Chasing Shadows (6 page)

Though her indignation lessened, Kris eyed Gabe with suspicion. “How do we find out?”

“Follow the leads we have for now.”

They stopped at Ms. Faust's office door. She gave no invitation to enter so they stood in the doorway while she rummaged through papers and files on her desk. She settled on a manila file with a green tab. Flipping the cover back, she quickly wrote out the requested info on a hot-pink sticky note and offered the slip of paper to Gabe. “I hope this will put an end to this nonsense.”

“And I'll take the itinerary,” Gabe said.

With her mouth clamped tight in obvious irritation, she picked up a sheet of paper and handed it to him.

A quick scan of the itinerary revealed nothing Ms. Faust hadn't already stated. “This doesn't mention the name of the cruise ship or the return date for Carl.”

She shrugged. “That's all I have.”

Which was of no help.

Gabe inclined his head. “We appreciate your cooperation.”

“Yes,” Kris added. “Thank you.”

The woman harrumphed before indicating she'd like to shut the door.

Kris read over Gabe's shoulder as he took out his cell phone and dialed the number on the paper. He clicked his phone shut. “Busy.”

Kris frowned. “Who doesn't have call waiting nowadays?”

He shrugged. “Apparently these people.” He looked at the square sheet in his hand. “Tim and Edna Jamesen.”

“Try again,” Kris said, anxious to find out one way or another if Denise Jamesen had gone to visit her relatives for the holiday.

A second attempt yielded the same result.

“I'll call the local law enforcement and see if they can stop by the Jamesen house.”

“But that could take hours or days.” Sadie would be upset until she knew for sure. “It's, what, an hour and a half drive to Rhode Island?” She checked her watch. “I think I'll go check on Denise myself. I could be there by one and back by five.”

“No. I'm not going to let you go off by yourself on some road trip.”

Kris smiled sweetly. “Then you're volunteering to come with me. How wonderful. My car or yours?”

Gabe blinked. He shook his head as if trying to make sense of what just happened. “I didn't say I was going with you.”

“But you just said you wouldn't let me go alone.”

His jawline hardened. “You're not going, period.”

Drawing closer, she stared up into his handsome face. “Let's get one thing straight. I don't take orders from you. I'm going to Rhode Island with or without you. Your choice.”

Dark clouds gathered in his expression. Kris almost backed down. Almost. But she liked thunderstorms and he didn't scare her.

Finally, he blew out an exasperated breath. “Fine. I need to touch base with my partner. We'll take your car.”

Elated with his decision, Kris put her hand on his chest, over his heart. She could feel the thud against her palm through his dress shirt and suit jacket. “Thank you.”

His mouth twisted in a wry smile. “You'll be the death of me, Kristina Worthington.”

Her eyes widened in horror. “Let's hope not.”

He took her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. “No worries.” He released her hand. “I'll go find Angie, you say goodbye to your grandmother. Meet me in the parking lot.”

Kris stared after him as he headed down the hall. The spot on her hand tingled where his lips had caressed the skin.

With a smile, she went in search of Sadie. Then it hit her. He'd given her an order.

And she was gladly obeying.

Maybe he had more power over her than she was comfortable with. What a disturbing thought.

Kris found her grandmother in the common room, an airy space with comfortable-looking sofas, a television, a coffee bar and several tables strategically placed. Near the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking the courtyard, two elderly men sat playing a game of chess. Several residents watched the news, which had the local weatherman predicting more snow in the greater Boston area.

Near the lovely stone fireplace, a large Christmas tree twinkled with red and gold decorations. From a table set off to the side, yet in a place to receive the warmth of the fire, sat Sadie, Mrs. Tipple and two other women. A silver
tea service dominated the white linen tablecloth. The women sipped from delicate, floral-patterned tea cups.

Kris approached the table, glad to see her grandmother's smile as the women chatted. She didn't look stressed or jittery. Kris put her hand on her grandmother's shoulder to draw her attention. “Grams.”

Sadie blinked up at Kris. “Krissy, dear, what a nice surprise. I didn't know you were coming today. Let me introduce you to my friends.”

Kris's heart thudded and her stomach dropped. Her grandmother hadn't remembered she was here. Not good, not good at all. She forced a smile of greeting. “Ladies, do you mind if I steal my grandmother away for a moment?”

“By all means,” Vivian Kirk, the woman sitting across from Sadie, said. She didn't look nearly as old as the other ladies. She was a plump motherly type with cool gray eyes, apple cheeks and short, blond hair. A colorful afghan was draped over her wide shoulders.

Kris helped Sadie to her feet and led her to a quiet corner in the room. “Uh, Grams, we were just in your apartment a little bit ago. Don't you remember?”

Confusion entered Sadie's eyes. “Well, now that you mention it.”

