Savage Peril: Military Romantic Suspense (Stealth Security Book 6)

by Emily Jane Trent

  Chapter 13

  Lori had been exhausted, yet she had stayed awake for hours after her brother’s unexpected visit. The sensual kiss had been interrupted and Gunner had shifted back to being her protector. His kisses showed that his desire was as strong as hers.

  Yet Gunner held back, and Lori understood. He didn’t want to take advantage of her. He wouldn’t be living with her if she wasn’t in so much danger. The arrangement wasn’t meant to be as friends with benefits. Lori had to keep things in perspective and not act impulsively.

  But Lori’s resistance crumbled when Gunner was so close. The movies had been romantic, and it wasn’t easy to remember that they were only friends. But she didn’t see how to spend so much time with Gunner and keep from falling for him.

  Lori feared that she had already opened her heart. But that didn’t mean that things would work out. She finally drifted to sleep that night feeling comforted and safe. For the rest of the weekend, Gunner had been the perfect gentleman—which didn’t subdue Lori’s desire at all.

  On Monday, it was good to get back to work. After Gunner made her promise not to be alone with Matt, he left to go to Stealth, but assured her that he would return at the end of the day. Lori didn’t venture outside the clinic. She ate lunch with Sarah in the employee lounge and was back to work within an hour.

  Staying busy kept Lori’s mind off upsetting issues, but she still had much to deal with. The incident with Nick bothered her, since it confirmed her suspicion that he was back on drugs. One of Gunner’s teammates had stayed with her brother through his withdrawal until he fell asleep. A symptom of a cocaine crash was excessive sleeping, but she didn’t know what would happen when he finally woke up. Her brother was an adult, so there was only so much that Lori could do.

  At the clinic, she managed to avoid Matt for most of the day. He didn’t seek her out either, as he probably felt awkward about what he’d done. The cut on her neck had been minor, and Lori had removed the bandage before going to the movies that night.

  But she needed to figure out what to do, so she met with Adam. He knew Matt’s personality, yet he was surprised to hear about the violent outburst.

  “I need to fire him,” Lori said. “But it’s really bad timing.”

  “I suppose I’m stating the obvious,” Adam said, “but what you’ve discovered about the medical supply orders is disconcerting. I’d guess that Matt is making money on the side. Medicine isn’t accidentally over-ordered, and painkillers don’t go missing. He must have a buyer.”

  “I haven’t wanted to face that,” Lori said. “I was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. But the situation has progressed beyond that.”

  Late in the day, Lori’s attorney called. The autopsy report was ready, so he wanted to set up a meeting and go over the findings. Lori agreed to meet at his office, but she wanted the family with her. She didn’t want to hear the results in advance.

  When Gunner picked her up, she told him about the upcoming meeting. She had scheduled it for the following afternoon. Uncle Sheldon would leave his office early and give Nick a ride to the attorney’s office. She set the meeting soon, as she didn’t wish to delay hearing the results.

  “I’ll drive you there and wait outside,” Gunner said.

  “I hope so, because I might be a wreck afterwards,” Lori said. “But I couldn’t tell what to expect. It might have been needless to go through all of this. My attorney sounded calm like he usually does, so I don’t have a clue.”

  “I’m not an expert in poisons,” Gunner said. “Remind me what we’re looking at here.”

  “I’m expecting that respiratory failure will be confirmed,” Lori said. “But if thallium was in my father’s system, the poison could have affected the muscles that assist in breathing.”

  “Meaning that poisoning was the cause of the respiratory failure.”

  “Exactly,” Lori said. “The autopsy report might document damage to internal organs or indicate other signs of physical distress. But an examination of my father’s hair was done to determine whether thallium was present—that’s the most important thing.”

  Gunner stayed up late with Lori, talking things over and discussing possibilities. It was good to know that she wasn’t alone. Whatever the autopsy showed would determine her course of action, and she prayed that she was wrong. She would be relieved if she learned that the cause of death had been correct all along.

  *****

  Lori woke early the next morning. She had coffee with Gunner but didn’t have much of an appetite. After she dressed, Gunner drove her to the clinic to check on things and then hung around to wait for her. Matt was conspicuously absent, but Lori didn’t ask about him.

  Glenn Samuels’ law office was downtown, so it didn’t take long to get there. Lori spotted Sheldon’s car in the lot, relieved to know that he was already there with Nick. She hoped her brother was lucid enough to understand the proceedings.

  Butterflies fought in Lori’s stomach as the elevator slowly rose to the attorney’s floor. Gunner gave her a reassuring look, and she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. The door slid open and Lori stepped onto the marble floor, her heels clicking on the polished surface.

  Gunner opened the etched glass door for her, then took a seat in the waiting room. The receptionist greeted Lori then escorted her to the conference room. When Lori entered, Uncle Sheldon stood and gave her a hug.

  Nick nodded at Lori but didn’t bother to get up. He looked pale and unhealthy, despite days of sleep. She wondered how he would react to all of this, considering that he had been against it. But it was too late to call it off.

