The Knowing (Partners In Crime Book 1)

by Hanna Noble

  With that he gave a cheery wave and drove off, leaving Cole standing there in deep thought.

  Did she look at him? He’d thought—maybe hoped—but had been unsure. They were circling around each other, two animals wary of whether they were approaching a friend or foe.

  But there was an attraction there, no matter how much they circled, how careful they were with politeness. It lingered, a heat just below the surface adding an extra level of awareness to every interaction.

  He shook his head as he re-entered the house. He shouldn’t be thinking about this. He was a cop, and she was a part of the job. He stopped in his tracks at the sight of Naomi curled up on the couch in the living room fast asleep. She looked worn out.

  He told himself it was professional courtesy to place a wool blanket over her. When he found himself wondering if her skin was as smooth to the touch as it looked, he jerked in panic. Shit. Backing away on silent feet, he went to the dining room to continue working.

  This, he thought to himself as he started reviewing the case file notes, was definitely going to be complicated.

  Chapter Eleven

  Naomi stood at the entrance of Lily’s gym, waiting for the tour she’d signed up for. She reminded herself to relax, to release the tension in her shoulders and jaw.

  She had to act casual, be normal, and not let on that she was quaking on the inside. She looked around her, wondering for the hundredth time if someone would recognize her.

  She’d convinced Cole and Owen that she could pass unnoticed, but now she was petrified that someone would spot her. She pulled her ball cap farther down. She hadn’t been around so many people in months.

  The Charles River Athletic Center was your typical fitness establishment, aimed at young and trendy urban professionals. Bright lights reflected off rows of gleaming equipment, and posters of gorgeous men and women with incredibly toned bodies adorned the walls.

  Her psychic senses still felt cloudy, helped along by the other half of the sleeping pill she’d taken in secret. She was ashamed to admit she found the psychic fogginess reassuring. She wasn’t ready to open herself up to the Knowing completely again, to be linked to such a dark mind. She trembled at the thought.

  “Susan?” She turned at the mention of the fake name she’d given. Susan wasn’t shy or weird, Naomi thought. She wasn’t in the news, wasn’t a pariah. She was a normal woman, here to get in shape. She remembered what it felt like to feel normal, right?

  Her tour guide, Matt, turned out to be a real-life version of one of the “beautiful people.” Looking at his strong-jawed all-American face, Naomi wondered if they had some sort of policy in place for hiring these types of people to show the rest of the mere mortals what to aspire to. They toured the facility, and she felt on edge, nearly leaping out of her skin at the loud clanging of some of the fitness equipment. She tried to pay attention but her mind kept drifting, looking for traces of Lily.

  “Every member gets a card with their picture on it to be able to access the building,” Matt explained, as they made their way past the weight-lifting section. “You use the cards to swipe in at the machines and classes, too. It’s a cool way to track your fitness.” They stopped in front of two large studios, where a cardio kickboxing class was taking place.

  “It looks hard,” she commented as they stopped to watch.

  “Oh, it is, but it burns major calories,” Matt said his voice cheerful, his boyish charm in full effect. “We design all our classes to maximize calorie loss. This one burns at least six hundred.”

  “Wow,” she said, feigning being impressed. “Is this always the schedule for classes?”

  “This is the winter schedule. We change it with each season. We move things around, add a few new classes. You have to keep it interesting if you want people to come back,” Matt replied with an engaging smile. “We want to help our clientele succeed here.”

  “What about a body pump class?” Naomi said, indicating the schedule that was hanging beside the door. “That’s something I’d be interested in.”

  “Oh, that’s one of our classics. That one never changes, it’s always on six times a week. Every day but Sunday, once in the mornings, and once in the evenings. Some people come to both classes,” he confided in a whisper, as though sharing classified government information. “They love the results it gets them in such little time.”

