Caitlyn glanced at the television in the beach house’s living room, then grabbed the remote and turned up the volume.
“Authorities in Harris County are looking for a fugitive believed to still be in the Houston area and have issued a warrant out for Joshua Solomon in order to bring him in for further questioning on the death of his wife a year ago. During the investigation of the highly publicized murder, Solomon claimed he saw two men leave his house as he was arriving. Rudolph Beckmann and Larry Nixon were arrested and then convicted of Olivia Solomon’s murder, and at the time it was believed that the two men were also involved in a string of burglaries that had plagued southeast Houston for several months. But startling new information surfaced today that points to Solomon as a key suspect in his wife’s murder. Solomon is believed to be on the run with Caitlyn Lindsey, an employee of MedTECH Labs. It’s rumored he has been having an affair with Lindsey. The police consider this a possible motive for his wife’s brutal murder.”
Her driver’s license photo popped up on the screen.
“Anyone with information on the location of Joshua Solomon or Caitlyn Lindsey, please contact your local police department immediately.”
She muted the sound, but that did nothing to alleviate the fear seeping through her. They’d obviously figured out who she was, and now fear was playing with her mind, something she couldn’t allow to happen.
She turned back to the laptop Quinton had left for them under the front passenger seat. Between Quinton and Josh, they’d thought of everything. She and Josh dropped the car in the corner of a crowded parking lot, then walked a couple blocks to catch a taxi. The jacket Josh had bought her had covered her wound, and no one had given them a second glance.
The safe house Quinton had arranged for them was directly across from the beach, with breathtaking views of the water she’d be soaking up in any other situation. Instead, waves of panic pulsed through her as she opened the flash drive. She knew her erratic emotions were coming from sheer exhaustion. She’d barely slept last night, and when she had slept, the nightmares followed her into her dreams. Add to that, her arm still throbbed.
She’d spent her life going with the flow. Working hard to get through school but never rocking the boat. Staying invisible was what had kept her out of trouble all her life. But now? Asking questions meant she was no longer invisible, which had her terrified. She wasn’t even sure Josh was going to be able to keep her safe. Not if there was a warrant out for his arrest. She’d be a fool to believe this situation could have a good ending.
She looked up as Josh stepped into the living room.
“I just made sure everything’s locked up and the alarm’s set.”
“Good.” She glanced at the TV. “We both made the news cycle and they know who I am.”
“I’m not surprised. I just received a text from Quinton. The warrant for my arrest was just filed with the DA. They’re going to officially start looking for us now.”
She shook her head. “I’m still trying to take in the fact that I just saw my face on the evening news.”
“You’re not the only one.” He sat down across from her on the couch. “How are you feeling?”
She touched her arm, thankful for the shift from their too-personal conversation. “It’s starting to hurt again, but the pain medicine definitely took the edge off.”
He glanced at the clock on the wall. “It’s probably time you took some more.”
She nodded. “You’re right.”
“And I know you need to figure out what’s in those files, but your priority is to get some rest. Both of us need that right now.” He grabbed the first-aid supplies off the table. “I’ll clean your arm and change the bandage before you go to bed.”
She stood and pulled off her jacket. “I am tired, but I was wanting to keep going through these lab reports. There are definitely two sets of results. Right now, I’m trying to isolate the original data, so I can decipher exactly what they were trying to do with the virulent virus.”
He finished taking off the old bandage, then started cleaning the wound while she tried not to wince.
“I have a question for you. Your work at the lab—the projects you work on. Does it ever clash with your faith?” Josh asked.
The personal nature of his question surprised her. “Honestly, biology has only managed to strengthen it. I’ve seen God in his creation . . . seen his creativeness. It’s like the psalmist says: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’ My work has given me an incredible glimpse into who he is.” Her eyes watered from the pain, and she bit back a groan. “What about you? You’re a homicide detective. You see the worst in people. I don’t think I could live seeing that day after day.”
“It’s not easy.” He took a step back, then reached for the bandage material to cover her wound. “Sometimes I’m afraid I’ve seen too much evil in this world. I know God is there, but when you look into the eyes of a person who’s just lost someone they love . . . it’s hard. It leaves me questioning my faith sometimes. Like this entire situation has.”
“You’ve been through a lot. I think God understands.”
“I hope so. You’re exhausted,” he said, changing the subject. “You need some sleep.”
She yawned, then looked at the clock, surprised it was almost midnight. “Yes, but I’m not the only one.”
‘’We can get back to work in the morning.”
“I still have so much to go through.”
He finished bandaging her wound. “I know, but for tonight, you’re going to take a couple more Tylenol and go to bed.” He shot her a smile. “Doctor’s orders.”
“Yes, sir.” She smiled back at him, wishing her heart didn’t do a nosedive every time he was near her. She took a step back.
“You take the main bedroom,” he said. “There’s a Jacuzzi in there that might help your achy muscles.”
