He explained what he knew of Lila’s accident inside the police cruiser. The officer shielded him from the media while Cody got into his car. He also provided a police escort to the hospital.
Forty minutes, and thirty-two stitches later, Cody jumped off the hospital bed. He appreciated the level-one trauma center the hospital boasted about, but he needed to get going. The man-child doctor appeared intent on giving him thorough care. He instructed him on how to care for the stitches and when to take a pain reliever. Then a nurse entered with a document that repeated the same information. Cody had sighed but listened. The brief statement he’d given to the police probably didn’t help much. He’d been following Lila all morning from her trip to the church, her flight across town, and then her harrowing drive into Lake Burgess. He’d seen a huge, black truck following her when she exited the freeway, but he couldn’t be sure the driver had anything to do with her accident. Besides, he’d been so intent on observing Lila, he hadn’t honed in on the license plate. All he could remember was that they were Texas plates.
He hadn’t heard anything about Lila’s condition and the lack of information magnified his worry. She left the scene talking but anything could happen
After the nurse completed her discharge speech, he scribbled his name on the paper and jumped off the gurney. “Thanks. Where is Lila Caldwell?”
“She’s still in a CAT scan.”
“I have a change of clothes in my car. Can I change and wait in her room?”
The nurse nodded. “She’s in Room 12.”
After stripping out of his wet clothes, he slid into sweats and a T-shirt then settled into a chair in Lila’s room. Pulling out his phone, he entered a chat room. He didn’t want to chance calling any of the Alliance members in public and he didn’t want them learning about the accident in the media. Using his screen name, Stargazer, Cody logged into the travel chat room.
Took an unplanned swim in the lake today. Met up with LegalEagle and we’re recovering from our activities. Will head out soon.
Cody checked area news sites. He read two small blurbs about the accident and thankfully neither mentioned their names. He returned to the chat room. CarolinaWave, who was Adam, had responded.
Great to know you connected with your friend. Hope you are rejuvenated from your rest. Currently in the air. Will tell the fam the good news.
He was satisfied Adam understood the context and would pass along the information to the rest of the team.
Ten minutes later, Lila was wheeled back into the room. The nurse settled her and reminded her the doctor would be in later, then retreated. Cody took a few steps, then his feet rooted to the floor as if the vines that had held her captive now ensnarled his legs. Lila lay wrapped in a blanket, her brown hair now dry and hanging in limp curls around her shoulders.
She gave him a weak smile. “Thanks for saving me.”
Cody nodded, his voice also on a temporary hiatus.
Shifting in the bed, Lila pulled up the blanket and cocked her head.
Moving a step closer, he said, “You’re welcome. I’m glad I was there. Are you sure you’re okay?”
She huffed out a sigh. “The doctor examined me. Slight concussion. They want to monitor me for a couple hours, but I’ll be going home after that.” She paused. “What about you?” Her gaze landed on his bandage. “Your arm.”
Cody moved forward until he stood next to the bed. “Thirty-two stitches. But it’s fine.”
Lila brushed a shaky finger across his injured arm. “Stings, huh?”
“Nah.” He smiled. “The doctor numbed it. I’m sure it will burn like hell after the drug has worn off.”
She pulled back and crossed her arms. “I see you changed.”
“I finally took our friends’ suggestion about carrying a go-bag. Certainly, came in handy today.”
Lila adjusted her blanket. “I guess I’ll have to bum some clothes from the hospital.” Her voice shook.
Cody sat next to her on the bed and wrapped his arms around her. “You were a fighter. I think you would have freed yourself, even if I hadn’t been there. We got lucky today.”
“This was a close one. Sooner or later luck runs out.” Lila stared ahead, clinging to her blanket.
Cody hated that she had to live this way. Worry about when the next threat will rain terror upon your life was no way to live. “You’re a survivor. Don’t forget that.”
Before Lila could respond, a uniformed police officer stuck her head in. “Ms. Caldwell, I need to speak with you about the accident.”