“You called me about Denise Jamesen,” Kris prompted, hating the distressing idea that Sadie's mind was in fact fading.

The blank look on Sadie's face nearly brought tears to Kris's eyes. Grams didn't remember.

Then Sadie's expression cleared and her eyes widened. “Oh. Oh, my. Denise is missing. Just like…just like…” She frowned, her face a study in concentration.

“Carl and Lena?”

“Yes!” Sadie grabbed Kris's hand. “What'll we do? We have to find them. Something bad has happened.”

Relief made Kris's head throb. Just a momentary lapse of memory, nothing more. “We'll find them. Gabe and I are going to drive to Rhode Island to see Denise.”

“You are? Wonderful. May I come?”

The eagerness in her expression plucked at Kris. “It's a bit of a drive.”

“You don't want me to come?” Hurt filled her voice.

“That's not it at all,” Kris quickly assured her. “I don't want to tire you out.”

“Nonsense, let me just get my coat.” Sadie shuffled away toward her studio apartment.

“Is everything all right, my dear?” Mrs. Tipple asked as she came to stand on Kris's right.

“Did I hear Sadie say she was getting her coat? Are you taking her away?” Vivian's concerned voice shook slightly as she moved to stand on Kris's left.

Kris gave each woman a reassuring smile. “We're just going out for a drive. We'll be back this afternoon.”

Mrs. Tipple laid her hand on Kris's arm. “It's just beautiful the way you dote on your grandmother.”

“Thank you.” Maybe these women would know something useful. “Do either of you remember Denise Jamesen mentioning she was going to visit her relatives for the holiday?”

The two women exchanged a glance.

“She mentioned family, but I was under the impression they were estranged,” Mrs. Tipple said.

Vivian nodded. “That's true, but it
is
Christmas. She
may have decided it was time to mend some fences. It's so sad to be alone at this time of the year.”

“Too true,” Mrs. Tipple agreed. “At our age, one doesn't want to leave this world with unfinished business.”

Mrs. Tipple's words resonated through Kris. That sounded reasonable. “Is Denise ill?”

“No,” Mrs. Tipple said then frowned. “At least I don't remember her being ill. Though there has been a touch of the flu going around.”

“Flu season.” Vivian shrugged. “You'd have to ask the doc or Ms. Faust.”

She doubted Ms. Faust would be receptive to any more questions. “Thank you, ladies. I should make sure Grams doesn't need help with her coat.”

Kris found Sadie standing in the middle of the room, coat in hand, a bemused expression on her face. She stared at Kris. “I have my coat. Are we going somewhere? I do so love to have adventures.”

Kris's heart dropped. Had she forgotten already? “We're driving to Rhode Island to see Denise.”

Sadie frowned. “She's not there. Why would she go there?”

“That's what we'll find out,” Kris said.

Sadie brightened. “All right then. Let's go, Krissy, we don't have all day. It's a long ride.”

Sadie shuffled toward the door.

“Uh, Grams, shouldn't you put on some shoes?”

Sadie blinked and looked down at her fuzzy slippered feet. “Oh, my, yes. These won't do all at.”

Hating to see her grandmother so befuddled, Kris helped her change into a pair of sturdy-soled, leather shoes.

At the front desk, Kris signed Sadie out of the center without any fuss. Outside, the frigid December air turned their breaths to puffs of smoke as they made their way across the parking lot to the compact car Sadie had given to Kris when it had become clear Sadie could no longer drive.

Kris halted with a gasp.

“Krissy?”

Her mouth had gone dry, preventing any words from escaping. Fear and outrage vied for prominence in her thoughts.

Someone had slashed all four tires.

K
ris scanned the parking lot and saw no one amid the few cars. Whoever had done this was long gone, and as far as she could tell, only her car had been vandalized.

A deep sense of violation embedded itself inside Kris, right next to a big heap of fear. Someone had known her plans. How? She shuddered with growing horror.

She had to tell Gabe.

Taking Sadie by the arm, she propelled her back toward the center.

“We aren't going?” Sadie asked.

“Not today. I just realized I have a flat tire.” Four to be exact.

Kris reached for the center doors just as Gabe opened the door. His surprised gaze slid to Sadie and then Kris. “What's up?”

“We can't go find my friend today,” Sadie said.

Kris stomach tumbled at the forlorn look on Sadie's face. She wrapped an arm around Sadie's shoulder. “We'll go another time, Grams. Let's get you inside where it's warm.”

He raised his eyebrows as he opened the door for them.

“I'll explain later.” She squeezed his arm as she passed him. “Go check out my car.”

His gaze sharpened, darkened with concern. “You okay?”

Touched that his first question was of her well-being, she welcomed the curl of warmth wrapping around her, smothering her distress. “With you here, I am.”

