“A shower sounds good. Hot water and soap and smooth, wet skin.”
She giggled helplessly as he threw back the covers. “If I faint from hunger, it’ll be your fault.”
“I’ll take all the blame.” Scooping her up in his arms, he carried her to the bathroom.
By the time the water cooled, Noah wasn’t sure he had enough energy left to dress. He certainly wasn’t in the mood to hurry out of the house. But Riley was flushed and smiling and so damn beautiful, he knew he’d do anything she asked.
After wolfing down a bowl of cereal, he poured coffee into two thermal cups and tightened the lids. “Ready?”
“As soon as I take Stormy outside.” She glanced over at the dog sitting patiently by the door to the back yard. “I’m sorry to rush you this morning, but—”
“No problem. I know how important seeing your grandpa is to you. Today is about taking care of business. Tonight, we’ll have time to kick back and relax.”
“I’ll look forward to it.” She stood on her toes to kiss him, then headed across the kitchen when Stormy whined. “I’ll be right back.”
They left the house ten minutes later, and after battling morning traffic through the city, he parked in the lot at Harbor House and handed Riley the keys. “I’ve gotten used to driving your car . . . and a heater that actually works.”
She took the keyring from him and opened the door. “We’ll have to hang out together more often . . . since you like my car.”
He stepped onto the pavement and gave her a lazy smile. “Your car isn’t the only thing that heats me up.”
The look in her eyes took the chill out of the frigid morning. “The feeling is mutual.”
Only a handful of vehicles were parked in the lot, and nothing moved as they crossed the slippery pavement. Their breaths created frosty puffs in the air, and he was thankful for his thick jacket. Noah held the outer door open and took a final look around before closing it behind them.
As they entered the lobby, Tanis glanced up from her computer and smiled. “How are you, Riley. We’ve missed seeing you the last few days.”
“And I’ve missed being here. I was out of town over the weekend.” She shoved her gloves into her coat pocket and wrote her name and Noah’s on the sign-in sheet with the time beneath three other entries. “How’s my grandpa?”
The light in the receptionist’s brown eyes dimmed. “I’m no doctor, but he seems to have lost some of his clarity. Let’s hope he recognizes you, but don’t be shocked if he doesn’t.”
Riley’s knuckles whitened before she released her grip on the pen and dropped it in the holder. “Damn. I was so sure . . .”
Noah touched her shoulder. “Maybe he hasn’t regressed completely.”
She gave a jerky nod in response. “I hope not. Thanks, Tanis. We’ll go see him now.”
Tension radiated from her as they walked down the hallway and stopped outside her grandfather’s room.
He touched her arm when she reached for the doorknob. “Whatever his condition, we’ll talk it over and decide on the best course going forward. You’re not alone in this anymore.”
She didn’t respond, just knocked softly and opened the door.
A game show blared on the TV, and Clement leaned forward in his recliner when a buzzer sounded. “The capital of Switzerland is Bern, not Zurich. What an idiot.” Turning in his chair, he frowned as they approached. “I took my pills earlier. I don’t want any more.”
“It’s Riley, Grandpa. I’m not here to give you meds.”
His brow creased. “Riley? That can’t be right. Riley’s at school.”
“I’m all grown up now.” When he rose to his feet, she gave him a hug. “I visited you last week. Do you remember?”
He rested his scruffy cheek against her hair. “You smell sweet the way Riley does. I guess I’m confused again.” Pulling back, he let out a deep sigh. “It makes me feel so stupid when I forget things.”
“Hey, you’re smart enough to know the capital of Switzerland.” Riley pulled Noah forward. “This is my friend, Noah.”
“You look familiar. Have we met, son?”
“We did.” Noah shook the hand Clement extended. “How are you, sir?”
“Bored. There’s nothing to do around here but watch TV. I have chores that need attention. Who’s milking the cows while I’m in this place? Who’s seeing to the crops?”
