Page 14 of Stolen Salvation

Her blue eyes pierced him with a stare, a challenge in it that he had no intention of accepting. “Yes, of course, it’s just acting, right?”

Charlie swallowed and he wondered if she was going to bring up the shooting and the past so filled with pain it was like walking among landmines.

He needed her out of there so he could foster that uncaring façade back into place. “I have a few things to do. Would you like me to walk you to your rooms?”

Charlie shook her head. “No, I can manage.”

She angled her body toward the door, and he followed, opening it for her and watching her step through. He could feel the hurt he’d caused by his abrupt eviction of her from his apartment and hated that he cared.

“Night, Noah.”

“Goodnight, Charlie. Try and get some sleep. We’ll find Andrea.”

Her tight smile was all he got in response. Closing the door, he leaned against it and sighed. This might be his toughest case yet.

Chapter 6

Charlie woke feeling groggy, the few hours of sleep she’d managed had been plagued with dreams of loss and death. Tossing back the covers, she swung her bare legs over the side and stood. She needed coffee, preferably in an IV in her arm but a cup would do to start. Moving through the apartment she noticed the differences between this one and Noah’s place. This had white walls and cool grey flooring. Heated from below, it was warm and everything was new and clean, but it was impersonal. Noah’s home was decorated in warm tones, similar to what they’d had in their house when they were married.

Pressing the start button on the coffee machine, she headed for the shower. She had a job to do and that didn’t include comparing home décor. Throwing her hair into a bun, she showered quickly and efficiently, not giving herself time to think. It was so different from how she’d been, but now she knew if she thought too much the weight of the pain from everything would crush her soul.

Dressing in her soft, blue skinny jeans, a white t-shirt, and a green bomber jacket, she slipped her feet into black biker boots. Using make-up to cover the dark circles, she recalled the feel of Noah’s fingers on her skin. He’d seen through her disguise, past the make-up and confidence. He’d always seen her, it was one of the things she loved about him. Except now she didn’t want him seeing her weakness. Calling her out for not looking after herself had been typical Noah. He cared about everyone and if she allowed herself to think it was anything else, she was in for a serious amount of heartbreak.

Pouring black coffee into a travel cup, she added two large sugars and headed out to find someone to talk to. She just couldn’t stay here and wallow in pity and what-ifs.

The corridors were quiet, but it was still early at barely seven am. The doors to the apartments were sound proofed which was a bonus for these people who had to live here and required privacy.

Light from under the door of the tech room had her pausing, not sure of her welcome. Deciding she’d just go in and ask for an update on the case, she knocked on the door and followed the muffled command to enter.

Watchdog had his back to her with his feet up on the desk as he tossed a ball in the air and caught it, but turned when she came in.

“Sorry to disturb you. I just wondered if there was an update.”

Dropping his feet to the floor, he offered her a smile and a nod. “Come take a seat and I’ll show you what I’ve found.”

Charlie could sense some of the answers she sought in his voice and pulled up the rolling chair beside him. “What did you find?”

He clicked a few buttons on his keyboard and on the giant screen to her left she saw an image of Andrea.

A gasp shot out of her mouth as she watched her sister walk into the fertility clinic she’d been to asking questions. There was no audio, but she spoke with the receptionist and almost immediately a man came through the locked double doors leading to the main part of the clinic and led her away. She didn’t recognise the man, and his demeanour was curt and clinical. Andrea, for her part, looked nervous but not frightened in any way or like she was being forced.

Charlie glanced at Watchdog as the clip ended. “Is there any more?”

“No, but as far as I can find, she never exits the clinic. At least not from this way and if she left through another door, it’s been erased from the CCTV.”

Charlie dropped her head to the mug still clutched in her hand. “Damn it.”

“You showed her?”

Her head spun to the door to see Noah walking toward them looking annoyed. He stopped a few feet short of her and looked at Watchdog.

“She has the right to know, and the rest of the team knows.”

“What?”

Charlie felt anger pummel her chest that she was the last to know such a significant development. Her gaze swung to Noah who looked a little sheepishly at the ground before lifting his eyes to her.

His gaze was steel as he silently challenged her. “You were exhausted, and I thought you needed the rest. It was my call.”