Haunted (State v. Sefore) (13 page)

Chapter Sixteen

N
oah eased out
of the car, tense and poised, and stood on the balls of his feet. Ready for action. Slamming the door behind him, he walked toward his brother. Daniel slung his leg off his sleek E Class motorbike and turned to face his brother, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Noah stood his ground. “I was serious.”

Daniel took several steps forward, coming nose to nose with him. “Obviously.”

“Then what are you doing here?”

“Verifying your seriousness.” A dark undercurrent rumbled in his tone. He circled Noah. “You know, you’ve looked better. Those clothes could benefit from a hot iron, and your deodorant is past its prime too.”

“What are you doing here, Daniel?” Noah growled. This time Daniel needed to know the line in the sand had been set with concrete.

“Well, after you so rudely knocked me out and left me tied to the hotel’s shoddy desk chair—it’ll show up on your bill by the way—I wanted to finish our conversation. You didn’t give me a chance to respond after all.”

“So respond.”

Daniel stopped circling and crossed his arms. “You care enough about this Maddison chick that you’re prepared to fight me, your only brother, to protect her?”

“Fight
and win
.” Noah clenched his fists at his sides.

Daniel leaned closer. “I see. You’re making her a weakness, you know. Don’t you have enough of those already?”

“Not your business.”

“Fair enough.” He uncrossed his arms and smiled, a switch so unexpected Noah froze. “If she’s that important to you, I’ll leave her silence up to you. She doesn’t have to worry about me.”

“Thank you, Daniel.”

“Hey, you’re my brother. What else would I do?” He turned, and Noah relaxed.

He shouldn’t have.

Daniel spun back around and landed a right hook on Noah’s jaw. Noah went down, arm outstretched behind him to catch himself. Daniel towered over him.

“Now we’re even. Don’t ever start a fight with me again, little brother.”

He turned to nod at Maddison, who stood in her open doorway with a hand over her mouth, before getting back on his bike and speeding away.

Maddison shook Jakob off and ran to Noah, who staggered to his feet.
Be okay. Please be okay
. She skidded to a halt in front of him. “Are you all right?”

Noah massaged his jaw. “Yeah, I’m fine. Wow. That hurts a lot more than when I was twelve.” He rolled his shoulders and surveyed the area before returning his gaze to her. “You, however, might not have been. Why did you open the door? He could’ve made it to you in seconds.”

Jakob walked up to them. “I tried to stop her, but the minute you went down—”

She planted a hand on her hip. “He hit you. I thought he might try again. I had to help somehow.”

“No, you didn’t.” A muscle in Noah’s jaw rippled. “I can take care of myself. Besides, punching me could’ve been a diversion to get you to come to him.”

“But it wasn’t.”

He threw his hands up. “You didn’t know that.” He shot a look at Jakob, who stuck his hands in his pockets. “No jumping into fights alongside me, okay? There are too many ways you could get hurt. Promise you’ll let me take care of things.”

Like he couldn’t get hurt? Maddison shook her head. “I can’t.”

He paced. “Won’t is more like it. I’m serious, Maddison. I can’t be worried about you.” He pointed a finger at Jakob. “You explain to her why it’s not a good idea.”

Maddison raised an eyebrow at them both.
Dazzle me.

Jakob took a deep breath. “Well, I think Noah is trying to say that if you had gotten in the middle of things with him and Daniel, you might’ve gotten hurt. If you get involved, then Noah’s attention is diverted. He’s got to be thinking about how to defend you and how to handle the attacker.” Jakob shot a sideways glance at Noah. “I’d add that both of you could get hurt if he can’t concentrate on Daniel or whoever else might be a threat.”

She deflated a little. “I hadn’t thought about that. But.” She pointed a finger at both of them. “You two need to understand something else. I’m not about to stand by and watch someone I care about get hurt.”

Noah crossed his arms and planted his feet, ready to argue.

Jakob took a step between them. “So what happened? Will he be back?”

“No, he won’t bother you or Maddison again. I think he got my message.” He rubbed his jaw again. “And I got his.”

What was he talking about? “Your message?”

“My initial warning carried its own punch and included me knocking him out and tying him to a chair.” He released a small chuckle. “Guess I’m lucky there aren’t any chairs here.” He sobered. “But he understands you’re important to me. He’ll leave you alone.”

“You knocked him out?” She sounded like a parrot.