“A manager is handling all the work. You’re retired now, so you don’t have to worry about the farm.” Riley spoke in a calming voice.
“My father worked in the fields until the day he passed. What good is retirement when you have nothing to do?”
“We can take a walk if you’d like. It’s cold today, but I don’t imagine that will bother you much.”
When Noah’s phone vibrated in his pocket, he pulled it out and glanced at the display. “Riley, I need to take this. I’ll be just outside in the hall.” At her nod, he swiped to connect and hurried toward the door. “What’s up, Luna?”
“I found a connection between a resident at Harbor House and Vortex.”
Noah pulled the door shut behind him. “Who?”
“Andrew Murdock, the CEO. His mother lived there for several years.” Luna paused. “The thing is she died last summer. I didn’t find the information sooner because she wasn’t on a current resident list.”
“Murdock might still know the code to get in and out of the building.”
“Could be they don’t change it very often. Maybe Riley can ask one of the staff.”
“We’re actually at Harbor House right now, visiting her grandpa. I’ll check with the receptionist. If he’s the man who stabbed Dex and tried to grab Riley—”
“Wolf already contacted Brasher about it. The detective said he’d take it from here and that we’re to stay out of it.”
Noah squeezed the phone so hard his hand ached. “I’d rather confront the asshole myself. Why did Wolf—”
“Because he was a little concerned about what you might do.”
“Wolf knows I wouldn’t . . .” Noah closed his eyes and leaned against the wall, remembering how terrified Riley had been after she was attacked on this very spot. “Hell, maybe I wouldn’t have been exactly civil.”
“This is personal for you. If Murdock is responsible for kidnapping Riley from the lab and the other attempts on her, none of us want him to get off on a technicality.”
“I’ll talk to the woman at the desk about that code and then get ahold of Brasher.”
“And I’ll keep looking for other connections, just in case the CEO has an alibi. I know he wasn’t in Maine last Thursday since I hacked his credit card records. He was eating an expensive dinner in Boston around the time you were shot at.”
“Doesn’t mean he didn’t pay someone to follow us up there.”
“True. I’ll hack into his bank account to see if I can find any unexplained cash withdrawals last week.”
“Thanks, Luna. I appreciate your help.”
“You bet. I’ll talk to you later.”
Noah slid his phone into his pocket and opened the door. Riley and her grandfather stood at the window talking together while she pointed at something outside. When Clement let out a guffaw of laughter, she giggled in response. Noah smiled and shut the door without interrupting them. Hurrying down the carpeted hallway, he sidestepped an elderly gentleman with a walker coming out of the common area and reached the front desk in under thirty seconds.
Tanis glanced up at him and smiled. “How’s Riley’s visit with her grandpa going?”
“They were laughing together when I left the room.”
“I’m glad to hear that. Is there something I can do for you?”
“Just a question. How often is the security code on the exterior doors changed?”
She tapped one maroon fingernail on the desk as she considered her answer. “Only twice since I started working here. There was some issue with the system the first time.”
“When wa
s that?”
“I’m not sure exactly. Back in April or May, I think. Then we changed the code right after the police were here in response to the incident last week. My supervisor told me we’ll be changing it once a month going forward.”
“That’s what I needed to know. Thanks, Tanis.” He took two steps and stopped. “We might take Riley’s grandpa out for a walk around the courtyard. What’s the code now so we can get back inside?”
“Eleven nineteen. Not very original using the month and year, but we don’t want staff locking themselves out all the time because they can’t remember a random code.”
“I suppose that would be a problem. Thanks.”
Noah left the lobby and had nearly reached Clement’s room when a door across the hallway opened. A middle-aged man with iron-gray hair emerged. There gazes locked, and he gave a nod of acknowledgement before shifting his glance just as Riley stepped out into the hall.
“Oh, you’re back. I wondered where you went.” She looked beyond him and smiled. “Hi, Price. How are you?”
“Excellent. I’m happy to see your bruises have faded.”
“Not as happy as I am. I got tired of explaining I wasn’t the victim of domestic abuse.”