She weighed her options but knew he was right. As much as she wanted to continue working, without sleep she wasn’t going to be able to do anything. “You’re right. I don’t think I’ll get anything else done tonight. My brain feels like mush.”
He reached out and took her hand. She studied his face, how his eyes had flecks of gold in them, how his five-o’clock shadow made him look rugged and strong. He made her feel safe. Made her believe they might really be able to put an end to this.
Made her want to listen to her heart.
Josh caught her gaze. “I know we have a lot to uncover, but I’m also trying to figure out what’s going on here. Between us.”
Her breath caught as he bridged the gap between them and cupped his hand around the side of her face. Forcing her to confront what she’d been trying to ignore. Josh Solomon needed to be someone she could walk away from and forget. Because no matter how close she was to falling for him, she couldn’t go there.
“Tell me I’m not the only one feeling something,” he continued. “I know it’s something I shouldn’t be feeling right now, but no matter how much I try to ignore it—to ignore how you make me feel—I can’t.”
Her heartbeat quickened in response to his confession. She’d done everything in her power to do exactly the same thing, and yet something about him had her thrown off-balance. “No. You’re not the only one.”
Her words came out barely as a whisper as he took one more step toward her. He pressed his lips against hers, and all the pent-up feelings she’d been hiding shot to the surface. His kiss brought with it a wave of reassurance she desperately needed, shoving away all the terror and fears that had threatened to drag her under.
Josh Solomon had stepped in and rescued her and, in the process, had managed to steal a piece of her heart. His arm spanned her waist as he pulled her tighter against him, leaving her breathless.
The heater clicked on with a loud creaking noise, pulling her back to reality.
She’d been shot.
Josh’s wife was dead.
And they were running from the law.
This—this—couldn’t happen. Josh wasn’t just some guy who’d managed to capture her interest. They were investigating his wife’s murder, and she . . . she couldn’t do this.
She stumbled backward a couple steps, searching for the right words. “I’m sorry, but I can’t. Even if you weren’t about to be arrested for the murder of your wife, things would never work between us.”
She knew she was right. She wasn’t going to fall for someone for the wrong reasons. Someone who was still seeking closure for the past. Closure for losing someone he’d loved. She couldn’t be that person.
He shook his head. “No. I’m the one who’s sorry. My father recently told me I needed to move on. I don’t think I’m ready for that, but something about you makes me want to explore that option. Made my heart want to feel again for the first time in a very long time. But that doesn’t give me the right to cross the line.”
She started cleaning up the first-aid kit, needing something to do with her hands. “Forget it. I’m to blame as much as you.”
But the lines had blurred between them, and she wasn’t even sure at this point what she wanted.
“You’re right. I’m supposed to keep you safe,” he said. “And whatever . . . this is . . . it’s only going to complicate things.”
“Exactly.”
She knew if she walked away, she’d never know what could have happened. But a distraction could prove fatal. She told him good night, grabbed her stuff, and headed for the master bedroom, willing her heart to quit pounding. Inside the bathroom, she studied the new bandage he’d put on, thankful that the bleeding seemed to have stopped.
She hadn’t missed what had been brewing between them. Part of her felt like she was stepping into forbidden waters. Falling for someone when their lives were at stake. Falling for someone she knew wasn’t emotionally available. She couldn’t afford a broken heart. And besides, when all of this was over, more than likely anything that now simmered between them was going to cool down. They couldn’t base a relationship on an intense situation that had dragged them into the deep end together when they had no idea if they were going to get out alive. Any expectations she had of romance were nothing but fairy tales, and she knew how those turned out. Men left. She’d seen it in her father. Seen it in her fiancé. Why did she think Josh would be any different?
She never should have lowered the guard she’d always kept in place. Not even for him. She’d stopped believing a long time ago in love and valor.
She stared into the mirror. There were dark circles under her eyes. Worry lines across her brow. Running from the police terrified her, and there were no guarantees they’d get the evidence they needed to clear Josh. But without that evidence, the authorities would never listen to them. She moved back into the bedroom. She didn’t remember the last time she’d had a good night’s sleep.
Are we doing the right thing, God? I just don’t know anymore.
She trusted Josh. That was the one thing she did know. She believed God had brought him to her. Knew he would do everything in his power to keep both of them safe. But there were no guarantees. If they couldn’t find out who was behind this . . .
She started to pull back the comforter and saw the handwritten notes from Helen that still lay on the bed. The answers had to be in there somewhere. The truth about whatever had been going on at the lab and why three people were now dead. She was missing something. Something key.
She picked up the file. Some sort of research had been going on. Research that someone wanted to cover up. She tried to focus, but her mind refused to process the information. She set the notes on the nightstand and gave in to the fatigue. She needed a good night’s sleep and then maybe she’d be able to put the final pieces together. Until then she’d pray that whoever was after them didn’t find them.
She pulled the blanket around her and closed her eyes, praying for strength and wisdom until she fell asleep.