Chapter 21
21
Hawk landed and powered down the bird. As soon as the rotors started slowing, Remi hopped out, glad to plant her feet on the ground. That and, well, she had to give herself some space from Hawk Beckett, the former Night Stalker who could fly anything, anywhere, at any time. And being so close to a guy who had already acted as her personal hero a few times—and no doubt he was a hero to many others—threatened to turn her insides to mush. She admired him. Now was absolutely not the time to let the blue-eyed former Night Stalker get under her skin. Was he trying to do just that? She couldn’t quite figure him out.
She lifted her face to welcome the harsh slap of cold wind on her cheeks. She looked out over the angry waters of the Pacific Ocean, more specifically, the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Across the way, low-lying clouds almost completely shrouded the mountains of Victoria, British Columbia.
She’d gotten to Port Angeles and quickly, thanks to Hawk, who had basically forced her to get on his ride. At first, when he’d taken off into the escalating wind and rain, she thought she would have a heart attack. Either that or lose the contents of her stomach.
But she listened to Hawk and forced herself to relax. Once they were in the air, she listened to his stories—the heroics he shared of his team after he changed the names to protect the innocent. He was counted among the best pilots in the world, which begged the question—Why was he here at this moment with her instead of flying VIPs to private island summits? Regardless, if she couldn’t trust Hawk Beckett to get her to her destination, then she couldn’t trust anyone. No point in fearing death by helicopter when she already had a killer bearing down on her.
The rain felt like tiny pricks of ice stabbing her face. She glanced around for Hawk. Ah. Of course. He was still sitting in the cockpit. She peeked inside. He flipped switches on the dashboard.
She opened the door and climbed back inside. “Brr. No point in me standing out there until you’re ready.”
Hawk looked at her. “I had hoped the helicopter ride would also help jog your memory. Anything?”
She slowly shook her head.
“Nothing at all?” His lips flattened in disappointment.
“Nothing.” She chewed on her lip.
“Time to get a cab. Come on.” Hawk led her to the airport terminal, acting as if he came to Port Angeles all the time.
A few minutes later, Remi and Hawk stepped onto the sidewalk in front of a mall-type structure called the Wharf. “We just need to meet her at a place called Downriggers on the Water.”
His brows furrowed, and his gaze took in their surroundings as if he was ready to pounce or protect at any moment. “Doesn’t this feel a little weird, Remi?”
Had he really just asked that question? “Which part exactly?”
“Meeting your doctor like this? I’ve never seen a doctor, a specialist like a neurologist, neuropsychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist, whatever she is—or let’s even throw in a gastroenterologist—meet a patient at a restaurant.”
“Given she said that I’m in danger, it is weird and yet not surprising. It feels about right.”
“Fair point.”
The wind blew cold and hard, and Remi tugged her hood up and over her head until they got into the building. Once inside, they walked by shops selling T-shirts, rocks and shells, ice cream, and taffy on their way to the restaurant.
“We’re here.” He stood next to her and stared up at the sign.
Remi glanced at her watch. “And right on time.”
She had to prepare her thoughts. What would she say? Everything was scrambling together in her mind, and she was going to sound completely incoherent if she didn’t think this through. She should have written it all out ahead of time.
She started forward, but Hawk suddenly ushered her into an alcove.
“Let’s wait a few moments,” he whispered. “Watch. Make sure it’s safe.”
“She wouldn’t lead me into a trap, and now you’re making us late.”
“You don’t know that this isn’t a ruse.”
“I think if she wanted to trap us, she would have met me at her office.” Remi hadn’t left the Hidden Bay area since the last time she’d gone to Seattle to see Dr. Holcomb, and then, with no progress in recovering those missing days, she found excuses to stop going. Still, she’d spoken to her at times over videoconferencing.
“Come on, let’s go find your doctor.”
“It’s safe?” She frowned up at him. “How can you tell?”
“I can’t, but I think it’s best to get this over with.”
She led him into the restaurant, where a hostess met them at the foyer.
“We’re meeting someone,” Remi said.
“You’re welcome to look around.”
Remi led Hawk through the packed restaurant, conversations buzzing and waitstaff shuffling about. After searching the restaurant and coming up empty, her heart rate kicked up, as if she wasn’t already on edge.
“I don’t understand,” she said. “We’re not that late. We should try to get a table and wait for her.”
“No,” he said. “I don’t like this.”
“I’m hungry again.”
“Already?”