His laugh was rich and warm as his gaze settled on Noah. “Awkward, especially if they don’t believe you. Have a nice day, Riley.”
“You, too.”
After the man disappeared around the corner, Noah took Riley’s arm and eased her back into her grandfather’s room. “Who was that?”
“Price Wagner. His aunt lives across the hall and isn’t doing very well. I don’t really remember him, but we had a conversation when I was still covered in bruises, and I learned that much.”
“Oh. Did you still want to go outside with your grandpa?”
“Sure. Was the phone call you took important?”
“Informative, but I’ll tell you about it later.”
Riley nodded and left his side to head across the room. “Let’s get your jacket on, Grandpa, and we’ll take a walk. The fresh air will be good for all of us.”
“Can’t argue with that, although the aroma here isn’t the same as it is on the farm.”
A smile tilted the corners of her lips as she pulled a lined canvas jacket from the closet. “Cow manure isn’t generally my scent of choice.”
“It beats the briny smell of bay water, but I’d still like to go outside.”
Once Clement had put on his coat, a wool hat with earflaps, and gloves, Noah led the way to the end of the hall and punched in the code on the pad. After taking a long look around the courtyard where the bare branches of a huge maple tree rattled in a gust of wind, he smiled at Riley’s grandpa. “Not too cold if you’re a polar bear or a penguin.”
“I don’t mind a chilly breeze. Those prairie winds can really howl in the winter.” He took Riley’s arm. “Watch your step, young lady.” When his foot slipped on the cement walkway, he caught himself. “It’s a little icy.”
Noah dropped behind them as the two chatted together, only hearing a word now and then. They were nearing the tree on the far side of the walled courtyard when Riley pulled her phone out of her pocket and stopped.
“I just got a text that I’m wanted at the front desk. I wonder what that’s about.” She tapped quickly and then frowned. “Tanis says a detective needs to speak to me.”
“It must be Brasher. I’ll walk you back to your grandpa’s room and then go see what he wants.”
“Hey, now, I don’t like the sound of that.” Clement dropped onto the wooden bench beneath the maple tree. “We just got out here. I’m not ready to go inside yet.”
Riley’s brows lowered. “Maybe I should—”
Noah shook his head. “You stay here. This area is pretty secure, and I’ll be able to see you from the common room. If Brasher needs to speak to you personally, I’ll bring him out.”
“All right.” She sat down beside her grandfather and waved toward a bright red cardinal perched on the edge of a frozen birdbath. “We’ll hang out with the wildlife.”
“I’ll be right back.” Noah headed toward the entrance to the common room and tapped out the combo. Pushing the door open, he stepped inside and turned to shut it against the wind. Somewhere nearby a second door closed with a thump.
Two elderly women were watching a cooking show from a pair of recliners. He nodded at them before crossing the room to the reception area. No one was behind the desk, and there was no sign of the detective.
“What the hell?” Turning, he craned his neck to see out into the courtyard. Riley and Clement were both standing beneath the tree, heads tilted to look up into the branches. At the sound of approaching footsteps, he spun around.
Tanis appeared from the direction of the hallway and slipped behind her desk. “Sorry to have deserted my post. Clement buzzed the front desk from his room. When he didn’t respond, I got worried and ran down to check on him, only to find the room empty.”
“He’s out in the courtyard with Riley. You texted her that a detective wanted to speak with her.”
The woman frowned. “That’s strange. I didn’t text her, and I certainly didn’t talk to any cops.”
“Is that your phone?” Noah pointed toward a cell in a pink case lying on the counter beside the computer keyboard.
She nodded and picked it up to tap the surface a few times. Drawing a breath, she stared up at him with wide brown eyes. “Someone texted her from my phone.”
“Dammit! Whoever it was must have bolted when he saw me. Buzz me through.”
