Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(15)

Lyssa shoved her hand into her coat to grip her weapon. “Is he here?” Her half panicked, half vengeful gaze searched the kitchen then through the pass-through window at the few people left in the diner.

“This was a message not an attack.” Noah pressed his arm harder against the guy’s neck. “Answer the question. Who else was back here?”

The man struggled against Noah but couldn’t escape the tight grip. Finally, the cook stilled and scowled up at his captor. “Why do you care? You’re running away. At least my other waitress, Sally, was willing to watch over Chastity, keep those vultures away. Only a coward would hide. Or the guilty.”

Noah lifted his arm and backed away. The cook sat up, holding his throat. Lyssa knelt next to him, taking in the man’s grief-stricken eyes. “I know how you feel,” she said, her voice strained. “We know who did this. He killed my fiancé. Please, help us.”

The man’s shoulders sagged, his big heart obviously broken. Another tear slid down his cheek. “She was excited. Some guy left her an envelope. He told her he’d stiffed her on a tip. She didn’t remember that happening, but it was three twenties.” The cook’s brow furrowed. “She remembers—” he swallowed “—remembered every customer. Who did this?”

Noah held out his hand to the man and helped him to his feet. “Archimedes.”

“The serial killer?” The cook’s mouth gaped open. “I saw a news report about him. They called him a ghost.”

“Did you see Chastity talk to him?”

“The guy met her out back. No one saw him but Chastity.” The big man rubbed his bald head. “Oh, babe.”

“Where’s the envelope Archimedes gave her?” Noah asked.

“She put it in her locker.”

“Get in here, Rafe,” Noah growled into the communication device.

Within seconds Rafe shoved through the back door, slamming it open, gun raised.

“There’s an envelope in one of the lockers. The victim was poisoned, so be careful. Take one of the bills. Leave the others for the cops.” He nodded at Chastity’s order book, which had slid across the floor when he’d taken down Al. “Bag that, too. I want to know what he used. It acted fast.”

Rafe tugged a blue glove from inside his vest and headed through the door the cook pointed out.

Noah crossed his arms. “Listen to me carefully, Al.” The cook’s eyes widened. “Your name tag,” Noah pointed out. “Archimedes is after this woman.” He indicated Lyssa. “He’s killed a lot of people. We could use your help.”

“I couldn’t even protect Chastity.” Al looked as if he might collapse again. “Maybe the cops can help.”

“The feds can’t catch him, the cops can’t catch him. I will.”

Sirens sounded in the distance. The look on Noah’s face sent a chill through Lyssa.

“They’re coming. I need some cover, Al. If we get pulled into custody, she’s a sitting duck for this psycho.”

Al’s expression changed and he shoved up his shirtsleeve. He had a tattoo that read Semper fidelis. Always faithful.

“You get this guy, make him pay for what he did to Chastity and the cops don’t hear nothing from me except that envelope.”

Noah gave the man a sharp nod. “You got it, Marine.”

Rafe slipped back into the room, a baggie in his hand with a twenty-dollar bill showing. “There was a pin in the envelope. Pricked her skin. Not much here. My guess is batrachotoxin because of the amount.”

“Poison-dart frog? You’re kidding,” Noah said, turning to Al. “Tell the cops to be careful. My friend here has some strange hobbies. Knows his stuff. Something the size of a few grains of table salt will kill.”

Al’s face paled and he nodded.

Lyssa took his hands in hers and squeezed them. She met his gaze, regret nearly strangling her. “I’m so very, very sorry. She was a kind person.”

“Wish I’d told her how I felt,” he said, his voice barely a whisper. “I’d known her for years. She was too good for me...could have worked anywhere, but she stayed. Maybe I shouldn’t have even smiled at her. Then she’d have left. She’d still be alive.”

Lyssa could relate. Her life the past two years was a one big regret. Chastity was just the latest.

He tugged his hands away from her before wiping his face with his apron.

Lyssa looked over at Noah, his stance guarded, his eyes shifting toward the door Rafe had disappeared through. Had she done the same thing? Allowed him into her chaos only to put his life in danger? Her phone call to Reid had caused nothing but trouble. She had a feeling it would get worse.

Two police cars skidded to a halt in front of the diner. Shouts sounded from outside.

“We’ve got to go,” Noah said to Lyssa, pulling his gun from the holster and heading to the back door of the diner.

Al pushed it open, and Noah rushed Lyssa through the exit and into the alley behind the restaurant. Rafe followed and slammed the door behind them.

“Stay back while Rafe checks the car.”

In short order, Rafe maneuvered around, then under the vehicle, a device in his hand. He’d obviously done this before. “Clear.” He jumped into the driver’s side and started the car, then nodded at Noah.