  Lori sat next to her uncle. Her brother was on the other side of the table. The attorney stood at the end near the window. He had handled legal matters for Lori’s father for years, so he had become a friend of the family, which made this easier.

  “We’re ready,” Lori said.

  “I appreciate all of you coming today,” Glenn said. “I’m going to read the autopsy report. If you’ll hold any questions until I’m finished, I’ll address your concerns then.”

  Lori was trembling, so she gripped the arms of the chair. Nick slumped in his chair but appeared interested. Sheldon maintained his composure.

  Glenn read the report without looking up. Lori stared at him as he went through the findings one by one. She dared not look at anyone else, as she couldn’t bear to see their faces. Much of the report was medical information that made more sense to Lori than it would to the others.

  But Lori’s suspicion had been valid. An examination of a hair sample revealed that thallium had been in her father’s system. Despite the weeks of waiting, the news still came as a shock. For a moment, Lori felt faint and tried to steady her breathing.

  Sheldon reached over and took her hand. She glanced at him, noting his look of devastation. The shock of hearing the truth rendered her speechless.

  “What does all that mean?” Nick said. “What are you saying about my father?”

  “The pathologist’s report is talking about your father’s sudden death,” Glenn said. “His autopsy report determined the cause of death, and his report can be used as evidence.”

  “Father died of thallium poisoning,” Lori said. “That means he was murdered.”

  “Maybe he took the poison accidentally,” Nick said, looking horror-struck.

  “That’s not likely,” Sheldon said. “After Lori shared her reason for suspecting poisoning, I looked into it. Thallium was used as rat poison, but it was banned long ago, so the substance is not readily available. Poisoning wouldn’t have been accidental.”

  “I spoke to the coroner,” Glenn said. “Forensically, thallium is not the first thing considered. But in this case, poison residue was picked up in the autopsy. I was informed that there is no other way to get a high level of the element in the tissues, except by poisoning. And with modern analytical techniques, the substance can’t be mistaken for anything else.”

  That shut Nick up. He l
ooked at Lori, as if for guidance.

  “This is a lot to take in,” Lori said.

  “I assume the police will follow up?” Sheldon said.

  “The coroner will call for an inquest to begin a legal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Robert Waters,” Glenn said. “I realize how upsetting this must be for all of you. I will be available to assist you in any way that I can.”

  Lori stood, and her uncle hugged her. “I’m so sorry,” she said.

  “We’ll need a chance to process all of this,” Sheldon said to Glenn.

  “Of course,” Glenn said. “I will keep you updated. But you should expect to hear from an investigating officer.”

  Nick shuffled out of the room, then Lori and Sheldon followed. The report had thrown Lori into emotional upheaval. Her worst fear had been confirmed, yet one question remained unanswered.

  Who had murdered her father?

  Chapter 14

  Gunner wasn’t good at waiting. He wished that he was in the conference room with Lori so he could hear the autopsy results. Sitting in the waiting room was torture, so he ended up pacing the hall outside the office. He could still see inside through the glass doors.

  When Sheldon and Nick emerged, the looks on their faces told the story. Gunner went in, anxious to see Lori. She was right behind her relatives, and her pained expression tore at Gunner’s heart.

  Nick stared straight ahead, but as Sheldon passed, he gave Gunner a nod, his expression conveying the somber tone of the meeting. As the two disappeared into the hallway, Lori fell into Gunner’s arms. She collapsed against him and clung to his waist.

  For several minutes, Gunner didn’t move. As far as he was concerned, Lori could hold on to him for the rest of the day. He didn’t need for her to tell him what had happened. His sole focus was caring for her after such devastating news.

  When Lori moved away, Gunner put his arm around her to guide her out. She looked down without saying a word. When the elevator opened, Lori took his hand and stepped inside. Only then did she look up, as if grasping for answers.

  “I’m not taking you back to work,” Gunner said.

  Lori shook her head. “Adam will cover. I told him not to expect me back today, no matter how things went.”

  Gunner’s gut twisted. He wished that things were different, that Lori had found out there wasn’t anything to worry about. Yet he wasn’t surprised that it had turned out the way it had.

  Although Lori was unfamiliar with life-threatening circumstances, Gunner was not. It seemed his sense of the situation had been correct. That meant Lori would have a lot to deal with, but Gunner would be right beside her.

  Once Lori was in the car, Gunner headed for a rooftop lounge that was popular downtown. He didn’t ask Lori where she wanted to go. She needed a place to talk and process what she had learned. It would be good for her to unburden with Gunner, plus he wanted to hear the details of the report.

  On the way, Lori looked out the window, most likely in shock. It would take time for her to deal with the reality. Even though murder had been suspected, having that confirmed must be shattering.

  The bar was in the Standard, a hotel with a reputation for good security. Gunner preferred a place where he could focus on Lori without concern for her safety. The rooftop of the big hotel was a good choice. He parked in the lot then helped Lori out.

  Gunner took Lori’s hand and ushered her to the elevator, where a few other guests waited. When Lori squeezed his hand, Gunner kissed her knuckles. The door slid open and he followed her in. The other people chatted, but Lori leaned against the back wall in silence.