“I worked up an appetite trying to survive that helicopter ride. Let’s sit here and eat. This is as safe as any place, and I don’t want to miss seeing Dr. Holcomb.”
Hawk’s features were granite. “We’ll get food somewhere else and watch for her.”
This man was infuriating. “Fine. After this, I want to hear everything about your brother. You owe me an explanation.” She knew that his assassin brother, Cole Mercer, was a sensitive topic, and she wanted that conversation to be at the right time in the right way. But she should have demanded answers the moment she’d learned the truth.
A brief scowl flashed on his face and then it was gone. He led them out the side door of the restaurant.
A flash across the parking lot caught her attention. Remi slowed ... and stared. What in the world?
Hawk continued to walk ahead, but he turned to find she hadn’t followed. “What’s wrong?”
“That was her. I saw her,” she said.
“Where?”
“She just went into the convention center through the side door.” Remi rushed across the packed parking lot, leaving Hawk to chase after her.
“Where are you going?” He caught up.
“After Dr. Holcomb, what do you think? She could be in danger. We have to help her.”
Remi opened the side door and entered a wide corridor outside of the main attraction of the Field Arts and Events Hall. Signs everywhere reminded her about Squatchcon. Remi wanted to follow Dr. Holcomb, but to get into the event she would need to pay, and that meant that Dr. Holcomb would have also paid. Would she have exited somewhere else, then?
Remi continued forward. Behind her, Hawk grumbled something she couldn’t make out as they approached the guy standing at a side entrance.
“Hey, you need a pass if you want inside.”
“I’m looking for a woman wearing gray slacks and a navy coat. Did you see where she went?”
He narrowed his eyes. “No. Lots of people coming and going today, lady.”
Remi didn’t believe him. “Look, we’re her friends. I think she’s in trouble. She just came through that door.” Remi pointed to the exit outside. “You couldn’t have missed her.”
“You want inside, you need a pass.” Great. This guy wasn’t budging or being the least bit compassionate.
She wanted to roll her eyes. “So, where do we get a pass?”
“Up front.”
Remi huffed and turned to head to the front, unsure if Dr. Holcomb already had a pass or would have gone into the convention center. But if she was trying to hide, she might have.
Hawk grunted and stepped closer to the guy. “Here’s our passes.” He stuffed something into the guy’s hand.
“You’re good to go,” the guy said.
Remi eyed Hawk briefly but said nothing when he held the door open for her. She stepped inside and Hawk followed. The exit door banged closed behind them.
“What did you say to him?” she asked.
“I gave him a couple of hundreds.”
“What? That’s all it took?”
“He’s a volunteer—that’s how these cons work. He has probably already been here for a day or two, however long this thing lasts.”
“You carry that much cash around?”
“Sure. When I’m trying to travel incognito.” He winked.
Incognito. Right. They were trying to stay under the radar.
“Thanks for that. Now that we’re here, do we even know she came inside?”
“We’re here, so let’s look.”
Remi took in the room. At the far walls were various booths for crafters and artists. Every age group was represented here, and a good chunk of the people had some form of costume for cosplay events. Lots of Bigfoot costumes, as well as other kinds of mythological creatures, including a variety of aliens.
She pushed through the crowd, Hawk on her heels. A voice Remi recognized spoke over the speakers and all heads turned to the stage. Straining to see, she pushed between a few people until she could. A man—Bigfoot, of course—stood at the microphone. He’d taken off his Bigfoot head and started talking about the upcoming costume competition.
“I know him. That’s ... that’s a friend. His name is Hank. He stayed at the lodge with some friends last year. He’s really into all this.”
“I gathered,” Hawk said.
Hanging around long enough to talk to Hank would be nice, but she didn’t have time, and she started back through the crowd, heading for the opposite side. Remi whirled around so fast that Hawk almost ran into her, catching her against him when she lost her footing. She would have tumbled backward and landed on her rear if he hadn’t prevented it. And suddenly she was close. So close.
He stared down at her, his face mere inches away. Something electric flashed in his gaze. She looked into his eyes longer than necessary, while he seemed equally unable to disentangle from her. Being here, up close and personal, felt good and right, and she wanted to press into him, trust him with everything, including her heart.
“Remi...” Her name came out breathless on his lips.
Even in this noisy place, she heard it. Felt it. No ... not good. Despite what her heart said, right now she refused to trust anyone that much. Not even Hawk Beckett.
“I—” What had she been going to say?
