Reunited in Danger (7 page)

“Why didn’t he tell me he was filing for adoption? And why, especially after Ben was
attacked, didn’t he tell me that he and Marcie had a connection to Loving Arms? He
knew Ben ran the program.”

“Maybe their plan to adopt was something he wanted kept private.”

“Yeah, well, I need to hear it from him.”

He’d deal with Quinn soon enough. What worried him now was Keely. He wanted to take
her to the airport, put her on a plane to a tropical island, and tell her to stay
there until he figured out why Ben had been attacked. But there was no way he’d convince
her to go.

He tried not to notice how beautiful her face was in the afternoon light, how her
small nose was set perfectly between two wide eyes. And her full lips. No, he wouldn’t
even go there.

Solving this case would mean he’d no longer have an excuse to see her. But she didn’t
need him. Hadn’t Lillian said as much when she picked him up at the jail ten years
ago? Besides, Keely deserved better than him.

The poison that ran through his father’s veins had tainted him, too. He’d unleashed
it a few times in his life—as recently as several months ago. Sure, he’d been cleared
of the brutality complaint. But
had
he slammed the guy to the sidewalk too hard? His temper had overtaken him, and suddenly
what he had watched his father do to his mother time and time again, he was doing
himself.

The desk job in Texas would keep him from testing his temper again. He just needed
to sign the contract and turn in his resignation.

Once he made sure Keely and Ben were safe, that’s when the withdrawals would hit.
He’d grown up surrounded by the influences of drugs and alcohol. But he’d stayed clean.
Ironically, the one thing he couldn’t seem to do without, the one thing he craved
as much as druggies and drunks craved crack and gin, was Keely. She was his drug of
choice.

Helping with this case was a way to pay Ben back for all he’d done for Logan. But
when he started the engine, the truth hit him hard. He wanted to spend more time with
Keely before he’d have to let her go again.

Suddenly, he found it hard to concentrate. A little dizzy. Working on an empty stomach
was never a good thing. “We might only have one chance to talk to Su Lin’s parents.
Let’s make a list of questions before we ask Amy Bittinger to call. We could stop
at Vemezia’s.”

Keely’s eyes widened and a smile lit her face.

“Our old haunt,” she said. “I haven’t been there in years.”

Neither had he. It reminded him too much of her. Vemezia’s had been their place to
eat any time they had some extra cash, which wasn’t often, making the place even more
special.

“It’s on the way.”

“I hope they still serve breakfast all day.”

One last time at their special place. A moment to savor now, and a memory to take
with him to Texas.

…

Keely slid into a chair across from Logan. She could hear voices happily chattering
and shouting in the back of the kitchen and wondered what language the employees were
speaking. It certainly wasn’t English, or even the Spanish she spoke at a rudimentary
level. Over the years, Baltimore had become culturally diverse, and even a trip to
a local restaurant unveiled a symphony of different languages.

“I ordered coffee and your usual omelet while you were in the restroom,” Logan said.

“Thanks.” She took a sip of the hot brew, then stared into her coffee, glad to have
something to do with her fidgety hands. He remembered her favorite breakfast? What
else did he remember? The way their bodies craved one another, the way they couldn’t
stop kissing once they’d started? Her heart skipped a beat.

He pulled out a notepad. “I made some phone calls and interviewed your dad’s neighbors
again yesterday. Who’s the guy who lives in the row house to the left of your dad’s?”

“April’s boyfriend. I don’t know him. I’ve waved to him from the car a few times.
I think April knows something, though. She acted funny when I talked to her.”

“She wasn’t there when I stopped by. And the boyfriend wasn’t in the mood to talk.
Just mumbled about the owner not being home and shut the door.”

Keely glanced at Logan. He’d probably only had a few hours sleep after his shift,
but only his bloodshot eyes showed signs of fatigue. He used to keep his hair short
in a buzz cut, but he’d let it grow out. A good look. A stray lock of hair fell across
his forehead and she resisted the urge to reach out and brush it to the side. She
pointed to the notepad in front of him.

“What’s that? Your list of suspects?” She leaned forward to get a better look. “You
still have Margaret on your list? Am
I
on this list?”

“You were at the courthouse,” he said.

