Cold Truth

by Susan Sleeman

  She scooted in closer to the machine as if she didn’t want him anywhere near her.

  Fine. He didn’t care. But he really did, didn’t he? He cared a lot more than he wanted to, but he certainly wouldn’t admit it to her.

  Just stick to business. Find Kevin and move on with life.

  In Kevin’s email program, she typed Henry in the search bar. Several emails came up from a Roger Henry, Attorney at Law.

  “Maybe this explains the search for attorney in Kevin’s browser history.” She clicked on the most recent email from Henry and quickly scanned the message. “What in the world? Someone’s suing Kevin for wrongful death charges of one of his coworkers. He never said a word about it.”

  Coop found that hard to believe, but he’d let it go for now. “Maybe he didn’t want to worry you. You know, the same way you didn’t want to worry your parents.”

  “Maybe.”

  “Think back to the timeframe of this email. Did he seem distant?”

  She sat for a moment, looking like she was thinking then suddenly nodded. “He was really busy with work, and he didn’t call as often. He probably knew I’d notice the worry in his tone and nag him until he told me what was going on.”

  “Even more curious is that the lab management didn’t mention it to us.”

  “It’s a civil suit against Kevin. Maybe they don’t know about it. If they did, they’d have to wonder if it’s related to Kevin’s disappearance.”

  “Let’s keep looking to see if we can find the deceased’s name, and I’ll call Gage to follow up with Nigel Moody.”

  Kiera scrolled down to the oldest email from the attorney and clicked on it.

  Coop quickly scanned the document. “Sasha Klingenberry. Do you recognize that name?”

  “Sasha? Yeah, sure.” Kiera swiveled to look up at him. “She is—was—a fellow chemist in Kevin’s lab. I talked to her several times on my visits. I thought she was sweet on Kevin. I kept telling him that, but he never took the time to ask her out.” Shaking her head, Kiera sat back. “I can hardly believe she died. And to claim it’s Kevin’s fault is crazy.”

  “Depends on what the autopsy report says. If it points to the toxin, maybe Kevin was at fault.”

  She scowled at him. “No. He’s so meticulous and methodical in his work. I would never question his safety practices.”

  “What if you were right and Sasha was attracted to him? Maybe she’d distracted him in some way.”

  “Maybe, but like I said, Kevin was really clueless when it came to women and relationships. He was always in his own world.”

  Coop tapped the screen. “There’s an attachment to the email. It could hold all the details of the suit.”

  Kiera clicked on the link and a PDF opened. She sent it to print and pointed at the printer on a cart near the desk. “I printed two copies.”

  He stepped to the printer, and she let out a sigh. It was shocking information. Even he didn’t expect it—murder as well as theft? Coop grabbed up the pages and handed one set to her, his focus already on the copy he retained in his hands.

  Kiera looked up from her pages. “Her family claims he released the toxin in the lab, and she somehow ingested it.”

  “We’ll definitely need to get a copy of her autopsy report.”

  She shot him look. “Can you do that? I mean will they release it to you?”

  “Me, no, but Gage or Eryn will figure out a way to get it. They always do.” He looked at the document again then back at her. “Don’t you think it’s odd that if Kevin did release the toxin that no criminal charges were filed? If he truly was negligent, charges could be filed against both the lab and Kevin for negligence.”

  She looked flustered. “Yeah. It’s odd.”

  “I’ll have Gage talk to Blake about that as well.”

  “I don’t believe this. Something doesn’t seem right about this lawsuit.”

  “It’s possible that Blake had been called in and already investigated. He found there wasn’t enough evidence to bring criminal charges, so the family went the civil route.”

  She rubbed her forehead. “Maybe, but is this related to Kevin’s disappearance?”

  Coop lowered the papers. “Let’s say Kevin is innocent.”

  A flash of pain darkened her eyes. “He is innocent.”

  Coop still couldn’t concede that point, but he wouldn’t belabor it. “Okay, say he didn’t do this. Revenge is a powerful motive, and someone in Sasha’s family or someone close to her could have abducted him to make him pay. But that doesn’t explain the theft of the toxin. Unless they’re trying to frame him for the theft.”

