Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(32)

Lyssa’s breath hung in her throat. “What is it?”

Without answering, Noah rose slightly. He scanned the area, and Lyssa couldn’t stop the shiver from skittering through her body. Noah’s gaze narrowed, his expression deadly.

Above Lyssa, the SUV creaked as Zane climbed to the roof.

“Well?” Noah asked.

Lyssa couldn’t see anything from her hiding place.

“Another message.” Zane pulled out his weapon.

“Infinity?” Noah asked.

“No. This time it’s an epsilon.”

*

ARCHIMEDES HAD TO admit Noah Bradford had good taste in planes. He gripped the arm of the luxurious seat of the Lear. So similar to Noah’s custom-built plane. The plane that now burned to nothingness.

The immaculate interior couldn’t be faulted. Not an item out of place. He should purchase a chair made of the supple leather.

He pressed the microfiber cloth against the screen of his tablet, removing the thumbprint, then typed in the web address he used to route his cameras.

Chaos ruled the screen.

Fire, flashing lights, shouts.

With a flick of his finger he adjusted the camera’s angle. The lens zeroed in on Noah Bradford. The man stood staring at the latest message.

Where was Alessandra?

He panned once again.

Just two of the men Archimedes hadn’t been able to identify. Yet.

Then he noted a small figure underneath the SUV. He zoomed in.

There she was.

He couldn’t see her face.

Archimedes gripped the tablet tight. He wanted to witness that flash of comprehension. She had to understand his message. Once she deciphered the symbols, she’d know the truth—that they were meant to be. That he was the only one who understood how intelligent, how perfect, she really was.

A figure blocked her from view.

Noah Bradford had crouched down, staring directly into the camera. Within seconds the signal ceased.

“He’s smart. Too smart, maybe.”

Archimedes drummed his fingers then punched the intercom. “Change of destination. Take me to Denver, Colorado.” He lifted his finger. “I have a message to deliver. Personally.”

*

STRIPS OF SLEET pounded the airport, washing away any evidence—not that Noah believed Archimedes had tipped his hand.

With Rafe doing another perimeter check and Zane checking the camera they’d spotted, Noah refused to leave Lyssa. She sat in the SUV, huddled in her threadbare coat. He needed to get her another. The temperature had fallen to match that of Chicago.

“No doubt he’s watching and laughing,” Noah muttered, lifting the hood of his jacket to keep the ice from his face.

Zane walked over to him, a small camera in his latex-covered hand. Noah recognized the signature build all too well. “Archimedes.”

Rafe came up behind Zane. “We’re clear.”

“Yeah, well, every time we think that,” Noah said, “the guy makes his presence known again.”

“He used C-4 on the plane in several locations,” Rafe said. “Detonators were something I’ve never seen before. Neither had the bomb squad.”

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?” Noah pulled his phone from his pocket. “I’m calling for new transportation. And this time it won’t be tied to me.”

He dialed a number.

Immediately, Ransom Grainger picked up. “I heard about the explosion. What do you need?”

Noah shouldn’t have been surprised. “The guy knows where we are. He’s one step ahead of us.”

“You’ve checked for tracking devices?”

“Of course. But this guy has some serious technical skills. Even Zane is impressed.”

Ransom whistled. “Okay. I’ll send a plane to you. Why not bring Lyssa here?”

“He doesn’t know about CTC and I want to keep it that way.” Noah lowered his voice. “I can’t risk anyone there.”

“What do you want to do?” Ransom asked.

“I’ll send you his latest puzzle. Three symbols. We’re not sure what they mean, but the last body he delivered—that was a man from Lyssa’s past. Archimedes wants us to go to Connecticut. Back where it all started. I don’t have any other options.”

Tapping fingers sounded through the phone. “Jack’s home is still empty. With this economy, it’s stayed on the market.”

“I know.” A curse erupted from him. “Damn it, we’re playing right into his hands.”

Ransom didn’t speak for a moment. “I’ve never heard your emotions get the better of you, Falcon. What’s going on?”

Noah sighed and cast a glance at Lyssa then with a signal to Rafe to watch her, walked just inside the hangar, out of sight. “Jack and I were scheduled to go on one last job before he retired. Jack refused and our commanding officer requested me to convince him. He thought we needed Jack’s skills.”

“You didn’t call?”

“Oh, I called all right...instead of showing up at his door like I should have. Jack asked me to come by the next day. He could charm a caffeine addict into giving up his morning coffee.”

“It was that night, wasn’t it?” Ransom said.

“Yeah,” Noah said. “I was supposed to have been at Jack’s place the night Archimedes killed him,” he said finally. “If I’d been there, Jack might still be alive.”