Calculated Revenge (9 page)

“Earth to Laney.”

Noah’s voice jerked her attention back to the present. “Sorry. I was following a rabbit trail. The bottom line is this.” She folded her hands together on her lap. “If this guy wants me, I’m going to make him come after me. We’re going to end this nightmare once and for all…back in Grand Valley, where the horror started.”

If she’d exploded a bomb in his face, Noah couldn’t have looked any more shell-shocked.

B
riana snuggled next to Noah as he read her a storybook in her grandparents’ living room that evening. How could anyone even think about hurting someone so cute and precious and innocent? He’d always been outraged that monsters existed who targeted children, but this little girl was special—as special as her mom.

Noah closed the book, and the child looked up at him and smiled. “I’m glad you came back, Mr. Ryder. Can you stay now?”

He ruffled her soft hair. “I’m afraid I have to return to Minnesota tomorrow. Your mother is coming with me. Are you okay with that?”

Laney’s parents weren’t. They’d rushed to the hospital to see their daughter when they heard about the phone call, and a long and heated discussion had ensued at Laney’s bedside while the federal agent entertained Briana in the hallway by showing her his badge. At least that’s what Noah had caught him doing when he checked on them. A margin of calm had descended between Laney and her parents when Noah updated them that law enforcement was hot on the trail of Richard Hodge. In the end, Noah had come back to the Thompson’s home with an agitated Roland while Loretta insisted on staying the night with Laney at the hospital.

Briana looked untroubled by the prospect of her mother leaving. She pursed her lips, then nodded. “If you’re with Mama, then it’s okay. The bad man won’t get her then.”

Noah’s rib cage squeezed in on itself. He’d better be up to the challenge…this time. Or die trying. There was no way he could look into this child’s face, or his own in the mirror, if he let anything happen to Laney.

He fully sympathized with her parents’ reservations about the plan. His heart had hit the floor when Laney said she was going with him. How did he let her talk him into taking her along anyway? Roland was right about those big blue eyes. Plus, she’d produced a surprising stubborn streak wider than the Mississippi Delta. But the reasons went beyond that. Her proposal made sense, as much as he hated for her to continue to act as bait. Whoever was doing this had it in for her, and he wasn’t going to stop until he was caught.

A half hour later, Briana was tucked into bed, and Noah told Roland he was heading there himself. He was exhausted.

The other man sent him a long look. “My granddaughter adores you. I’m a little jealous. I’ve never seen her like that with another man.” He lifted a brow. “Tread carefully. You seem to be working your way into the hearts of some important ladies in my life, and I don’t want to see them hurt.”

Noah swallowed against a dry throat. “Believe me, I don’t, either.”

In bed, he tossed and turned, seeking sleep that lurked beyond his reach. Was there a chance for him and Laney when this was over? She’d felt so right in his arms when he held her at the hospital. If he could move beyond the past, maybe he could take a chance on a future with an attractive special ed teacher and her charming little girl. And he wanted more kids, too, if he were honest with himself. But until this murderous scum was caught, none of them would have the oppor
tunity to find out what might be. Until then, he needed to keep his mind off romance. Hadn’t he learned his lesson about that the hard way?

He fell into a doze, and dreams of Renee teased him. Her tall, lithe figure flitted past his mind’s eye. Her laughter caressed his ears. Then she stood before him clear and strong and smiling. “Goodbye, my darling.” Her brown gaze sifted him. She turned and walked away, and he let her.

He opened his eyes the next morning to the gray haze of dawn filtering around the window shades. Something was different. His senses perked up. No, not in his surroundings. Inside himself. Something bound up tight in his core had begun to unfurl. The feeling was scary and exhilarating at the same time. Could he really move on from Renee? If he’d never met Laney and her sweet little Briana, he probably wouldn’t even be considering it.

But that was the point. Right now, he needed to quit thinking about it. Unfortunately for his peace of mind, the task of reining in his attraction to Laney was about as simple as herding cats. How could he be with her constantly in Grand Valley and not give away how he felt?

Noah groaned and got out of bed and headed for the shower.
Lord, if you’re there for me at all, I could use a truckload of help staying sharp and focused on what matters—catching the creep that threatens these precious people’s lives.

