Cold Truth: (Cold Harbor Book 2)

by Susan Sleeman

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

  She bolted from the table and raced to the door. She’d had a lovely time at dinner, but now the food curdled in her stomach. She’d wasted a precious hour. Eating. Having fun. Enjoying the company. The children. Coop.

  And what did it get her? Nothing, and she needed a lead. Needed something that would pan out, and she would get information out of Roger Henry if she had to beat it out of him.

  Okay fine, she wasn’t beating anyone, but she would grill the man.

  She grabbed her jacket from the wall peg and slipped into it. Coop marched across the room toward her.

  She eyed him. “Are you going to open the gate for me?”

  “No.”

  “I have to talk to him.”

  Coop worked the muscles in his jaw, telling her she’d hit a nerve.

  “I won’t let you go alone,” he said.

  “Fine, but you won’t stop me, so you’ll be coming with me.”

  He gave a short nod and took his jacket from the peg, his movements sure and calm.

  She wished she could take a hint from his demeanor, but she couldn’t calm down. Not anymore. Not with Kevin missing and his abductor threatening to kill him if she failed to figure out this clue.

  “I’ll call with an update,” Coop told Gage.

  Kiera caught Hannah’s attention. “Thank you for dinner. I’m sorry to run out like this without cleaning up.”

  She waved a hand. “Don’t give it a second thought.”

  As Kiera turned away, she caught the worried look on David’s and Mia’s faces. She might be in a hurry, but she couldn’t leave without trying to restore the good mood that her hasty departure had killed. “When I get back, how about we do a little chemistry experiment?”

  “Can we?” David asked.

  “If it’s not past bedtime,” Hannah said.

  “Aw, mom.”

  “If it is too late, we can do it another time,” Kiera offered. “But I really have to go now.”

  She spun and charged out into the night, the moon hanging high and illuminating the compound. Coop quickly got the SUV on the road. She didn’t know what to say to him, so she kept her mouth shut.

  As the tires rolled over the asphalt, she rehashed each and every minute since Kevin disappeared. Thinking, trying to come up with something she might have missed. Had she done enough to find Kevin? Could she do more? Sure, she had to. Because so far, her best wasn’t good enough. He’d been gone for over three days now. Tied up. Gagged. His eyes covered. She’d checked the website again the second she and Coop had arrived back to the compound. Nothing had changed except the clock. That had changed big time.

  And her heart had changed, too. When she saw her brother still bound and gagged, one more chunk split off.

  “The house is just ahead.” Coop turned into an exclusive housing development on the far side of Cold Harbor and soon pulled into the driveway of a two-story white colonial.

  The style of home was out of place at the beach as were the formal grounds, but it was clear that Henry was a successful attorney if he could afford such a lavish house.

  She glanced at her watch. More than half of her twenty-four hour deadline had now disappeared. She wouldn’t waste a second of the remaining time. She shot out of the car before it came to a complete stop and raced to the fancy front door. She pounded on the rich wood with both fists.

  “Hey.” Coop took one of her hands. “Let’s not scare this guy off before we talk to him.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’ve got to find Kevin, and Henry is going to help me.”

  “We don’t know that, Kiera. He’s just Kevin’s attorney. It’s very unlikely he had a part in abducting Kevin. There’s no motive for him to do so.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “Please try to calm down. For your own sake.”

  Calm down?

  After all her disappointments, she was so far away from calm that she couldn’t even remember what it felt like. And here they were. Standing outside the house of a man who was living in the lap of luxury while her brother suffered, and Henry might have something to do with it.

  The outdoor carriage light turned on and light flooded the area as the door was opened, releasing a tangy scent, likely from their dinner. A man she’d put in his sixties with a balding scalp and wire-rimmed glasses poked his head out. He held a glass of wine in his hand, a smile on his face.

  “Can I help you?” His voice was smooth like glass, but his expression was as sharp as a razor blade.

  “Where’s Kevin?” she demanded.

  He arched a brow. “Excuse me.”

  “My brother Kevin Underwood. He’s missing.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that.”

  “Sorry?” Her voice shot up as she couldn’t stomach his peaceful demeanor, his glass of wine, his seeming lack of worry when Kevin was bound and gagged somewhere. “Is he here? Did you have something to do with his going missing?”

  “Me? Of course not. That’s ludicrous.”

  “Then why is your name the primary lead in finding him right now?”

  He narrowed his eyes but didn’t respond.

  “Answer me,” she demanded.

  “I’m sorry,” Coop said. “She’s upset right now. I’m Cooper Ashcroft with Blackwell Tactical. We’re looking into Kevin’s disappearance. When’s the last time you communicated with him?”

  She wanted to rail at Coop for being gentle with this man, but she gritted her teeth instead.

  “We emailed earlier this week, but I haven’t spoken to him since last week some time.”

  “When?” she asked. “What day? What time?”

  “I’m not sure.”

  “Did Sasha’s family get to you? Convince you Kevin killed her and you agreed to help them? Is that what this is all about? Why he’s missing?”

  “I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Henry said. “Yes, I’m Kevin’s attorney, but I didn’t know he was missing until Sheriff Jenkins called today.”

