Gone Before Goodbye (Love &Mystery in the--6-oh-3 Book 1)

by Nora LeDuc

  “I appreciate your concern.”

  Matt frowned over the wheel. “Teagan, have you considered the changes you’ll have to make when Lisa returns?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “The girl will need counseling and what’s going on with you and the detective?”

  Teagan’s moment of peace deflated a notch. “I’m aware of a couple of therapists Lisa might agree to see. Getting her to open up about whatever has happened will be tough.”

  “And the detective?” he persisted.

  She shifted with discomfort. She’d rather skip this part of the conversation than talk about her dating life with him. “I’m sure you’re aware, Matt, that long-term relationships are not my specialty.”

  “That’s the reason I’m worried. Please, take your time to think about the possibilities and consequences. Your aunt was proud of you, Teagan, and your accomplishments. She’d want a man that matched your character and morals.”

  “Detective Cassidy doesn’t lack either one.”

  “Don’t mistake his temper for spirit. He could be dangerous under extreme pressure. You know I don’t like to listen to gossip, but since your well-being is at stake, I tend to pay more attention.”

  “What did you hear, Matt?” Was it the same story Stacey told her?

  He shook his head. “Not much, but consider Detective Cassidy entered a profession where he deals with violence. Many people choose a path because it’s the type of life that is familiar.”

  “Not everyone.”

  “I understand, but promise me you’ll go slow and learn more about him.” He stared straight ahead at the empty road.

  She didn’t have a clue where she stood with Noah on a personal level, never mind getting more involved. Her feelings had progressed from teenage crush into something else. She was still sorting out where her emotions were headed, and Matt’s questions were making her uneasy.

  When she didn’t respond, he added, “Your aunt wouldn’t want you living in a home where people sneak inside in the middle of the night. This is the second break-in.”

  “Attempted break-in,” she interjected.

  “The correction doesn’t give me comfort. Your latest intruder might also be responsible for abducting Lisa from her bed. It’s happened to other girls. Be safe and move out.”

  “I’m adding a better grade of security to the house. Cross me off your list of parishioners needing your help. Matt, Aunt Sophia wouldn’t run away, and I won’t either.”

  “It’s being smart, and don’t put your aunt on a pedestal. No one can live up to an idolized version. Sophia was not perfect. We all have facades to our personality. You’re remembering her good side.”

  His voice sounded flat as he drove from the intersection. He probably gave the pedestal speech to others.

  “It’s hard to measure up to her.”

  He turned into her drive and threw the car into park. “I’m ready to go in.”

  They climbed out as Noah’s car swerved into her driveway. He was out of his vehicle with a slam. Disapproval radiated from his stern expression. His hands were jammed into his pockets, and tension seemed to roll off his rigid shoulders as he walked to her. “Teagan, you were supposed to wait for me this morning.”

  “I didn’t want you to waste time driving me around when you’re busy solving Lisa’s case.”

  “You’re a piece of the case, not a waste. Father Matt, didn’t know you ran a taxi service.”

  “Teagan needed me, and I was about to walk her into the house. I wanted to be sure she was safe. Since you’re here, I’ll leave. Teagan, we’ll talk later.” He returned to his vehicle in silence.

  As soon as Matt headed down the street, Noah faced her. “Let’s sit down. I have some news.”

  Her hopes rose at his last words, but another part of her nose dived. She was a piece of the case. At least she now understood where she stood with Noah Cassidy.

  Chapter 31

  Noah filled Teagan in on her homeless man and announced he had arranged for Bennie from Village Hardware would arrive at her house before he opened his store.

  No sooner had Noah told her about Bennie than her arrived. As usual, he was a wealth of knowledge about the local buzz in Hawick Falls and demonstrated a strong skill in his ability to talk while he worked on installing new technology. He finished the job and set off to work in world record time.

