Night Moves

by HelenKay Dimon

  The plan set, she shot up too fast. Dizziness slammed through her the second her feet hit the ground. The move sent her back to her knees. She tried to gulp in air, but it was too late. The shot of adrenaline that guided her through the last few minutes had worn off, leaving behind a blinding headache and exhaustion she couldn’t shake.

  When her elbows gave out, she fell back to the ground and stayed there, staring up into the black night. Yes, Liam would help. She repeated that mantra until she convinced herself it was true. Now she had to convince him.

  Chapter Two

  Liam Anderson had been to more memorial services than he could count. A devastated family, shocked loved ones. He knew the drill and always steeled himself against getting sucked into the sad aftermath of someone else’s violent end. But the last twenty hours had been different.

  This wasn’t about paying his respects to a victim’s family in a case. This was about getting through those initial horrible hours after the bad news came. This was for Maura, his best friend’s sister.

  Twenty-four and dead. It didn’t seem possible. Sitting there and watching Dan descend into madness made it real for Liam. His friend had spent almost every hour in a drunken haze since getting the unbelievable news. Dan only sobered up this afternoon when the police showed up a second time, changed tactics and started asking questions about Maura’s background. They danced around the accusations but it was clear they believed she had something to do with the explosion.

  Liam provided support and an ear. Even got pissed off on Maura’s behalf at the accusations. Keeping Dan from crawling all over the cops proved harder. Liam left only after Dan had settled down, but planned to return to Dan’s house after a shower and change of clothes. Keeping Dan sane was the only way Liam knew to beat back his own feelings.

  Maura had run from him and now she was gone forever. He would never have a chance to apologize and make things right for what happened nine years earlier. Never get to know the woman she’d become. He’d be stuck with only the memories of a brokenhearted girl.

  He shook his head as he slammed his car door. What a waste.

  Within two steps, Liam realized something was off at his house. He was a security expert, after all. It was his business to notice things, to sense danger, analyze it and diffuse it. His gaze swept over the front lawn and up the porch to his door. He visually checked his alarm and the other traps he set around the entrance every time he went out, but nothing seemed obviously out of place there.

  Still, the prickling sensation didn’t ease. He’d learned long ago to pay attention when a sharp pain whacked him between the shoulder blades. He failed to listen exactly one time in his professional life and had the scar on his leg to prove it. He intended to heed the warning this time.

  Unfortunately, his weapons all sat securely inside. He’d never imagined he’d need a gun today. Violence should take one day off.

  He scanned the area again, looking for any change no matter how small. The gate to the side yard on the right of his place caught his attention. Every time he closed it, he pulled it tight enough for the gate to swing inside the yard slightly. The gate hung even with the fence now. That meant someone had used the walkway to get to his backyard, outside of the view of the street.

  Smart, but not smart enough.

  The fact the alarm had not been tripped made him think the burglar never made it inside the house. Liam hoped like hell the guy was still around. It would feel good to pound someone right about now, to work out all of his aggression and anger at Maura’s loss.

  Liam knew he had surprise on his side. His dark jeans would provide some camouflage but the white oxford would give his position away. The important thing was he had the freedom of movement he needed to get the jump on whoever wanted inside his house.

  If he disengaged the alarm it would beep, so he decided to go with the soundless option: circle around the left side and hunt this guy down from the outside. No need to dissect the plan. He got moving.

  He lifted the latch and stalked along the side of the house, careful not to tip off anyone to his location. His feet fell quiet against the soft grass as he inched along the red-brick wall. When he reached the corner, he peeked around to the patio and saw a figure slumped in one of his deck chairs. All he could make out were slats of wood and a mop of brown hair.

  He pounced, hitting the deck at a dead run. At the last minute, his unwanted visitor turned around. Recognition washed through him, but it was too late for Liam to change his path. He crashed into the chair, sending them both careening toward the hardwood floor. Liam managed to twist his body and shoulder most of the impact, but they both went down with a humph.

  He groaned as his muscles recovered from the jolt. “Maura?”

  She sprawled on top of him not moving.

  “Hey!” He held on to her and struggled to sit up despite his awkward position, and about a hundred-thirty pounds of extra weight piled on top of him. “Are you okay?”

  She mumbled something that sounded like words but didn’t make much sense.

  Her long hair hung down in her face, but at least she was alive. “What are you doing back here? Why aren’t you at Dan’s house? The police think—”

  Her chest rose and fell on heavy breaths as she stared at him. “Do you welcome everyone that way?”

  Liam shook his head, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. Who he was seeing. “What the hell is going on?”

  “That tackle wasn’t as bad as the fire, but close.”

  “You’re supposed to be dead.” Not the brightest conversation starter ever, but he figured it got the job done.

  Confusion cleared from her eyes. “Well, I’m not.”

  He gave her a little squeeze then shifted her to the side and off his injured leg as gently as possible. He took a long look at her. He rarely saw her despite his relationship with Dan. When he did, Liam was struck by a beautiful woman with a round face and big chocolate-brown eyes. Curvy, with shiny hair and wide smile.

