Darcie didn’t like the sound of that and from Noah’s frown he didn’t, either, but it couldn’t be helped. Darcie knew detectives were overworked everywhere and they had to prioritize their cases. It meant she and Noah were going to have to do more of the legwork once they left here.
“What about friends?” Noah asked.
Wilson looked relieved that Noah didn’t lecture him on his priorities. “His sister said he was pretty much a loner and didn’t have any close friends, just people he chatted with online. His clients were his only real contact with the outside world.”
“Then it sounds like his disappearance could be related to his work,” Noah said. “I’d like to see his office.”
Wilson led them down the hallway to a large room—another immaculate space with huge posters on the walls for what Darcie assumed were recent advertising campaigns designed by Leland. A drafting table sat in the corner and there were plush chairs on either side of a glass table that held a fiery red lamp.
“No computer?” Noah asked, drawing Darcie’s attention to the desk across the room.
“We’ve taken it into evidence,” Wilson replied. “Techs are processing it now.”
Darcie spotted a 3-D logo on the desk and her heart sank. She pointed at it. “LK Design. Is that the name of his design firm?”
Wilson nodded. “Sounds like you recognize it.”
“I do.”
“How?” Noah stepped closer.
“Tom—my ex-husband,” she clarified for Wilson. “He used this firm to design a campaign for the grand opening of his bike shops.” Her legs suddenly feeling weak, Darcie grabbed on to the back of a chair. “I may have even met Leland. He went by Lee, and I’d long ago forgotten his last name so I didn’t make the connection before.” She turned her attention to Wilson. “Do you have a picture of him?”
Wilson tapped his phone and held out a photo.
“Yes. It’s Lee. He came to the grand opening.”
“You’re sure,” Noah asked, his gaze riveted to hers.
She nodded, but she’d already started pondering the connection between a missing man and Tom. Had she let their former life together blind her to the point where she couldn’t see Tom for who he was? Was he actually involved in the attempt on her life?
* * *
LK Design’s full client list in hand, Noah settled into the driver’s seat of his car and turned to Darcie to assess her mood. Noah had taken a few moments to process Tom’s connection, but Darcie? Questions must be zinging through her head.
He waited for her to make eye contact, then said, “I imagine the news about Tom was a shock.”
She shrugged as if it didn’t matter, but she looked worried.
“This doesn’t mean he had anything to do with your attack,” he said, surprised that he was coming to Tom’s defense. “We have no reason to believe he has any gang affiliation.”
She stared ahead without speaking. Noah didn’t want to push her if she didn’t want to talk about this, but he would like to help relieve her anxiety if he could. So he waited. Patiently. Letting her take the lead in the conversation.
She met his gaze, and he saw the ragged pain in her eyes before she cleared it away. “What if when I wouldn’t sell the house he turned to a shady source for the money? Like a gang. Then he couldn’t pay them back and they came after me to teach him a lesson. Or he could have hired someone to kill me. Maybe Alverez.”
Noah had thought the same thing, but at this point, it was all pure speculation. “Don’t let your imagination run wild. We need to hold off forming an opinion until we have something concrete to go on.”
She gaped at him. “What happened to the guy who thought Tom had a role in this? Why are you changing your tune?”
“Honestly?” he said, stalling for time because he wasn’t sure he wanted to tell her the truth.
“Yes.”
“I can see how painful this is for you. You’ve been through so much already with Tom and this...” He shrugged.
“Pity again,” she said as her lip curled.
“No.” He held up a hand. “I don’t feel sorry for you. I simply...” He stopped talking because he didn’t really know what he felt anymore. “We should get going.”
He ignored the hurt look on her face and dropped the client list he’d gotten from Wilson onto the console, then shoved the key into the ignition and got them on I-5 heading back to Portland.
Darcie picked up the list and started flipping through the pages. After rustling through a few of them, she stabbed a finger on the paper and held it out for him. “Here. This confirms Tom was an LK Design client.”
Noah glanced at the report to see Bikes on the Go. “Don’t jump to conclusions. It still doesn’t really tell us anything.”
“I know.” She set the report on her lap. “It’s just...since Haley died and Tom left...” Darcie shook her head. “It’s easier to expect bad things to avoid disappointment.”
He opened his mouth to reply, but she held up a hand. “And don’t offer the platitude that God is in control. That He won’t give us more than we can handle. That He knows what’s best for us and what to allow in our lives.” She tapped her forehead. “I know that up here. I really do. But my heart? The heart that’s been shattered by the loss of my child? That’s a whole different story.”
He’d struggled with the same thing and his pastor had given him sound advice. Maybe he could share it. “Okay, this is going to sound harsh, but I don’t know how else to say it. Is there anything worse that could happen to you than losing Haley?”
His statement made her flinch, but she leveled her gaze at him. “Trust me. I’ve thought about that a lot, and honestly, losing Haley wasn’t the worst thing that could have happened. If she’d died without believing in Jesus, that...” She shook her head. “That would have been far worse.”