  Kiera’s eyes narrowed. “But how? And what about trying to kill me? Or playing the game with me? What point is there in either of those?”

  “I don’t know.” He pondered the new development. “Maybe they want him to suffer and by hurting you, they make him suffer.”

  Her eyes were tortured. “I suppose that’s possible.”

  Coop kept thinking about the ATV and the drugs. His gut cramped hard. “What might be the ultimate way to make your brother suffer?”

  She grimaced. “Kill him, I suppose.”

  No,” he met her gaze and held it. “More like killing you. I imagine that would be the worst pain of all for your twin.”

  Kiera kept running her finger around the neck of her sweater, looking like she might break down any second. The minute they’d returned to the compound, she’d insisted on going to the conference room where she opened the website to check on Kevin. She’d sat in front of the computer, arms wrapped around her stomach, fear and anguish in her eyes as he’d watched helplessly, and he wished he’d been able to stop her from looking at the site. Thankfully, Gage asked them to come to his office to discuss what he’d learned from Nigel Moody about the lawsuit.

  Coop only wished the change of scenery had made a difference, but if anything, as she took a seat in front of Gage’s desk, she’d retreated into herself even more. Answering Gage’s question with one word or just staring at him, and he’d had to rephrase his questions.

  Gage reclined back in his chair, his fingers steepled over his chest, and his attention locked on Kiera. “I called Moody. He acknowledged that Sasha died, but he claims the lab had nothing to do with her death.”

  Kiera sighed. “Then I don’t understand how her family could file the lawsuit.”

  “Moody said he was aware of the suit. He hasn’t been contacted by her family, the medical examiner, or the police concerning her death. As far as he was concerned, the suit was Kevin’s business.”

  “Did you ask Blake about it?” Coop asked.

  “I did, and he hasn’t been notified of any wrongdoing.”

  Kiera shot Gage a look. “This makes no sense. The family brought the civil lawsuit, but it doesn’t seem like they have any grounds to do so.”

  “I would agree,” Gage said. “But we can’t know that for sure until we see the autopsy report. I’ve tasked Eryn with obtaining a copy, as well as doing a deep background check on Sasha and anyone close to her. Once she reports in, we’ll get team members out to talk to each person in case they know anything about Kevin’s abduction.”

  Kiera shook her head. “I just don’t see it. Sasha was such a lovely young woman. I can’t believe anyone who loved her would file this lawsuit without facts to back it up.”

  Coop fixed his focus on her. “Grief carries some pretty powerful emotions.”

  Surprisingly, she didn’t look away. “I can chalk the lawsuit up to grief, I suppose. But abducting someone? Mentally torturing them—and me? That’s sick, and I can’t imagine anyone connected to Sasha doing that.”

  “Well someone is.” Gage snapped his chair forward. “You should know, I also asked Blake if he could get access to Roger Henry’s files. Unfortunately, Blake gave Henry a call, and he refused.”

  “But why?” The words erupted from Kiera’s mouth. “Why would he refuse access to the files? I mean, I can see him telling us no. We
’re not official. But Blake? Since I filed the report on Kevin, Blake has a right to know.”

  “Henry spouted client privilege,” Gage said. “Blake will try for a warrant.”

  “Try?” Her voice skated higher, and Coop wondered if she was going to lose it. “He has to do it. It’s our only lead, and we don’t have much time left.” Her gaze shot around the room, landing on Gage like a scope hunting a target, then sliding to Coop. Her dark eyes begged for help. “Kevin’s going to die, and we can’t do a thing about it.”

  Coop pushed from the wall, planning to cross the room and take her hand, but a quick glance from Gage stopped him. He shoved his hands into his pockets. If he outwardly displayed his growing interest in Kiera, Gage would ask him to step down, and Coop wasn’t about to let anyone else take his place. He had to be with her. Had to be the one to find her brother. Had to, and yet, after the kiss and all that followed, he should willingly step down.

  He ignored his thoughts. “If anyone can get a warrant for these files it’ll be Blake.”

