Page 133 of Risky Obsession

Lacey pointed at a digital departure board against the back wall of the station. “According to that, the 8:45 train is about to arrive.”

Huh. I’d slept for over two hours. More than I thought I would. Although my body was beyond exhaustion, I didn’t think I could stop all the crap crashing through my mind.

I cracked my neck side to side, trying to loosen the knot wedged at the top of my spine. In my Navy days, I’d slept on some pretty rugged beds, and it had never bothered me too much. Obviously, I’d become soft over the years. Then again, the luxury mattress on my yacht was supposed to be one of the best in the world.

“You okay?” Lacey attempted a smile, but it fell flat. She looked shattered and I had to fight the urge to ask her if she got any sleep.

“Yep. Just annoyed that you’re still here.”

She smirked. “Someone had to protect your gear while you slept. You could’ve had the whole lot stolen.”

I stood and my back let me know it wasn’t happy. Lacey’s eyes were bloodshot and glassy, and I couldn’t decide if she was just tired, or she’d been crying. It pissed me off that I cared.

“Here, you might want to put these on.” She handed me the plastic bag with the other beanie and glasses.

I grabbed Pops’ duffle and the plastic bag and strode toward the restrooms. About fifty people were milling around the station, and I was surprised I’d managed any sleep with their noise.

I stood at the mirror and splashed cold water on my face, trying to shock the last of my foggy brain away, then I pulled on the beanie and sunglasses. It wasn’t much of a disguise, but it would have to do. Striding from the restroom, I forced myself not to search for Lacey as I marched toward the train station exit.

She skipped to my side. “You trying to escape from me, Devlin?”

“Yep.”

“Well, you’ll have to try harder. I’m a cop, and I’m damn good at tracking down my man.”

Her tease on words nearly made me grin. Trying to act like I didn’t give a shit about her comment, I scanned the road outside, working on my bearings.

I’d had to hold back many questions when she’d told me about the motorbike gang she’d joined and how she’d changed from criminal to cop. Not many people could make that trajectory. It showed how determined she was, and I hated that I wanted to know more about her when I also couldn’t stand being with her.

A bitter morning breeze raced along the main street and slapped me in the face. I welcomed the attack. If we were going to make it through the day without being arrested, I needed to be on the ball.

“Kane. Look.” She pointed behind us, at a bas-relief sculpture over the train station entrance. Nestled between the brick pillars on either side of the doors, two life-size figures, with full beards were etched in the stone. One was a man in a three-piece suit, and the other was a weathered-looking sailor. Above them, the year 1891 was etched into the stone.

“What about it?” I frowned at Lacey.

Her eyes lit up. “Don’t you recognize it?”

“Don’t mess with me.”

“I’m not, you idiot. It’s in the photo.”

I studied the artwork again. “What photo?”

“Your pops’ photo of the gold on the train. That’s in the background.” She jabbed her finger up at the sculpture.

I pulled the envelope from inside my jacket and removed the photo.

“See.” She indicated to the top right-hand corner of the photo.

I’d been so focused on the gold and steam train in the photo, I’d completely missed that sculpture in the background.

“I’m right, aren’t I?” She beamed up at me.

“Yeah.”

“That’s good. It proves the gold was here. Right?” She leaned closer to me. “Maybe that picture was proof that the gold had arrived at its destination, not that it was leaving here.”

I blinked at her. “You could be onto something.”