Emergency Response by Susan Sleeman Page A

in general, not only with the team, but with Noah, too?
    If she took that step, what would happen then?

EIGHT
    T wo hours later, the front door opened and Noah shot to his feet, his hand automatically going to his gun.
    â€œRelax,” Darcie said from her seat in the corner of the game room. “It’s most likely Skyler.”
    He wasn’t about to relax until he confirmed with his own two eyes that it was indeed Skyler. He moved to the hallway, ready to act. Skyler rounded the corner and he blew out a breath before she or Darcie saw how much of himself he’d invested in protecting Darcie. How much the mere thought of an intruder made him as jumpy as a kangaroo.
    He looked at Skyler’s hands, hoping to see the file on Oleda’s murder investigation. When he’d called Skyler after lunch, she’d told him that the metro gang task force had taken charge of Oleda’s case. She’d offered to call Judson to obtain a copy, and Noah had agreed, as he’d hoped she’d have more luck in getting through to Judson.
    â€œStill no file on Oleda, I see,” he said.
    â€œI left a message with Judson.”
    â€œLet me guess. No response yet.”
    She nodded briskly.
    â€œWell, at least I now know the guy isn’t just blowing me off,” Noah said.
    â€œI’ve worked with Judson several times and he’s not one to ignore phone calls without good reason,” she pointed out. “Whatever’s going down with his team has to be big.”
    Noah had thought the same thing, but he hadn’t let his thoughts end there. “I can’t help but wonder if it somehow ties to our investigation.”
    â€œAll we can do is wait until we hear from him.”
    Something Noah didn’t want to do.
    â€œWhere’s Darcie?” Skyler asked.
    â€œGame room.”
    After another short nod, she stepped down the hallway with purpose, like she had something important to tell her friend.
    Noah followed her into the room, apprehension tightening his gut. Not that his gut had relaxed much since this whole thing started with Darcie. He couldn’t remember a time in his life that he’d been so uneasy.
    Skyler crossed the room to Darcie. “I thought Noah looked rough, but you look—”
    Darcie flipped up a hand. “No need to tell me. I know I’m a mess, but I guess someone shooting at me qualifies as a bad day.” She winked like this was all a big joke.
    Noah appreciated that she could joke, but he didn’t find anything funny about her comment.
    â€œNot sure this will help, but I have some news.” Skyler took out her small investigator’s notebook.
    â€œLet’s have it,” Noah snapped, but when both heads shot up to look at him, he faked a smile. “Sorry. I’m getting tired of hitting brick walls. Go ahead.”
    Skyler sat in a leather club chair. “I’ve ruled out two of the three Leland Kings, but the third one raises all kinds of red flags.” She met Noah’s gaze directly, and that sick feeling in his gut intensified. “He lives in Eugene and was reported missing by his sister four days ago. Uniforms did a welfare check. He wasn’t home, but they found blood on his sofa. No other sign of foul play.”
    â€œMissing. Maybe dead,” Noah said.
    â€œI didn’t say that.”
    â€œYou don’t have to. He’s missing. He has a slash through his name on the hit list. That says it all.” Noah purposely avoided eye contact with Darcie, as he didn’t want to see the added strain on her face. “Anything in his background check to link him to gang activity or Darcie’s attack?”
    Skyler shook her head. “He seems to be an upstanding citizen. No criminal record. Not even a speeding ticket. He’s a graphic designer and owns his own firm. Late fifties. Never married. Nothing to suggest he was involved in anything nefarious.”
    Darcie sat forward.