  “You have to know where he is.” Desperation took her voice even higher, and she struggled to breathe as a panic attack threatened.

  Henry eyed her. “I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

  “No. No! I’m not going anywhere until I’m sure Kevin isn’t here.”

  “Kiera.” Coop rested a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.

  Henry waved his free hand dismissively. “Then you can leave, because as I said, he isn’t here.”

  “Kevin!” She pushed past Henry and into his house. “Kevin, where are you?”

  She marched past a banister. “Kevin. Please, Kev, tell me you’re here. Please.”

  “I’m calling the police unless you leave right now,” Henry warned.

  “Wait, don’t,” she heard Coop reply. “I’ll get her.”

  His footfalls started over the wood floor. She soon felt his hand on her shoulder, but it was as if she was in a dream and someone else had taken over her mind and body.

  “Come on, honey. Let’s go now before he calls the police.” He turned her to face him.

  The compassion on his face snapped her fragile hold on reality and a sob jerked from her body. “Kevin. He. I have to. Oh. Kevin. Please, God, help me find Kevin.”

  Her legs gave out, and she dropped to the floor. Tears burned to escape and ran hot down her cheek. Her brother, her twin, the person she loved most in the world was gone, and she was the only one who could save him. It was too much to bear. Too much.

  Oh, God, why? Why? Is this my fault? Please don’t punish Kevin for my disobedience. I’m so sorry. Please help us find him.

  Would He really help now?

  She’d been the worst kind of Christian, not trusting God with any of her issues. When she’d decided to take charge of her own life, to be on her own, she’d kind of let her faith slide. Thinking she could handle things on her own. But she could
n’t. Kevin’s abduction proved that.

  And now when she couldn’t do anything on her own—now she prayed.

  If only He’d heard her and would help them find Kevin. If only.

  Coop bent down to her. Took her arm and gently lifted her to her feet. Drew her into his strong arms and pressed her face against the solid wall of his chest.

  “Shh,” he said. “We’ll find him.”

  “You can’t promise that.”

  “I can promise we are putting our considerable resources into finding him.” He held her tighter. “But right now, we need to go and leave Henry alone. He doesn’t have Kevin.”

  Coop released her and took her elbow to guide her to the door.

  She stopped in front of Henry. “I’m sorry. I should never have talked to you that way. I apologize for any offense I caused.”

  He nodded, but it was stiff and formal.

  “Is there any chance we could look at your files for the lawsuit?” she asked, but knew the answer before speaking the words.

  “I’m not saying this because of your behavior, but attorney-client privilege won’t let me give you access to the files.” He pushed his glasses up. “Once Sheriff Jenkins provides a warrant, I’m happy to turn over my files.”

  She nodded, her heart a mass of pain, and stepped outside. The cold breeze blew over her face and helped to wash away a hint of her mortification for acting like a crazy person.

  The door closed solidly behind them, and the light went out. When her eyes adjusted to the darkness, she set off for Coop’s SUV and slid into the passenger seat. Coop joined her in the vehicle but didn’t start the engine.

  How could she have behaved that way? “I don’t know what came over me. I was acting stark raving mad.”

  Coop swiveled to face her. “You’re desperately worried about a person you love, and you’ve been hitting nothing but walls in trying to find him. It’s understandable.”

  “But you wouldn’t have done the same thing. You’d still be Mister Cool.”

  “I don’t know. Never been in this situation and don’t have anyone I…” A shocked look flashed on his face, and he swallowed.

  She waited for him to continue, but he didn’t. “What were you going to say? You started, but stopped. Seemed like something shocked you.”

  “It’s nothing.”

  She was tired of not getting answers to things. No answers from the caller. No answers from Henry. Now from Coop? She wouldn’t let it go this time.

  She faced him. “Were you thinking about your family?”

  “Family? No, why?”

  “You were talking about who you cared about and earlier you told me you didn’t have a relationship with your family.”

  “I don’t. My dad lives in Florida, and I don’t see him much.”

  Finally, something. “And your mother?”

  “She died a few years ago.”

  “Oh, Coop. I’m so sorry.”

  “Nah, don’t be. We hadn’t talked in years.”

  “But she was still your mother.”

  “Was she? Yeah, I guess at one point.” He turned away, like he planned to shut her out. “When I was a little kid, she was the best mom. Baked cookies and was there when I needed her.”

  Her heart warmed at his willingness to share. “And what changed?”

  The silence stretched out between them, and she wanted to ask again, but she waited him out.

  “She discovered gin,” he finally said. “Found out it took away the loneliness of Dad being gone all the time. He was a Merchant Marine. Spent very little time at home. He’s like a stranger to me. Nothing like your family, Princess.”

  “Don’t,” she said. “Don’t call me that. Not that way, like there’s something wrong with growing up in a loving household and having nice things.”

  He glanced at her, his gaze locking on. “I’m sorry. You’re nothing like the princess I mean. It’s just…I don’t know…I don’t really understand your lifestyle.”

  “We’re not that different.”

  “Oh, honey, that’s where you’re wrong. We’re worlds apart.” His eyes darkened, and he shook his head. “We should get back. Maybe you can do the experiment with the kids.”