Noah felt the color drain from his face and he looked away before she noticed. He hadn’t told her about Evan, but it was as if she’d read his mind and had discovered his greatest fear for his son.
“Not having been through something like this,” she continued, “I don’t expect you to understand.”
“How do you know I’ve never faced something similar?” he challenged, even though he knew he should just keep quiet.
“I meant losing a child. You’ve never lost a child.”
“I...” he said, but the words wouldn’t come.
“Noah?” The genuine interest and concern in her tone made his heart ache. Made him want to talk about Evan. Unburden himself. But he could easily imagine her concern changing to disgust. He didn’t want to see that from her. Would never be ready for that.
His phone rang from the dash—saved by the bell. He glanced at caller ID. “It’s Detective Judson with the gang task force.”
She sighed out a long breath. “Then you’d best answer.”
Noah punched the speaker button, greeted Judson and mentioned that he was on speaker with Darcie in the car.
“Good,” Judson said. “Glad I caught you. You’ll be happy to hear we picked up Elonzo Perez in one of our sweeps for the Nuevo leaders.” Judson sounded hyped up on adrenaline.
Darcie shot an excited look at Noah.
“We questioned him and the other gangsters about Ms. Stevens’s attack,” Judson continued. “But they all played dumb and lawyered up before we got them in the car.”
“So they’re not talking,” Noah muttered.
“No, but if you’re agreeable, Ms. Stevens, we’d like to arrange a lineup. If you can ID the guy as your attacker, then we can hold him while we investigate further.”
“Yes,” Darcie said with enthusiasm. “Arrange the lineup as soon as possible.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Judson said. “PPB’s tactical team made the arrest
so the lineup will be at your precinct, Lockhart. How soon can you come in?”
Noah glanced at the GPS. “We’re heading back from Eugene, and it’ll take us at least an hour.”
“Perfect. That’ll give us time to get things set up. Call me if anything changes, otherwise I’ll see you in an hour.”
Noah disconnected the call.
“This could be it.” Darcie’s eyes lit with excitement. “The end to this nightmare.”
“Don’t get too excited,” Noah warned. “Perez may not be the guy.”
Darcie leaned against the door and stared out the window. Noah didn’t mean to burst her happy bubble, but he also didn’t want to get her hopes up if this didn’t pan out. He wanted Darcie to be out of danger more than anything, but for the first time he realized that meant they’d go their separate ways. Something he’d thought he wanted, but now? Now, he just didn’t know.
They made the rest of the drive in silence, both lost in their thoughts. When they reached the Portland city limits, Noah radioed dispatch to request a uniformed escort through downtown. The officers would meet them a few miles from the central precinct and form a protective barrier around them.
“We can’t risk Ms. Stevens stepping outside,” he said to dispatch. “Make sure the officers know we’ll be using the sally port.” After her confirmation, he disconnected.
Darcie swiveled to face him. “You’re scaring me by making this into such a production.”
“It’s just a precaution.”
“But obviously one you think we need to take.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t get why you agreed to let me go to Eugene with you as my only escort, but now all of a sudden we have to up the security.”
“This is different.” He glanced at her. “The Nuevo gang wouldn’t have known about our Eugene trip so they couldn’t have planned an attack. But if Perez is really your attacker and he thinks you can ID him, then you can be sure his attorney has told the gang about the lineup.”
“They’ll know exactly when I’ll be arriving and where.” Her face paled.
“It’s a good possibility,” he said honestly. “If you want to reconsider doing the lineup, now’s the time to say so.”
She shook her head firmly. “If this attack is personal, like Archer seems to think it is, then this creep will keep coming back. If he’s not caught, then eventually...” Her words fell off and she shuddered.
“Hey,” Noah said. “Remember, I’ll be right by your side.”
“Thank you.” A grateful smile claimed her lips.
He squeezed her hand and turned his attention to the road. They met the patrol cars as planned and the motorcade crept through the busy downtown streets toward the precinct. They hit every light green until a few blocks from Central, where they had to stop.
Feeling like a sitting duck, Noah scanned the sidewalk. A normal day in the downtown area. People walking. Families. Hipsters. Homeless. All mingled together. The MAX train humming past.
The light changed. The lead car started off. Noah advanced through the intersection, then slowed for a jaywalker coming from a tall parking garage.
“Come on, people, use the crosswalk,” he mumbled as tension mounted.
They were almost there, and Noah was getting antsy. He kept his gaze running up and down the street. Clear as a bell.
A sudden crash of glass breaking sounded from the roof of his car. Liquid rolled down the windshield.
“Noah!” Darcie clutched his arm. “What’s happening?”
“I’m not sure.” He stopped the car and craned his neck around to see if he could figure it out.
“Molotov cocktail,” the officer to his rear said over the radio. “Get out now!”
Flames trialed down the windshield and slid under the hood. Darcie reached for her door handle.
“No.” Noah grabbed her arm. “Not yet.”
She tensed beside him. “We have to get out of here.”
“Not yet.” He shot her a quick look as panic raced up his back. “This could be a trap. To force us from the car so your attacker can shoot you.”