Noah ran toward the front entrance doors. The outer door slammed behind him as the wind jerked it from his grip. He scanned the parking lot with its scattering of cars. When an engine fired up, he ran hard, sliding on the icy pavement. An older black Tahoe sped toward the street and turned right. It ran a stop sign and disappeared around the corner before Noah was halfway across the lot.
“Shit!” Pulling out his cell, he scrolled through his contacts and tapped Detective Brasher’s name as he sprinted back toward the building. Shoving through the doors, he blew past the front desk and didn’t stop until he reached the glass door leading to the courtyard. A huge sigh of relief escaped him when he spotted Riley and her grandfather walking in his direction.
Her eyes grew wide as their gazes locked. No doubt he had panic written all over his face.
“Brasher here.” The gruff voice echoed in his ear.
Noah loosened his grip on his phone. “Detective, this is Noah Kimble. We have a problem.”
Chapter Seventeen
Riley pulled into an empty parking spot on the second floor of the garage structure and shut off the engine. Turning in her seat, she studied Noah. His lips were drawn down in a frown, and his eyes narrowed as he typed quickly on his cell phone. When it chimed a few seconds later, the scowl on his face deepened.
“Brasher insists on talking to me immediately. He said he’ll meet me on campus.”
She laid one hand on the sleeve of his jacket and squeezed. “I’ll be fine alone at my meeting, even if you aren’t guarding the door. This is why we’re here, after all, to make sure someone else has access to my work. I’m tired of being a target.”
“I’m just pissed I didn’t get a plate number on that Tahoe. It was caked in dirty snow.”
“Let the police worry about that.” She opened the door and stepped out into the gloomy garage, then leaned forward to pull out her computer case. “Once I share my files—”
“You won’t be safe until the person who’s after you knows someone else has copies and is taking your work public.” Noah slammed his door and walked around to the other side. “I intend to head over to Vortex and speak to Andrew Murdock personally. I don’t give a crap what Brasher says about not tipping the man off.”
A tremor worked down Riley’s spine. Between the odor of exhaust hanging in the air and thinking about what could have happened at Harbor House, she felt a little sick. “Talk to Detective Brasher before
you do anything. Maybe the two of you can work out an alternative.”
“We’ll see.” Noah took her arm as they descended the staircase in the corner of the garage, their shoes echoing on the metal rungs. He pushed open the door to the street and stepped out first to take a long look around. “All clear. Not that I think anyone would try something so soon after failing at Harbor House, but it pays to be cautious.”
“Whoever it was must have been pretty desperate.” She sidestepped a fast food bag squashed on the sidewalk, then pushed the pedestrian button when they reached the corner. “If I’d actually gone to the front desk in response to his text, was this person simply going to grab me in front of the residents watching TV? What if Tanis had returned sooner than he expected?”
“I agree it wasn’t very well thought out.” Noah stepped off the sidewalk when the light changed.
“I guess he could have planned to use the Vulcan death grip to quietly subdue me.” She glanced up and smiled, trying to ease the lines of tension on his face with humor.
He rolled his eyes. “Or maybe he intended to simply beam you up. Which way to the science building?”
“It’s to our right. Charles texted me directions, but I’m actually getting a sense of familiarity.” She smiled as she tugged her knit hat lower over her ears. “More memories returning. I love walking through campus, even when it’s freezing. There’s something about the centuries’ old buildings that makes me feel like part of a long tradition. If I hadn’t been such a science geek as a kid, I probably would have studied history.”
Finally, the worry in his eyes faded, and he tucked her close to his side. “Something else we have in common. I binge watch the history channel when I’m between jobs.”
“I knew there was a reason I liked you.” Reaching Adams’ Hall, she walked up the shallow steps to a pair of heavy oak doors. When Noah pulled one open, she stepped inside and breathed in the scent of polished wood. Before she’d gone two yards, the doors to her left burst open, and students poured into the vestibule. Some chatted together in loud voices, moaning about the unexpected quiz they’d apparently just taken. Others walked with heads down, making a beeline for the outer doors.
Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2) Page 19