“He’s just bitter. He loves you.”
Jana shook her head. “Well, he has a funny way of showing it.”
“It must be a stranger, someone you aren’t close to,” Eva said.
“I’m not so sure. Thaddeus seems to think that most crimes are committed by people who are intimate with the victim.” Jana took a sip of tea. “I’m inclined to agree, because I can’t understand why a random stranger would attack me.”
“I just don’t know, but I hope this gets resolved soon.” Eva sighed. “I’m very worried.”
Jana couldn’t very well tell Eva not to worry. She was just as concerned.
“Shall I make breakfast?” Eva said.
“No, thank you. I’m not hungry,” Jana said. “And I have to go out.”
Eva raised her brows. “I didn’t know you had an appointment.”
“It’s just with the accountant. Routine stuff…boring.” Jana didn’t have the heart to tell her grandmother that the accountant had called a special meeting. That couldn’t be good.
“And Thaddeus is going with you?”
“Yes, he is.” Jana smiled. “He goes everywhere with me.”
“As well he should. That’s what he was hired to do.” Eva stood up. “Having him to protect you is the only thing that puts my mind at ease.”
Jana was already dressed, so she put on her shoes and grabbed her purse. Thaddeus was waiting in the hall, right on time. “Sorry about breakfast. I have an early meeting,” Jana said. “But we’re meeting Coley right after I’m done. We’ll eat then.”
Thaddeus nodded. His expression was stern. Jana found no warmth in his eyes, as she had the evening before. It was as though it hadn’t happened. Since he was pretending it hadn’t, then she would too. Her Viking sidekick was back to assuming his role as her professional bodyguard.
That suited her fine. She didn’t need any complications; she had enough going on. Thaddeus took the card she handed to him. “That’s my accountant’s address. You can drive me.” Then she headed for the Jeep.
The drive to the business district wasn’t long, but it gave Jana time enough to feel awkward around Thaddeus. Usually, she’d gab while he drove. But after the evening she’d spent with him, she couldn’t think of what to say. It was silly to spout inane comments just to hear the sound of her voice. And she couldn’t think of anything meaningful to bring up.
It was a relief when Thaddeus pulled into the lot and parked. He followed her inside to sit in the waiting room while she went into the office. Jana wasn’t looking forward to the exchange. Meeting with the accountant wasn’t her idea of fun. And the subject she expected to discuss would make it even worse.
But some things couldn’t be avoided. Her grandfather had left her in charge, and that was for the best. Jana would have hated it more to dump any financial trouble on her grandmother’s plate. She’d take care of things, as she was expected to.
*****
The meeting didn’t last long, so Jana was out in plenty of time for the late breakfast. Thaddeus had driven her to the restaurant, and walked a step behind her. “You should sit with us and eat,” she said. “You can blend in. If you stand by the door, it will be odd.”
The pancake house was filled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries, a smell that was comforting. “Coley’s off work today, so she can hang out a bit. Her job in the medical office has shifts, so sometimes she has days off during the week.”
Thaddeus followed her inside. He was back to his quiet self.
Coley already had a table, so she waved them over. “Hey, back here.” She grinned, and Jana wondered if it was because she was glad to see her, or because Thaddeus was going to join them.
Once seated at the table, Thaddeus picked up a menu then looked across the table. “Good to see you again, Coley.”
Jana pouted; that was more words than he’d spoken to her all morning.
“You too, Thaddeus. It’s good to meet under better circumstances,” Coley said, then looked at Jana. “Did you go to the station and give a statement to the police?”
“It’s scheduled for tomorrow.”
“Oh, well, I already did,” Coley said. “It was short, though. I didn’t know anything. Well, I know you, and that had the officer’s attention. But I didn’t have anything interesting to tell them.”
“I don’t either,” Jana said.
The waitress came by and filled the coffee cups then took their orders. Jana poured cream into hers and took a sip.
“How did it go with the accountant?” Coley said.
Jana kept her friend in the loop with everything and had no reason to withhold information from Thaddeus. The more he knew, the more he might be able to figure out what was going on. Although she didn’t see how the bad news she had would be relevant.
“It’s not a pretty picture,” Jana said. “Running a ski shop is expensive.”
“It’s that bad?” Coley said. “I thought you were doing pretty good.”
“I guess I thought so, too,” Jana said. “But paperwork gives me a headache. I leave that to Alton.”
“He has control over expenses?” Thaddeus said.
Jana looked up at him. “I have given him the ability to handle purchases, pay bills…that kind of thing.” She furrowed her brow. “Why do you ask?”
Coley chimed in before Thaddeus could reply. “How do you know he’s handling things well?”
“I trust him, I guess,” Jana said. “I’m going to review the company finances with him, though.”
“That’s a good idea,” Coley said. “Anyway, when this invention of yours takes off, that will make a huge difference, won’t it?”
“It should,” Jana said. “It’s been such a lengthy, drawn-out process. It’s been patent pending for over two years, but my attorney says that it shouldn’t be much longer.”
“When are we doing the test on the slopes?” Coley said.
“Can you do it this weekend?” Jana was anxious to do the final field test. The profitability of her invention meant so much, as her business depended on it. And it wasn’t for her own future. She intended to take good care of her grandmother.