“To get back here before he could, yes. And I’d do it again.” He took a step toward her, his tone softening. “No one will hurt you if it’s within my power to stop them. That’s the truth.”

She flinched, breaking eye contact. The reminder of his dishonesty felt like a bucket of cold water thrown in her face. “No one can hurt me but you, you mean.”

His face contorted. “I never meant to … I’m sorry, Maddison.”

She brushed his words off, ignoring the guilt that rose within when she saw the flash of pain across his face. “Well, I’m glad we’re all okay. I guess you’ll want to be getting back to the hotel to rest. I should make some plans for our dinner with Taylor tonight.” She turned. He’d call out or try to stop her. Wouldn’t he?

Neither happened, so she continued to the house by herself and headed upstairs for another cry.

*

Noah felt human at least. He hadn’t been sure how long it would take to feel normal again. Between the emotional upheaval with Maddison, the fight with Daniel, and being on watch all night, he’d been finished. He grasped on to his fleeting reason long enough to watch Maddison walk away from him and hear her brother deliver a promised but short warning lecture. Three little words—“No more lies”—but they packed a punch when paired with the signature James glare. He’d managed a promise, appeasing Jakob who nodded and followed his sister. The drive back to the hotel took forever, or so it seemed.

Four hours of sleep and a long, hot shower helped. His synapses fired at their regular speed now, which was good because he stood on Ben Yancey’s front stoop, ringing the doorbell.

The door swung open. Ben gestured him inside. “Noah, right on time. Come on in.”

“Thanks.” He ducked his head and entered the den. One sparse overhead light worked against the shadows. Wood paneling made the room seem even darker. He gave his eyes a minute to adjust.

“Thank you again for the invitation.”

Ben chuckled. “I do believe you might be regaining some of your Southern upbringing.”

“My mama trained me well.”

“Well, come and meet my wife. She’s been cooking all day for you.” He led Noah to the left, and they entered the faded yellow kitchen. A haze separated them from the woman standing at the stove. “Ethel, Noah’s here.”

From the fog emerged a woman with a blonde beehive, heavily lined eyes, peach lipstick, and cigarette dangling from her lips.

“Well, aren’t you a cutie?” She held her cigarette between her fingers, giving him the once over. “Ethel Yancey, but you call me Ethel, okay, sweetie?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He schooled his expression, hoping to disguise his shock. She looked like she’d walked straight out of a time warp.

“None of that ma’am stuff either.”

Her attention shifted to Ben, allowing Noah to study her. He hadn’t expected someone so beautiful, but he sensed a hardness in her that matched the raspy quality of her voice. “Dinner’s ready, just the last dish to carry to the table. Billy here?”

“Think so, I’ll go check.” Ben headed in the other direction.

“You go right on through the archway to the table, sweetie.” Ethel pulled on some oven mitts and reached for a casserole dish. Yep, time warp fit the situation to a T.

Noah entered the dining room with its own faded wallpaper, although a chandelier gave the room a brighter glow. Every Southern dish he could list—fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, mashed potatoes and gravy, and biscuits—crowded the small table.

Mrs. Yancey carried in a green bean casserole. “Thought you might be needing a homecoming meal, considering Ben said you’ve been away from this part of the country for a while and are living in a hotel.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She shot him a pointed look, and he gave her a sheepish grin. “Sorry. You didn’t have to go to so much trouble.” There had to be enough food here for twelve people.

“Oh, this isn’t trouble.” She smiled and motioned for him to take the seat across the table from where he stood. “I like cooking, which is good ’cause when you live with your husband, two boys, and your husband’s younger brother, food tends to fly off the table.”

Noah sat. “How old are your sons?”

“Jeremy’s fourteen and Luke’s ten. You won’t be meeting them tonight. They ate earlier and headed off to a friend’s house for a game of baseball.”

“How do they manage when it’s dark out?” He and Daniel took any opportunity they could to play ball growing up, even if they had to get creative to do it.

She laughed. “I think they have a couple older kids shine their headlights on the homemade field.”

Ben reentered alone and smiled when he heard the last words. “Boys at the diamond?” He sat down at the head of the table, and Ethel sat across from him, nodding. “Those boys would play ball 24/7 if we’d let them. Don’t mind too much, plenty of hard choices once they grow up.”

“Billy not joining us?” Her eyes shone. With hope?

