“I tried to persuade you to accept the cause of death and move on with your life,” Adam said. “But that was before you had reason to believe that matters weren’t that simple.”
“It is horrendous to request such a thing,” Lori said. “It’s difficult emotionally, and…”
“Yes, what?”
“I suppose I’m afraid of what I’ll find,” Lori said. “It seems like I’m poking a stick into a hornets’ nest.”
“You’re doing what you must, and I admire you for that,” Adam said. “There are standard procedures, and you’ll have your attorney to deal with legalities. If you discover evidence of a crime, it will be a police matter.”
That was what Lori was afraid of. A police investigation meant there was evidence to indicate murder. As much as Lori was committed to learning the truth, she was terrified of confirming her suspicions.
“But if my father was murdered, where does that leave me?”
Adam reached across the desk and put his hand over hers. “You aren’t alone. You have friends, and we’ll watch out for you.”
Lori believed that Adam would help her in any way he could. But she wondered what other friends she had. Sarah was on her side, but Lori wasn’t sure about the other staff. And Matt had reluctantly agreed not to fight her on the decision. She didn’t feel very secure, but appreciated Adam’s friendship.
Since Lori had only a couple of afternoon patients, she took the opportunity to have lunch with her uncle. Sheldon had texted to invite her for lunch at a nearby pasta bar. She agreed to meet him there, glad for the opportunity to talk to her uncle and still be back to the clinic for her next patient.
The café was walking distance from the clinic, and the fresh air gave Lori time to clear her head. She wasn’t looking forward to sharing her intentions, but she had no choice. Sheldon would find out, and she preferred that she be the one to tell him.
The Italian place had a welcoming atmosphere and was decorated in a trendy style. The chef changed the menu on a regular basis. Lori had eaten there on a few occasions, and she hoped that beet spaghetti was on the list for lunch. It tasted much better than it sounded, and her mouth watered as she recalled the amazing flavors.
The interior had low lighting from bulbs strung across the cork ceiling, and the walls were paneled in dark wood. A single daisy was in a tiny glass vase on each table, adding to the upbeat mood of the place. Sheldon had already found a table, so he waved her over. He had come from his office and wore a suit and tie.
Sheldon stood to hug Lori then sat across from her. “It’s good to see you. I trust that you’ve been doing well.”
Lori felt awkward sharing how she really felt. Growing up, her uncle had been a part of her life, but she wasn’t that close to him. After her mother had died, Sheldon had paid more attention to the relationship with her father, which had been a good thing.
Lori sometimes forgot that they were only half-brothers. Sheldon had the Italian looks of his father, in contrast to her father’s fair hair and blue eyes. But the relationship had been welcomed, and Lori had been glad that her father had close family.
Sheldon ordered a beer, but Lori stuck to iced tea. It wouldn’t do to return to the clinic with alcohol on her breath. While the pasta dishes were prepared, a basket of bread was served.
The restaurant was busy and appeared filled to capacity. “It’s good you got here early, or we might have had to wait.”
“I’ll have you back in time,” Sheldon said. For a few minutes, he talked about investments he had managed recently. Lori didn’t understand much about investment banking, but it was interesting.
“Am I boring you?” Sheldon said.
“Not at all; it’s just that I don’t have much to contribute. I’m not savvy about high finance.”
The meals were served, so there was a break in the conversation while they ate. Lori enjoyed her food, but the prospect of the upcoming discussion loomed over her.
“I’ve been doing all the talking,” Sheldon said. “Tell me what’s new with you.”
Lori tried to view her uncle as a father figure, to tell herself that he would understand, yet trepidation filled her heart. She was about to tell Sheldon that she intended to exhume the body of his younger brother—and worse, what her suspicions were.
“I have to tell you something, and I want you to let me finish before you ask questions.”
“That sounds serious,” Sheldon said.
Lori explained what she planned to do and why. She watched his expression for any sign of what he thought. At one point, Sheldon looked surprised, which she fully expected. But he gave her a chance to talk without interrupting.
When she was finished, Sheldon took a sip of his beer but didn’t say a word.
“I’m sorry,” Lori said. “If there was any other way…”
Sheldon’s expression softened. “Did you think I would react badly, because of my relationship with your father?”
“You would have every right.”
“I lost a brother,” Sheldon said. “I still grieve as you do. But my concern is for you, and the emotional turmoil that what you’re proposing will put you through.” He reached across to squeeze Lori’s hand. “Your father loved you. He wouldn’t want that for you. If I knew him at all, I know that he would want you to let this go and move on with your life. He would be dismayed if his passing created such a burden on you.”
“But what if my suspicions are true?” Lori said. “I don’t believe my father would want his murderer to go free—if there is one.”
“Do you really believe that?” Sheldon said. “Your father was loved and respected. I can’t conceive of anyone who would harm him, can you?”
“No, I can’t,” Lori said. “But I can’t forget about this either.”
“Of course not,” Sheldon said. “But promise me that you’ll let me help. He was my brother, so you shouldn’t deal with this alone. I’m aware that there must be costs, and I can share those. But most of all, I want you to feel that you can come to me…if you need anything.”
