“I’ll try. Just don’t show up in a Ferrari, and I think I can manage. A Range Rover might be okay though.”
“Picky, are we?”
“Well, I’ve always wanted a Range Rover. If you let me drive it, I might forget you bought it.”
He pulled her closer, and she leaned against his chest. She’d be able to hear how his heart sped up at her closeness, but there wasn’t any way he could hide how much she drew him in.
* * *
There was nothing in Torie’s in-box from the HR director, and the lack of response made her want to march to the hotel and demand to see her.
Joe stopped tapping on the wall in the living room and glanced at her. “Still nothing?”
“No. I’ll give her half an hour, and if she still hasn’t answered, I’ll go to the hotel.”
“Maybe she’s in a meeting.”
While Torie knew he was right—meetings were a fact of life for most HR directors—the waiting made her heart race and her palms sweat. Which was silly because there was no guarantee they’d find a clue in what Lisbeth was doing during her final weeks.
Her computer dinged, and she scanned the three new emails. “Finally!” She opened the first email and frowned. “It looks like the main order of business for her for the past month was working on getting ready for the banking convention. She was working on games for it and had a big scavenger hunt planned. She’d been visiting various businesses to see about prizes and clues. It was going to serve as a way to highlight the various businesses as the members stopped by to search for the clues.”
“Clever,” he said. “But I can’t see why anyone would kill her over that.”
She sank into the sofa and exhaled. “Maybe I need to retrace her steps, see what she saw and learn what she learned. I know it’s a long shot, but I don’t have anything better to do.”
Doubt lingered in his eyes, but bless him, he only said, “We know it’s likely she stumbled on some nefarious plot and had to be silenced.”
“Even if that’s true, the chances of me discovering what that was are unlikely.”
“But not impossible.”
It felt impossible, but she had to keep going. Staring out the window at the late-afternoon light, she shivered. Was the killer out there watching her? He’d probably noticed she was back in the cottage, and she was prepared for a new attack tonight. She’d almost welcome it since it would be proof the guy considered her investigation a threat. That had to mean the evidence she needed was out there somewhere. If he felt safe, he wouldn’t be trying to scare her away.
“It’s nearly dinnertime,” Joe said. “Anything special sound good?”
“I’m still full from the pizza, so check with Hailey and see what she wants.”
“Fish tacos,” they said in unison before breaking into a chorus of laughter.
The laughter dispelled her frustration. “I wouldn’t say no to some salsa if you’re calling Tortuga Jack’s anyway.”
“You got it.” He pulled out his phone and placed an order. “How about we all ride together to pick it up?”
“I’ll be fine for the ten minutes you’ll be gone. You can take Hailey with you to ease your worries, but I’ll lock up and pay attention to any noises.” She swept her hand toward the window. “And it’s still light outside. I don’t think he’ll bother me this afternoon.”
Tonight might be a different story, but she wasn’t going to bring that up.
“Okay, I’ll roust the girl from her Little House on the Prairie marathon.”
“I think she’s up to season three. She’s mesmerized. I can’t believe I’ve never watched it before.”
He yawned and raked his hand through his thick thatch of brown hair. “We’ll remedy that over dinner.”
She watched him go down the hall and she smiled at his banter with his daughter. He was a really good dad. She’d always loved and respected her father, but watching the two of them, she realized she’d missed out on a lot. Her dad’s constant travel and preoccupation with his work had taken a toll on her childhood. She couldn’t recall a day when they’d hung out on the sofa and watched a family show together. He would politely ask about her schoolwork, but she doubted he knew she loved Latin quotes. Did he even know she had a terrible sense of direction or that she loved the Twilight series when she was a teenager?
Not a chance.
She locked the door behind Joe and Hailey as they good-naturedly squabbled about whether she could eat her tacos in the truck on the way back. There was no doubt who would win that battle. Joe would let her eat the whole bag of food if she asked. And so would Torie.
She looked at the stack of Lisbeth’s belongings. It had all come down to clothing and books. She picked up the thick book she’d started reading a few days ago. The Creature from Jekyll Island sounded like one of Lisbeth’s favorite horror novels, but it was about the creation of the Federal Reserve. She rubbed her head. She needed some sleep, but she couldn’t stop reading.
The book was eye-opening about how the Federal Reserve was a banking cartel. It should have been illegal, and yet it had steered the money industry for over a hundred years.
She looked up when the doorknob rattled. “What did you forget?” She laughed and rose to let them in.
But no one answered her. With her hand on the door, she paused. “Joe? Hailey? Who’s there?”
Still no answer. She backed away toward the kitchen. There were no panes or skylights at the door to see through, but she had a sinking sensation that someone else stood on the other side of the wood. If it was an acquaintance, why didn’t he or she answer when she called out?
The danger felt so thick she struggled to breathe. Why hadn’t she gone with Joe? Experience had already shown this guy was the boldest person she’d ever encountered. He seemed to walk past cameras and people like a mist that no one noticed.
She stared at the door, and her lips parted but her tongue felt too parched to call out. Her gaze found her phone lying on the sofa, and she moved toward it. Her finger felt numb as she punched out 911 and waited for the dispatcher to answer.
The male disembodied voice spoke in her ear. “911, what is your emergency?”
“There’s someone outside my door, and I think it’s an intruder who’s broken in before.” She raised her voice. “I’m calling 911!” She gave the dispatcher the address.
A sudden flurry of noise at the door came, and she grabbed the lamp to use the base as a weapon if he came inside.
“A patrol car is on the way, but it will be a while. Can you get to safety or call a friend?”
“I’ll call a friend.” Torie couldn’t cower in the living room when she should be trying to identify the intruder. Her pulse pounded in her ears as she ended the call and advanced to the door. Holding the lamp high overhead, she unlocked the door and jerked it open.
No one was there. She looked up and down the street again but saw no one. A flash of color at her feet caught her eye, and she saw a board game laid out.
Monopoly.
What on earth did that mean?
Chapter 29
The Monopoly game sat on the stoop almost mocking him.