Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(41)

Lyssa’s complexion lost all its color.

Noah wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms, but he couldn’t. He shoved aside the instinct. The Falcon didn’t hold his clients, he protected them. “That’s right. We’re going to Jack’s house.”

*

BY THE TIME the plane landed in New York and they’d traveled to Darien, Connecticut, Lyssa knew the afternoon sun wouldn’t be shining much longer. Noah dropped Zane off a few hundred yards to the north of Jack’s house then pulled the SUV off on a dirt road to the south.

Despite the fact that Rafe had the chip and was heading toward the UN building, Lyssa still couldn’t drive away the feeling of foreboding. Her pulse fluttering, she exited the vehicle, hand on her weapon. Noah palmed his Glock and they made their way toward the home she’d shared with Jack.

Shadows climbed up the sides of the abandoned house nestled in the small wooden glade. Jack had picked it for several reasons: one was defense. The other was the backyard. Where they’d wanted their children to play.

The dream that Archimedes destroyed.

Noah stopped Lyssa with one hand. He signaled for her to wait.

Archimedes knew they would be here eventually. Still, part of her hoped he’d be here now. She wanted this over. Whatever happened, at least it would be done.

She could go with Noah’s plan. Set the trap. Hide, then Rafe would bring the tracking chip, and they would wait Archimedes out.

Except the serial killer seemed to read minds.

She could tell Noah wasn’t used to anyone being able to get the better of him. His forefinger scratched the knuckle of his thumb rhythmically. She’d noticed it more than once. In fact, the more frustrated he became, the more the small tell gave away his emotions.

They crept closer to the house, Zane to the north, keeping watch.

Lyssa’s entire body froze as they entered the backyard. She couldn’t stop herself. Her nerves were shot. She gripped Noah’s arm, her hold tight.

This was the first time she’d returned to their home since Jack’s death. Law enforcement had packed her bags, and when they’d recognized she might be the only person left alive to identify Archimedes, they’d whisked her away. Not that it had done any good.

Silently, Noah opened a bag and pulled out a crowbar. He pried off several boards at the rear of the house, the creaking echoing through the night.

He tossed the boards onto the dead grass. With a sidelong glance, he studied her. “You okay?”

With the words, Noah touched her arm. His strength calmed her a bit. If being here would get them Archimedes, then she wouldn’t let a little thing like fear stand in her way.

She nodded, but it was a lie. She didn’t want to go inside. The memories were so very good and so very bad. This was the place where she and Jack had loved, laughed, made love. Where he’d proposed to her, kissed her, held her. Made a baby.

And where he’d died saving her life.

Noah jimmied the last board away from the door. She placed her hand on the jamb and closed her eyes. She could do this.

He knelt beside her and with two long prongs picked the lock in seconds, then grabbed an electronic device from his bag of tricks. He ran the scanner around the wood. “Clear.”

Cautiously he pressed the screen and the door swung open, creaking, revealing a darkened room inside.

Lyssa took a deep breath as Noah stepped across the threshold, part of her waiting for another Archimedes surprise.

Nothing happened.

That didn’t diminish the knot of tension spreading through her shoulders.

Noah snapped on his flashlight. The beam swept across the kitchen. With each new illuminated section of tile, her heart hitched.

No one had done a thing since the cops had searched the place. The light bounced off the dust gathering on the oak table, its thickness obscuring the grain of the wood.

“Anything strike you as unusual?” Noah asked as they walked through the chaos.

“Besides the fact that cops make lousy housekeepers?” she said, trying to maintain control.

“Better than my place,” Noah said. He squeezed her arm. “You’re doing great.”

“A lot you know.”

Lyssa stopped in the center of the kitchen. The cabinet above the refrigerator was the only one unopened.

Could it still be there?

Ignoring Noah, she climbed onto the round step stool that Jack had placed in the corner of the kitchen for her.

“What are you looking for?” Noah asked.

“Nothing, just seeing if they missed anything,” she lied.

She peered inside, moved the cookie jar out of the way and let out a small sigh. Except for Reid, her secret remained safe. In her vision lay a silver rattle and a pair of baby shoes.

*

THE SCENT OF peanut sauce floated through the front door of the restaurant. This was Rose’s favorite place, but Archimedes hated coming here. He longed to be in his germ-free apartment, watching the video, waiting for Lyssa to arrive. Waiting for her to understand the final clues to his message.

She would prove her worth. She had to. He wouldn’t consider any alternative.

Lyssa would come to him.

Unable to resist, Archimedes glanced at the blinking light on the small screen of his phone. Fools. The tracking device showed them moving toward the United Nations. Following the trail of the insipid Frederick Allen.