The second the words left her mouth, she realized how revealing they were and another sort of fear engulfed her.

He blinked, barely concealing the pleased surprise in his mesmerizing eyes. He gave a curt nod. “Good to know.”

He left to see the damage done to her car, while Kris wondered at the damage she was allowing to her heart.

 

“Thanks, Angie,” Gabe said before following Kris out of the police sedan.

Angie had driven them to the station and stopped next to his vehicle. She now regarded him with a mixture of concern and wariness. “Are you sure about this?”

Gabe glanced over his shoulder at Kris waiting patiently by the passenger door. She was so pretty with the winter sun touching her hair like a cool kiss. He fought for detachment, but found little. He'd do whatever necessary to protect her. He turned back to Angie. “Yes, I'm sure.”

“Okay, then. I'll let you know if we find anything useful on the car.”

“Thanks, you're the best.”

She stared straight ahead. “Right. You know the vandalism might not have anything to do with the retirement
center.” She slid her dark-eyed gaze back to him. “Are you sure your friend isn't mixed up in something else?”

“The thought has crossed my mind.” Kris took pictures for a living. What if she'd captured something on film that someone didn't want revealed? Or was there something more sinister? He'd have to find out.

“Be careful.”

“Always.”

As soon as the door clicked shut, Angie drove away.

Clearly, she didn't approve of his decision to go with Kris. Couldn't be helped. If the vandalism was related to the center, then obviously someone didn't want the missing woman found. But if there was something else going on, the best way for him to uncover the truth was by sticking close to Kris.

“Ready?” he asked as he opened the passenger door for Kris.

Squaring her shoulders, she nodded and got into the car. “Definitely.”

“Good.” He closed the door. He admired her determination and commitment, regardless that her impulsiveness concerned him. The woman she'd become also had spunk and a level head, traits he liked in a female. But he reminded himself of his partner's warning. What else might Kris be mixed up in? Had she been telling him the truth?

As he drove them out of the city, he asked Kris more in-depth questions about her life and job.

“Why do I get the feeling I'm being interrogated?” she inquired.

Keeping his gaze on the road ahead, he replied, “I'm
curious. I want to know more about you and what you've been doing the past eight years.”

“I might buy that if we hadn't already covered the timeline of my life already. And now you're questioning me about my clients?”

He decided to level with her. “I'm trying to ascertain if the vandalism could be related to your work or something else you're involved in, rather than Sadie and her sightings.”

She huffed. “It's not. Most of my work is commercial assignments for reputable companies. I take pictures for their ads. I don't get involved in their affairs.”

“But maybe during a shoot you photographed something you shouldn't?”

“I don't see how, considering I do most of my work in my studio. You're grasping for some explanation that doesn't exist. Someone defaced my apartment door and slashed my tires because someone doesn't want whatever is going on at the center to be uncovered.”

“What about your personal pictures? All the beautiful photos in your studio?”

Her eyebrows drew together. “All those pictures were taken months ago. And if all of this had to do with my work, then why the message about not asking questions? Doesn't make sense.”

She had a point. “Tell me…why do you go by Kris Worth instead of your real name?”

“You wouldn't understand.”

“Try me.”

She seemed to consider her words for a moment. Then said, “I wanted autonomy from the Worthington name.”

Taken aback by that revelation, he said. “Autonomy? Why? Wouldn't using your family's name open more doors?”

She turned to fully face him. Her expression so becomingly earnest. “That's just it. I didn't want doors opened because of my being born a Worthington. I want doors to open because of my work.”

He'd have thought she would want to capitalize on her family's clout. The woman he'd known would have taken advantage of any open doors but apparently this new Kris, full of intrigue and honor, didn't. He admired that about her. “How do your parents feel about that?”

She shrugged and straightened. “They don't like it.”

The tone of her voice conveyed the conflict that he guessed raged between her and her parents. “I can imagine. It must be hard to know their daughter doesn't want to be associated with them.”

“You make it sound like I've completely shut them out of my life,” she said, her voice full of hurt.

He gentled his tone. “I remember a time when their approval meant the world to you.”

She closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them and met his gaze, there was such determination in those blue depths. “Not anymore. I realized that my need for their approval was also their way of controlling me.”

“That's very enlightened of you.”

One corner of her mouth rose in a self-effacing smile. “Years of therapy.”

He sucked in a breath as concern arched through him. Was she the one with the mental issues, not Sadie? He dismissed that thought quickly. Seeing a counselor
was a very common practice nowadays. And it was healthier for her to talk through her problems with a trained professional than…what he did. He buried himself in his job so he didn't have to deal with his issues. That was a disturbing thought. One he really didn't want to examine too closely. “Are you still seeing your therapist?”

She shook her head. “No. Not since I returned from Europe three months ago. I prayed a lot about it and didn't feel God leading me to continue.”

