Page 46 of Shrouded Past

Janine punched his arm. “Keep talking.”

He chuckled. Piper smiled at the way they teased each other. She liked how close everyone on the team was. She’d heard some of their stories. All had gone through terrifying moments in their lives that had further strengthened their faith. Hers was still in infant stages. Because of Edmon she’d become a believer, and she’d forever be grateful to him for talking to her about God’s love.

I’m so sorry you had to die. I wished I’d known who you were.

Declan brought up the weather channel on the TV and turned the sound down low. “I figure we can monitor the storm while we work.”

JT kissed his wife goodbye. “I’ll see you in a little while. Keep your eyes open.”

Rachel brushed her hand over his chin and then patted her bag. “Don’t worry, between me and Janine, if he tries anything, he’ll regret it.”

He smiled then closed the door and relocked it behind the two women. “Alright. I’m not sure where to go from here. I feel like we still have a lot of questions that aren’t answered. We don’t know for certain if Darby is the one who kidnapped Piper.” He looked her way for confirmation.

“I can’t be sure.” All she had to go on was the eyes. Darby didn’t possess the same darkness she’d seen in her kidnapper.

“What do we know about his former wife?” JT shifted toward their intelligence guru, Declan.

“Hang on.” Declan typed some keystrokes. “Not much really. She’s a nurse at the hospital. Lives alone in the apartment she moved into when she and Darby divorced. Apparently, they’re still friends. There’s a photo of her and Darby having dinner a few weeks earlier. She doesn’t appear to have remarried, and she’s not dating anyone according to her Facebook page. By all indications, she lives a quiet life.”

“I think it’s unlikely she’s involved,” Bryce told them. “The fact that she’s missing tells me Darby took her for some reason known only to him or that whoever Darby is working for did to use her as collateral. If he fails, his ex-wife dies.”

“Speaking of social media, have we researched Darby’s? I’m wondering if there might be something there to assist with the case.”

“I’m on it.” Katrina’s fingers flew across the keyboard. “Oh, well, this is interesting.” She scanned the post. “Darby posted photos from New York recently.” She leaned closer to the screen. “Looks like they were taken last week.”

“That’s interesting.” JT came over and looked at the post. “Rockefeller Square. Times Square. Wait, that restaurant looks familiar.”

Katrina zeroed in on the photo. “It’s Mari Vanna off 20th Street.”

“And it’s a Russian restaurant,” JT concluded.

“That can’t be a coincidence.” Piper’s uncle was Russian, and now the man who possibly killed him was having dinner at a Russian restaurant in New York.

“Declan, what Russian mobsters are operating out of New York?” JT straightened and asked his friend.

Declan went to work. “Several. Most are involved in a litany of crimes from drugs to human trafficking. Gambling. You name it.”

“Let’s look into each of them and see if there are any ties to Wyoming.”

“You got it.”

Piper rose and went over to the coffee pot, her fingers trembling. The truth that lay curled up in the dark corner of her mind where her hidden memories lurked was ready to pounce. For so long she’d wanted to know her family. But after only a few days of hearing the things she had, Piper wasn’t so sure now she wanted to know.

“Are you okay?”

She turned to find Bryce standing behind her. Her cowboy hero was the only thing keeping her from falling apart.

“Yes. I just needed a moment. Want some more coffee.” She pulled out the pot that had burned on the bottom.

“Sure.” He seemed to realize she wasn’t ready to talk about whatever was troubling her. “Let me wash that out.”

He took the pot from her and rinsed and cleaned it while she dumped the old coffee grounds and added a fresh filter and coffee.

“Here we go.” He poured the fresh water into the pot and flipped it on. “I know this is hard . . .”

She balled her hands against her temples. “If only I could remember something. I have the answers, I’m certain of it. Why can’t I remember them?”

Bryce tugged her close. “I think you will in time.”

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