Obsessed

by Aleatha Romig

  “Are we close?” I asked, turning from the majestic view to the man beside me, the one who’d been driving without sleep for over a day.

  While I was probably a mess, Kader appeared as he always did, jaw clenched, back straight, and shoulders broad. Though he had a black coat, it was currently being used as a blanket over my legs. He was wearing another long-sleeved t-shirt, blue jeans, and his customary boots. His hair was secured at the nape of his neck, and his long fingers held the steering wheel with the composure of a professional driver. Despite the journey, he appeared unaffected by the lack of sleep.

  “Technically, we’re here,” he said. “This is all my land.”

  “For how far?”

  “Twelve hundred acres in total.”

  I pushed myself up, sitting taller. “Aren’t you exhausted?”

  His wide shoulders shrugged. “Success gives me more satisfaction than sleep does. I accomplished my goal. You’re out of Indiana and more importantly, you’re alive. I’ll let my employer know that the job is finished. Then I’ll take my offer to the dark web.”

  “What offer?”

  “I’m going to put the research and development of your formula up for sale.”

  The meaning behind what he said prickled my skin. I shook my head. “You can’t.”

  Kader’s green laser stare momentarily turned my way. “Laurel, I work alone for a reason. I don’t ask permission or seek recognition. I make a decision and I stick with it.”

  “You can’t offer to sell something you don’t have. And I won’t let you sell my half.”

  “Again, Doc, not your choice. I have given this a lot of thought while you dozed in and out. My employer wanted the research stopped. Eliminating both you and Cartwright does that. Someone associated with your research wants to make big money on what you’ve created. It isn’t like I will put up a neon sign. It’s a fishing expedition and I have two baited hooks.”

  I swallowed. “Won’t whoever is currently trying to sell it be upset?”

  “That’s the point. I need to make it clear that I have the latest data. You can help me state exactly what you have.”

  “Again, even if I agree, we only have half.”

  “I didn’t mention it before, but I have Cartwright’s flash drive.”

  Sucking in a breath, I leaned toward the outer door, turned toward Kader, and opened my eyes wide. The image of Russ lying on my bedroom floor skirted across my memory. Just as quickly, I tried to blink it away. Looking at Kader, I said, “You said you didn’t kill him. You said the external hard drive was gone.”

  “I haven’t lied to you, Laurel.”

  “Then how do you have it?”

  “I found Cartwright’s body. When we were at your house, the stone was removed from your fireplace and the external hard drive was missing, just like I said. It was when I went back. The hard drive was gone, but when I cleaned up, I found his flash drive was in the pocket of his blue jeans.”

  The thought of Kader going through Russ’s pockets or of what he did to dispose of the body and clean my house created acid bubbling in the pit of my stomach.

  Kader’s hand came over to my leg. “Don’t think about it.”

  “How can I not?”

  Through the leather coat, he squeezed my thigh. “If I could do any of this job differently, it would be not taking you with me that night.”

  I laid my hand over his. “Why didn’t you tell me about the flash drive?”

  “Because I’ve been trying to decide what the best course of action is going forward.”

  My neck straightened. “It isn’t your decision. It should be mine. It should be Russ’s.” My head was shaking, my mind vying between gruesome images and wondering not for the first time why Russ would bring someone into my house and reveal the external hard drive. It didn’t make sense.

  Why would he offer the hard drive if he hadn’t given up his own flash drive?

  Tears prickled the back of my eyes. “Kader, I think that Russ still having possession of the flash drive means that he didn’t plan to give it up. He was sacrificing the old data to save the current.” I brushed a tear from my cheek. “Oh, thank God. He wasn’t selling us out.”

  “You’re jumping to conclusions.”

  I pulled my hand away. “No, I’m not. Don’t you see? Russ must have realized he was in danger and hoped that the backup would suffice to save him—save our work. Maybe even to save me.”