  Now she had cuts on her hands and face. A bruise colored her cheek. Her clothes hung loose as if she showered and threw on someone else’s tee and pants.

  “Let’s try my first question again. Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I was, until about three seconds ago when you pummeled me.”

  “Thought you were a burglar.”

  She brushed her hands up and down her arms. “You have an interesting way of protecting your property.”

  She had no idea what he was capable of. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Dan thinks you’re dead. Everyone does.”

  “Can we go inside?”

  It was a cool April day and she was dressed for summer, but the weather was just about the last thing on his mind. “Explain first.”

  “Inside.” She glanced around and then leaned in to whisper. “Please.”

  No way could he fight that scared look on her face. He struggled to his feet and held a hand down to help her up. Her fingers felt like ice against his skin. “You could have gone in.”

  “You have enough security here for a small city.” She nodded toward the alarm panel. “Without the code, I wasn’t about to risk it. I didn’t want the police to come.”

  “Why?”

  She dropped his hand. “I’ll explain once we get inside. Promise.”

  The fence and tall trees gave them privacy, but the way she chewed on her lower lip suggested she didn’t feel all that safe. Paranoid and hunted—words he never would have used to describe her before. But they worked now. She’d aged before his eyes.

  It was official. He had no idea what was going on. That wasn’t exactly a new sensation where Maura was concerned, but this wasn’t about her fancy job and impressive book smarts. This was a common-sense matter of talking to the police. Seemed simple to him.

  “Let’s go.” When he reached over to guide her to the door with a hand at her back, she flinched. The reaction surprised him. Ticked him off, too. “Are you afraid of me now?”

/>   The taunt came more from habit than anything else. She had been avoiding him for so long that he expected her to do nothing else.

  Her chin lifted. “Of course not.”

  He noticed she cradled her right arm and immediately regretted the verbal battle. He knew that protective maneuver. It probably meant injury. When he asked all of the other questions swimming in his mind, he’d ask that one, too. But for now, he wanted her talking. The faster they did that, the faster he could call Dan and save his friend’s liver from the pickling it had been subjected to for the last few hours.

  “Where have you been?” Liam asked.

  “Hiding.”

  After a quick set of punches on the keypad, Liam opened the door and motioned for her to step inside. He expected her to walk through the kitchen to his family room and curl up on the couch. Instead, she hunkered down on the bar stool and stared at his fridge.

  He tried to assess her mood and failed. “Are you hurt?”

  She rubbed her arm. Probably didn’t even realize she did it. “Sore, but otherwise okay.”

  “How about hungry?”

  “No.”

  He roamed around his kitchen looking for a way to keep his hands busy. “Thirsty?”

  “Just some water, please.”

  He grabbed a bottle and twisted off the cap before setting it in front of her. “Yeah, I hear dying can be dehydrating.”

  She treated him to a slight smile then. “That’s what they say.”

  His patience picked that moment to expire. He went from being supportive to being frustrated. The latter emotion he knew well in conjunction with Maura. “Look, I’m all for small talk but why don’t we skip to the part where you explain what’s going on?”

  She took a long drink, drawing out the silence, then picked at the bottle’s label. “There was an explosion.”

  “I know that much.”

  She frowned at him. “Let me finish.”

  With the shock gone, all he had left was the churning anger in his gut. “Your brother is sitting at his house drinking himself into a black oblivion while he mourns your death. So, forgive me if I’m confused why you’re here and not there. Why you’re anywhere, for that matter.”

  Pain flashed across her face. “Dan.”

  “Yeah, Maura. Dan.” Liam leaned down on his elbows until they were face-to-face. “You’re not the type who would let her brother worry for no reason. What is this?”

  “I was in the building when it exploded.” She lifted her hand to stop him when he tried to butt in. “I…saw something.”

  “What?”

  “Dr. Hammer.”

  Yeah, him. “I’m sorry about that, Maura.”

  All emotion left her face. “For what?”

  “You wanted to work for someone like Dr. Hammer for years and then achieved it. I know it meant a lot to you to get that job.” Liam stumbled over his words. He’d never been good at this emotional connection stuff. “This must be hard. You know, for you.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “What are you talking about?”

  “Your boss.”

  “Yeah, and?”

  “Haven’t you read a paper or seen the news?”

  She pointed to the purple blotch on her cheek. “I’ve been busy.”

  Doing what was the question. The same one Liam wanted to ask, but he’d ease up for now. “Your boss is gone.”

  “As in?”

  Oh, man. Why did he have to be the one to break this news? “The usual definition, I’m afraid.”

  “I still don’t know what that means.” Her tone got testier the longer the conversation went on. It was almost hostile now.

  Liam drew in a deep breath. There was no stopping now.

  “He’s dead.” He enunciated each word, hoping that would help the message get through to her.

  She shook her head hard enough to knock a few teeth loose. “No.”