Lori was relieved that her uncle didn’t object, that he was only worried about her. “I can’t tell you how much that means to me.”
Sheldon insisted on driving Lori back to the clinic and walking her in. He often dropped by to say hello to the staff, and if Matt was around, they would chat. Lori accepted the ride back, since she had taken a longer lunch than planned. She had to return before her first patient arrived.
Chapter 9
Gunner had been the first one at the office, and spent hours at his desk immersed in research. He had made it his business to find out more about the Italian mob. Seeing Lori distressed had made him determined to protect her. The Los Angeles Crime Family was an Italian American criminal organization based in the city.
The history of the organization was the stuff of crime novels. In recent years, the family had been crippled by damning evidence and testimony against them. An FBI investigation had resulted in arrests of their leaders and put a severe dent in their operations.
The actions against the Italian mob in L.A. nearly brought about the family’s extinction. But they survived, although they retained very few members. Those small numbers hadn’t prevented those who remained from thriving.
Since the police had shifted their attention to other syndicates, the Italian mob operated under the radar. For that reason, not much was known about their current businesses. Their estimated members totaled less than twenty, but that didn’t put Gunner’s mind at ease.
Gunner had arrived early to put in extra time on his investigation, but he had an event to attend. He was working as close protection at a high-profile business seminar, but Lori wasn’t far from his mind. He couldn’t wait for a break so he could check on her.
The seminar dragged on and wasn’t over until after lunch. Since Gunner was already downtown, he decided to drop in and see Lori. Chances were that she was with patients, but maybe he would catch her on a break. He could have just texted, but he
preferred seeing her for reassurance that she was okay.
Gunner’s timing was good. When he entered the clinic, Lori was in the lobby. She seemed pleased at his arrival. “What a nice surprise. I didn’t expect you.”
“I was in the area,” Gunner said.
Lori took the arm of the older man standing next to her. “Uncle Sheldon…this is Gunner Cantrell. He’s a friend; I treated him for ankle pain, and we’ve gotten to know each other.” She looked at Gunner. “This is my uncle, Sheldon Marino.”
Sheldon was dressed for business. He was a good-looking man about sixty, with dark hair and brown eyes.
Gunner and Sheldon shook hands. “Good to meet you. Lori has mentioned you. You’re in banking?”
“Yes, I am,” Sheldon said. “I dropped by to take my niece to lunch.”
“I work for a security company and had an assignment at the convention center.”
“You look like ex-military,” Sheldon said.
“Yes, a former Navy SEAL.”
“Well, I’ll leave you two,” Sheldon said. “I’m going to see if Matt is in his office. Then I have to get back to work.”
Lori hugged her uncle, then he walked down the hallway. “I have patients, but you can walk me to my office,” she said.
Gunner followed Lori, glad that he would have a couple of minutes to talk with her.
Once in her office, Lori shut the door. She appeared at a loss for words. “It’s…good to see you.”
Gunner’s heart skipped a beat. The chemistry between them was undeniable. He resisted the urge to pull her into his arms. “I could have called, but I was so close.” He should have come up with a better response, but he was caught off guard.
The look in Lori’s eyes melted his heart. Gunner remembered kissing her all too well. He glanced away, lest he lose control.
“I appreciate you staying the night,” Lori said, then moved closer. “It was a comfort to have you there.”
Gunner’s mouth was dry and words seemed to escape him.
“Anyway…I am glad to see you,” Lori said. “A patient is waiting for me.”
“Sure…of course,” Gunner said, nearly forgetting what he wanted to ask. “I’d like to see you again. Are you free on Friday night?”
“Yes, that would be nice,” Lori said. “What do you have in mind?”
Gunner’s blood heated at seeing the twinkle in Lori’s eyes. “What about dinner?”
Lori leaned up and kissed his lips. “It’s a date.”
When she disappeared, Gunner walked out to his car. He cringed over his ineptness, realizing that he needed to polish his social skills. He hadn’t had issues with women before, but there was something about Lori that got to him.
He should be focused on her protection, but he hadn’t even asked if she was okay. She certainly looked fine. While she was at the clinic, safety shouldn’t be a problem. Meanwhile, he would check in with Rip and see if he had learned anything from the clinic in Houston.
*****
The next evening, Lori went to dinner at Jess’s house. The family atmosphere was comforting, making her wish she had a family of her own. Sometimes, she felt so alone. But Jess welcomed her and let her help with dinner.
While Allen grilled steaks, Lori made the salad and Jess finished up the side dishes. They chatted about fun topics like clothes and skin care, even vacations. Allen had a trip planned for the following summer, and Jess was looking forward to getting away.
The girls, Katie and Amber, had grown since Lori had last seen them. They were still in elementary school but played with their mother’s high heels and makeup. They looked like Jess with their dark hair and big brown eyes. Before dinner, they played outside while the food cooked.
That left Lori and Jess alone to talk. The one thing they avoided talking about was Lori’s father, and that was a welcome relief. The ordeal weighed heavily on Lori’s mind, and it was good to focus on something else. She would have plenty of opportunity to discuss it with Jess another time.