  Turning away from Kader, I moved my gaze back out onto the scenery around us, forcing myself to think of something else. We’d been driving on the dirt– and snow-covered excuse for a road for some time. In the distance, the setting sun—sandwiched between the mountain peaks and the darkening clouds—cast long shadows on the plains. The bouncing ceased as the truck slowed and stopped. It took me a moment to realize the engine was off.

  “What’s happening?” I asked.

  “I want to show you this vista.”

  Opening the door, the cool wind blew my hair about my face. With a shiver, I buried my hands in the single pocket of Kader’s oversized sweatshirt and stepped down from the truck. Slush and mud oozed under my shoes as if the ground couldn’t decide if it should freeze or thaw. When I looked up, Kader was there with his hand extended.

  Beyond him in the distance, the setting sun’s rays shone upward to the growing dark clouds. As if a paintbrush was applied to canvas, what had been gray now shimmered with hues of reds and oranges—gemstones or flames. With the vast sky for a backdrop, I stood in awe at the beauty of nature surrounding Kader’s handsome face as ice-cold wind swirled around us.

  This land fit Kader, wild, untamed, and tragically beautiful.

  I peered from the glowing sky back to Kader’s offered hand. For a moment I hesitated, wondering how I’d gotten to the place where I’d put my trust as well as my life in the hands of a man I barely knew, one who admitted to taking the job of killing me.

  Looking up into his gaze, for the first time I saw a new emotion—anticipation at my next move, as well as an eagerness to share what was his. The golden flecks within the green shimmered as small lines like webs formed at the corners of his eyes and his cheeks uncharacteristically rose, all working in unison to melt my uncertainty. Returning Kader’s grin, I removed my hand from the warmth of the hoodie pocket and placed it in his. His long fingers surrounded mine as he tugged me forward. Within a few steps we were at the rim of a deep ravine. At the base was a river.

  “This is beautiful,” I said, taking it all in.

  “The snow is melting, so the river is over its banks.”

  “Is your house down there?”

  “No. That’s a floodplain.” With his free hand, he pointed to the other side of the ravine. My house is over there.”

  I gasped as I took it in. Even from this distance, I could tell his home was large, much larger than mine. As clouds moved in the sky, multiple buildings became visible in what had been hidden by shadows.

  “It’s like a small city.”

  “Hardly. It’s my home base.”

  “Why are there so many buildings?”

  “I’ll show you in time.”

  In time.

  What did that mean?

  How long did he think we’d be here?

  As we turned to return to the truck and the wind continued to blow, I squeezed his hand, causing us to momentarily stop walking. “Will I ever be able to go back to my house, my job, my life?” I asked.

  Laurel

  My question floated away with the cool breeze as I waited for an answer.

  Kader turned to face me, his stoic expression back in place. “I haven’t lied to you. I’m not going to start now.”

  His image blurred as new tears filled my eyes. “I want my life back.”

  “I don’t know, Laurel. It depends on how well my plan works.”

  After he helped me into the truck, we rode the rest of the way around the ravine in silence. His answer settled over me and played on repeat in my mi
nd.

  His plan.

  To use my formula as bait.

  I wasn’t cognizant of the passage of time until Kader pulled the truck up to the front porch of what appeared to be a sprawling home. It reminded me of something out of a western yet not old. There were large barn-like structures around as well as fences.

  “Do you have horses or other livestock?” Living in Indiana since leaving Chicago taught me a thing or two about rural living. Though I’d lived in cities, the country was always nearby.

  “Yes, horses and steer. The horses aren’t kept up here. I’m gone too often. They’re corralled down by Jack’s place.”

  “Jack?”

  “He’s the ranch manager. His house is closer to the entrance. You were asleep when we passed it. No one makes it back this far without clearance.”

  Taking a deep breath, I took in the house. “When we get inside will you find out what’s happening at home? I wonder what’s being said about me and Russ.”

  “I need a shower. Let’s clean up, eat, and then we’ll learn what there is to learn.”

  I nodded.