  “I’m sorry?”

  “You’re wrong.”

  “I am?”

  “Where did you get your information about Dr. Hammer?”

  Liam shrugged. “It’s in the paper.”

  “Is my death in the paper?”

  She had him there. “Well, yeah, but I was there when the police talked to Dan. They said Hammer’s research is also missing. The theory is that he was killed for it.”

  “It’s my research, too.”

  Liam ignored her outburst of ego. “They used some word I’ve never heard of to describe what you do.”

  “Xenotransplantation.”

  “It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie.”

  “Hardly. We can transplant organs between animal species.” A new confidence filled her voice as she used her hands to act out the process. “The goal is to figure out how to grow human organs in animals and harvest them for transplants. It would eliminate the black market and organ shortages. We could offer even more than hope. We could give life.”

  Make that a horror flick. “Are you kidding?”

  “Of course not. One of the biggest impediments relates to the human immune system, but there are ways to account for that. Success would mean no more waiting on lists for transplants or depending on artificial devices. We’re talking about an epic breakthrough in the advancement of people’s health. The possibilities are breathtaking.”

  He knew he had to put on the brakes before she gave him a full science lecture. “Anyway, the police thought you were collateral damage. That you happened to be in the building working at the wrong time.”

  “How did they come to that conclusion?”

  “They found a body. Thought it was you at first but it turned out to be male.”

  Sadness pulled at the corners of her eyes. “Tom.”

  “Who’s that?”

  “The security guard.” She tucked her long hair behind her ear. “Okay, so they know it’s not me. What are they saying about the explosion and its cause now?”

  This was not where Liam wanted the conversation to go. “They’re just asking some questions. Fishing. It doesn’t matter.”

  She ripped off a long length of paper from around the bottle. “In other words, they’re blaming me.”

  This is what happened when a guy dealt with a brainy woman. She had this angelic face and kissable mouth, but that didn’t hide the fact she was smarter than every adult around her by the time she hit the fourth grade. She didn’t miss a damn thing.

  “That’s the new working theory,” he said.

  “I didn’t.”

  He wasn’t sure what to say to that since he still didn’t know what happened in that building, or what was going on in her head. “Okay.”

  “And there’s one more thing you should know.”

  “What’s that?”

  “My boss isn’t dead.” She took a long drink. “But when I get my hands on him, he might be.”

  Chapter Three

  A bottle of water and two painkillers later, Maura sat on Liam’s couch with him perched on the coffee table directly across from her. He hadn’t really moved since they switched rooms and he crowded in, barely giving her room to breathe. He just sat there with his elbows resting on his knees and a disbelieving frown plastered across his mouth.

  “One more time.” His deep, husky voice broke the silence.

  She forgot how potent he was up close. Dark brown hair cropped in style, and shoulders wide enough to block her view of the front door. Even in jeans and a boring shirt, danger vibrated off him. He was strong, determined and clever. Everything she needed right now. The same guy she’d avoided for years despite his friendship with Dan.

  Liam’s eyebrow lifted. “Maura?”

  Back to reality. “The police are looking in the wrong place.”

  He tapped his fingertips together. “You think Dr. Hammer was kidnapped.”

  She wanted to believe it because the idea was better than the alternative where her boss had something to do with the fireball that consumed the lab, and nearly took her along with
it. “Possibly.”

  “Did you recognize the people who took Dr. Hammer?”

  “I saw him get into a car.”

  Liam sat up straighter as the gold flecks in his green eyes brightened. “I notice you’re answering different questions from the ones I’m asking.”

  She hoped he might miss that part. Fooling him would be hard, impossible even. But until she figured out who she could trust and how to keep everyone she cared about safe, she had to be careful. “It might be smart if you stayed ignorant about some things.”

  He opened his arms and gestured around the room. “It’s a little late for that, isn’t it?”

  He wasn’t wrong. Sprawled on the grass with her lungs burning from the flames, she’d needed a safe house and immediately thought of him. A former undercover police officer and current corporate security expert, he was the logical choice. She depended on his sense of duty and a rock-hard loyalty to her brother to gain his cooperation.

  Problem was she dragged him into her mess even though she could never hope to control him. Rather than fight, she gave him something in return for his help—information. “I heard someone in the building right before the explosion. I saw Dr. Hammer hustle out of there while I was trying not to catch on fire.”

  Liam shifted on the table. “So, you’re saying you did see the kidnappers.”

  “No.”

  “Maura.”

  “I’m saying Dr. Hammer wasn’t kidnapped.”

  Liam’s face twisted in disbelief. “How do you know?”

  “I just do.” When Liam continued frowning, she tried again. “I have a theory and I’ll find proof.”

  “Of what, exactly?”

  She wasn’t ready to give the details. “With your help.”

  “We’re still having two different conversations.”

  Her mind raced ahead. She needed the documents she hid under the deck in Liam’s back patio. She needed the laptop from her apartment. She needed to stay hidden while she worked out where Dr. Hammer went and why.