Secret Obsession (Carder Texas Connections #6)(50)

“Aren’t you the one who told me Archimedes holds the blame?”

Noah stood, pacing the small room, unable to light anywhere. “Don’t confuse me with my own logic,” he said, his voice laced with bitter humor he didn’t try to hide. “I had a disagreement with the family a few days ago. They couldn’t contact me...they were worried. They didn’t know anything about my—” he paused “—extracurricular activities for CTC. If I’d told them the whole truth, maybe Sierra would have taken more precautions. He might not have been able to take her.”

“You did what you thought was best,” Lyssa said, walking into his arms.

She rested her head on his shoulder quietly for a few moments.

“Is that why you’re keeping your secret?” he asked softly. “For the best?”

She stilled and clutched his shirt. “Yes.”

He stroked her hair, its softness caressing his hand. “Don’t make my mistake.”

Lyssa backed away. “It’s not the same. You don’t understand.”

“Then explain it to me. How do you know I can’t help?”

“Helping would make things worse. Helping might lead him to—” She took in a shaky breath. “I can’t say the words, Noah. I promised myself. I promised Jack.”

His best friend’s name robbed him of his breath worse than a blow to the gut. What was he supposed to say to that?

A rap sounded on the door, then another patterned knock.

Lyssa met Noah’s gaze, unwavering, certain. His suspicions percolated. God, he prayed he was wrong.

Noah stalked across the room and answered the door. “Did you locate Sierra?”

The computer expert shook his head. “We were updating Elijah. He had news of his own. A woman’s body was found inside the lobby of the Justice Department.”

Lyssa gasped.

“The mole?”

“That’s Elijah’s guess. She’d worked for Reid since he moved to D.C. Her name was Rose Wright.”

“Can we connect—”

“That’s not all, Noah. Rose was murdered exactly like Frederick Allen. Garrote. And there was a note attached to her body. A message for Lyssa. From Archimedes.”

She slipped her hand into Noah’s, squeezing tight. “What does he want?”

“He left an address and a box number. Archimedes wants you in Alexandria, Virginia. Today.”

*

LYSSA DIDN’T WANT to be here. Not on this plane; not going anywhere near Alexandria. Her nerves were shattered. She could barely breathe. Too close, they were going too close. She’d never been more terrified in her life.

Her leg bounced up and down as she stared out the window, the sun having risen during the flight. This couldn’t be happening.

“Lyssa,” Noah said. “Buckle up.”

Absently, she fastened her seat belt.

He knelt in front of her. “Look at me.”

Reluctantly, she met his gaze. “What’s going on?”

She just shook her head. “I...I can’t. Please don’t ask me again.”

His jaw tightened, he rose and buckled in.

She closed her eyes against the horror that suffocated her. Archimedes had taken Noah’s sister. The woman might already be dead. So how would revealing the truth help?

She glanced at the air phone sitting next to her in the Lear. Was she wrong? Should she call Mary? Wouldn’t that be playing into Archimedes’s hands? She hadn’t contacted her best friend from high school since graduation prior to a call begging for help two years ago. Nothing should tie them together.

With desperation she’d asked Reid to run a background check on Mary. Lyssa had taken a huge chance, but she’d had no choice.

And now they were flying within a couple of hours of the high school where Lyssa had met Mary, where she’d met her prom date, Bill. Where they’d all gone to high school, and where Lyssa’s daughter now lived with a new identity—and her other mother.

She sent a sidelong glance at Noah. The disappointment on his face hurt her heart. She rubbed her eyes. How could she choose? If anything happened to Jocelyn, she’d never forgive herself.

The Lear’s wheels touched down. The moment they exited the plane, an SUV pulled up. Elijah.

“Thought you needed backup,” he said with a frown. He grimaced. “Sorry about your sister, Noah.”

“Update,” Noah responded, his voice curt.

“Sierra seems to be safe enough. For the moment.”

“I’m texting with my family. I know how she is. What about Rose Wright?”

“No leads, but the murder happened at a different location. Justice is locked down tight. No one’s talking.”

“So, basically, no leads.”

Elijah’s jaw clenched. “Except the address Archimedes provided in his note. It’s on the south side in a sketchy section of Columbia Heights. The feds wanted to stake it out.”

Noah blasted a curse through the vehicle. “They could cost Sierra her life.”

“Ransom made a call. He’s got some friends in very high places.”

Noah nodded. “How long do we have?”

“Hard to tell. There’s a lot of pressure.”

“How about Reid?” Lyssa asked. “Any news?”