  She reluctantly buckled her seatbelt. Not that she didn’t want to do the experiment with the kids, but because she wanted to refute Coop’s claim. For some reason he seemed to think she was the stereotype of a spoiled rich girl.

  Was that what he’d seen when they’d stopped at her parents’ house?

  She replayed the visit. The house screamed money. Her father’s lavish car screamed money. Her parents themselves screamed money. Her dad stepping in and hiring his own investigator instead of letting Coop and his team take charge screamed privilege.

  Yeah, Coop could easily have gotten that impression. She had to face it. She came from money and Coop didn’t. They were as different as he’d said.

  Did Coop want money—privilege—or was he jealous of her relationship with her family because he didn’t have the same thing? Maybe he believed if his parents had money, his father wouldn’t have had to be a Merchant Marine and be gone from them so often, and his mother wouldn’t have turned to alcohol.

  Maybe. Maybe. Maybe. She sighed.

  “What is it?” he asked.

  “You up to talking more about your family?”

  “No.”

  “Okay, never mind.”

  He kept glancing at her, but she turned to the window, and focused on coming up with ideas for the experiment she would do with the kids. She didn’t want to take time away from searching for Kevin, but what could she do about that? She had no lead. Nothing to go on. If she spent time on chemistry, maybe her stress would abate some, and she’d gain a clearer mind.

  Now what did she want to do with them? She’d talked about building blocks with David. She could use everyday things to show how one singular item combined with another to build something new. Combine a few molecules, as it were.

  If only finding Kevin was as simple as hooking one molecule to another.

  “Molecules, that’s it!” She shot out a hand to grab Coop’s arm.

  He glanced at her. “What’s it?”

  “We’re thinking too narrowly. Too simply. Like I told David. Atoms form together to make something. Henry is singular. We should be looking broader.”

  “Broader how?”

  “Henry’s law firm. He has a partner. Vernon Young. Maybe we should be adding Henry to Young. Look at their cases or people they represent. Or even simpler we should combine their names. We didn’t search for Henry Young or Young Henry. Connected, it could mean something.”

  14

  Coop entered the conference room behind Kiera. Eryn sat at the table waiting for them, her fingers flying over her laptop keyboard. He’d called her on the drive to meet them as she was the expert at computer searches, and Coop was eager to see where Kiera’s idea led them.

  Eryn looked up. “I’ve started searching.”

  “Find anything?” He shrugged out of his jacket and hung it on a chair.

  “Only that the law firm’s been around since the late 1800s and there’s been a Young or Henry as a partner since that date.”

  “We’ll grab a computer and search, too.” He pointed Kiera toward the desktop computers they used for training. “I’ll log you in.”

  Once she shed her jacket and took a seat at the first machine, he leaned over her and used the mouse to wake up the computer screen. He circled her with his arms to type the guest login and password.

  Oh, man. Big mistake. He should have thought ahead and logged her in before telling her to sit. He could hardly form a coherent thought. Her warmth radiated into him and chased out the chill from outside. The fresh coconut-and-vanilla scent wrapped around him, so uniquely hers that he’d know it if he was blindfolded. He wanted her to turn. To kiss her again.

  The emotions froze him in place, and he struggled to breathe.

  “Is something wrong?”
she asked, her voice shaky.

  She was responding to the closeness, too. She felt the connection, but it seemed like she was doing a better job of controlling it. She’d probably had a bunch of serious relationships and this was nothing new to her, but to him it was new. Wonderful. Fresh. Exciting.

  “Coop?” she asked.

  He couldn’t speak without giving away his turmoil, so he typed in the login, the password, and hit enter. He didn’t need to wait to see if the screen would open, but he did. Even then, he was reluctant to step back.

  “I can open the Internet on my own,” she said, sounding frustrated now.

  He was a fool for acting like such an amateur. He backed away, took a deep breath, and dropped into a chair a few computers away from her. She looked at him, her brows arched. She clearly got that he couldn’t keep his mind on the job and didn’t much seem to like it.

  He was confusing her. Running hot and cold. Telling her one thing while not being able to control his emotions. He’d stop it, but he was confused himself. One thing was clear. He didn’t want to let go of the feelings she evoked.

  “They’re working a class action suit,” Kiera announced, proving she could concentrate.

  “What’s it for?” Eryn asked.

  “It’s a local company that does personal genetic analysis through a home testing kit. They claimed that the tests provided medical information that the user could use in a first line medical defense, but before making such a claim, they needed FDA approval and didn’t get it.”

  He swiveled to face her. “What kind of medical information?”

  “They provide health reports on cancer, diabetes, coronary artery disease, etc. Telling the user that they might be predisposed to these diseases and suggesting they should seek medical attention for them and perhaps prevent them.”

  “Interesting,” Eryn said. “Can you think of any way this might be related to Kevin?”

  Kiera stared ahead, silent for a moment, before looking up. “Only that this is a lab. I suppose they might employ someone who once worked at Oceanic.”

  “Or it’s not related at all,” Coop said.

  “That’s more likely, but it’s the only case listed on Henry and Young’s website.”