Then she stepped out of his grip. “She could have seen you with me. That must be why she left the restaurant. I didn’t give her forewarning. You’re the reason she ran. You have to leave. I’ll find her alone.”
“What? No,” he growled. “You said it yourself. She didn’t help much before. Is it worth the danger, the risk to your life, to talk to her?”
“Yes.” I hope so. “Just pray. Okay? Pray I find her and she helps me.”
“Yeah, sure. I’ll pray.”
His words surprised her. She hadn’t even known if he was a believer—in God, that is—but the fact that he agreed to pray gave her hope she hadn’t known she wanted when it came to Hawk.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of blond hair, a blue jacket, and gray slacks. Remi rushed in the direction the woman had gone. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that Hawk stayed behind at a distance, but she knew he wouldn’t let her get too far. She wished she had her phone so she could call the psychologist or text her that Hawk was safe.
Remi weaved her way through a group of rowdy teenagers and spotted Dr. Holcomb entering the restroom. She had to beat a group of women heading that way and dashed past them, heard their shouts of protest as she made it to the door. Then hit it, pushing her way through. And ran into her neuropsychologist.
“I found you!” Remi gasped.
“Shh. Keep your voice down.” Dr. Holcomb tugged her into the handicap stall. “Lindie. Please, just call me Lindie,” she whispered.
“Why didn’t you meet us at the restaurant?”
The doctor was shaking. Her eyes filled with unshed tears. Not the professional woman Remi had seen in the past.
You’re scaring me, and I was already scared.
“I’m so sorry,” Lindie said.
Oblivious to their conversation, a steady stream of females entered and left the restroom.
“Let’s find another place to talk,” Lindie whispered.
Remi opened the door and held on to the woman as they fled into the hallway, then Lindie led her toward the exit. Before exiting, Remi pulled her down a side hallway.
“I’ve remembered a few things, and I need to tell you. You insisted I meet you. That it was important. I’m here now. Please, I need your help.”
“You don’t understand.” Lindie steepled her hands in front of her mouth, then dropped them. “I was paid to keep tabs on you. Threatened. If you remembered anything, I was supposed to contact someone. But please know that I didn’t call them. I didn’t notify them. I was wrong to insist on seeing you. That was before I knew that they were listening when you left a message. Now they want you dead. And I’m afraid that I’m a target too.”
Lindie gulped air between her words, her gaze intense, filled with fear that drilled down into Remi’s soul.
“You wh—” I can’t believe this is happening.
Anger built in her chest until she couldn’t breathe. Then the air punched from her. “Then you owe it to me to hear what I know, what I remember, and you can help me with the rest before it’s too late.”
The doctor shook her head. “Please don’t tell me.”
“Look, you’re already on the run, and you know nothing.”
“Exactly.”
“I’m not putting you in any more danger than you are already in for agreeing to inform them.”
“That’s just it, Remi. I never agreed. I didn’t inform them, but they had bugged my calls. I’m a liability. Now you need to go deep into hiding until this is all over. One day, it will end.”
“I was already in hiding! And now my life is being threatened. I’m not running or hiding anymore. You once told me that I would remember when I was ready. I’ve started to remember bits and pieces, but nothing makes sense. I thought if we could talk—you know like we used to...”
Dr. Holcomb glanced at the door and shook her head, then dragged her gaze back to Remi. “I’m so sorry that I can’t help you. I’m taking the ferry across to British Columbia. Someone has been following me, and I hope they don’t follow me onto that ferry. I have to go now.” Dr. Holcomb pushed past her, down the hall, and through the exit door into the gusty, rain-filled afternoon.
Remi followed her. Lindie kept to the shadows but picked up her pace, heading toward the ferry.
“Who’s following you?” Remi ran to catch up. “Who wants me dead for something I can’t remember? If you know what’s going on, you have to tell me!”
Lindie paused and turned around. She stood out from under the awning now, her rain-washed face filled with fear and regret.
“They don’t want you dead, Remi. Not yet. You have something they want first . And then all bets are off.” Lindie closed the distance, touched Remi’s forehead. “They want what’s locked in here.”
“Who are they ?” Remi needed to know who had sent Cole for her.
But Dr. Lindie Holcomb had already turned and rushed toward the ferry ramp. Remi would like to get on that ferry with her, but the woman made it clear she didn’t want any part of this, and that was without knowing what Remi knew—that Hawk’s brother was the assassin after her.
It might be some sort of madness that persuaded her that sticking close to Hawk was a good idea.