She looked up to see if he was serious or not. Wow. If she hadn’t been in court, he’d
consider her a suspect? At least she couldn’t accuse him of cutting any corners in
the investigation.

He scribbled something in the notepad. “Is this the first time Ben dealt with a pregnant
Thai woman?”

Keely bit her lip and thought. “Most of the women he helps are born in the US. A few
have been from other countries, originally. Mexico, China, Thailand. Always US citizens,
but Dad doesn’t care about their background. He helps everyone equally.”

Logan frowned and flipped to a new page.

A smile tugged at her lips. He probably had no idea his furrowed brow and the small
crease in his forehead made him look so serious. And sexy. His passion for solving
crime was written all over his face. What would it feel like to have that sort of
passion directed at her?

“How about disgruntled adoptive parents? Anyone mad about the child they were matched
with and blame him? Any moms give up their baby and regret it enough to hurt Ben?”
He flipped a pen against his notepad.

“Well, he’s not involved in the actual adoptions. He just hooks up the moms with good
lawyers, and helps defray any costs. He helps potential adoptive parents, too. Connects
them with appropriate agencies and helps with the cost of adopting if a couple can’t
afford it.”

She straightened and drew in a breath. Sitting so near him after all these years of
trying to forget him was taxing her system. It didn’t help that she’d dreamed of him
last night for the first time in years.

He leaned back and took a gulp of coffee, staring at her over the rim of the mug.
His intense gaze bored into her, daring her to look away. She didn’t.

“We need Amy to ask the parents when they last saw Su Lin. I’ll contact the police
in Los Angeles, too, but talking to the parents could yield more answers.” He continued
to study the list.

Nodding, she relaxed against the chair back. “After you solve this case, you’ll leave
for Texas?”

“That’s the plan.”

Her throat constricted at the finality of his words. The more time she spent around
Logan, the more she remembered how good they used to be together. Problem was, they’d
both changed. They weren’t those two young kids any longer. They were something more.
Adults with desires—and as much as she wanted to battle it, she wanted him.

After the waitress delivered their meal, he pushed his paperwork aside. “Enough work.
Let’s eat.”

As a kid, Keely’s heroin-addicted biological mother hardly ever remembered to feed
her. After she had been adopted by Lillian and Ben, she loved sharing meals together.
Mealtimes with her mom and dad were among her favorite memories. Her dad’s words edged
to the front of her mind. What had he wanted to tell her about Logan? She squinted
at him, trying to figure out what her dad might say and why he felt it was so important
for her to know.

Maybe her dad could tell she still had feelings for Logan and wanted to warn her that
he had a girlfriend? The thought made her suddenly sick to her stomach. She pushed
the omelet away.

“What? Keely Allen leaving food on her plate?” Logan cocked his head and forked a
piece of her omelet for himself as though they were a couple. Suddenly he frowned
and took a long drag of coffee.

She snickered. “Did you forget you hate vegetables?”

He shuddered. “I was blinded by the cheese. So you still don’t eat meat?”

“Don’t like it.” She shrugged.

He leaned forward on his elbows, gazing across the suddenly too narrow table. His
brown eyes became browner as the light reflected off the dark crimson tabletop. “Keely,
I—”

“More coffee, hon?” the waitress asked, already tipping the pot with one hand and
pulling some creamers out of her apron with the other. Keely shifted in her seat and
her knees touched Logan’s. Her leg felt like a red hot poker. She moved again,
away
from his legs.

Logan nodded at the server. “Thanks.”

Keely had no idea what he’d been about to say, but the way he’d leaned forward, focused
on her…she had a feeling they weren’t talking about her vegetarian diet any longer.

Her cell phone rang and she pulled it out of her jeans pocket. “It’s my dad.” She
answered the phone, eager to hear his voice.

“Margaret wanted me to call and let you know she can stay with me for as long as you
need to be away, and that you shouldn’t hurry,” Ben said.

“Logan and I are heading to Amy Bittinger’s,” she said. “We want to see if she can
help us speak to Su Lin’s parents. Then Logan’s helping me with one of my other cases.
I’ll be there by dinner time, though. Love you.”

