03 - Organized Grime (20 page)

“She’s very convincing,” Tim mumbled.

Riley grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and pushed me back toward my room. “But my stalker…”

“I’m more concerned about you right now, Gabby. Once I get you back to your room, I’ll call security.”

I didn’t argue. Whatever medicine it was that they’d given me earlier was beginning to take effect, and I couldn’t fight it anymore. I needed to lie down before I fell asleep here in the wheelchair.

But I felt more certain now than ever that James Harrison was involved in this. Now I had to figure out why.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Riley was acting more skittish around me than a father with a newborn baby. After they’d released me from the hospital this afternoon, he’d carefully helped me to his car and then, once at the apartment, up the steps to my home, acting as if I might break if I accidentally banged into anything. He’d carefully lowered me onto my couch inside.

And now he stared at me, as if absolutely unsure what to do.

I stood, which caused him to freak out and reach for me. “What are you doing?”

“Standing.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m going to take a shower.”

He opened his mouth, but shut it again. What would he say to that one? There was nothing he could do to help me, and that’s exactly what I wanted. I needed to be alone for a moment and what better place than the shower.

“I’ll be fine. I just want to clean up a little.”

“I can see if Sharon can come over.”

I shook my head. “Really. I’ll be fine. Just give me a few minutes.”

I hobbled into the bathroom and locked the door. I stared at my face for a moment while leaning on the sink for support. The swelling had gone down some. They’d taken the bandage off my head, so I didn’t look quite as crazy. My hair was matted, though and frizzy like electricity had zapped it.

A shower was just what I needed, I’d decided. On more than one level.

The bruises on my body, now that I had a good look at them, made me wince. That man could have killed me. But he hadn’t. Why not? Why had he kept me alive?

I started the spray and waited until it was good and hot before stepping under the water. Washing my hair with one arm was going to be challenging, but I could do it.

My thoughts turned to Sierra as I let the water wash over me. Was she really dead? Or was she alive and someone wanted me to think she was dead? And if she was alive, just where was she and how would I ever find her?

What did James Harrison know? What had Sierra known that could possibly have gotten her killed?

What about my stalker? How was she involved? Security hadn’t been able to find her, and I wasn’t surprised. The girl seemed to be able to walk through walls.

I still had so many questions, and so few answers. I felt certain I was inching closer to the truth, though. I’d get there eventually, and I’d find the evidence that would nail whoever was behind all of this.

I turned the water off, towel dried, put some lotion on, and combed my hair. At least I felt halfway decent. Finally, I stepped out, the steam from the bathroom following me. Riley sat on the couch looking contemplative. He stood when he saw me.

“You have a strange look in your eyes,” I told him as I approached.

“You should sit down.”

“Why?” My guards instantly went up.

“Parker just called.”

“Okay…?”

He gripped the sides of my arms. Compassion shone from his eyes. “The forensic team thinks that the photo of Sierra is real.”

The room began spinning around me.

***

Riley slept on my couch that night while I slept in my room. Normally, this would have been totally off limits for Riley because of what people might say. But I guess he feared for my safety so much that he was willing to take the risk. And really, if anyone looked at me with my cuts and bruises, would they really think something funny was going on? I was in no state to entertain any kind of ideas of romance or the like.

I did feel better the next morning—other than having a heavy heart, at least. Riley was already up and making coffee and scrambling eggs when I walked into the kitchen. I’d just spent thirty minutes trying to figure out how to dress myself in jeans and a T-shirt and already felt exhausted.

“Morning,” he smiled.

I had to admit that I kind of liked having him here in my kitchen. I could get used to something like this. I sat down at my dinette. “Morning.”

“How are you feeling?” He set a plate of food in front of me, as well as my biggest mug full of coffee.

“Better now.” I dug into my food, happy visions of being able to do this with Riley for the rest of my life floating in my head.

Riley slid into the seat across from me. “Doctor’s orders that you need to take it easy for a few days. I know that’s hard for you.”