  Naomi smiled, but her attention had shifted elsewhere. Lily had disappeared on a Tuesday, which was one of the days that this class took place. She would ask Cole to confirm the information with the gym’s database, but she was pretty sure this was one of the last places Lily had visited while she was alive.

  She’d heard sounds of a body pump class through the Knowing, and she had to believe it meant something. As they made their way back to the front entrance, she suddenly tasted carrot juice on her tongue again.

  “Here’s our final stop on the tour,” Matt was saying as they walked over to a small reception area. “Our juice bar serves the best health food. We cater to the Paleo, Atkins, gluten-free, nut-free, sugar-free, vegetarian, vegan, and lactose-free diets,” he recited with pride. “We also make wicked juices and smoothies.”

  “Juices?” she asked, coming to attention. “Like carrot juice?”

  “Sure,” he nodded. “Apple, pear, orange, tomato, mixed. You name it, and we can probably juice it. What do you think of our little gym?”

  “I think the facilities are great. Thanks for the tour,” Naomi said, infusing as much enthusiasm as she could into her smile. “I’ll think about it and let you know.”

  Matt pulled a card from his pocket. “Here’s my number. Call me if you have any questions.” He smiled again, this time bringing out his dimples for added effect. “I think you’ll like it here. I hope to see you around.” He winked and walked away.

  Damn, he was effective, Naomi thought, staring after him. Not too pushy, a slight flirtation—it was a killer sales technique. For a second she’d even considered a membership. She wandered over to sit at the juice bar, feeling dejected. She hadn’t learned anything new. She was sure Cole could have easily checked the records to establish that Lily had been here, but she’d been compelled to come. It was a mistake, but she had wanted to validate what she’d heard, tasted. Would she ever fully understand why the Knowing showed her things?

  “Can I help you?” A tall, brown-haired man with a goatee leaned over the counter and smiled at her. His name tag said Jerry.

  “Sure, I’d like a carrot juice please,” she said, going with impulse. She didn’t want to face Cole yet, didn’t want him to know she hadn’t turned up anything of value.

  “Coming right up,” he said as he turned to use the juicer on the counter behind him. As she watched him grab the carrots, she tasted carrot juice on her tongue again, but this time the taste was more nuanced, it was almost like...

  “Sorry.” She interrupted Jerry’s juicing and smiled in apology when he turned to face her, an inquisitive expression on his face. “Can you add an apple to that? And, a splash of tomato juice?” He looked surprised for a minute, but then nodded.

  A few minutes later, he placed the glass in front of her. “Here you go,” he said, his expression still puzzled. Naomi didn’t blame him, she had no idea where the urge to order that drink had come from either.

  “I know, it’s a little weird,” she said, embarrassed when he continued to stare at her. She took a sip. “It’s really good, you should try it.”

  “It’s just that... never mind,” he said, turning back to clean the juicer. “It’s going to sound odd.”

  “What is it?” The feeling of anticipation returned full force.

  “Have you been following the news at all? Have you read about that woman the police found last week?” he asked, lowering his voice, so that no one else could hear them.

  “Lily Martin?” She nodded slowly. “Yeah, I heard about her. So tragic.”

  “She goes here…used to go here,” he corrected. “She would alw
ays order the same thing after her class—carrot juice with one apple and a splash of tomato juice. No one else ever ordered that drink before. Until you.”

  She felt a shiver run up her spine. “That’s pretty spooky,” she admitted, but leaned in closer, keeping her own voice quiet. “Did you know her?”

  “As well as you know any of the regulars, I guess. She used to come in all the time, and if it wasn’t too busy we’d talk for a bit. She was really nice. When she stopped coming, I wondered about her. I thought she moved or something, I never thought ...” he trailed away, looking pained. “It’s so awful. I can’t believe it.”

  “I’m sorry.” Instinct compelled her to reach out a hand to cover his on the bar, wanting to offer some compassion. She knew all too well what it was like to grieve, even for someone you didn’t know. She paused. She wasn’t just picking up on his grief but ... regret? It wasn’t crystal clear, but she sensed that he had wanted to ask Lily out but had missed the chance. The knowledge came to her like a gentle wave, an understanding that just was. He moved away, and she let her hand drop in front of her on the bar.

