He stood with his hands shoved into his pockets. “I was trying to get some work done on my thesis. If my lab position doesn’t produce the results I expected, I’ll need a damn impressive original paper if I want to get a decent job in the future.”
His benefactor went straight to the bar in the corner and filled a short tumbler with scotch. Neat. “Would you like one?”
Charles shook his head. The way his stomach was burning, alcohol certainly wouldn’t help.
The older man sipped his drink and stared at him thoughtfully. “If your lab position doesn’t produce the results I want, you won’t need to worry about your future. After paying your way through grad school, I expect a return on my investment.” He tossed down the rest of the drink. “Don’t think I won’t dredge up that hazing incident gone wrong, which I managed to bury. Even a hint of that scandal would end any future career hopes you might have.”
A chill slid through Charles. The eyes regarding him with little sympathy were as cold as a Nor’easter blowing off Boston Harbor. “I’ve done my best. I can’t help it if those idiots damaged Riley’s brain.”
“If it really is damaged. Maybe she’s simply trying to throw everyone off the scent so she can wrap up her research in peace. I don’t have time to wait for her new treatment to go through trials and approval by the FDA before becoming available to the general public. That could take years. I want those results now.”
“What do you expect me to do?”
“Find her most recent data. If she didn’t squirrel away a backup device in her lab or at her home, she must have left it with someone. If your boss leaves her house, I expect you to stick to her like dog shit on a shoe.”
Charles opened his mouth to argue and then closed it. The glint in the penetrating eyes frightened him more than he cared to admit. “Okay, but what if there really isn’t a copy of that material.”
“Then we’ll be forced to jog her memory a little. We’ll sit her ass down in front of the notes we already have and see if that doesn’t shake something loose.”
He didn’t want to ask what would happen to Riley afterward, preferring not to hear the answer. Trying to relieve his dry mouth, he swallowed. “If she retrieves those files, I’ll make sure I have access to them.”
His benefactor turned to look out the window into the dark night. “You’d better.”
Chapter Five
Riley maneuvered through the entry doors with her crutches and stopped at the reception counter of the Harbor House Care Facility. When the young woman at the desk glanced up from her computer screen, her eyes widened. She pushed back her chair and sprang to her feet.
“Oh, my goodness! Riley. What happened to you?”
“I slipped and fell down a flight of stairs.”
It was the answer she’d decided to give people who didn’t need to know the truth. After spending over an hour explaining to the faculty heads at Trimountaine University why her lab had been broken into and she was unavailable to finish out the semester, she wasn’t in the mood to repeat the true, but highly implausible, story.
“That’s horrible! How badly are you hurt?”
“Let’s just say I’ve felt better, but I should be off these crutches in a few more days.” Obviously, the young woman knew her, and thanks to the nametag pinned to her sweater, Riley was able to respond in kind. “How’s my grandfather, Tanis?”
She flashed a bright smile. “Doing amazingly well. Over the last week, your grandpa has had incredible recall. He’s been talking to staff and other residents about his farm in Iowa. Dr. Foster examined him yesterday, and he admitted he’s baffled by the sudden return of cognitive function.”
Riley gripped the edge of the counter. “That’s excellent news. I’m just sorry I wasn’t able to visit him over the last few days.”
“I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he remembers you. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
A lump formed in Riley’s throat. If her grandfather did remember her, she’d have to pretend she knew him, as well. She blinked back tears. “It would be the absolute best.”
“Don’t expect too much, but I think you’ll be amazed by his improvement.”
“Thanks for letting me know. I’ll head to his room now.”
“Don’t forget to sign in.”
“Of course. Sorry.” She wrote her name and the time on the list before hitching her way toward a large common area with an assortment of couches where a few elderly residents watched a game show blaring on the widescreen TV. A bank of mailboxes with name cards beside them gave her the information she needed. Room 103 was down the righthand hallway. When she reached the door to her grandfather’s room, she knocked softly.