“Hard for me” was probably the understatement of the year. I’d checked my messages last night and had three calls to clean crime scenes. No way would I be able to do those with my arm in a sling. I needed to call Chad and tell him to get home.

Riley and I chit-chatted as we ate, steering away from any stressful subjects. Today was Sunday, church day. I convinced Riley to go to the service late and leave early so I wouldn’t have to answer any questions. Mostly though, I didn’t want to talk to my dad. I managed to successfully do that. I was grateful that Riley was so understanding. After church, we headed back to my apartment. I felt like I needed a nap… or at least some more pain medicine.

But just as I’d settled on the couch, a knock sounded in the building, loud enough that it had probably come from across the hall. Riley walked across the room and peered out the peep hole. When he turned around, I couldn’t be sure, but it nearly looked like terror in his eyes.

My guard instantly went up. Who was it? The bad guy returning to finish what he started? An angry mob trying to find Tim because he’d gone through their trash? Annoying FBI agents demanding I tell them things I didn’t know? “What is it?”

Riley licked his lips. “It’s my parents.”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

“Your parents? They’re here?” I rushed to my feet and pointed at the floor. “As in here, here?” I tucked a hair behind my ear, the pain in my face pulsating even more intensely at the thought of meeting Riley’s parents for the first time.

“Yeah, they’re outside my apartment door.”

I frantically searched for excuses not to meet them, and settled on, “Pretend you’re not home.”

“I can’t do that,” he whispered, reaching for the door knob.

I lunged across the room and grabbed his hand before pointing at my face. “I can’t meet them like this!”

“Gabby, they’ll understand that you don’t normally look like this.”

“Riley—”

He cut me off with a soft kiss, which did the job quite nicely. “Gabby, stop worrying. You’re beautiful.”

I bit my lip. What did I want Riley to do? Did I honestly want him to avoid his parents simply because I looked terrible? My brain didn’t seem to be functioning properly at the moment. I took a deep breath and lifted a prayer for wisdom. My racing heart slowed for a moment, until I finally nodded. “Okay.”

His gaze lingered on me another moment before he opened the door.

I’d dreamed of this moment when I’d finally meet his parents for a long time. I’d wear my best clothing. I’d get my hair done that day, maybe even get a manicure. Heck, I’d lose ten pounds and even buy some new furniture for my place.

Had I done any of those things?

No.

I had a swollen face, a busted lip, and a black eye. My ribs were wrapped with a bandage. And my apartment? I looked behind me. Let’s just say it had seen better days. Houses surviving tornados looked better than my place did at the moment.

I did my best to plaster on a smile as Riley greeted his parents with hugs. I studied them for a moment. His mom was just what I’d expected. She was thin and tall with deep brown hair cut to her chin. Her every movement and word seemed to drip confidence and affluence. Riley’s dad looked just like Riley, only older.

Riley stepped back and extended his arm to me. His eyes sparkled when he looked at me, so much so that I forgot for a moment just how terrible I looked. “And this is Gabby.”

The grins on their faces slipped. And I wasn’t imagining things or being paranoid here. Their smiles literally slipped so fast they put water rides to shame. Finally, his mother seemed to return to her proper etiquette. She smiled again and extended her hand. “So nice to meet you, Gabby. We’ve heard a lot about you.”

I started to reach for her hand, but my shoulder stopped me. Instead, I waved and pointed to my injury. “Nice to meet you also.”

Riley’s dad stood behind her. He winked, calming my anxious thoughts for a moment. “Gabby. It’s a pleasure.”

Riley kept an arm at my waist. “What are you doing here? I had no idea you were coming.”

“We wanted to surprise you. We’re on our way to Raleigh for one of your dad’s conferences. We took a little detour and decided to see your place.” His mother’s gaze roamed my place instead. My terribly messy, out-of-date place. My cheeks burned.

Then I realized my manners. “Can I get you a drink?” What did I have? Uh… nothing but cold coffee, at the moment. “Maybe some water?”

Mrs. Thomas shook her head. “Oh, no. We don’t want to be a bother.” She looked at Riley. “I was hoping you might grab a bite to eat with us. Gabby, too, of course.”

