Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(42)
Why couldn’t Lyssa see where she should be going?
Eventually, she’d have to return to where the journey began. But that time, she’d be on her own. Noah Bradford would be dealt with soon.
Then Lyssa would be his and his alone.
Archimedes pocketed the device and walked into the small café. He catalogued the floor. Clean. He weaved through the chairs, making certain he didn’t touch anything on his way to Rose.
She sat at their usual corner table, staring down at the tablecloth. Demure, controllable.
Just as he preferred.
Her chin rose and his step faltered. Gone was the typical smile of welcome. She frowned at him, a vertical wrinkle creasing her forehead.
When he reached her, she jumped out of the chair and flung herself into his arms.
Archimedes congratulated himself on the discipline not to toss her away from him. Instead, he awkwardly patted her back.
Not removing his gloves, of course.
“What’s the matter, my dear?”
“My boss is still in the coma.” Her voice choked. “They don’t know if he’ll ever wake up.”
With a concerned expression—one Archimedes had fine-tuned from years of looking in a mirror—he forced his lips to touch her temple.
He’d have to disinfect himself when he returned home.
Rose nestled against him, rubbing at him. His body shuddered, not from desire, from disgust.
“Will he recover?”
Not that Archimedes cared. The point had been for a message to be delivered. And that had been accomplished.
She clung even tighter to him. “Now, dear, everyone is watching.”
At the soft admonition, she flushed. Such a good girl. If he hadn’t known Lyssa was his, he might have trained Rose properly, but she wasn’t smart enough, not poised enough, not perfect enough. No match for him.
“I’m sorry.” She stepped away from him and turned to the table. Quickly, she adjusted his silverware, placed the breadbasket in the precise center of the table, then wiped down his chair and waited for him to sit before seating herself.
Her fingers folded and refolded the napkin on the table. He sent her a pointed glance. She sighed and placed her hands in her lap.
“You don’t understand,” she whispered. “They still can’t find his most important client. The one I told you about. They’re desperate.”
“I haven’t seen anything on the news,” he commented, motioning for the waiter. When the man hurried over, he didn’t glance at Rose. “We’ll have the salmon. See that it’s not overcooked. Two garden salads. No tomatoes. No cheese. No croutons. Dressing on the side. Three tablespoons exactly.”
The waiter skittered away.
“The authorities have no idea where she is?” he asked, tugging his tracking monitor into view. Still at the UN. Inside he smiled. He relished the image of the WitSec authorities scrambling.
“No idea. They had me go through Marshal Nichols’s computer and desk.” She leaned forward. “I found a hidden drawer. It’s locked. And there are files on his computer I can’t decrypt. Tomorrow I have to call his boss. They’re going to think I’m too stupid to know what Mr. Nichols was doing.” A tear slid down her cheek. “What if they fire me?”
Her watery blue eyes gazed up at him. Archimedes smiled gently when all he wanted to do was stop her from speaking, giving away her weakness. “I helped you fix the computer a few weeks ago,” he said softly.
The hope on her face widened his grin. “Would you like my assistance again?”
“You’d come with me?” She bit her lip. “We could get into trouble.”
“We know how to get in without anyone knowing, don’t we, Rose?”
She flushed. “You kissed me for the first time in my office after you sneaked in after hours.”
“This time, we may do even more,” he said, lowering his voice to a tempting whisper.
The waiter returned, placing the plate three inches from the edge of the table. Rose hurriedly adjusted the salad to precisely two inches.
“Well done, my dear.” He glanced at his watch. “Let’s finish our meal. By this time tomorrow, you will be able to share the information and be a hero.”
“Thank you, sir,” she said quietly.
“No, Rose. Thank you. You’ve given me more than you realize. I cannot wait to show my appreciation in a way you deserve.”
*
JACK’S HOUSE HADN’T changed—except for the mess. Noah had only been here a few times. It was a family house, an old restored farmhouse. His friend could have made a good life here with Lyssa. He should have.
Noah took in her stiff posture as she stared into the cupboard above the refrigerator. “You sure there’s nothing up there?”
She stepped off the stool, her expression wistful, but only for an instant. “Nothing but memories. Nothing I need.”
She lied.
He said nothing, but the recognition she still held back tore at him. He wanted to either kiss her or shake her, to force her to reveal the truth, but now wasn’t the time. Or the place.
“I want to scope out the house before we set the trap,” he said. “Are you ready to go into the living room?”
She nodded and he pushed through the archway.
He remembered the scene all too well. The fine black powder of fingerprint dust clung to the furniture, covered by a light layer of regular dust. A large area of the carpet had been cut out, but the rust of bloodstains still remained, surrounding the empty square.