Cody jumped off the bed but remained at her side.
“Sure,” Lila said, cutting a glance at Cody.
The petite female officer stepped into the room and introduced herself as Officer Nyland. She stood wide-legged, one hand on her belt, as her gaze swept over Lila. The officer wore her dark hair in a severe bun, which added to her no-nonsense persona. She glanced at Cody. “You may stay, Mr. Green.” Then she turned to Lila. “I need to get your statement on what happened today.” She pulled out a small notebook. “You were traveling east along Lake Burgess Road, is that correct?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me what happened before you went into the water.”
Lila gave her a full account of how the car failed to respond to her actions to decelerate. She explained how she searched for a place to crash, how she lost control, and ended with her attempts to get out of the lake punctuated by Cody’s help.
“You were the woman who found the law partner just before he died, right?” Officer Nyland said, peering at Lila over her notebook.
“Yes.”
The officer raised her eyebrows. “You’re having a bad week. Do you have any reason to believe someone tampered with your car, perhaps in relation to the murder scene you happened upon?”
Officer Nyland drilled down to the crux of Cody’s fears. Lila could be a target.
“I don’t know but I have no reason to believe I’m a target.” Lila’s voice warbled, and she reached for a cup of water on the bedside tray. “I didn’t see who killed Jack Struthers.”
“Did you notice anyone following you? Maybe even someone you spotted earlier in the day?” With her writing hand in midair, she waited for Lila’s answer.
A spate of coughing halted Lila from talking. After she had a few sips of water, she shook her head. “No. There had been an accident on the highway, so I took the back roads. Several vehicles did the same.”
“Have you received any weird calls or noticed anyone watching your house?”
“No.”
The officer froze as she listened to her shoulder radio.
Cody heard something about the tow truck arriving at the lake.
Officer Nyland turned back to Lila. “What about the vehicle? Have you had any problems or recent repairs?”
“No, my vehicle had been operating fine.”
“How did you happen upon the scene, sir?” the officer said, glancing at Cody.
“I was following her back to a friend’s house and saw her go into the lake.” Cody’s jaw tightened. At least he didn’t lie.
Lila straightened in bed. “Cody is an old friend.”
Officer Nyland narrowed her gaze, then nodded and stuffed her notebook into a pocket. “Ms. Caldwell, your blood alcohol level came back clear, so no worries there. We have crews at the scene pulling your vehicle out. We’ll be in touch, but if you recall anything please contact me. I’ll leave my card here.” The officer pulled out her business card and placed it on the bedside tray. “You’re lucky to have such a good friend.” She gave Lila a reassuring pat on the arm then stepped out of the room.
“Now, I have a question.” Cody pulled up a chair. “Do you know who caused the accident? Moments before you went into the lake, I saw a big black truck. Did the driver ram your car?”
“I remember a truck behind me, but I don’t remember being rammed. The car seemed to have a life of its own. I couldn’t control anything.”
“May
be the truck wasn’t related to your accident.”
Silence coated the room for a few seconds. “This was no accident.” She pushed a stray hair out of her face.
Her hands trembled, and Cody couldn’t blame her. “Okay.” He didn’t want to push her for more right now.
“I appreciate what you did,” she said, her voice soft.
“My pleasure, ma’am.” Cody affected a southern accent.
Lila rolled her eyes then laughed, a treasured sound he hadn’t heard in years.
She shifted in the bed. “I don’t mean to be a jerk.”
“You realize this is the second time you’ve said that.” He smiled then released a sigh. “I was worried. I thought I’d lost you. I mean…I thought your life was in jeopardy.”
“Still here.” Her voice shook, and she cleared her throat.