“Come in,” a gravelly voice called out.
Riley turned the knob and nudged her way into a bright room decorated in shades of green. The man she’d seen in flashes of memory rose from the recliner where he’d been watching a home repair show. He was dressed in brown dungarees and a red flannel shirt.
A frown added to the creases on his wrinkled face. “Did you hurt yourself, young lady?”
“I’m afraid so, but I’m on the mend.” She approached her grandfather and squeezed his arm. “I hear you’re feeling better, too.”
“Nothing wrong with me. I don’t understand why I’m here when I have farm chores to do. That doctor who poked and prodded me yesterday told me I still need to rest.” His chest expanded before a frustrated breath whooshed out. “What else can I do but sit on my backside in a place like this?” He glanced toward the TV. “It might be different if it was baseball season.”
Riley recalled the blue ballcap with the stylized C he’d worn in the newspaper photo. “You’re a Cubs fan.”
“You never did give a hoot about my team.” He reached out to grip the back of his chair. “I’m not sure why I said that. What’s your name again, miss?”
“I’m Riley, Grandpa.”
He shook his head. “No, that can’t be right. Riley’s at school. She’s smart as a whip, that girl. Must get it from her mom. Tommy married himself one bright lady. Worst day of my life was the afternoon the local clergyman showed up at my door to break the news about the car accident.” His eyes clouded. “I wouldn’t have survived the heartbreak if not for the need to care for my granddaughter.”
“You did a fine job. I’m all grown up now.”
A frown pinched his brows. “You do remind me a little of Jane. Her hair was like yours, only she wore it shorter, and you have Tommy’s eyes.”
“Your eyes, too. We have the same dark blue eyes.”
“Do we? I’m a little confused.” He touched her cheek with a shaking finger. “Everything is different from how I remember it. The TV is filled with insensible talk about tweeting on all those political channels, so I stopped watching them. I felt like I’m losing my mind. Is that why I’m here? Am I crazy?”
“No more than the rest of us, Grandpa.” After spending the evening navigating the Internet, a skill she apparently hadn’t lost, Riley could make that statement with confidence.
“I’m a little tired today. I’d better rest up before my granddaughter gets home from school.”
“That’s a good idea. I’ll be back to visit you again real soon.”
“Is someone taking care of you?” Concern deepened the furrows in his forehead. “Your face is all banged up. You weren’t in that car accident, were you?”
“No, I wasn’t, and a very nice doctor has been taking good care of me, so you don’t need to worry.”
“I’m happy to hear that.” He sank down into his recliner.
Riley bent to kiss his cheek. “Take care, Grandpa.”
“I love you, kiddo. I’ll miss you while you’re away at college. You’ll be home for Thanksgiving, though, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it. I love you, too.” She shut the door behind her and leaned against it. Tears burned the back of her eyes. After taking a moment to compose herself, she made her way down the hallway, drawing up
short when a middle-aged man with iron-gray hair exited a room two doors down.
“Excuse me.” He backed up a step. “My goodness, Riley, what happened to you?”
She had no idea who he was, but he obviously knew her. “Uh, I tangled with a set of stairs.”
One well-shaped brow shot up. “It looks like the stairs won.”
“I’m afraid so.”
“How’s your grandfather doing?” He fell into step beside her.
“Surprisingly well. What about your, uh…”
The man’s eyes darkened. “I’m afraid I can’t say the same about my aunt. I don’t think she has much longer now, which is something of a blessing, all things considered.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I am, too.” He stopped at the counter and noted the time in the departure column next to his name. Price Wagner. “Take care of yourself, Riley.”
“Thank you, Price. Good to see you.” Pleased with herself for managing the simple conversation without explanations, she signed out and then smiled at Tanis when the receptionist glanced up from her computer. “I had a nice visit with my grandpa.”
“That’s wonderful. I expected you would. Have a good evening, Riley.”