  She closed her eyes. Held them closed for a moment. Abruptly she flashed them open and sat up straight. “If we don’t hear from him in the next hour, I’m going over to Henry’s house to talk to him.”

  “That’s not a good idea,” Gage said. “You should leave this up to Blake or us.”

  She shook her head vehemently. “Kevin’s my brother, and I can’t sit here and do nothing. We’re running out of time, and we don’t have anything to enter into the website.”

  Gage looked like he wanted to argue with her, but he likely realized arguing wouldn’t change her mind.

  “For all we know, Henry’s the one who abducted Kevin,” she said.

  “Come on, Kiera.” Coop continued to look at her. “That’s pretty far-fetched, isn’t it?”

  She didn’t even blink. “No. I think his refusal to share information with Blake means he’s hiding something.”

  Gage frowned. “Still, that doesn’t mean that he abducted Kevin.”

  Kiera crossed her arms. “We’ll see.”

  Her fear had caused her to lose sight of reality, and Coop wished he could find a way to give her a break and let her rethink this thing with Henry. She was itching to confront someone. To do something. Coop got that. He wanted to do the same thing, but confronting Henry would do no good and would only make her hurt more.

  Hannah opened the door and poked her head into the office, the spicy smell of their dinner filtering through the opening. “Dinner’s ready.”

  Gage smiled at his wife. “Be right there.”

  Hannah glanced at Coop but quickly changed her focus to Kiera. “Why don’t you and Coop have dinner with us tonight?”

  “Sure would be nice to have a good meal,” Coop said before Kiera could refuse. “It’s been a long time since we’ve eaten anything.”

  “I’m not very hungry.”

  “Then just sit with me while I eat.”

  She didn’t move. Sat there staring ahead. Finally, she gave a polite nod before turning to Hannah. “Can I do anything to help?”

  “Just get these two big lugs to stop talking business and into the dining room.” Hannah shared a knowing look with Kiera that Coop didn’t understand at all.

  “Easy enough. I’m the one who’s keeping them here.” Kiera stood and tipped her head at the door.

  Coop wouldn’t argue. Not with an empty stomach, and not when Kiera needed a break. A dinner with Gage and his family should provide that.

  He gestured for her to go ahead, and Gage followed behind them. In the dining area, David came racing across the room, and Mia rushed after him in an unsettled gait.

  Gage’s frustration of a moment ago disappeared with a wide smile, and he swung David up onto his back. “You have a good day, David?”

  “The best.”

  Mia clutched his leg.

  “And how about you, Bug?” He ruffled her hair.

  “Awesome, Dad.” She suddenly saw Kiera and cast a hesitant look in her direction.

  “You remember, Kiera,” Coop said. “You met her yesterday.”

  Mia nodded but tightened her hold on her father’s leg.

  “But I didn’t meet this handsome young man.” Kiera smiled up at David.

  Coop could see it was forced, and she was still struggling with her anxiety, but she was trying.

  “I’m David, I’m five, and this is my new dad.” He circled his arms around Gage’s neck and hugged. “And Mia is my new big sister. Mom is old, but I still love her.”

  “Hey, I’m not old.” Hannah chuckled.

  “I meant my old mom. My only mom. The only one I’ve had. Ever. But my dad died. Now I have Gage. He’s a great dad. He plays with me and takes me fishing. Guy stuff. Just us.” He looked down on Mia, an apology written all over his face. “Sorry, Sis. I know you have to share him now, but I share Mom, right?”

  She nodded and darted over to Hannah to throw her arms around her waist.

  Hannah bent to kiss Mia’s head. “As much as I love hearing all of this, dinner is getting cold.”

  “It’s chili and cornbread,” David said. “Opal made the chili. She’s our housekeeper. We love her.”

  David wiggled until Gage put him down. “Mia and me made the cornbread. She’s better at cracking eggs, but I’m a good stirrer. Mom said so.”

  He crossed over to Kiera and took her hand. “C’mon, you can sit by me. Coop can sit by Mia. She likes him a lot. I do too. He’s fun. I broke my arm, and he helped splint it. My cast was awesome. It was orange. It’s gone now. My arm’s better.”