  “It’s ok,” Jerry said, fiddling with some empty cups. “It’s sad, that’s all.”

  There was more to this story, she could feel it, but the impressions she needed seemed to be hovering beyond her reach. She finished up her juice and placed a few bills on the counter.

  “Thanks for the juice, and the chat,” she said, standing and zipping up her coat.

  “Yeah, see you around.” Jerry turned to take care of the trickle of people who had entered the juice bar, indicating a group fitness class had just finished. She made her way to the exit, slipping on her sunglasses as she walked out into the bright sunlight.

  It was still freezing outside, and she hurried up the two blocks to where Cole was waiting for her. She spotted him parked on a side street, reading a magazine.

  She slid into the passenger seat, glancing over. “Scientific American Mind,” she remarked with surprise. “A cop who likes cooking and science. Interesting.”

  He arched a brow, waiting for her to fasten her seat belt before pulling away from the curb. “Don’t sound so surprised, I’m a man of many layers.” He glanced over at her, his grey eyes full of good humor, the angular planes of his face softening as he smiled. “You need to expand your horizons.”

  She snorted, ignoring the pang she felt at his warm expression. “That’s rich, coming from you.”

  He smiled again, and Naomi shook her head. She liked this relaxed and teasing side of him. He was different than she expected, and uncovering each facet of his personality was more interesting than she cared to admit. The intense detective obsessed with finding out the truth, and the man who cracked jokes and read articles about strawberry shortcake were fascinating in equal measure.

  “So? How did it go?” His question interrupted her musings. She wasn’t sure what to report. It didn’t seem like she had accomplished the breakthrough she’d been secretly expecting.

  “It was fine, but I don’t think I got anything important.” She was an idiot. She had been sure that she’d walk into the gym and spot the killer. She would present her findings to Cole and Owen, accept their undying gratitude, clear her good name, become a celebrated hero in Boston and start her new life in San Diego with a clear conscious. Meanwhile, all she’d gotten were some fuzzy impressions.

  “But you got something?” his voice was quiet as he wove through the Boston traffic toward his house in Bay Village.

  She shrugged, not saying anything, turning instead to gaze out the window. She had always loved Boston’s skyline, the way the shore hugged the city, framing it with the blue of the ocean. It had a small-town heart inside a big city body, and she missed living here with an intensity that surprised her.

  “Naomi?” She felt Cole’s eyes on her, knew he was waiting for her to respond.

  “I think Lily Martin went to a body pump class the night she was killed. You can check the gym’s data to confirm it, but I’m pretty sure. She ended up in the juice bar after her class, ordered a drink.”

  “What else?” His tone had gentled.

  “Why are you sure there’s something else?” she hedged.

  “It’s my job to know when people aren’t telling me everything,” he said. “That’s why I’m the one with the shiny badge.”

  She smiled despite herself. “You’re sort of annoying. Has anyone ever told you that?” He was putting her at ease with his humor, erasing the dejection and nervousness she felt.

  “If by annoying you mean endearing, then sure, I hear it all the time.” He glanced over at her. “Tell me.”

  She sighed. “I met this guy, Jerry.” She told him about the drink order and what she had uncovered. “I just knew that he liked her. Was going to ask her out, but didn’t.” She shrugged. “He regretted it. It feels like spying. I hate knowing something so personal about someone without their consent. It’s like I violated his privacy, and now I’m doing it again by telling you.” It was one of her struggles with her abilities, being the unasked guardian of so many secrets.

  He was quiet, and she knew he was thinking about what she had said. That cop brain of his never stopped analyzing, was always figuring things out.

  “It’s hard on you,” he said after a moment, and she looked at him in surprise. “To know these things, to have to be the keeper of secrets you didn’t ask for.”