  The rooftop was bustling, which meant Gunner could settle in with Lori without concern that their conversation would be overheard. He found seats at a table by the firepit. It was in a corner, so Gunner took the seat facing out so he could watch the area.

  Lori ordered a cocktail and Gunner had a pint of beer, as the occasion called for alcohol. He put his hand over Lori’s and kept it there until the drinks arrived. Then he sat back to give her a chance to talk.

  “It’s just so hard to believe,” Lori said, after a sip of her drink. “I knew all along that it was a possibility, but I held out hope that I was mistaken.”

  Gunner didn’t interrupt.

  “I hardly know what to say.” Lori took another sip then put her glass on the table. “The police will get involved now.”

  Gunner was captivated by Lori’s beauty. She was as lovely in that moment, sitting beside the fire, as she had ever been. His thoughts were inappropriate, as he wanted to carry her off to bed and make love to her. He wanted to hold her close and make her feel so amazingly good that she would forget her troubles.

  “What are you thinking?”

  Gunner touched her cheek. “About you.” He held back from sharing more. The last thing he wanted was to ruin things between them. He tried to push away his desire to see her naked and feel her warmth on his skin, but he was unsuccessful.

  As if reading his mind, Lori said, “I wish this was a date, just the two of us. If only my life hadn’t fallen apart, and I’d met you when I could be free to…”

  “I know, honey.”

  “What am I going to do?” Lori said, then took a gulp of her cocktail. “I suppose getting drunk won’t help.”

  Gunner flagged the waitress for a cocktail refill, then he leaned forward. “Do you have any idea who killed your father?”

  “I’ve thought of little else for the past hour,” Lori said. “But I’ve come up dry. There had to be a motive, and that’s what I can’t figure out.”

  The cocktail was served, giving Gunner a moment to consider that. “The police will take time to get an investigation going. It’s not safe to sit back and wait.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “You knew your father better than anyone else did,” Gunner said. “Maybe there is a clue, something you haven’t thought of yet.”

  “I’m freaking out over this,” Lori said. “Was the murderer someone I know?”

  “That’s likely,” Gunner said. “Is there anyone you suspect?”

  “We’re talking about murder,” Lori said. “I just don’t know. And why would anyone want to kill my father?”

  Gunner considered the mob, but did they pose a threat? There wasn’t enough to go on. Lori’s interactions with the mob boss could be unrelated, yet he didn’t want to rule them out. There must be something he was missing.

  “Let’s go over the events just prior to your father’s death,” Gunner said.

  Lori went over it again. She had told Gunner before, but maybe she would remember something important. “My father was alone during the days prior to his death,” Lori said. “I know the murder was premeditated.”

  “How can you be sure?”

  “He was poisoned days before he died.”

  “Could your father have been aware of the poison?”

  “The murderer chose well,” Lori said. “Thallium is odorless and tasteless.”

  “How fast is it?”

  “It’s perfect, when you think about it,” Lori said. “The victim doesn’t die immediately. At the time of death, the killer is long gone.”

  “It’s a slow death, then?”

  “Food contamination is the most common method of poisoning,” Lori said. “If it wasn’t a large dose, symptoms might be delayed up to forty-eight hours. Initially, the symptoms are neurological, like a headache and blurred vision. That’s followed by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.”

  “Which appears to be the flu.”

  “That was why my father wasn’t concerned about his condition,” Lori said. “Death likely didn’t occur until five to seven days after ingestion, but thallium toxicity is lethal if not treated rapidly. It results in respiratory paralysis and failure.”

  “The murderer was aware that his victim would suffer for days before the end came,” Gunner said. “That’s just…savage.”

  “What am I going to t
ell the police that I haven’t just told you?”

  “We won’t leave it up to the police,” Gunner said. “I’ll get backup from my team. We will find out who did this.”

  “I have to,” Lori said. “I won’t be able to live with myself if I don’t.” She put her hand on Gunner’s arm. “I need your help. I don’t know how to solve this on my own.”

  “Trust me,” Gunner said. “You won’t have to. I can’t give you answers yet, but I won’t rest until this matter is taken care of.” He vowed to make the murderer pay for his crime.

  *****

  The next morning while Lori was sleeping, Gunner made a call. It was later in Houston, so Rip picked up on the first ring. “You’re up early.”

  “Things have changed out here,” Gunner said. “I have a murder investigation on my hands.”

  “The autopsy substantiated that?”

  “Yes, and that’s the reason for my call,” Gunner said. “The LAPD is handling this matter. How long will it take them to get up to speed?”

  Rip had relatives in law enforcement in L.A. “It’s likely that new cases take priority. The primary investigator will open a file to start the process.”

  “How long does that take?”

  “It varies,” Rip said. “I’ll make some calls and see what I can find out.”

  “That would be helpful,” Gunner said, then shifted gears. “How’s it going out there? How’s Lela?”

  “I’m up to my eyeballs in investigations,” Rip said. “Lela has been busy with charities. But she quit her job at the law firm to stay home and be a mom.”

  “She’s pregnant?”

  “Not yet…but we’re working on it,” Rip said cheerfully.

  “Don’t let me keep you, then,” Gunner said.