“Love you too, darlin’. Although I don’t know why you gals keep hovering.” He clicked
off.

She hung up, smiling, then grabbed her purse and pulled out a twenty.

“I’ve got it.” Logan’s warm hand covered hers. Heat radiated along her hand and up
her arm, and seared into her heart, making her want.
Him. This.

Them.

Damn
. She was a glutton for punishment. She wanted what she never would let herself have.

…

Keely and Logan exited the SUV and walked up the brick path to Amy and Craig Bittinger’s
brownstone. The dark circles under Logan’s eyes stood out against his tanned skin.
She should send him home to rest. He was working too hard. After ringing the bell,
she was just about to tell him so when a small hand moved the front window curtain.

She focused on the tiny hand, remembering three-year-old George Padilla and the timid
way he’d spotted them yesterday. Was he happy now, at his new foster home? And where
was his sister, Melita?

A bolt lock clanked and she shifted her attention to the front door.

“Keely.” Amy Bittinger glanced behind her into the house, opened the door just wide
enough to squeeze through, and stepped outside. She wore black and white Nike pants,
a pristine white shirt and matching jacket, and her makeup looked expertly applied.
Keely only bothered with mascara when she went to work—if she happened to remember
it.

“What’s up?”

Keely took a step back to make room on the landing. “We need your help. You speak
Thai, right?”

Amy nodded, but focused her attention on Logan.

The front door opened and Craig Bittinger made a point of hushing a barking dog before
stepping outside, closing the door behind him. He wrapped his left arm around Amy’s
waist and thrust out his right hand. “Nice to see you again, Detective North,” he
said. “We’d invite you in, but our dog isn’t used to strangers yet. He’s a rescue.”

Craig flashed a smile at Keely. “How’s your dad doing?”

“He’s doing a lot better, thanks.” She glanced at Amy. “I’m trying to find out what
happened to Su Lin, the pregnant girl from Los Angeles who was supposed to fly into
Baltimore yesterday. She didn’t show up at BWI. Her parents only speak Thai.”

“I’m happy to help,” Amy said, exchanging a glance with her husband.

“Amy’s your woman. She speaks to her mom in Thailand at least once a week,” Craig
said.

Logan took out the list of questions for Su Lin’s parents. “By the way, I hear you
have a briefcase that matches the one stolen from Ben, Mr. Bittinger.”

Craig nodded. “Yes, I do.”

“Didn’t you think that was important enough to tell me when Keely asked you about
Ben’s briefcase at the hospital the other day?”

Craig met Logan’s gaze. “If I remember correctly, you asked if I knew what was
in
Ben’s briefcase. Honestly, I didn’t make the connection about having a similar one.”

“Out of curiosity, is it nearby? Could I see it?” Logan asked.

“Of course. Anything we can do to help Ben.” Craig glanced at his wife. “I’ll be right
back.” He slipped back inside the house, and came out seconds later with a briefcase
marked with the initials CAB. The Loving Arms two-heart logo was etched into the leather.
Without Logan asking, Craig opened it, displaying neatly organized pads of paper,
pens, and a few menus from his diner.

Nothing suspicious about those contents. Unless Logan saw something she didn’t.

Logan nodded. “Thanks.”

Keely cleared her throat. “Amy, I have Su Lin’s parents’ phone number. Can I call
them and have you translate for me?”

Amy turned to Craig. “Can you help the kids finish their workbooks for Bible Study?”

“Sure.” Craig kissed his wife’s forehead, then went back inside.

“What should I ask?” Amy took a seat on the top step of the porch.

Keely sat beside her and Logan handed Amy the list of questions and a pen. After punching
in the phone number, he held the phone to his ear for a second and then passed it
to Amy.

When someone answered, Amy spoke to them in Thai for a minute, then glanced at Logan.
“It’s Su Lin’s mother,” she said, holding the phone away from her mouth. “She’s from
Mae Sot, the same town in Thailand as my parents. I can’t believe it.”

Logan propped one foot on the bottom step, leaning forward, and nodded encouragingly.

Amy glanced at the piece of paper and rattled off a question. She listened, then held
the phone away. “Su’s mother blames herself. Wishes she’d stood up to her husband
about Su’s claim she was raped.”