Darcie gasped and looked out the window.
Noah made another visual sweep of the area. No one looked threatening, but a shooter could be in the garage concealed behind a pillar. Rifle at the ready.
Noah didn’t know what to do. Did he get out and expose Darcie to gunfire or stay in the car and risk it going up in flames? Either way, she could die.
TEN
The car was hot now. Flames licking all around them. Panic nearly suffocated Darcie. She wanted to bolt from the vehicle, but she trusted Noah. Even if he did look frozen in place.
“Move, Lockhart.” The officer’s voice came over the radio again.
The voice seemed to spur Noah into action as he grabbed his door handle. “I’ll get out first. When you see me leave, you’ll want to bail, too. But wait for me to get around the car to your door so I can shield you from any potential gunfire when you get out.”
“No,” she said. “You can’t risk your life like that.”
“It’s not a risk. You’re the target. They won’t fire until they can get a clear shot at you.” There was an edge to his tone, belying the certainty of his words. He didn’t really believe what he’d just said. How could he after the drive-by? They’d fired unrelentingly then, even though he was in their way. Why would this be any different?
He radioed the other officers of his plan, then asked them to provide cover. His gaze lingered on Darcie for a moment. She squeezed his hand and realized how much she’d hate to lose him.
He jumped out and started around the car. Time seemed to crawl by as if he was moving in slow motion. She held her breath. Waited for gunshots to sound. The other officers were out of their cars, heading toward Noah. They wore Kevlar vests, but Noah didn’t.
“Please wait for them,” she whispered, even though she knew he couldn’t hear her. The intensity in her voice scared her more than the fire that was growing larger. “Please. They can protect you.”
He hurried around to her side of the car.
Flames engulfed the engine area. Black smoke rose and filtered into the passenger compartment. Darcie took a deep breath and held it. She listened for a gunshot. Waited to see Noah fall to the ground. Worry consumed her. Each second seemed like an hour. A hot, burning, tortured hour.
Help him, Father. Please help him and keep him safe. The other officers, too.
Noah finally reached her. He jerked open the door. Flames licked along the edge of the frame, but he beat them back with his arm, allowing her to exit unscathed.
She smelled burning fabric. Hair. Skin. She knew the smell well from fire callouts.
“Your arm,” she cried out as she saw his shirt alive with flames.
“I’m fine.” He beat down the flames, then circled his other arm around her back. Drew her close.
“Fall in,” he commanded the officers. They surrounded her and the four of them quickly moved down the street to the lead car. Noah whisked her into the backseat and dove in after her.
A mighty explosion sounded behind them, rocking the car. Darcie shot her head around and looked out the back window. Noah’s car was engulfed in a fiery inferno now, a total disaster. She vaguely heard the officer climb behind the wheel and request the fire department before he fired up his lights and siren and floored the gas.
She turned backed to Noah. Realized that they had nearly died in horrific flames.
“We could have been in there.” Her voice wasn’t much more than a whisper.
“But we weren’t.” Noah moved even closer.
She saw the fabric of his shirt melded with his skin and forgot about what could have happened to focus on what had happened. “Your arm. We have to get it treated.”
“Not yet
.” He moved to hide the injury, but cupped the side of her face with his other hand. “Your safety is my only concern. Everything else can wait until you’re safely inside the station.” He held her gaze and she didn’t look away as the driver maneuvered through traffic, making the final few blocks in record time.
The car slammed to a stop and Noah jerked his focus to the window.
“Looks clear,” the driver said.
“Then let’s move.” They quickly escorted her inside the building.
“I’ll take it from here,” Noah said to the officer. “Let’s not let the perpetrator get away this time.”
Noah didn’t wait for a response and started down the hall, moving Darcie with him. She wanted to make him stop and let her check out his burns, but his steps were feverishly fast. Down the hallway. Around a corner. Into an elevator. The doors closed.
He sighed out in relief. Turned her to face him. Gently pressed her hair from her face. Grumbled something under his breath, then took her into his arms, hugging her with a strength she’d known he possessed. He kissed her hair. Kissed her cheeks. Then with a gaze so intense it burned as hot at the flames licking at the car, he settled his lips on hers and kissed her soundly.
She was aware of the softness of his lips, though they were demanding. Almost punishing. She warned herself to push him back, away from her. But when it came to Noah, she had mush where her brains should be. Despite the warning starting to fire in her brain, she wanted the kiss. Wanted it never to stop. She hadn’t felt this way in years. If ever.
The elevator dinged, and he jerked back, then almost shoved her away before raking a hand through his hair and stepping into the detectives’ bullpen.
He didn’t say a word but stormed over to his desk, then gestured at a chair. He was acting mad. Like she’d done something wrong. Like maybe it was her fault they kissed. She didn’t sit. Couldn’t sit. Not with the adrenaline pulsing through her body.
He pointed at the chair again. She ignored him and remained standing, though her legs were wobbly, and she should probably sink down on the chair before she dropped to the floor. “What’s wrong with you?”
Emergency Response Page 10