  Teagan shut the door and returned to Noah in the living room. Her conversation with Matt had stirred up questions she’d kept in the back of her mind that now refused to be quiet. But she couldn’t ask Noah where they stood in their relationship when he was in the middle of an investigation, could she? Of course not, she reassured herself and eased down on the sofa beside him.

  He set the mug on the coffee table and stretched his legs in front of him. “I should head to the station soon.”

  “Thanks for staying and the update on the case. I’m disappointed and relieved that nothing turned up at Jake’s home.”

  “He’s still a person of interest. Watch yourself around him.”

  “I will.” She held up her aunt’s cell. “I can’t believe the technology. Imagine. I can see the person on my step by looking at my phone’s screen. And speaking of phones, what’s the status on mine?”

  “It’ll take another day or two. Your calls on your cell are being forwarded to your aunt’s and taped. I stayed for other reasons besides locks.”

  He was going to lecture her on leaving the Hines home again. She folded her hands in her lap, ready for the talk.

  He tapped his fingertips on his thigh. “You seem to think he possesses special powers and depend on his opinions.”

  “He’s a sensible person who cares about me.”

  “Maybe he does care, Teagan, but you’re a smart woman. You don’t need him to tell you what to do.”

  “I like to have his advice, but I make my own decisions.”

  “Think about it. You have to admit, the priest couldn’t protect you if someone attacked you when you entered the house. What would he do, hit the intruder with holy water?” Noah stretched his arm over the back of the couch. “I like you, Teagan and worry about you.”

  What did he mean by like? She groped for an answer and uttered the first answer to enter her mind. “I like you, too.”

  Her admission came out as trite and empty. She’d tried too hard not to sound infatuated or whatever she felt. He sat staring at her. This was awkward.

  “I have a bias against priests. I admit it.” He expelled a breath. “A priest molested my father when he was young. His offender was never punished, but I often wondered if my old man would have been different if it hadn’t happened.”

  She laid her hand on his arm. “Noah, you can’t blame Father Matt for another’s crime. You’re a detective. You understand.”

  “Maybe it would be easier if I hadn’t grown up listening to my father’s ranting about how the church ruined his life. I will try, though, to be more reasonable in the future.”

  Noah’s confession explained a lot about his attitude toward Matt. “And I’ll try to depend on him less.”

  “Deal.” He grabbed his phone from his pocket. “Last reason I’m here. I have the DNA results from the remains.”

  “I thought I’d have to wait until the afternoon. Where are they? How long have you had them?”

  “The chief emailed them to me.” He handed her his cell. “Read it.”

  In one second, she’d know if Lisa was dead or alive. Her hand shook as she looked down at the screen filled with sentences. The sentences went into her head, but made little sense in her keyed-up state. Halfway through the report, she started over and stopped. “Just tell me.” Mentally, she braced. “I’m ready.”

  “The burned skeleton found in your kitchen wasn’t Lisa.”

  Relief lifted her spirits and then she crashed. She put her hands over her face. Tears leaked out and ran through her fingers and across her cheeks.

  “Teagan?”
/>
  “Don’t know…why…I’m crying.” Words jammed in her throat. “San—”

  “The DNA confirmed Kara was the match.” He hooked his arm around her shoulder and she leaned against him.

  She rested her palms against his chest and felt the steady beat of his heart.

  “It’s okay,” he whispered in a tense voice. “We’ll get the person who hurt her.”

  “You have to find him,” she muttered.

  “I promise.” He passed her his handkerchief.

  She wiped her eyes and faced him. “Any news about the flowers and bracelet in Lucy’s room?”

  “We interviewed Stacey again, but she’s sticking with her story about leaving the flowers on the main floor. We questioned the hospital staff. None of them saw or remember the plant, except the receptionist in the lobby and the aide who brought the flowerpot upstairs to Lucy’s room after clearing it with the head nurse. None of the staff noticed anything in the pot. Video surveillance confirmed Stacey, the receptionist and aide were the only ones that handled the pot of flowers in the hospital.”

