Page 50

C harmaine

“What are you working on?” Maddox asked from across the room.

Me being me, I closed the lid on my laptop, uncurling my legs and placing the computer on the coffee table.

I’d been thankful I’d had it with me when I’d walked into the courtroom.

In truth, I’d insisted on keeping it close by.

At least no one had attempted to force me to show them my files. “Nothing.”

He spun around in his chair, providing one of his ‘stern’ looks, the one that suggested if I continued lying to him, he’d drag me across his lap. I shrugged and rose to my feet, folding my arms as I walked closer. “Just a few ideas I had.”

“For a story.”

“Maybe.” I’d tried to occupy my time by writing a novel, but after six dozen starts and stops, I’d been forced to realize I wasn’t capable of penning fiction.

I was a journalist through and through and the thought of working for a tiny newspaper in Durango just wasn’t suitable.

Could I freelance with the Chicago Sun ?

Maybe, but I’d been advised strongly to cut all ties with my past. “Don’t worry. I’m using my new name.”

“Which is?”

I laughed before mentioning it. “Denise Holder. Catchy, eh?”

He cringed appropriately. “What are you writing?”

“Just something.”

His stern expression deepened. “You can’t write about Alfaro or what you suspect is going on and certainly not about what we discovered on the jump drive. Not only will doing so place your life in jeopardy, but you’ll likely be cited for contempt of court or obstruction of justice.”

“Since when did you become such a legal expert?”

“I’m serious.”

Sighing, I moved closer. “I know you are, but I need something to occupy my time. I worked in a coffee shop for three days and that was all I could take.”

“You need to find something else you’re good at.”

“Maybe interior design. This place could use some sprucing up.”

He laughed. “What’s wrong with modern man whore?”

“Nothing. If you’re a man whore.” I ran my fingers through his hair, messing it up completely. I preferred the freshly fucked look, which he wore with style.

“Something to aspire to,” he muttered and returned his attention to the computer screen.

“What do you think it means?” I asked as I peered over Maddox’s shoulder.

“I’m not certain, but there’s something about it that nags me.”

While I’d been sleeping, the man had spent almost all night attempting to break the various secure codes protecting the files on the jump drive. Somehow, he’d managed to open one, but the information was less than exciting.

It held a message that made no sense.

For those who bask in the glory of the sun, remember the rays will eventually destroy. Protect yourself with the correct serum so you can bask in the joys of freedom every day.

“What does that even mean?” I asked, more frustrated than ever. Even if Kage managed to find someone to break the various encryptions, would they mean anything, or would they all contain gibberish?

“There are clues in the words. We just need to figure out what they mean.” I heard the exhaustion in his voice.

“Maybe we need a break.” I walked away from the desk, heading to the window.

“Maybe we do.”

The tingling sensations remained and were somehow comforting.

Swept off my feet.

Was there truly such a thing in romance?

Maybe I was jaded given the ugly temperature of my former relationship, but I’d felt almost giddy from the moment I’d stepped foot into Maddox’s inviting house.

While he certainly couldn’t be confused with understanding interior design, his home had instantly provided me with a sense of comfort and security.

Plus, there was something amazing about having his strong arms around me, holding me tightly against him as he finally opened up about the horrors he’d been through.

I’d sensed he’d remained on guard from the moment I’d walked in the door, constantly checking the locks on doors and windows, peering at his security cameras every so often. Instead of feeling additional anxiety, I’d felt peace, which was something I hadn’t felt since leaving home months before.

Colorado was beautiful, but I’d never felt as if I could relax. Always on guard. Always worried some monster would eventually find me.

What seemed so strange was that I hadn’t felt the same level of panic from the moment I’d walked in through Maddox’s door.

Seconds later, I pulled my phone into my hand, wishing there’d been a reply. I’d sent a text to the unknown source who’d warned me hours before. Nothing. I stared at the screen on my phone and for some insane reason I felt another rise of panic.

“What did you text earlier?” Maddox asked from across the room. We’d discussed luring the person who’d warned me out in the open. I’d been all for it, but after hitting send on the text, I was strangely out of sorts.

“That I had information that might interest him or her.”