  Kader reached behind the seats for my suitcase. Carrying it with one hand, his other hand moved to the small of my back as we walked up the stairs to the landing. It was a small gesture yet a reassuring one.

  To the left of two massive ornate wooden doors was a sensor similar to ones we had in our lab, except there was no place to insert a badge. Nevertheless, the technology was revealing. Like the man beside me, the house’s appearance was deceiving—rustic at first glance yet technically advanced upon closer inspection.

  Putting down the suitcase, Kader leaned forward toward the sensor. It wasn’t a badge that activated it, but him. The sensor scanned his eye.

  Wow. Advanced.

  “Welcome home, sir.”

  The door began to open, moving inward.

  Being caught off guard by the female voice, I stood taller. “Who was that?”

  Kader scoffed as he again lifted my suitcase. “No one. It’s the house.”

  As we stepped inside, my feet came to a stop and I scanned all about.

  We were in an open area with a large staircase that led to a landing above. On the level where we’d entered were archways leading to other rooms. The feel was rustic with natural tones. The minimalist furnishings appeared high quality. Every room I could see was lit in a soft golden hue.

  “Do you leave the lights on? Have timers?”

  “When we were approaching, I told the house I was near.”

  I shook my head, wondering what else he could tell the house to do.

  “I’ll show you to your room,” Kader said, “and after a quick shower, I’ll get us something to eat. Tomorrow, I’ll show you around more and maybe even some of the outbuildings. Tonight, I think we’re both tired.”

  I wasn’t certain why the idea of having my own room disappointed me, but it did. “You’re going to leave me alone?”

  “Not technically. Instead of a musty basement, we’re in a six-thousand-square-foot house.”

  I spun around. “Not remotely the same.”

  “In a way it is. Like in that basement, we’re the only two people in this house. No one can enter. You’re safe. For now, stay away from my office. I’ll get you set up with some computer equipment tomorrow. When I do, you’ll have a new presence on the web. Nothing can indicate that you’re alive.”

  While the idea of being alone in my room made me sad, the prospect of being able to do any work brought the seed of anticipation to life.

  I looked down at my tennis shoes. “I should—they’re muddy.”

  One side of his lips moved upward. “They’re fine. You can clean them upstairs.”

  Not listening, I quickly bent down and removed my shoes, carrying them in my hand and refusing to leave a trail of dried mud.

  As we started climbing the staircase, I remembered entering the house. “Wait, so your house talks to you and you talk to it?”

  “Yes. I can go weeks without seeing another soul, even Jack. That’s why I like him. I suppose that I programmed the house to talk so that instead of people, the house is my company.”

  “Who cooks and cleans? Does the house do that too?”

  Kader stopped halfway up the stairs. “Doc, I never would have taken you for a sexist.”

  “Me? What? Why?”

  “Men are capable of taking care of themselves. It isn’t difficult to cook for one. And one person doesn’t create much mess.”

  I scoffed. “Guilty as charged.”

  “However, as a disclaimer, the house is programmed to do simple tasks.”

  “Such as?”

  He nodded toward my shoes. “Sweep and vacuum.”

  At the top of the landing, I paused to peer over the rail. High above the front doors was a large window, the scene beyond fading into night. Together we walked down a hallway. Kader offered no explanation of the closed doors that we passed—what they contained or why he needed so many. It wasn’t until we made it to nearly the end of one hallway that he stopped and opened a door.

  With a gesture of his hand, we both stepped inside. He must not have told the house we were going to this room because upon entering it was dark. For a split second before he turned on the lights, my gaze went to the gorgeous view through the large windows. This room faced the same ravine he’d shown me earlier, but now we were at the other end. And then with a flip of the switch, the room filled with light and the glass panes turned dark.

  Kader sat my suitcase next to the big four-poster bed and pointed toward another door. “Your bathroom is in there. Let me know what you need. I’ve never had company.”