  “If the plant sat on the church altar,” Teagan said, “anyone could have hidden the jewelry in the leaves.” She wiped her eyes, but more tears poured down her face. “This is one never ending nightmare.”

  His breath brushed her cheek, and the warmth of his body seeped through her blouse. She sank further into the sturdiness and strength of his arms. If only she could stay this way forever.

  He held her until she gained control and began to release her.

  “Don’t.” She clutched at the sleeve of his familiar gray shirt. She wanted to hold on, just for a few more seconds, to suspend the terror in her life. The roller coaster of grief over the death of one girl and the desperate hope for another rose and fell with the swing of the pendulum. When she was with Noah, she felt brief periods of normalcy and hope.

  He cupped her chin and tilted it upward until their gazes locked. A powerful slam, hot and steamy, hit her. Every nerve in her body erupted with need. “I want you to stay.”

  He threaded his fingers through hers, and pulled her to her feet. Her heart skipped, and then started to race. “We can say good night unless…”

  His meaning obvious, she shook her head, and squeezed his hand. Her actions seemed to release his hunger. His kiss was long and deep, and his insistent tongue drove away coherent thoughts. His hand skimmed down over her hip and rested on her waistband. Then he released her and turning, he guided her into the hall. At the stairs, he waited for her to go first. Anticipation raced through her as she led him up the steps to her room.

  At her bedroom, she paused and a distant voice whispered, “Mistake.”

  He reached past her and opened the door

  Excitement purred in her blood and nerves yanked on her confidence. But this was the man who stood by her when life crashed. He wasn’t a mistake.

  She walked inside and paused by her bed. She’d one last chance to change her mind, or turn away. Or, she could fold her arms around him and show him how much she craved to be with him.

  His mouth covered hers, and her thoughts scattered and disappeared. They eased onto the mattress, his heart thudding against hers. She kissed his forehead and his strong jaw before skimming her palms over his back to his waist. Her pulse slammed erratically as his hot kisses trailed over her chin into the hollow of her neck.

  Her hands trembled as she slid them beneath his shirt and felt the heat of his skin against hers. His mouth continued to coax and caress her until she wanted to rip her clothes off.

  Instead, his fingers worked down to her blouse, pants, bra and panties, undoing the fastenings and freeing her of their confines. She kicked them away, and the promise in his eyes took away her breath and urged her onward.

  Her lips followed a path downward, kissing his chest as she unfastened his shirt, his pants, and anything between them. He tossed his clothing aside, and their arms and legs tangled together as she found herself drowning in the taste and the scent of him.

  From nowhere the warning whispered once more. He could be dangerous.

  Noah whispered in her ear, “I want you, Teagan. I want y—”

  His heat flowed through her and sensations swamped her, but his words of passion ended the doubts.

  Chapter 32

  Teagan’s head rested against Noah’s chest. His arm lay over her. He kissed her forehead. “I think I can breathe normally again.”

  “You have a true talent.” She lay snuggled against him while her heartbeat returned to normal and sighed in contentment.

  In the dimness, she became aware of how he filled her bed, and how their clothes were spread across the floor where they’d flung them. Her mind flashed to the images of Lisa’s clothes in Jake’s trunk.

  “Ah, should I be jealous of the boy staring at me from your bulletin board?” Noah asked.

  “Only if you’re planning a trip back to my high school past.” She propped a pillow against the headboard and leaned against it.

  “You look serious,” he said, skimming his glance over her.

  “Sorry, my mind automatically returns to Lisa.”

  “What were you thinking about her?”

  “Don’t judge me, but sometimes, I wonder if my mother is alive and kidnapped her.”

  He pushed his pillow up beside hers and relaxed against it. “Why would your mother take Lisa and not contact you?”

  “I imagine lots of reasons. She was mad at my aunt for keeping me and kidnapping Lisa might be her way of getting revenge. Maybe my mom’s senile and thinks Lisa is me.” Teagan shook her head when he raised one brow at her. “Sorry, they’re silly scenarios, I know.”