Swallowing, Cody stared into her bright hazel eyes. “I’m glad.” He took her hand. Heat ignited from their touch. Perching on the side of the bed, he placed his arm around her. She leaned into him. The familiar connection he had with her permeated like a welcome drug. He expected her to pull away, but this time she didn’t. Maybe she needed the comfort of someone after her near-death ordeal. He dared not believe she needed him. The thought of her rejection again would bring him to his knees. He’d never forget the sad, hurt look in her eyes, even after all these years. The sobs he’d heard from her room during that time tore out his heart. Yet, an hour later when they came face-to-face all traces of emotion were gone. Her stone-faced expression appeared and had never wavered—until now.
After a long minute, she shifted away. “My car is toast and so is my purse, cell phone, and the files. Do you mind if I use your cell?”
Cody fished his phone from his pocket and handed it to her.
Lila told her father about the accident and that she was fine. She answered several worried questions, then informed him that Cody had rescued her. Before ending the call, she begged him not to come to the hospital as she would be released in short order. Based on Lila’s side of the conversation, he reluctantly agreed.
After handing Cody his phone, she stared at him. “What?”
“You told your father I was here. I can’t imagine what he thinks of me.” Cody could picture Mr. Caldwell’s stern gaze, similar to his daughter’s.
“I don’t tell my Dad everything, but he got the gist of why we broke up. For the record, he always liked you. Even after the…incident, I think he was still rooting for you. And now that he knows you got me out of that car…” She shrugged.
“I didn’t dive into that lake to win accolades from you or anyone else.”
“I know.”
He reached for the compass pendant all Alliance members wore. His fingers brushed against her collar bone, sending another electric thrill through him.
“Do you think the GPS function is dead?” she asked.
“Shouldn’t be. We’ll check with the guys later.”
Lila stared at him with a tired expression. “I just need…some time.”
“Sure. I’ll be out in the waiting room when you’re ready to leave.” Cody stepped away.
She grabbed his uninjured arm. “Wait. Stay. Please.”
Chapter 17
After promising the doctor she would follow up with her primary-care physician, Lila jumped off the bed. As she slid into a pair of sweats and a T-shirt the nurse had given her, she made a mental note to stop by and donate more clothes to the hospital.
Cody told her the media had arrived at the accident scene. Thankful the media hadn’t tracked them to the hospital, Lila followed Cody to his SUV. She shivered despite the warm car, a bit unnerved to be inside a vehicle so soon after her plunge into the lake.
When he slid behind the wheel, she stared at him. “Before we head back to Jeb’s, would you mind helping me with a few other things?”
“You want to run errands now?” Cody’s voice rose in surprise and he met her gaze. “Everyone is due to arrive in a few hours.”
She expelled a sigh. “Then I need to get a rental. Dad would loan me one of theirs, but if I go to the house, I’ll never get out.”
He blew out a frustrated breath and gave her an exasperated look. “You were just run off the road. Reid would skin me alive if I just let you loose. Your father, too.”
“Let me loose? You make me sound like some uncontrollable animal.” Lila grimaced as she pulled on the seat belt. Although thankful her injuries weren’t serious, she hated to think how sore she’d be by morning.
“I’m concerned about your safety. And you should be, too.” With his jaw set, Cody started the engine and cranked up the AC.
Lila chewed her lip. “Forget the rental for now, but I need to pick up some files. These documents are extremely critical.”
“What files? If this is about work, it can wait.” Cody angled to face her.
She shook her head. “It’s not about work, exactly.”
“Lila, what the hell is going on? Your life was just threatened. Maybe it’s time to come clean.”
She laughed a bitter laugh. “Come clean? You want to talk about being honest?” Her head pounded, and her heart thumped. He’d hurt her and now expected to be her confidant? She hadn’t been ready to face Cody again so soon and especially not after another near-death accident. Every time her voice warbled or her hands shook, she died a little inside. The last thing she wanted was for Cody to see her vulnerabilities.
Cody grimaced. “I guess I deserved that.” He expelled a sigh. “Putting aside our past, can we focus on what happened today? The way I see it either you’ve had one horrible week of bad luck or you’ve been targeted. The officer at the hospital knew about you being a witness in the Struthers murder but didn’t seem to know about the shooters at the safe house. We know the police were instructed to shut down the investigation. This whole think stinks and we’d be stupid not to think Lance is behind this.”