  I turned a circle, slowly taking in the room and the furnishings. The bed was large—I’d guess king-sized. There were matching dark wood bedside stands with tall lamps, and near the windows was an overstuffed chaise—a perfect place to read. There was also a dresser with a mirror and a chest of drawers. There was another door Kader hadn’t mentioned. I went that direction and peeked inside, viewing an empty walk-in closet.

  When I turned around, Kader was right there, his chest at my eye level. I looked up until I met his gaze. “This is really nice. And you’ve never had company?”

  He shrugged. “Never.”

  “Then why do you have a furnished room waiting for someone?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe it was for you.”

  My cheeks rose in response to his answer. Before I could verbally respond, Kader turned toward the door leading back to the hallway. “By the way,” he said, “the first room, the door closest to the landing, is my bedroom. It’s my space, off-limits.”

  My chin jutted upward. “Is my room off-limits to you?”

  When Kader’s gaze met mine, the golden flecks of his green eyes shone under the overhead light. His gaze quickly scanned from my socks to the top of my head.

  Each inch upward warmed my skin, twisted my core, and drew my nipples tight. Finally, our eyes met again.

  “I guess not,” he said as a smile threatened his customary expression. “I’m here now.”

  I shook my head and crossed my arms over my traitorous breasts. “Unfair.”

  “Do whatever you need to do that doesn’t involve my bedroom or my office. I’m going to clean up and then I’ll be downstairs. The kitchen isn’t difficult to find. It’s the room with the counters and appliances.”

  My lips pursed. “Thanks a lot. I’ll use my detective skills.”

  “I’m here to help, Doc. Come down when you’re ready. We’ll get a bite to eat and find out together what’s happening in Indianapolis. Oh, and if you get lost, you can ask the house for directions. Her name is Missy.”

  Missy?

  It wasn’t that that was an unusual name, and yet hearing it always evoked a feeling of loss. It had been a long time ago back when I was a child myself. “Why Missy?”

  “I don’t know that either.”

  Pushing those thoughts away, I reached for his hand. “Kade
r, can you check on my parents, my sister, and my niece?”

  “I really do work alone. I don’t have people to send.”

  Moisture prickled my eyes.

  His Adam’s apple bobbed as he let out an exaggerated breath. “Shit. I’ll see what I can come up with.”

  “Thank you.”

  The door closed as I lifted my suitcase to the bed.

  Almost an hour later, I was showered and for the first time in days, my hair was dried and I’d applied a bit of the cosmetics I’d thrown into my bag—nothing like the night of the gathering. Our freedom from the basement felt too good to not celebrate in some way, not that a little mascara and lip color was celebratory. It was more about a sense of surviving, something I was learning to acknowledge in small victories.

  In the last day, we’d survived.

  We’d escaped a rudimentary shelter, and our reward was found in luxury accommodations. The giant tiled shower within the attached bathroom was amazing. If I wasn’t curious to learn what was happening in Indianapolis, I might have spent an extra hour or two under odor-free hot water.

  Not only was the bathroom stocked with a hair dryer, there were also soaps, shampoo, conditioner, and lotions. I even found a hairbrush and comb as well as a brand-new toothbrush and toothpaste. Though there weren’t any cosmetics, it certainly seemed as though the guest Kader had prepared to house was one of the female variety.

  He’d asked what I needed. Looking down at an outfit I’d already worn, I knew that I needed more clothes and a washer and dryer to clean the ones I had.

  How was I to know that when I’d thrown a few things into a suitcase, they would become my only possessions?

  Walking down the hallway to the landing, I listened, using the detective skills I’d mentioned. Coming from the level below were various noises, confirming that Kader was downstairs. Before I descended the stairs, my lip went beneath my front teeth as I recalled what he’d said about the location of his bedroom.

  Turning back toward the hallway, I ascertained that the door before me was his.

  What would happen if I opened it?

  Staring at the wooden barrier, I continued to nibble my lip as my feet moved. One step and then another drew me closer to his door.