“Sure, this weekend is good. I’ll make it happen.” Coley leaned back when the server brought her plate.
Thaddeus got a text and took a second to read it.
“Anything important?” Jana said.
“That was the office. I had a further check done on Rakel to see what would turn up,” Thaddeus said. “But so far, nothing new.”
Jana wasn’t surprised that her ex was being investigated. She assumed that anyone she was connected to would be the subject of a background check. It made her feel like a fish in a goldfish bowl; privacy didn’t exist.
After the sobering talk about the stability of her ski shop, Jana was glad to listen to Coley chat about work and other topics. It was reassuring that her friend’s life was normal. Thaddeus even offered a comment or two, and Coley’s lively interaction with him showed that she liked him.
Then Coley glanced at her phone. “Gotta go,” she said. “I’m picking Michael up at the airport.” She hugged Jana. “I can’t wait to see him. He’s been gone so long.” She lifted a hand. “Catch you later, Thaddeus.”
After Coley left, it seemed quiet, so Jana sipped her coffee. She wasn’t looking forward to going to the shop and facing her partner. He was one man she trusted, so she didn’t want to think he’d let her down. But the figures didn’t lie.
*****
Thaddeus ate the last bite of eggs, then swigged his coffee. He disliked seeing Jana under pressure. With her life hanging in the balance, she had to confront the finances at her shop. And she might find out more than she anticipated.
Last night had been a blip on the radar, a few hours he wouldn’t soon forget. But he couldn’t let emotion undermine duty. He’d resumed his responsibility for Jana, minus any personal feeling. That would only get in the way.
Jana was dressed in a sharp-looking jacket and wool pants with boots. He
hadn’t seen her dressed for business before and he approved. The tailored outfit was as attractive as her ski wear. She’d look good in anything…or nothing.
Thaddeus studied his coffee cup. “We should talk.”
Jana looked at him.
“I mean about your business partner. The situation concerns me.”
“You’re worried about the ski shop?” Jana said.
“Not that,” Thaddeus said. “What I’m interested in is whether Alton is a threat.”
Jana stared at him.
Thaddeus stared back. “If something happens to you, who gains control of the business?”
“The way my grandfather set it up was that the business goes to Alton. He’s the one capable of running it,” Jana said. “My grandmother wouldn’t take it on, but she’d be taken care of.”
Thaddeus hesitated. He didn’t want to outright accuse the man of wrongdoing, but anyone Jana knew had to be considered a suspect. “So your death would benefit your business partner?”
Jana’s jaw stiffened, but she didn’t say anything.
“What would happen to your invention?”
“It is part of the business, included in the corporation.” Jana frowned. “If I died, then Alton…”
Thaddeus gave her a moment to consider the possibility.
Jana squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I have to think about this.”
“Have you seen anything that made you suspicious?”
For a moment, Jana didn’t respond. Then she bit her lower lip and shook her head. “I don’t know for sure. A while ago, I read a few emails that Alton didn’t intend for me to see.”
“What were they about?”
“He was communicating with a competitor, and I kind of freaked out. I had the idea that he was discussing our business with someone he shouldn’t.”
“Was he?”
Jana shook her head. “Alton denied it. He assured me that the competitor had been trying to find out about our internal affairs.” She took a breath. “At that time, we were one of the top suppliers of ski equipment.”
“And your partner was interacting with that competitor?”
“Yes…no…not really.” Jana put up her hand. “Let me start over. Alton assured me that he didn’t want me to have to deal with the communications. He was trying to make it easier for me. He told me that he’d cut the guy off, so I didn’t need to worry.”
Thaddeus rubbed his thumb over the rim of his cup. “And maybe he did cut off the email interchange. But what if he continued the business connection?”
Jana expelled a breath. “If what you’re saying is true, then Alton might be conducting affairs behind my back.”
“He knows about your invention. Could he have made a deal with a competitor? Do you think that’s possible?”
Jana dug her hand in her hair. “I just…” She paused. “I suppose it’s possible that Alton could do that. I hate to believe that. I think…” She frowned. “To be honest, I don’t know what I think anymore.”
“Someone is trying to kill you,” Thaddeus said. “We can’t rule anyone out until we know for sure. I’ll take a closer look at your partner. He does have motive. The money would help with the medical bills he’s burdened with.”
“But…murder? Alton would kill me to gain control of the business, to have the right to sell the invention?”
“It does seem far-fetched,” Thaddeus said. “And I hope, for your sake, that it’s not true. But I’m going to keep that open as a possibility.” He knew from experience that danger often came from unexpected quarters. Casting a blind eye or justifying odd behavior could have disastrous consequences.
“I don’t know,” Jana said. “This situation is making me suspicious of everyone.”
“Danger has a way of doing that. It’s natural to react that way, when you aren’t sure where the attacks are coming from or when the next one will hit.” That was the part that Thaddeus didn’t like. Protecting was in his blood. But he preferred to know who the enemy was, and face him head-on, not wonder what was next.