Soon Loretta brought her daughter home to pack her luggage. Laney spent long minutes bidding Briana farewell, and the child had a big hug for Noah. Roland watched the leave-taking with his arms crossed and lowered brows, while Loretta flitted around fussing about whether Laney remembered to take this or that.

Finally they piled into the car. Loretta drove, and Laney rode shotgun. In the backseat Noah kept an eye out for anyone who
might be following them. All he spotted was the unmarked federal sedan he’d picked out almost as soon as they left the driveway. Conversation was sporadic, and Laney’s mother fidgeted with her hair and her clothes and the air conditioning and the radio.

Casual topics of conversation were in short supply, but the mundane seemed like an insult to the situation. If only he’d get word from Hank that they’d cornered Richard Hodge. But Noah’s phone remained stubbornly silent.

Laney had been as baffled as her parents why the custodian had it in for the school, much less why he might have been Grace’s kidnapper all those years ago. Noah’s inquiries into Hodge’s background didn’t flag the tendencies of a pedophile, so lack of motive made a flimsy case for the kidnapping, though opportunity and attitude made him suspect number one in the flooding. They’d have to wait until the man was caught to find out more.

Seated at the gate waiting for their flight to be called, Noah’s phone rang, and his pulse jumped. It was Hank. “What’ve you got for me?”

Next to him, Laney stopped leafing through a magazine and stared at him.

“No sign of Hodge’s vehicle at either airport in Minneapolis,” the sheriff said. “I put out the word to the Sioux Falls PD, too. Some folks fly out of there.”

Noah sighed. “I guess that’s all you can do until someone spots him.”

“That’s not the end of the frustrating news,” Hank growled. “They’ve released Edward Foreman. He remains a suspect, but the prosecutor refuses to take the case to court after what happened with Laney yesterday.”

“I expected that much.” Noah sniffed. “Did you find out what excuse Foreman gave for his blood on that backpack?”

“I played the ‘need to know because this guy lives in our area’ card and got a transcript of the interview with him from the feds.” Papers rattled in the background. “Seems the guy finally admitted he
was
at the playground watching his daughter the day the pack was left. He pinched some skin off his finger when he gripped the chain link. Before he left that day, he spotted the pack sitting
outside
the fence. Good citizen that he is, he didn’t want someone coming along and making off with it before the student could claim their property. So he picked it up, cut finger and all, walked over to the entrance opening and set it
inside
the fence, and then skedaddled.”

Noah groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. “If this guy’s telling the truth, where the pack was found wasn’t where it was left, and any forensic evidence collected from the grounds wasn’t even from the right spot.”

Hank clucked his tongue. “You win the award for tip-top deduction.”

Noah informed the sheriff about Laney’s twisted phone call last night and of his plans to visit Grand Valley with her in tow. Hank told him to be careful, and they ended the call.

“I take it the news isn’t the best,” Laney prompted.

Noah grimaced and filled her in on what Hank said.

Without a word, she looked toward the gate desk. Noah followed her gaze. Increased activity warned that they’d be calling the flight soon.

“You know something?” she finally said. “I believe this Edward character is telling the truth. His story is goofy yet detailed enough to be exactly what happened.”

“I hate to admit it.” Noah frowned. “But you could be right.” And there went a very promising suspect.

Now if only law enforcement could lay their hands on Richard Hodge and Glen Crocker. One of them could be the perp they were looking for, and then the ordeal would be over…
And that could be the beginning of possibilities for him with Laney. He glanced at the delicate-framed, strong-spirited woman next to him. Her gaze was veiled behind long lashes as she studied her shoes.

Suddenly she jerked to attention. “I remember something about the attack.”

Noah stiffened. “What is it?”

“The man’s tennis shoes. The seam by the big toe of the left foot was splitting out.”

“Exactly the problem with the fake postman’s shoe that Mattie described.” Noah’s breath caught. “The footwear must be more significant than a random piece of this perp’s disguise.”

Laney fixed a wide gaze on him. “We’re looking for someone with a foot deformity. And I just thought of something else.” She poked a finger at him. “Richard Hodge wore steel-toed shoes. I know. I tripped over them in the crowded office the day I found that backpack.”

“And steel-toed shoes could hide a foot problem.”

“Exactly.” She smacked her palms together.