“You, too.” She managed to open the exterior door when Tanis buzzed her through. Driving sleet had turned the parking lot into a skating rink. Moving gingerly, Riley reached her car, a blue Subaru she and Noah had located in the parking garage near the Trimountaine campus. Finding a spare key in one of the kitchen drawers had been sheer luck.
Her new cell phone rang while she was stowing her crutches in the backseat. By the time she sat down and fished the phone from her pocket, she was breathless. “Hello.”
“Is everything okay?”
Riley smiled at the sound of Noah’s voice. “Yeah, everything is fine. Simply getting in and out of the car takes a bit of effort, but I’m managing.”
“Excellent. Are you at your house?”
“No, I’m in the parking lot at my grandpa’s care facility, but I’m heading home now. We talked for quite a while.”
“How did that go? Wait. Don’t tell me. I called to see if you’d like to have dinner together. You can give me all the details then.”
She hesitated for a moment. “I really am okay, Noah. You don’t have to make excuses to check up on me. I thought I made it clear last night that I won’t be a burden.”
“You aren’t, and I don’t make excuses. Since you called your own doctor for an appointment next week, I’m now officially your friend rather than your physician. So, would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
The sudden burst of happiness was completely out of proportion to such a simple invitation. With an effort, she tempered her response. “I’d enjoy that.”
“Great. Instead of going out, I thought I’d cook. My repertoire is limited, but I grill a mean steak.”
“Outside? In the sleet?”
“Why not? I won’t melt, and I bet you’re sick of explaining your wounded warrior look.”
“Extremely. I’ll see you shortly, then.”
“Okay. Bye, Riley.”
She hung up and started the car, happy to have all-wheel-drive in the slippery conditions. Dusk had fallen while she was inside, and her headlight beams reflected off the rain and snow mixture falling steadily in the near dark. Traffic was heavy on the bridge across the Charles River. She exited the throughway onto the streets of Cambridge and crept through the bustling downtown area near the college campuses. Further out, the traffic grew lighter.
Behind her, an older model, black SUV turned onto the side street that led into her neighborhood. It stayed some distance back, but when it made a second turn after she did, Riley gripped the wheel tighter. She eyed the vehicle in her rearview mirror as it passed beneath a streetlight. More than likely, the driver was someone who lived close by. Calling herself all kinds of paranoid, she passed her house and drove around the block to head back the way she’d come. The SUV stayed with her.
“Oh, damn.” The words hissed between her clenched teeth, and a cold sweat dampened her back. She picked up her phone off the passenger seat, pressed the buttons to call Noah, then put it on speaker.
He answered on the first ring. “What’s up? I was just on my way over.”
“A car is following me.” Riley swallowed when her voice squeaked. “I didn’t want to risk going home by myself.”
“Dammit! I knew I shouldn’t have left you alone. Where are you now?” His tone was sharp.
“I’m headed back toward the business district of Cambridge. The SUV is still behind me, a whole lot closer than it was before. Maybe the driver knows I’m onto him since I didn’t stop at my house. Whoever is back there wasn’t very clever at tailing me inconspicuously, although it’s possible I simply didn’t notice until the traffic thinned.”
“I want you to find someplace busy and pull up to the curb. Make sure there are plenty of people around.”
“There’s a pizza place just up ahead with a lot of foot traffic. From the looks of the clientele, mostly college students out on a Friday night.” She slowed down and then darted into a parking spot when a silver sedan pulled away from the curb. “I got lucky and found a place to park. He just drove past. Wait.” Riley stared at the taillights as the SUV double parked near the cross street. “He stopped about a half a block away.”
“Are there people near you?”
“Yes, but it’ll take me forever to get out with these damn crutches.”
“Stay put. Turn off the engine, lock your doors with the remote, then start the engine again. That’ll set off the car alarm. Let it blare. My guess is your tail will take off.”
“Okay.” As she killed the engine and hit the remote, the driver’s side door of the SUV opened. A man stepped out onto the street. He wore a puffy black jacket and a ballcap. She couldn’t see his face in the shadows as he stepped up on the running board. “Oh, Shit.”
