Chapter 7 #2
Bradley frowned as he surveyed the scattered papers splashed with coffee from an overturned coffee cup, random sticky notes with filled with Marisa’s scrawled handwriting, and an upended pencil mug and her calendar.
“If not for the books scattered on the floor, I’d say it looked like it normally does.
Chaos. But she’s only been back a couple of days and hasn’t had time to really mess it up.
I’m always telling her she should organize, but she’s never listened. Said she has a system.”
The need to defend Marisa rose up sharp. “She did just have a major career breakthrough.”
Bradley’s chin lifted a fraction. “Well, she had yet to prove her theories.”
“So what does a discovery like that do for a person like her?”
“She’s on tenure track but, of course, none of that is a guarantee. But such a find would have assured her spot on the faculty as a tenured professor.”
“That’s a big deal.”
“It is. She’d have been awarded more grant money. Would have been able to travel back to Mexico to investigate further. It would have been quite the coup for the university.”
Lucas studied the man closely, not so sold on his generous acceptance of Marisa’s find. “That must rub other professors a little. I mean, she’s young. No one likes the new kid on the block taking the lead.”
“We aren’t like that here. We are supportive of each other’s work. A win for one is a win for all.”
Lucas didn’t believe Bradley. Earlier, sparks of glee in his gaze as he’d scanned the room told Lucas that Bradley was enjoying this.
Bradley made an effort to smile. “What was Marisa doing for you?”
“Helping me with a case.”
“Funny that this happens right after she agrees to help you.”
Lucas’s anger rose up as sharp as a saber. He didn’t like being questioned by this man, especially when his words struck at the core of his own guilt. He resisted the very primal urge to punch him. “Who had access to her office?”
Bradley glanced back at the undamaged door frame. “A key was used.”
“Who had access?”
“Me. The department chair. And I’m sure maintenance has a master key.”
“What kind of car do you drive?”
“Why does that matter?”
“Just asking.”
“SUV.”
“What color?”
“Black.”
“Where is it?”
“Parked out front.” He frowned. “What does my car have to do with a break-in?”
“Marisa was run off the road earlier tonight.”
“What?” His face paled.
Lucas supplied the barest details, studying the man’s expression closely. “Her family is with her now.”
Bradley’s eyes narrowed. “I would never hurt her.” He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. “I was with my girlfriend at a Christmas party until midnight.”
“That so?”
He leaned in a fraction, dropping his voice a notch. “There was a time when I loved her.”
Lucas didn’t comment.
“Look, I see the censure in your eyes. She makes it impossible to love her. I wanted to get closer, but work is her sole priority. The rest of the world matters when she has a spare minute or two.”
“That why you strayed?”
“Yeah. I was tired of being second fiddle. I wanted to be number one in the life of my girlfriend.”
Lucas rose from the desk. “Thanks for your time.”
“If I can help, let me know.”
“Get me a list of witnesses who can verify your alibi.”
His lips flattened into a thin line. “Am I being accused?”
“Just get me the list.”
The afternoon light shone into Marisa’s room, making her head hurt all the more. The discomfort really kicked in an hour ago when she’d stopped taking the painkillers. She’d grown tired of muddled thoughts and had decided the pain was a fair trade for a clear mind.
Her father and stepmother had left around lunchtime but had promised to return tonight. They were talking about keeping her in the hospital a few more days, but she already questioned that decision. She wanted out of here.
She sat up and winced as her head pounded. For a moment, she teetered back toward the pillow before catching herself. She could not lie here. She had a sense of urgency as if important information had been locked in her brain.
Instead of falling back to her pillows, she stayed upright and blinked until her gaze focused.
She breathed deeply until her head steadied.
She studied her hospital room, noting a bright bouquet of flowers.
She couldn’t make out the card but suspected her stepmother had ordered them.
Susan had perfect taste. If her mother had been alive, she’d have gathered wildflowers from the side of the road or drawn Marisa a picture of glyphs that communicated some kind of get-well message.