Tingles ran up Noah’s spine. This was a hot lead. “I didn’t know to ask former employers if they were aware that the man had any foot problems. I’ll rectify the oversight when we get to the hotel in Grand Valley. Right now,” he nodded toward the gate desk where the attendant had picked up the microphone, “I think our flight is about to be called.”

When they finally reached Minneapolis and got on the road south toward Grand Valley, silence blanketed the vehicle. Laney studied Noah out of the corner of her eye. His gaze was intent on the ribbon of highway. Both hands gripped the steering wheel as if it might attempt to spring away from him at any moment. A muscle in his jaw jumped from time to time.

“Did we have an FBI watcher on the plane?” she asked. “I can’t tell like you do.”

He glanced at her, sober-faced. “An agent followed us to the gate, but stayed behind. One was noticeably absent when we debarked, but I suspect they’re ahead of us at our destination. They’re going to want to see if our perp makes a run at you again.”

“I don’t imagine Agent Burns is any too happy that you’re in the picture.”

Noah cracked a smile. “That’s Supervisory Special Agent Burns to you.” His tone mimicked the agent.

Laney laughed. “You already know how I met the guy and why I don’t like him. You obviously have a history with him, too. Care to share?”

Noah’s nostrils flared and the smile faded.

Laney looked down. She’d trodden on forbidden territory. “Sorry. That was nosy.”

He shook his head. “No, it was a fair question from someone in your position. You should be aware of any history that might affect my performance on this case.”

Laney’s fingers curled around the seat edge. That’s right, she was only a client to him. “No need to explain. Agent Burns is the sort of person who would rub anyone raw.” And she needed to quit expecting Noah to open up to her. She was constantly setting herself up for disappointment that way.

“He got my fiancée killed.”

Noah’s quietly spoken words reverberated in Laney’s ears. “He what?” She stared at him.

“I think he figures it the other way around. But then, I blame myself, too.” He heaved a sigh.

Laney groaned. This must be the case where he’d told her “the wheels came off” and “someone died.” Was that person his fiancée? How horrible! No wonder he’d no longer had the
stomach for the P.I. business. What a miracle he’d taken her case.

“Do you remember hearing about the Halliday kidnapping around six years ago?” he asked.

“Who doesn’t? A wealthy media mogul’s seven-year-old daughter was taken right out of their heavily guarded Minneapolis lake home. National news went on and on about the incident.” Laney gasped. “I remember your name being mentioned once or twice toward the end of the sad ordeal, but nothing about Burns.”

Noah snorted. “The FBI likes to keep the names of field agents out of public awareness. They issue statements through staff hired for that purpose. But Burns was the lead investigator.”

“Didn’t they figure the nanny was in on the conspiracy to get the ransom?”

“A couple of problems with that information. First,” Noah lifted a finger from the steering wheel, “the ransom demand was a farce to cover the real crime, and second,” he lifted another finger, “the nanny was innocent.”

Tumblers clicked into place in Laney’s mind. “The nanny was your fiancée.” She remembered tabloid photos staring at her from grocery checkout aisles, featuring a lovely fair-haired child and the dark-haired, exotic-featured woman suspected of kidnapping her.

Noah nodded. “Her name was Renee Jackson, and we weren’t engaged when the case started. The FBI was hounding her, especially after the ransom was delivered, they didn’t catch the perp, and the child wasn’t returned.”

“That state of affairs can’t have sat well with Burns.” A man as prickly about his reputation as the federal agent would have been rabid to make an arrest.

“That’s an understatement.” Noah rolled his eyes. “And he
targeted Renee as his chief suspect. She came to me desperate to clear her name. Those big brown eyes of hers bored into my soul, and I was hooked. I took her on pro bono. A nanny doesn’t have the money her rich employers do. Of course, Burns thought greed gave her motive.”

Laney angled her body toward Noah. “So you believed her innocent right off the bat?”

“Let’s just say, from what I’d heard through the grapevine about the case, I thought there were angles that needed to be checked. After Renee got me on board, the more I looked into things, the more I was convinced she’d been set up and by whom. My big mistake was sharing a piece of information with Burns and expecting him to follow through on it with finesse.” He glanced at her, gaze bleak. “I discovered Mrs. Halliday’s nephew, Jeffrey, ran an online porn site for pedophiles.”