Chapter 10
As it turned out, Jana’s business partner had taken the day off, so she wasn’t able to discuss the financial situation with him. He’d called in saying that he was driving his wife to a couple of doctor’s appointments that had been rescheduled for an earlier date, due to a change in her condition.
Thaddeus had hoped to glean more from the confrontation, but that would have to wait. Meanwhile, he texted his boss to have Cooper dig deeper on Alton Parker. He couldn’t predict what might or might not be uncovered. He wouldn’t be surprised either way.
He understood how Jana felt. As it stood, trouble could be around any corner. Anyone she knew was potentially an enemy. It was better that she had Thaddeus around, as without any sobering influence, she might turn a blind eye to clear signs of danger. It was human nature to see actions as innocent when they might not be.
The rest of the day had been uneventful. That evening, Eva had cooked dinner, which she’d seemed pleased to do. The meal had been tasty, and the atmosphere homey. It was preferable to have Eva at the table, as it precluded Jana and Thaddeus being alone.
The one evening Thaddeus had shared with Jana had left him unsettled. He preferred to avoid another such occasion for a few days, until he’d fallen back into the groove of professionalism. Being around Jana made that difficult, but he was determined not to be distracted.
The next afternoon, Thaddeus drove Jana to the local police station to answer questions about the bomb threat. The officers were going through the motions. Since no one was injured, law enforcement couldn’t afford to devote resources to solving the case.
However, not interviewing the owner of the vehicle involved in the incident would constitute negligence, so the interview had been scheduled. Thaddeus was also questioned due to his role as bodyguard. He was interviewed separately, as the authorities didn’t want Jana influencing him, or the other way around.
Thaddeus didn’t tell the officer much. He was as confused as the police about why Jana’s vehicle had been targeted. It appeared the perpetrator hadn’t left fingerprints, which Thaddeus had predicted. The police had little to go on, and the officer stated that he was glad no one had been hurt.
Jana returned to the lobby after speaking with her interviewer. “I can pick up my truck from impound. It’s been inspected, so I can have it back.”
“Great, we’ll go by and get it,” Thaddeus said. “Anything happen in the interview?”
“Not much,” Jana said. “You know everything I know, and I already told the police at the scene. The officer was curious about you, as it’s unusual for a resident around here to hire a bodyguard.”
“What did you tell him?”
“The truth: that my grandmother hired you.” Jana hesitated a beat. “That got a smile out of him. He had the incident I’d reported on file, so he knew about that time a bullet grazed the tree near me.”
“And…did he have any comment?”
Jana shook her head. “It had been labelled an accident, which I already knew.”
“I guess having a bullet come within inches of your head, then finding a car bomb on your vehicle, qualifies as coincidence?”
“As far as the police are concerned, until I’m injured, there isn’t much they can do,” Jana said. “The officer said they’d pursue any leads and let me know.”
“Right,” Thaddeus said. “Let’s get out of here.”
When Thaddeus stepped onto the sidewalk, a brisk wind hit his face. It was a blustery day but not snowing. On the way in, he’d scanned the area to get a baseline on the scene.
The police station was standard issue, a brick structure with limited parking. That had required Thaddeus to acquire a spot along the street, several blocks away. Not his preference, but there hadn’t been an alternative.
The street was lined with government buildings, including the courthouse two blocks over. There were no restaurants or shops, so that meant no window s
hoppers or lingerers. When Thaddeus had walked Jana to the station, a few people had been on the streets and others in the lot.
Each had looked preoccupied, since their destination must have been one of the city buildings. With no pleasant business to anticipate, any person he’d seen had been focused on getting where they had to go. The weather was also a deterrent to strolling the sidewalks.
Upon exiting the police station, Thaddeus took in the situation. It appeared to match what he remembered—different people, but same tone and activity. He saw no reason for alarm, but kept his eyes open, watching movement in his peripheral vision.
Thaddeus walked slightly behind Jana, just enough to have a full view of her. He didn’t want some idiot approaching from behind without being seen. Jana walked down the sidewalk toward the location where the Jeep was parked.
Jana texted on her phone as she walked—not a good idea. Her situational analysis could use some work. But Thaddeus had eyes on the surroundings, intending to head off any crisis before it happened. It wasn’t that he couldn’t handle anything that came his way, but it was best to avoid violent confrontation when possible.
Staring down at a cell phone was ill-advised. If Thaddeus hadn’t been there to watch over her, Jana would have been an easy target, simply because she hadn’t been paying attention. It irked him, but it wasn’t the time for a lesson in safety.
A block from the police station, a dude in a parka appeared from a side street and made the mistake of looking at Jana. It wasn’t a glance; the guy watched her a second too long. Thaddeus caught the act, recognizing it as an enemy spotting his target.
Thaddeus said sharply, “We need to pick up the pace.”
Jana held up one hand. “Just a sec.” Then she continued to text without looking up from the screen.
The guy confirmed his bad intentions by matching Jana’s pace. It was unnatural for a human to walk in step with a stranger. But when Jana hesitated or slowed, focused on her texting, the suspect did the same.
There was only one right answer: get away from the guy and to safety as quickly as possible. Thaddeus had a motto that he chose not to violate: movement saves lives. Those who move are the ones who survive.
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