  He cupped her chin in his hand and looked into her eyes. “Most of them sound like you wished she brought you back home.”

  “Wow, that’s Freudian.” She snuggled next to him. “I admit a shrink could have fun with my family dynamics. I don’t understand many things about my mother.” Okay, she sounded pathetic. “None of my ideas make sense. Worse, instead of being happy my aunt adopted me, I was always assessing my actions. I didn’t want to disappoint her. I was afraid she’d send me away if I failed. I’d no idea where I’d go, but I grew up with that irrational fear.”

  He smoothed her hair from her face. His gentle touch sent waves of aching through her. She wasn’t sure if it was for him, her missing mom or the little homeless girl she’d been.

  “My mother abandoned my dad and me for life in Vermont. My fantasies were wilder than yours. I did learn she passed away.”

  She tilted her head up to him. “I’m sorry about the rest of your family, Noah.”

  He hesitated as though censoring what he’d say. “Thanks.”

  “Can you talk about it?”

  “The facts are seared into my brain. My old man had bought a new boat and wanted to take us for a ride. As usual, I had to work. My dad wouldn’t cancel because he said I should be the one to give. It was true. I never stopped working. But I was stubborn and so was he. June, my wife, tried to keep the peace by going with Kimmy.”

  “Your daughter.”

  “Yes. Also on the lake was a thirty-two-year-old who was out to impress his girlfriend and her two friends with his new cigarette boat.”

  “Cigarette?”

  “It’s a powerboat designed for racing. You can probably guess what happened. The guy couldn’t handle the speed. He plowed into my dad, June, and my little girl.”

  Noah stopped talking and clenched his teeth. A spasm of sorrow crossed his face.

  Unable to find the words to comfort him, she bent and kissed him.

  He wet his lips and continued. “I took a leave, and even after three months, I had trouble coping. Hines and Chelsea were a big help. The worst part, the guy ended up with just a broken leg. His passengers were fine.”

  “I don’t know how you stood it. My life has been a nightmare trying to hold it together while Lisa is gone. You’re working and functioning every day.” She pushed hersel
f up.

  “I understand.” He squeezed her hand. “Therapists call doing my job progress.” He grimaced. “Lots of days I wondered if I’d ever feel normal again. I’m not the forgive and forget type. I was filled with rage for everyone, especially the guy who destroyed my life. No one could talk to me and expect a civil answer. On the first anniversary of the accident, I paid the scumbag a visit. He hadn’t gone to trial yet, thanks to delays by his lawyer. That evening while he was out on bail, I broke into his house and threatened to kill him.”

  A knot formed in her throat. She lay still, afraid the truth would be too much for her to handle. His muscles had grown taut beneath her. “But you didn’t.”

  “Hines and the chief tracked me down. They interrupted us. Looking back, the person they saved was me.”

  “If someone had killed the people I love, I don’t know how I’d react.”

  Noah shook his head. “I do. You’d yell at him and then pray for both of you.”

  “I didn’t pray for Vic Taylor.” She hadn’t thought of him. “What happened after the chief and Hines saved you?”

  “They read me the riot act and threatened to arrest me. My career would have ended there. The threat worked. Two months later, the guy went to jail and I went to counseling as I’d promised the chief. Word leaked out, and I had to fight to prove myself on the force. When the second anniversary of my family’s death rolled around this month, the old rumor resurfaced and it seemed like people were waiting for me to suffer a breakdown. But I held it together. Maybe the therapy turned me around, or maybe it was my family. I had to straighten out for them, even if they were gone. I know it makes little sense, but I couldn’t be the crazy dad and husband. I couldn’t let the chief and Hines down either.”

  “I understand.” Teagan attempted to picture Noah with a therapist, talking about his feelings.

  “If you want me to go now, then I will. I should get back on the job. The bad guys don’t take time off.”

  She rolled on her side and faced him. The question lingered in his blue eyes.