Page 13 of Vanishing Legacy
Alana ignored her and pushed the food around on her plate.
“Seriously, though.” Noelle talked around a mouthful. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay over tonight? It sounds like there’s a chance that dude planned to come back.”
“So the bodyguard needs a bodyguard now?”
“Hey, we all need someone to watch our back now and again.”
“True. And you know we love it when you stay, but I think I need space to get things back in order around here.”
Noelle made a show of looking around Alana’s house. “Yeah, right. This place is a disaster. I can see why you need time to clean up.” She smiled and stuffed a bite of Spanish rice in her mouth. “Although, I was surprised to see SPD packing up when I got here.”
“Being best friends with former Detective Burton has its benefits after all.”
Noelle huffed a laugh. “You mean besides bringing takeout and free babysitting?”
Half an hour ago, Noelle had shown up with dinner from Rocco’s favorite restaurant and an overnight bag. The former detective might be Alana’s boss, but she was also her closest friend here in Savannah.
“Those are good benefits.” Alana grinned at her friend. “But I guess they heard you were coming and processed the scene in record time. Never seen locals move that fast. Did you get any updates when you talked to them?”
Noelle held her finger up while she finished chewing. “Stop asking me questions right when I take a bite. I swear you do that on purpose.”
They both laughed and Noelle drained her water glass. “Rumor has it the nanny is awake and flipping through the mug book like it’s a fashion magazine and she’s picking out a prom dress. If the gunman’s in there, they’ll have more than enough evidence to put him away. All they’ll need from you and the kid is confirmation.”
“You got that from Williams?”
Noelle grinned, tapping the side of her nose. “We have a little insider exchange program. A tidbit here, a tidbit there.”
“I do love your special connections.”
“Oh, but wait. There’s more.” Noelle wiped her mouth and tossed her napkin on her plate. “Dr. Cash Thomas has an interesting connection to our very own Jonah.”
Alana stopped chewing. “Jonah? As in your friend Jonah Harris the M.E.?”
“Yeah. Jonah worked in the ER before he left to work at the medical examiner’s office. Cash was his replacement. Jonah showed him the ropes for a month or so during the hand off.”
If there was a clue from Cash’s past to explain why someone would try to abduct his daughter, Alana wanted to hear it. “What else do you know about him?”
“Not much, really. Let’s see…” Noelle folded her arms and looked up, searching for answers. “They work out sometimes. I think Cash has a friend who owns a gym or something. He was a surgeon in the Navy, and according to Jonah, excellent under pressure. Knows how to take orders without getting his feathers ruffled. I remember Jonah saying it was nice to talk to someone else who’d lost a spouse.”
“Single dad. Former Navy. ER doctor. Quite the package.”
“Speaking of packages.” Noelle pulled an envelope out of her back pocket and slid it across the table. “Your heroic escapade today has attracted some attention.”
Her gaze shifted to the handwritten cursive script on the outside of the envelope. “What’s that?”
“Only one way to find out.”
Alana slid her finger under the flap and tore the seal. Inside was a personal check and a handwritten note. The amount took her breath away.
Noelle leaned in. “What’s it say?”
Alana had to swallow before she could speak. She read the note aloud. “Ms. Flores, please accept my gratitude for your heroic effort today. I couldn’t have written a better action scene myself. I consider you a true Elite Guardian angel.” Alana glanced at Noelle. “It’s signed S. M. Warren.”
Noelle raised her glass. “Cheers to literary-inspired heroics.”
“And check out the amount.” Alana held it up.
Noelle sputtered and coughed. She wiped the water from her lips. “Whoa, that’s generous.”