“What’s going on?” Noah’s voice held a hint of urgency.
“A man just climbed out and looked this way.” Riley turned the key in the ignition, and winced when the alarm blared.
“What’s he doing now?”
“He’s getting back into the car.” She had to shout to be heard. “People on the sidewalk are staring at me.”
“Let them stare. Now what?”
“Oh, thank God. The SUV just pulled away.”
“Good. Can you see the license number?”
She rubbed her sleeve on the fogged-up windshield. “I’m afraid not. There are too many cars in the way. I didn’t think to look earlier, but I did notice the front bumper was dented. Can I stop the alarm now?”
“Go ahead, but keep an eye out for that vehicle in case he comes back, and make sure your doors are locked. I’m almost to the bridge. What’s the nearest cross street to your location?”
Riley told him and then turned off the engine. She clicked the remote, and blessed silence ensued. Letting out a deep breath, she rested her head against the seat back. “That was more than a little scary.”
“You did great. Don’t go anywhere until I get there. When you see me coming, you can head for your house, and I’ll follow you.”
“Okay. Thanks, Noah.”
“You bet. I’ll be there in about ten minutes. If that SUV shows up again, set off your alarm like you did before.”
“I will. Bye.” She disconnected and closed her eyes for a moment. Once her jangling nerves settled, she checked the rearview mirror. No black SUV. If the creep circled around to lie in wait for her at her house, he would be in for an unpleasant surprise. Riley didn’t doubt for a minute that Noah would handle the situation. Up to and including using deadly force if necessary.
The wait until his distinctive red pickup appeared at the stoplight seemed to take an eternity. After starting her car, she pulled out onto the street and drove around the block. Noah turned in behind her a minute later, and she breathed a huge sigh of relief. Driving slowly i
n the worsening conditions, she finally reached her home without mishap and parked. Any remaining energy drained out of her, and she slumped against the seat.
When Noah lightly tapped the window, she loosened her grip on the steering wheel and opened the door.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Still a little shaky.” She forced a smile.
“I don’t blame you, but you handled the situation like a pro.” He opened the rear door and pulled out her crutches. “Here you go.”
She swung her legs out and levered herself upright. Before he could move away, she gripped his arm. “Thank you, Noah. What would I have done if you hadn’t answered your phone?”
“You would have managed just fine. You have excellent instincts. Those instincts are the reason you kept driving when you noticed the SUV.” He squeezed her shoulder before releasing her. “But I’m glad you called me, just the same. Head over to the house before you get soaked in this drizzle. I’ll grab the groceries and catch up at the door. I want you to let me go inside first, just in case.”
She couldn’t stop the chill that shivered through her as she maneuvered up the slippery walkway, wondering what worst case scenario he was expecting. There was no sign of the black SUV or any other vehicle, for that matter. The gates to the estate next door were closed, and no tracks marred the slushy driveway. As she dug the spare key out of her coat pocket, she felt pretty confident no one was waiting inside for her.
“Stay in the entry while I check the place out.” Carrying a bag of groceries in one arm, Noah took the key she handed him and unlocked the door. He flipped on the light and took a quick look around before returning. “All good.”
“This place has been thoroughly searched by both the bad guys and the cops. I can’t imagine anyone would bother to go through it again.”
“No, but I wanted to make sure there weren’t any surprises.” He locked the door behind her. “Maybe whoever followed you was only interested in your movements outside the house.”
Riley made her way to the kitchen, leaned her crutches against the wall, and settled onto a barstool at the counter. “I’m afraid they were doomed to a boring day. I went to the DMV to replace my driver’s license, the bank to get a new debit card, the university for a meeting to discuss my need for an immediate leave of absence, and then to see my grandfather. Nothing suspicious about any of that.”
Lethal Memory (A Counterstrike Novel Book 2) Page 6