“Good. Now, we wait. And that’s all you’re going to do.” His voice was quiet, the lack of any noise in the cabin as unnerving as baiting some jerk who didn’t have the balls to share his or her true identity. There was no reason to be frightened. We were doing nothing more than setting the stage.

Yet something continued to unnerve me.

What I hadn’t told Maddox was that I’d added a second line to my text.

Me: Threatening a reporter isn’t in your best interest. I will discover your identity and when I do, I’ll ensure there isn’t a member of law enforcement who isn’t made aware.

Nothing but silence.

Maybe I’d pushed a little far, but walking on eggshells for the rest of my life wasn’t something I was willing to do.

“I’m not very patient, Maddox. You should know that by now.”

“Hmmm… Why don’t I trust you?” he asked, the accusatory tone in his voice. He rose to his feet, stretching after being seated for so long.

“I don’t know,” I said coyly and shoved my phone into my back pocket. “Why don’t you?”

He took three long strides toward me, wrapping one arm around my waist while digging the hand of his other into the same pocket. “Because I know you too well.”

“Hey. That’s mine.” He held the cellphone high over my head as he backed away.

There was no sense in fighting the man. He would find a way to do what he wanted. The moment he stared at the screen, he issued a deep exhale. His jaw immediately clenched.

“Don’t be angry with me. I can’t stand waiting to see what will happen. That’s all we’ve done for four months. Wait. I feel like we’re sitting ducks.”

“In a way we are. You do realize you were threatened.”

“Warned,” I corrected.

“There is no real difference, Charmaine. If you push their buttons, they will eventually push back. Only they may not do so in a way I can control.”

“That’s what I’m hoping.”

“That I can’t handle the situation?” He handed me the phone and returned to the chair in front of the computer. We’d studied the information on the jump drive as he’d done several times. While there were additional files, there’s been no way of determining the data. Everything had been encrypted.

His smile was strained.

“No, Maddox. I know you can handle anything. I almost feel sorry for anyone who steps foot on your property. You just might break their necks. I thought about what you said. We need to bring this to a conclusion.”

“Yeah, we do, but we do it my way. You’re not going to ride roughshod on this. We’ll handle this carefully. You’re also not going to write a scathing article. The target will be drawn on your back in permanent ink next time. The question is, what in the hell am I going to do with you?”

I glanced out the window, accepting that receiving a second text was a long shot, but we had little recourse at the moment. At least there hadn’t been a notification the message was unable to reach the recipient. Maybe that was something.

“Maybe I just believe there’s no end to this. Or that the people truly responsible for what happened will continue to get away with their crimes. My story could have forced the bastards into the open. Did you know there was an explosion on a private yacht two days ago?”

He snorted. “I don’t keep up with the news. We ranchers are hard-working men.”

“You mean hardheaded. The owner was on vacation with his family in the Mediterranean. He was some big pharmaceutical mogul. While the news sources were sketchy, they’re aware arson was involved, but can’t figure out how since the boat was very secure.”

I walked closer, nodding when he tipped his head in my direction.

“You’re thinking Mercury Fulminate.”

“Yes. What if Alfaro’s plan was to invade the major pharmaceutical companies? Fentanyl. Oxycodone. Designer drugs. Maybe that’s the ‘in’ he wanted.”

“You’re not writing the article.”

“What if it’s targeted to a particular audience?”

His sigh was heavy. “No. That’s final.”

“If Alfaro is in the process of infiltrating the pharmaceutical companies, maybe I can give a little push.”

“You heard me. We can’t do anything about it. Correction. Neither you nor I are going to do anything off the wall.”

“Why not?” I winked then laughed seeing the serious look on his face. “We make a great team, you know.”

“Uh-huh. You’re just trying to get into more trouble.” He glanced at the computer screen, switching windows several times, highlighting both information that had already been opened and the strange message found in one. “You know what bothers me?” he asked a few seconds later.

“What?”

“The information Damon managed to decipher has a rhythm to it.”

“A rhythm.”

“Yes. I don’t know how to explain it other than it reminds me of Morse code.”

Laughing, I leaned over the desk, staring at the screen. “I knew you were old, but you evidently hide your age well.”

His huff was adorable. “We were trained in Morse code early in our careers. As our training officer reminded us, we would never know when our communications systems would be down, we’d be locked out, or the system would be hacked. We needed a way of communicating rarely used. It stuck with me.”