Ben shook his head. “He said he’d be along in a few. I told him we wouldn’t be waiting on him.” He picked up the plate piled high with fried chicken and handed it to Noah. “Let’s eat.”

“Sounds good to me.” Noah pulled a piece onto his plate and passed the platter on. Over the next several minutes, the three filled their plates, sipped sweet tea, and found new homes for the serving dishes on the table.

After a couple bites, Ben swallowed. “How’re you settling in?”

“Pretty well. I’ve enjoyed getting to experience all MA-4 has to offer.” He turned to Ben’s wife. “Mrs. … I mean, Ethel, this is all wonderful. Thank you again.”

She blushed. “You’re welcome. Better get another helping of whatever you like before Billy shows up.” The skin around her eyes tightened despite her light-hearted reply.

“I guess you’re enjoying floor two with your pretty apprentice friend.” Ben winked.

Noah started. “Maddison?” He searched the other man’s face for an ulterior motive but found none. Ben’s heart rate was steady. No hint of nervousness. Still, Noah remained on alert. 

“I think that’s her name. Maddison James? Seen you two around the nurses’ station, leaving the building and such, enough to make me curious.”

Noah searched for the most innocuous response he could give as another voice spoke from the doorway.

“Why don’t you ask him about his liquidator brother?”

Noah shifted in his seat. The tall, glaring man could only be Billy Yancey. Like his brother, he had green eyes, but the similarities ended there. Billy had light brown hair, a long face, square chin, and what must be a permanent scowl on his face considering the way Ethel sighed. He reminded Noah of an angry bull.

“Noah’s our guest, and I expect you to treat him with some respect.”

Ben’s authoritative tone matched the one Noah used with Daniel. It worked a little better with Billy. He rolled his eyes but sat down across from Noah without a word and began filling his plate.

Ben turned back to Noah. “I apologize. Over the summer, an executive accused one of Billy’s friends at the hospital of stealing some drugs from the pharmacy. He was liquidated.”

“No apology necessary.” Noah didn’t need the friend’s name. His dossier told him he filled Matt Dooley’s CNA position. Dooley had been suspected of being a player in the local resistance. His death opened a slot at the hospital and, McCray had hoped, in the group.

Looking at him now, it was clear Billy Yancey was exactly the kind of person who would seek out involvement in the resistance. Noah’s gut tightened but he kept up with the conversation. Billy would never be able to hide his involvement from Ben, given the elder brother’s observant nature.

Which meant one of three things. Billy’s anger management problems put him on the Elite’s radar and his connection to Dooley kept him there. Billy was involved and Ben knew. Or they were both involved.

The first option seemed a likely possibility, given the way Billy glared at Noah and shoveled food into his mouth, his elbows resting on the table. The brothers’ relationship could be similar to Noah and Daniel’s with Ben being aware of Billy’s involvement but not turning his brother in because of the familial connection. That felt like a stretch though. Letting Billy live with the family put Ethel and the kids in danger too. Option two bit the dust. So, either Billy just liked to fight, or the resistance counted both brothers in their numbers.

Easygoing Ben, part of the resistance? It seemed off somehow. But Ben was smart, perceptive, and unassuming. The kind of person the resistance would want on their side. Plus there was his connection to both Lynn Walker and John Henderson. Noah shot another gaze at Billy. Had Ben been drawn in by his impetuous younger brother? He needed more information, and the tension in the room indicated this might be his one interaction in the house.

“Ask me.” He met Billy’s stare. “I know you want to.”

Both Ben and Ethel’s heart rates jumped.

“What kind of man can sit across from a murderer and eat lunch with him? I’ve heard about it. How your brother’s caused trouble all over the MA in the last three days, and how you followed him around like a little puppy. Makes me sick.” Billy’s face grew red.

Anger pulsed through Noah’s veins. He used it to channel his energy and didn’t allow it to show. “So, you were there? Saw it for yourself?”

“Who needs to see it? I trust the people who told me.”

“You shouldn’t.” Noah leaned forward, his elbows fixed on the table. “Because if you’d been there, you’d know. I’m never the puppy. I’m the man who keeps my brother on a leash. I don’t enjoy spending time with Daniel, but doing so means people stay alive and in one piece.” He studied Billy. “He likes to stir things up, enjoys picking fights.” He let Billy catch his meaning and continued again before the man could interrupt. “So I have the responsibility of making sure no one gets hurt.”