered, but I didn’t want to return to Boston before you got back into town. I know it still isn’t safe.”
“Hell, no, he isn’t going to pick you up. A few hours won’t make any difference to his damn funding. Just sit tight until I get there. The fact that you’re remembering details pertinent to your work only puts you in more danger. I can leave right now if—”
“Absolutely not. You sound exhausted, and it’s snowing. Not a good combo. Get some sleep first. As you said, a few hours won’t be a deal breaker.”
“I’ll admit I’m wiped out.” He blinked tiredly. “I’ll call you before I leave Boston.”
Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2) Page 16