Page 42 of Deadly Peril

Chapter 12

While Jana was in the gym, Thaddeus hovered at the entrance. The members going in and out seemed harmless. The desk attendant was focused on paperwork, but looked up when a new arrival signed in. It was routine stuff.

Thaddeus took the opportunity to check in at Stealth. He texted Travis, hoping for news, but the boss had no more to offer. After being informed about the suspicious guy at the police station, he’d had Cooper investigate. There were ways to tap into police activity for that day and a few other things, but it hadn’t turned up anything useful.

Cooper texted that he was digging for information and would let Thaddeus know if he got any tips. As it stood, who was after Jana remained a mystery. There were no real suspects, just possibilities. But not one of those had solid evidence against them.

It was all about waiting and watching, which Thaddeus was good at. He had the ability to stay mentally alert, despite no exterior stimulation. Watching women in tights sashay through the lobby was as exciting as it got during his wait.

A couple of hours passed, then Jana emerged with her friend. The women had showered and were in street clothes. He supposed he hadn’t expected them to come out sweaty and breathing heavily. That wasn’t how women did things, preferring to look their best.

Coley’s long hair was tied back, and she had the strap of her bag over her shoulder. When Thaddeus glanced at her, she beamed. He wasn’t sure what that was about. “Good workout?”

“Yes, it was,” Coley said, still staring at him.

“I got this for you,” Jana said, then handed over a drink in a tall cup. “It’s a protein drink. I thought maybe you could use it.”

Thaddeus accepted it, unsure why she’d done it. “You don’t have to get things for me. I’m here to service you, not the other way around.”

Coley giggled then hugged Jana. “I’m off to work. I’ll catch you later.”

Jana lifted her hand to say goodbye. “I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”

Thaddeus raised his brows. “Something I should know?”

“The next step to release the invention is to put the product to the test. Coley will practice over the next few days, before she does that trial at the biathlon club that I mentioned.”

“Oh, sure.” Thaddeus took a sip of his drink. It wasn’t bad for a health drink. “This is tasty.”

Jana glanced at him. “Ready?”

Thaddeus motioned she should go ahead, then walked in step with her. “Coley seemed especially…smiley.”

Jana laughed. “She’s often that way.” But the gleam in her eyes made Thaddeus think that he’d missed out on a secret.

He slipped into protector mode, even though he carried a cup in one hand. At the first sign of trouble, he’d toss the thing. It wasn’t too unusual for a client to buy him a drink, like bottled water or a soda. But with Jana, it seemed more personal.

In her sweater and wool slacks, Jana looked sleek and sexy. The copper and cream colors suited her. Her long hair was twisted up into a tortoiseshell clip. And she wore makeup, including a pinkish lip color that made her appear pouty.

Jana’s fresh, attractive style captivated Thaddeus. She was tall, fit, and walked with subtle grace. He had to admit that she was a stunner. He’d best keep his eyes on the environment, as that was where any trouble would originate. But then, it depended what type of trouble he aimed to avoid. If he kept starting at Jana, trouble was sure to follow.

Thaddeus needed to get a grip. “Am I taking you to the ski shop?”

“Yep, for today,” Jana said. “I have a lot to catch up on. In the morning, though, you can drive me to the biathlon club. I want to double-check that all is set up properly for the trial. I’d hate to take things for granted, only to find out some detail has been overlooked.”

The rest of the day was routine. There was no hint of another attack. That was good, but unsettling, too. Thaddeus was better at direct confrontation than this cloak-and-dagger stuff.

On the way home, Jana talked about work, sharing the highlights of her afternoon. “I haven’t had a chance to speak privately with Alton yet. He’s preoccupied with what’s going on with his wife.”

“Has there been a change in her condition?”

“It’s up and down,” Jana said. “It’s been that way since she got ill. Alton explained that she’s going through a bit of a rough period.” She sighed. “I don’t feel right about discussing sensitive topics.”

Thaddeus reluctantly agreed. He wasn’t inclined to think of her business partner as the enemy. But it was difficult to know for sure. He’d learned from experience not to make assumptions.

*****

After breakfast the next day, Thaddeus took Jana to the club. She spent an hour, making sure that all was in order. Satisfied, she motioned that it was time to leave. “I’ve done all I can.”

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