Dinner was delicious, as well as entertaining. The girls giggled and played games, managing to eat some of their meal. Once the dishes were cleared, the girls went to take their bath, leaving the adults to visit.
Lori shared her tale of visiting the mobsters in Brentwood. Jess was intrigued, and Allen asked a lot of questions.
“It was so unexpected, and quite terrifying,” Lori said.
“I imagine so,” Allen said. “I work in the financial world, and stories about the black-market drug trade pop up in the news. It isn’t just small-time drug dealers, either. Painkillers bring in the big bucks, so I’m not surprised that your new acquaintance considered you a potential contact.”
“It sounds like that guy Lorenzo expected her to funnel painkillers to his organization,” Jess said.
“I’m sure he did,” Lori said. “But I was too scared to be insulted.”
“No kidding,” Jess said. “You were brave to go alone.”
“Nope, not at all,” Lori said. “It’s just that I had no idea what I was walking into.”
The conversation shifted to other topics, but Lori was hung up on Allen’s comment. She had been aware of drug sales on the street. That was one thing that she and her father had guarded against by closely monitoring prescriptions and watching for signs of addiction.
The mob’s involvement nagged at her. Maybe it was the fact that she had been approached. Yet she felt like she was missing something. It was a stretch that the mob boss had invited her to his home just because she had saved the life of his attorney. How had he made the leap from that to the possibility that she would agree to do business with him?
*****
Since she needed a good night’s sleep, Lori had left early and gone home to bed. Yet she hadn’t been able to relax. She would be glad when the exhumation was over and the autopsy could be performed. The process involved so much paperwork.
The next afternoon, Lori was in her office while Adam was seeing patients. She looked up to see Matt standing in the doorway. He looked like he had something on his mind. “Give me a second. I need to finish this up before I lose track of what I was doing.”
Matt sat in the chair in front of her desk and watched. He made Lori nervous with the way he observed her. She could feel him being critical, or maybe she was just remembering how it had been when they were together.
“You don’t need to deal with this alone,” Matt said.
Lori closed the report she had been working on then turned to face him. Matt’s expression conveyed sympathy for what she was going through. But she suspected there was more to it than that.
“I’m not alone,” Lori said. “My attorney is handling the process.”
“I meant emotionally.”
“You don’t need to be concerned about my emotional state.”
“Maybe I’m not presenting this in the right way,” Matt said. “I want you to reconsider…us. I think you made a rash decision, which I understand, considering that you were grieving your father. But you must see that we are well suited for each other. Any couple has rough patches.”
Lori stared at him.
“Please…don’t throw away what we had,” Matt said. “I wasn’t really there for you before. I admit that. I can change. Things will be different.”
“Why now?”
“I didn’t stop caring about you just because you broke off the engagement,” Matt said. “You don’t have to give up the future we can have together. And I would be by your side during this stressful time.”
“Matt, don’t do this.”
“I know that I let you down,” Matt said. “I’m asking you to give me another chance.”
“It’s not about chances,” Lori said. “I’m not in love with you anymore. I’m not sure that I ever was. I wish you wouldn’t keep bringing this up, because it was difficult enough to break things off.”
Matt narrowed his eyes. “It’s Gunner, isn’t it?”
“My relationship with Gunner i
s none of your business,” Lori said. “I refuse to discuss my private life with you.”
“You can’t possibly consider a serious relationship with a man like that,” Matt said. “He knows nothing about medicine or the professional world. You would regret hooking up with him. It would be a mistake.”
“I’m done talking with you.” Lori stood with her hands balled into fists.
“You aren’t looking at this rationally,” Matt said, anger flaring in his eyes. “We could share the responsibilities of the clinic, equal partners. You wouldn’t need to shoulder the burden by yourself.”
“It’s over. Leave my office.”
Matt stood then leaned against the desk, close enough to grab her. For a panicked second, Lori thought he was going to hurt her. He glared at her, his jaw clenched, but she didn’t back down.
“You’ll regret this,” Matt said, then strode from the office and slammed the door behind him.
Lori slumped to her chair with her heart pounding. She wondered what that had been about. Then it dawned on her that Matt was after the clinic. He was devious and greedy, but she hadn’t wanted to see that. It crushed her to think that the reason he had wanted to marry her was to gain control. And it seemed that he believed he could persuade her to go back to him, but not because he loved her.
Chapter 10
Gunner’s date with Lori couldn’t come soon enough. In every spare minute, he had been busy investigating her situation. A recent call with Rip had been enlightening, so he went to the boss’s office to fill him in.
Travis was just finishing up with Cooper from the data section.
“Should I come back later?” Gunner said.
Travis waved him in.
“I’ll have more data for you by the end of the day,” Cooper said, then headed for the door.
“What’s on your mind?” Travis said.
“I’d like to talk over the situation with Lori.”
“What have you got?”
“Well, I just had feedback from Rip after he took a closer look at that clinic in Houston,” Gunner said. “I may need more backup for Lori, depending on how this goes.”
Savage Peril: Military Romantic Suspense (Stealth Security Book 6) Page 9