“God talks to you?” That did sound a bit on the edge of reason.

She chuckled softly. “Yes. Not in an audible voice. It's more of an inner knowledge.” She made a face. “It's hard to explain.”

His doubts about God rose sharply. “I'll bet.”

She narrowed her gaze. “You said you've experienced gut feelings.”

He knew where she was going with this. “Yes. I know you think that they were God protecting me.”

She nodded. “I do. Why is that so hard for you to believe?”

He didn't have an answer. There was nothing concrete to prove or disprove her claim. And that bugged him. He liked absolutes even though life was unpredictable.

A thick silence stretched between them.

She shifted on the seat. “You know, it occurs to me we never talk about you or your family. Why is that?”

A knot formed in his stomach. “Nothing to say.”

“How's your mother?”

“Good.”

“Did she ever marry the doctor?”

Surprise flickered deep inside. She'd remembered while he hadn't thought about that in years. “I'd forgotten about him. No, that fizzled out like all of her relationships.”

“Does she have many?”

He gave a tight laugh as old hurts resurfaced. “Yes. Mom's always on the quest for true love.” He scoffed. “Like it exists.”

She let out a tiny gasp. “You've never been in love?”

He briefly met her gaze. Kris sucked in air as she stared at the pain there. Obviously he'd loved someone once. Not her, though. Her, he'd walked away from and never looked back. She hated that that ancient wound still throbbed.

A loud bang startled her. The SUV shuddered and fishtailed as a tire blew.

Gabe yelled, “Get down.” With one hand he pushed her toward the floorboard.

A second later a deafening noise reverberated within the vehicle and the passenger window exploded inward. Kris screamed as a shower of glass rained down on her, stinging her exposed flesh. They hadn't accidently blown a tire as she'd first thought.

Someone was shooting at them. Panic rioted within her, constricting her breathing. Surreal horror clouded her vision.

The squealing of the tires and the sickening, out-of-control movements of the vehicle on the slick, snowy road sent more waves of terror down her spine and words burst from her mouth. “Please, Jesus, save us.”

Gabe's expression was granite hard as he tried to maintain control of the vehicle.

But it was the blood seeping through his coat jacket on the top of his shoulder that sent her breathing into panic mode.

He'd been shot!

Please, God, don't let him die.

 

With adrenaline pumping through his body, Gabe brought the SUV to a limping halt alongside the shoulder of the highway. He'd driven as far as the vehicle could go; now they were sitting ducks if their shooter chose to come after them.

Keeping his head low and his eyes alert, he turned off the engine. He withdrew his weapon from his holster with one hand while he dialed 9–1-1 on his cell with the other. For a flash of a second he considered handing the phone to Kris, but she was so tightly balled up on the floor, he didn't want to take precious moments while she got herself together enough to make the emergency call.

In a voice remarkably calm considering how tight his throat muscles felt, he explained the situation to the operator and hung up with the assurance that backup was on its way.

“Gabe?”

His heart squeezed with fear. Realizing how close Kris had come to being plugged full of lead made a ripple of terror run through him, chased quickly by rage. She could have been killed. “You okay?”

“I think so.” Glass glittered in her blond hair like little diamonds. She started to rise from her crouched position on the floor.

Putting his hand out to stop her, he said, “Stay down.”

She stilled and frowned at him. “But you're hurt.”

He glanced at his shoulder, the stinging pain just barely registering. Blood seeped through the gaping hole in his suit jacket, staining the navy material a darker crimson. Droplets of his blood were splattered on the window. The slug was embedded in the door frame. “Just a grazing. Superficial.”

He flung open the door. Kris's big blue eyes stared at him with questions and concern. “I need to assess the damage to the car,” he explained.

With his senses on high alert, he cautiously climbed out. Disregarding the pain radiating down his arm, he held his gun in a two-handed grip, pointed down and at the ready. Putting the vehicle between him and the few cars that zoomed past, his gaze raked over the snowy countryside along the stretch of highway. The bare trees provided little hiding space for a sniper now.

Where had the shooter been hiding?

He remembered they'd passed a service road a few miles back. The shooter had obviously driven down the road until out of view and walked to the tree line where he had taken his shots.

Anger for not having had the foresight to think of an ambush made Gabe's blood pressure rise. He let loose with a vicious kick to the shredded remains of the front tire.

Kris sat up. “What was that?”

“Nothing.” His foot throbbed as his fury simmered his blood.

The whir of sirens approaching at a fast clip filled the air. Within minutes two French blue Massachusetts state cruisers with their distinctive electric-blue striping
flanked the disabled SUV. Four state troopers emerged from the vehicles, their flat-brimmed navy hats pulled low over their ears and the collars of their dark blue jackets turned up against the cold. The troopers fanned out, black boots crunching over the packed snow.