“Don’t you think I know this?” Her voice rose, filling the vehicle with a fragile grip on her emotions. She grasped the side of the seat, as if holding on for dear life.
“I know my presence isn’t ideal, but for right now I’m here. I’m on your side. I’m part of the Alliance. We help one another handle situations like this. Everyone in the Alliance is coming here to support us. You can’t allow them to put their lives at risk by withholding information.”
She swallowed, her throat scratchy, as if she’d been screaming for hours. The intense pain in her head was like a crew of tiny construction workers ramming hammers into her skull. She leaned her head in her hand. “You’re right. I’m sorry.” Inhaling, she said, “I really need to get these documents.”
“They are that important?” Cody asked.
“Yes.”
“I’ll take you wherever you need to go, but I’m not letting you out of my sight.”
“Thanks, Cody.” A medley of thoughts and theories clouded her mind. Who had caused her car to malfunction and go off the road? She hadn’t seen Cody or anyone else following but her mind had been on the files. Chiding herself to be more cognizant, she stared out at the suburban scene whipping by. She’d had the documents Jack wanted her to find and they were directly tied to Lance. But how was Jack involved? She itched to review the files. Maybe a clue lay within the pages.
After retrieving a set of the documents from the storage unit and replacing her cell phone, Cody drove Lila to her house. As soon as they entered the house, Lila stopped. “Oh no!” Her house had been trashed. Contents of every kitchen cabinet littered the floor, along with broken glasses, and silverware. Her stove and refrigerator were displaced as if someone believed she had a hidden compartment behind them.
The map box. Her pulse launched into a full gallop.
Cody drew out his weapon and pulled her close. “I don’t think anyone is still here, but we can’t take any chances.”
They stepped through the carnage on the kitchen floor and into the destruction in the living room. Every drawer had been r
ipped out and overturned. The sofa had been reduced to a mass of cushion stuffing and jagged pieces of material.
“Someone was angry,” Cody headed through the living room and down the hall.
“They didn’t find anything,” Lila said stepping over a pile of destroyed books. She often burned candles to freshen the house, soothe her soul, and to enjoy the flickering flames. Today, the clean aroma of her candles had been replaced with something foreign. Her stomach flopped. The idea of strange people inside her home, her sanctuary, made her nauseous.
“They’re long gone.” Cody pointed to the patch of dried mud at the end of the hall. Half of a squiggly shoe tread imprint weaved through the hardened mound.
Lila rushed into the bathroom of her bedroom, her heart thrumming. Crouching in front of the sink, she opened the cabinet door. The intruders had tossed bottles of shampoo, lotion, and various makeup items onto the floor. She reached inside the cabinet and knocked on the back panel. Blowing out a relieved breath, she ripped off the piece of wood and revealed a safe. When she entered her code, the door clicked open and she withdrew a box.
“Is that the map box?” Cody stood behind her.
“Not the original but yes, it’s a map box and contains duplicates of the documents inside the real one.” Lila stood as they stared at the wooden box. “Do you think this is what they were after?”
“Possibly.” Cody glanced around the room “Let’s check your surveillance cameras.”
Lila led the way to her office. “My desktop is gone.” She blew out a sigh. “I don’t keep anything of value on there. I only use it to check my cameras. We’ll have to log in remotely.”
“That’s good. Anything else you want to check before we get out of here?”
Lila shook her head and sighed. “I just hope this ends well.”
* * *
Back in the car, Cody called Jeb and told him about Lila’s accident and the break-in at her house. Jeb agreed they shouldn’t go back to his house and gave them directions to an old farmhouse he was renovating. The house belonged to a friend who intended to sell it to Jeb, but they hadn’t done the deal yet, so the property couldn’t be traced to him. The house made the perfect location for the Alliance.
Order of Truth Page 12