Did she mean it? Or was she just being polite?

Riley turned toward me. “Do you feel up to it?”

Not particularly. I’d actually wanted to jump on the Internet and continue my investigation. I wanted to do whatever I could until my energy level returned to me. But instead of saying that, I said, “Sure. That would be great. I would just need to freshen up a bit.”

I’d look through my closet. No, I wouldn’t find any clothes from Nordstrom’s. But maybe I had something from Target that would work?

“Wonderful. Riley, how about if we wait over in your apartment? We don’t want to impose here.” Riley’s mom blinked, a smile stretched her face. She was the perfect picture of polite society and manners.

What was I doing here? I bit back my self-doubt.

Riley nodded toward his place. “I’ll be across the hall. You just come over whenever you’re ready, okay?”

I nodded, hoping that a satellite orbiting the earth might choose this very moment to fall from the sky and land on me. Yeah, that sounded like a better option than trying to impress Riley’s family right now.

I sighed and went to find my Target best.

***

“So, Gabby, Riley tells us that you’re going to school to be a forensic investigator?” Riley’s mom daintily put a bite of her shrimp scampi onto her fork, running her knife across the bundle until it was neat and suitable to eat.

The whole restaurant had me nervous with its white linen tablecloths, sparkling crystal and a real—yes, real as in
live
—string ensemble in the corner. I found myself longing for Applebee’s at the moment.

Just don’t spill your water, Gabby. Or drop your fork. Or choke on anything.

Lord, help me. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt like this much of a mess.

I wiped my mouth. No water had drizzled out of my swollen lips and onto my crisp black trousers—yet. “Yes, I’m almost done. Just another month or so and I’ll be official.”

“What a fascinating career choice.” Riley’s dad nodded, seeming incredibly sincere with the sentiment. So much that, for a moment, my nerves settled.

“I love science, so why not combine that with helping to see justice served.”

“Noble calling.” He actually sounded like he meant it. I bit back my surprise.

Riley’s mom set down her water and focused on me a moment. My nerves returned—stronger than before. “Riley tells us that you’ve made quite a name for yourself around town as a… a crime-scene cleaner?”

I couldn’t be certain, but I almost thought that Riley’s mom wanted to curl her lips down in disgust at the thought.

I nodded. “It sounds morbid, but it’s really not. Don’t get me wrong—it’s not a career choice for the squeamish. But someone has to do the job. And there’s more to it than simply cleaning up after crimes. I like being able to connect with families, being able to make their lives a little easier, being able to piece together what happened.”

Riley’s hand covered mine. “She has a knack for picking up clues that other people have missed. She’s going to do great as a forensic investigator.”

I wondered for a moment if Riley would accept me if I decided to remain a crime-scene cleaner. Was this relationship only in progress because Riley saw an end in sight? Because I’d be getting a respectable career soon enough?

I pushed the thought aside.

Since everyone was too polite to ask about my face, I decided to approach the subject. I pointed to my obviously battered features. “Sometimes I can get in over my head.”

Riley’s mom blinked rapidly. “You mean, that happened because you were cleaning a crime scene?”

“It would depend on how you define ‘because.’”

Riley swallowed so hard his Adam’s apple bounced up and back. “There are some shady things surrounding a job she did. Someone didn’t like her asking questions. She’s decided to let the police handle it from here on out, though.”

I had? Had I said that? If so, it had been in one of my drug-induced moments.

“Have they found the person who did this to you?” Riley’s dad leaned closer, his face etched with concern.

I shook my head. “No, not yet. They will, though. Just give them some time.” Or give me some time and I’ll do the job myself.

Riley’s dad nodded, his eyes sparkling. “I always said, if in doubt, look at what a person’s thrown away. I guess you would say if in doubt, clean!”

I smiled but inside something clicked.
Look at what a person’s thrown away
. The person who was setting up Sierra was bound to have left some evidence, even in this digital age. Someone had built a bomb. There would be wires and chemicals. Certainly the FBI had already gone through computers and trash cans. But had they gone through the right person’s information?