Page 51 of Colton's Second Chance
“Among the scattered and partially burned papers in Scott’s destroyed home office,” he said, “they found a file he’d made regarding my aunt’s murder.”
Noelle spun to face him, a can of minestrone soup in her hand. “Just as we thought. The similarities in the posing of the victims and manner of death weren’t a coincidence.”
“Seems not.” He took another large bite and around the mouthful he said, “That’s not all they found. Maps. Photographs of the locations where the bodies have been found. He’d made a plan where to leave his victims, it seems.”
“Is there anything we can conclude from those locations?” she asked as she popped the top on the soup and dumped it in the same pan she’d used to heat the tomato soup. “Maybe my software program can predict where he might go next, and we can catch him red-handed.”
“If only.” He slurped a spoonful of soup, then cut a sharp glance at her. “Wait. Do you think your programcando that?” His eyes were bright with hope. “Predict future locations? If so, we can stake out those sites and wait for Montgomery to show up.”
Her pulse pattered, and she was flooded by a desire to do anything she could to make Eli happy, to fulfill that look of anticipation and to be the answer to all his wants and desires. She swallowed past the sudden knot in her throat. “I haven’t tried it yet, but I will tonight.”
He rewarded her with a smile that melted everything feminine inside her. She was warm wax, eager to be molded to his liking, if only to receive that bright look of delight and affection for as long as possible. Or at least until she returned to Seattle.
That thought popped the fragile bubble of joy that had sidetracked her and mercilessly snatched her back to reality. Nothing had fundamentally changed in her situation or Eli’s since she’d arrived in Shelby. They’d slept together, sure. Andit had been as wonderful and moving as she remembered from college. But she was the same person, with the same difficult history and the same need to avoid further heartbreak. They still had separate lives in different states, and the same challenges of ethnicity and societal bias. She couldn’t bear the thought of her relationship with Eli causing any tension or dissension between him and his family.
The sound of Eli scraping the bottom of his soup bowl roused her from her gloomy thoughts, and she pasted on a smile to camouflage her dejection. “I can fix more if you’re still hungry.”
He wiped his mouth on a napkin and rose to carry the dish to the sink. “Nah. Let’s get back to work. I want to show you what the local detective gave me this morning. And I want to see what your software can do about forecasting where Montgomery might be going next.”
Chapter 17
Noelle and Eli spent most of the rest of Saturday trying new configurations and trials with her software…and getting nowhere. Eli’s frequent calls to the Shelby PD for updates on possible sightings of Scott, any proof he was responsible for the break-in at the hostel and new evidence from the bombed house were equally unfruitful.
Whenever Eli displayed signs of his growing frustration with the case, Noelle did her best to ease the tension in his muscles with neck massages or by coaxing him to use yoga poses and breathing techniques to release his stress. By the time they tumbled into bed that evening, the therapeutic touches and collaborative deep breathing had worked them both into a state of arousal that they satisfied by making love late into the night.
Noelle spent Sunday with a twist of confused emotions in the pit of her stomach. The renewed passion between them had both refueled her affection for Eli and fed the fear that she’d lost control of her feelings. She was certain she’d set herself up for another devastating break from him.
Complicating this tempest inside her was the knowledge that she was going to be thrust into Eli’s huge family and closest friends for his mother’s party that evening. She’d toyed with faking a headache or other illness to keep her home, but Eli’s eagerness for the family to meet her and vice versa was so palpable and endearing, she quashed her reluctance and mentally braced for the evening’s event.
Noelle offered to drive separately in her rental car to the party—the easier to make a quick escape if she needed—but Eli convinced her to ride with him in his Jeep. “There’s a forecast for snow to start about the time we leave the party, and I’m betting my Renegade can better handle winter conditions on the roads.”
They stopped at a local bakery near Eli’s house for their contribution to the family meal, where Noelle bought two loaves of freshly baked bread. Eli shopped next door at a deli, choosing wine and cheeses for his family and Asher’s favorite pizza, which they dropped off at his partner’s house on their way to the party.
“Give me the latest on the case,” Asher asked, clearly bored out of his skull because of the concussion protocol that limited his entertainment options.
“Nothing you need to worry about. Concentrate on following doctor’s orders and getting back to work in a couple weeks,” Eli said.
Asher grumbled under his breath, especially when he heard they were headed to a Colton family party. “I’d kill to go with you. Colton gatherings are famously awesome, and all I have on my agenda tonight is staring at the old water spot on my ceiling and watching my toenails grow.”
Eli clapped him on the shoulder as they headed for the door. “Sorry, pal. Maybe another time. Get well and get back to the office. That’s your agenda right now. We need you.”
Several minutes later, as Noelle and Eli drove through the winter-darkened outskirts of Shelby, Eli angled a look at Noelle. He placed a hand on her knee and said, “I do remember that you’re an introvert, and I know parties like this are not comfortable for you.”
She flashed him a weak smile, grateful for that recognition.
“If it gets too much, tell me, and we’ll go.” He returned his gaze to the road. “I would like to stay through dinner, though, if that’s okay.”
She covered his hand with hers, a mellow comfort filling her, knowing he had her back and recognized her personal parameters. “Thanks.”
When he turned off the main road onto a narrow private lane, she steeled herself. She could handle a few hours with Eli’s family, one way or another. She owed him that much.
Once Eli had parked on the long driveway, already full of vehicles indicating the party was in full swing, Noelle gathered the loaves of bread. Eli carried his sack with several bottles of wine and the selection of cheeses as they climbed from his Renegade.
He held her free hand tightly as they approached the front door of his parents’ home. The windows of the large two-story home glowed with golden light in the dark Alaskan evening like welcoming beacons. Eli gave a perfunctory knock on the door but didn’t wait for an answer before opening it and ushering her inside.
Just as well he hadn’t waited, because the volume inside reminded Noelle of being at a sporting event. Cheerful voices and laughter competed with each other in the crowded living room, and music, ABBA if she wasn’t mistaken, played over all the hullabaloo. Noelle smiled, deciding the seventies’ musical group fit with the artistic and bohemian vibe she’d gotten from Sasha Colton earlier in the week.
Will Colton spotted them first and drew first Eli, then Noelle into a warm hug of welcome.