  He pulled in a deep breath and dragged Kiera to the table. Coop loved seeing how David’s innocent enthusiasm lit her eyes with a hint of genuine joy and innocence. Something he and the rest of the team had left behind long ago. Long before their military service, but for brief flashes, he could still believe that it existed. He felt a little of it with Kiera. She wasn’t worldly. Kind of naïve, in fact, and not at all like many of the women Coop had encountered in the past. And certainly nothing like Waverly. How he’d ever been attracted to her, he couldn’t say.

  Mia stumbled toward him.

  “Mia had a brain injury and can’t run as fast as me,” David announced. “But she tries really hard.”

  “And she has the very best giggles.” Coop scooped her into his arms and tickled her as he walked to the far side of the table. She laughed, proving his statement, and his heart lifted even higher. When he sat and faced Kiera, his thoughts took a very wayward turn.

  What would her children be like? Inquisitive that was for sure. Cute was a given. And if he was their father? Whose personality would they have? Hopefully Kiera’s.

  Whoa, there. Slow your roll. Thinking like that is just plain nuts.

  “Let’s say grace.” Hannah held out her hand to David, and they all clasped hands. She offered a prayer of thanksgiving and asked for Kevin’s safe return.

  Coop heard Kiera’s sharp intake of air. He appreciated Hannah’s prayer for Kevin, but when Coop opened his eyes, he found Kiera’s good mood gone. He had to get it back.

  “Hey, David,” he said. “Did you know Kiera’s a chemist?”

  David’s eyes narrowed in puzzlement. “What’s a chemist?”

  “What’s a chemist?” Kiera asked in mock distress. “You don’t know?”

  He shook his head.

  “It’s the best job in the world.” She took the bread and placed a piece of golden brown cornbread on her plate. “It’s the study of what everything is made of and how it works.”

  “Remember the other day when you asked me why glue was sticky?” Hannah asked. “And I didn’t know the answer. I’m sure Kiera does.”

  “I do.”

  David’s eyes got wide. “You do? For real?”

  “For real.” She faced him, enthusiasm for her profession lighting up her expression.

  She was beautiful. That was never in question, but the love of her job gave her a depth that went beyond superficial
beauty. A depth that he hadn’t often seen in women. Maybe he’d witnessed it in his mother before she found alcohol to dull her senses. After that, he’d seen only emptiness in her eyes until she died from her disease.

  “Can you tell me?” David begged.

  “First, you have to understand that everything is made up of building blocks called atoms. These aren’t square blocks, but many different sizes, and you can’t see them without a microscope.”

  David held up his spoon. “So my spoon is made of atoms?”

  Kiera took a bite of her chili and nodded.

  “And my plate? And my hand? And my sister?”

  Kiera chuckled. “Yes, everything. These atoms have positive and negative charges.”

  “What does that mean?” David’s eyes widened.

  “That means they either pull things closer—positive, or push them away—negative.” She paused to set down her spoon. “Does that make sense to you?”

  He nodded.

  “Now here’s something you’ll have to trust me on. It’s a basic chemistry rule. Opposites attract.”

  David, mouth hanging open, stared up at Kiera. “So positive attracts negative and negative attracts positive.”

  “Exactly!” Kiera offered her fist for David to bump. “Paper has both types of charges, as does glue, making them very attractive to each other.”

  “So they stick together.” David’s eyes brightened.

  Kiera nodded. “Exactly. And that’s why glue is sticky.”

  “I bet you know lots of other things, too.”

  “I do.” She laughed, the others joining in.

  “Will you teach me?”

  “Now, Son,” Gage said. “Kiera won’t be with us for very long.”

  “Aw,” he said. “I like her. She’s smart.”

  Coop had to laugh at that, but when he realized what Gage had said, his laughter died and a sick feeling flooded his stomach. The same feeling he had the first day he’d discovered that his mother was drowning her sorrows in a bottle of gin.

  13

  The call came just as dinner ended. Blake couldn’t get a warrant. Not yet. The judge needed a better explanation.

  This was the last straw, and Kiera had had enough. “Open the gate for me. I’m going to talk to Henry.”