  It startled her to hear her own thoughts echoed back. To feel like Cole was trying to understand how she felt, and what it meant for her to be connected to the world the way she was.

  “Think of it this way,” he continued. “You’re not getting this information for no reason. You’re trying to help Lily, and if Jerry really cared about her, he wouldn’t mind such a small breach in privacy if it meant bringing her killer to justice.” He pulled into the driveway and turned to face her. “I could see the ethical issues if you were trying to profit off people’s secrets, but you’re trying to do a good thing.”

  “It’s a grey area,” she agreed, opening her door and stepping out. “I felt so sad for him. He was hurting.” They walked up the steps, and entered the warmth of the house.

  “I’m sorry, Naomi,” Cole said, shrugging off his coat. “That sounds awful.”

  She pulled off her boots, unsure. She wasn’t used to this level of easy conversation, nor the understanding he was offering without any judgment.

  She wandered into to the living room couch, still comparing the difference between this Cole and the one she had butted heads with the last time around. They were on the same side again, she realized. The animosity and resistance were gone. They had no place inside their treaty, inside the commitment that they both had made to start over.

  Trust was tricky. Could she trust him to believe her when it counted?

  “We think Lily went to the gym.” Cole sat down in one of the chairs facing her and flipped open a notepad. “The class on Tuesday finished at 8:30 p.m. She has a juice, and then she goes home.”

  “Where he was waiting for her,” she finished. The idea of him waiting for Lily made her skin crawl.

  She watched as Cole stared at the pad of paper, as though willing the truth to appear. He looked up at her, his gaze sharp. “Wait, what did you say?”

  “I said that he was waiting for her.” Naomi was puzzled when Cole stood and walked to the stack of folders that were sitting on the counter, separate from the case files on the table.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked as he rummaged, shuffling through the papers with an intensity she didn’t understand.

  “These are my own notes, not official case files,” he said without looking up, still sorting through papers. “I’m looking for the transcript of your vision. I typed them up so we could refer to them easily.”

  “Ok.” She still didn’t understand what that had to do with anything. “And?”

  “Here they are,” he said, pulling two sheets of paper out and sitting back down. “We kno
w he was waiting for Lily at the apartment. But I remember you said something else.” He pointed to a line of text. “Here. It doesn’t go according to his plan. She’s kept him waiting. He’s angry, so very angry.”

  Naomi’s throat was dry. The pool of blood. Lily’s struggle. The joy he had felt as he ended the young woman’s life. It all flashed through her mind. She shuddered, feeling sick to her stomach. “What does that tell us?” She swallowed hard, feeling her hands trembling.

  “Think about it.” He stood again, walked over to the kitchen. “We know this guy is a serial offender who plans these attacks meticulously,” he said from behind the counter that separated the kitchen from the dining room.

  She sipped the glass of water he placed in front of her before sitting back down beside her. She should have known her distress wouldn’t have gone unnoticed, that he would want to sit closer to her in case she needed him.

  “He picked these women out, followed them. He needed to know their movements, their routines, in order to plan out his attack,” Cole continued, raking a hand through his hair as he studied Lily’s picture.

  Naomi gasped as the pieces fell into place. “He was angry because she kept him waiting. She did something different that night. She must have changed up her routine, so she didn’t get home when she usually did.”

  Cole nodded, pleased. “You got it. He must have been sure that her routine was predictable. Where did she go? What would make Lily change her routine all of a sudden?”

  The image of Jerry popped into her mind. “To see a boy,” she whispered. What if Jerry’s regret over not asking Lily out had nothing to do with her vanishing? What if it was because she met someone else instead? “What if Lily met someone that night?” Somewhere poor Jerry could see and have his hopes dashed.

  “It’s plausible. I’ve requested the security tapes and their data.” He looked at her, considering. “You think she met this person at the gym?”

  “I think she met this person at the juice bar.”