Her heart ached as she thought about her mother.
Her gaze was drawn to a chair in the corner where two brightly wrapped, if not mangled presents sat. Gaze narrowing, she studied the presents. She’d wrapped them. For her brothers. But how did they get here?
A knock on the door had her turning slowly to see Kyle carrying a big handful of flowers.
“You’re alive,” he said.
“Seems so.”
Kyle grinned and came into the room. He held up the flowers. “I got you these.”
“They’re lovely.”
“So how’re you doing?”
She sat taller, wincing as her bruised muscles screamed. “Feeling foolish.”
Kyle put the flowers in a water bucket and sat on the edge of the bed. “Don’t feel foolish. You could have really been hurt.”
“What happened? The accident and the hours before it are all a blur. I’m trying to remember, but no memories are shaking loose.”
“I talked to your dad, who talked to the docs. You’ve a nasty concussion so a little memory loss isn’t unusual. It might take a few days or weeks for all the details to come back.”
“My pieces of memory feel like a dream.”
“What do you remember?”
“I remember those presents. Trying to wrap them and saying a couple of bad words when the toy wheels kept poking through the paper. Did Dad bring them?”
“I don’t think so. They weren’t here this morning when I stopped by and saw your dad. They must have come this afternoon.”
“Odd that they’d make it to my room.”
“Worry about getting better. What do you remember about the accident?”
She raised her fingertips to the bruise on her face. A slight touch made her wince. “After putting the presents in the car, my memory goes blank. What day is it?”
“Monday.”
“What happened to Sunday?”
“You slept through it.”
As tempted as she was to lie back and close her eyes, she didn’t. Instead, she swung her legs over the side of the bed. “Kyle, I have to get out of here.”
“You really shouldn’t be going anywhere.”
“You just said all I really need is rest.”
“You should be resting in a hospital.”
She pulled back the top blanket. “I can rest anywhere.”
Kyle rose, clearly surprised. “Why are you so determined to leave?”
“There’s something I have to do.”
“What? You have no work until mid-January, and you said last week in an e-mail that you planned to kick back over the holidays.”
She stared at the mangled presents. As she studied the packages closer and saw the tiny wheel sticking out, she remembered Lucas. He’d driven her to the toy store on time so that she could get . . . so that she could get two trucks for her brothers.
“Did the nurses make any comments about a Texas Ranger visiting me?” When Kyle didn’t answer right away, Marisa cocked her head. “Spill.”
“Yeah, as a matter of fact. He came by a few hours ago and he checked in on your status. He’s been by every few hours since you arrived.”
“I was doing a job for Lucas.”
Kyle’s lips flattened as if he’d bitten a sour apple. “Translating some document.”
She’d known Kyle for six years and could read his many moods easily. “What aren’t you saying?”
“Your office was ransacked after your accident. All the papers locked in your desk drawer were taken.”
“Papers?”
“The ones you were translating for the Ranger.”
“All my papers are gone?”
“Yes.”
She pressed her fingertips to her temple. Memories came in and out of focus, and no matter how much she tried to corral one, she couldn’t. “My work for the Rangers was important.”
“I’m sure that it was.”
“There was a time limit. He wanted me to hurry.”
“How about you not worry about the Ranger and worry about getting better? I was thinking you could come and stay with me for a few days. I know the holidays aren’t your favorite.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“It’s either me or your dad’s place.”
The drama of Christmas had faded to a distant second. What worried her now was retrieving the memories that would not focus. Lucas had said her work was really important. He’d said lives were at stake. They were running out of time.
“Kyle, I want you to spring me from the hospital.”
That statement startled a laugh. “You can’t just leave.”
“Of course I can. I’m an adult. I stay as long as I want and I want to go.”
“Where are you going?”
She didn’t have the energy to explain or to argue with Kyle. “I need to get dressed and get out of here.”