Page 30 of Hunting Justice
“Got it.” Jonah had a strong desire to curse at Ken for throwing away his career and reputation along with putting Jonah in danger, but what good would that do?
He trudged up the walkway edged by a well-groomed yard. It seemed like everything Noelle owned had a pristine look. Unlike himself and his chaotic life. Why would now be any different?
Noelle unlocked the door and turned off the security system. He followed her in, and she locked the door and reengaged the alarm. A typical behavior for her. He saw it every time he visited.
Jonah slipped off his shoes by the entrance and placed them neatly next to the wall. He laid Ken’s planner on the kitchen table to his left, then pointed to the duffel bag hanging from his shoulder. “I’ll go put this in the extra bedroom.”
Without waiting on an answer, he trudged down the hall to the first bedroom on the right. He knew the house well thanks to his caregiving during her concussion. Plus, he’d spent many evenings here over the last ten months, chilling with her. Something about her house—maybe the soothing pale-green walls—relaxed him. Or it might be the company and have nothing to do with the interior design.
He placed the duffel on the white queen-sized comforter and stared out the bedroom window. A shiver ran down his spine. He grabbed the curtains and yanked them closed. His heart raced. The bruises on his neck chose that moment to throb. His fingers brushed the tender skin. He had to get a grip. Shaking off the dark path his thoughts chose to travel, he eyed the dresser and considered the bathroom at the end of the hall. No, he’d unpack his clothes and toiletries later. Sorry, Noelle, I just don’t have it in me right now. He spun on his heels and returned to the living room.
“Hungry?” Noelle stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot on the stove.
“Maybe a little.” He sounded like a sulky child. But at the moment, he didn’t care.
“I had a gallon-size bag of homemade chicken noodle soup in the freezer. I dumped it into the pot and added a little more broth. It’ll help it thaw faster.” She tapped the spoon on the edge of the pan and placed it on the small plate next to the stove. “I figured it would be the easiest thing for you to swallow.”
His throat had contusions inside and out. The soup sounded perfect. “Thanks. I’m sure you’re right.” Jonah collapsed on the couch and closed his eyes. How had his life gone from good to a disaster in a matter of hours?
“I’ll give you until after dinner to sulk. Then you have to snap out of it.”
He grabbed the throw pillow, held it to his chest, and rested his chin on it. “Fine.” He heard her chuckle.
Dishes and silverware rattled in the kitchen. A few minutes later, Noelle strode in and plopped down beside him. “What’s going on inside that head of yours?”
His gaze met hers. “Other than someone tried to kill me at least twice?”
“Remember, you survived. That counts for a lot. And if Alana, Juliette, and I have anything to say about it, we’ll get to the bottom of whatever this is and keep you safe.”
“I appreciate that.” Jonah clasped her hand. The softness of her skin belied the tough bodyguard he’d witnessed in action over the past year. His gaze traveled to her eyes—a blue so bright that it reminded him of the clear waters off the coast of Jamaica. How had he not noticed before? “I trust you.”
Noelle stared at their connected hands, then up at him. “I…um…thanks.”
Time to confess that he’d zoned out at the office. “I have to admit, I didn’t pay attention at EGA. What’s the plan?”
The smile that graced her face sent a flutter loose in his belly. “When you didn’t complain, I had a feeling you weren’t listening.”
“Oh boy, maybe I should have concentrated on what y’all discussed.”
“It’s not that bad.” She squeezed his hand. “You’re staying here since my security is top-of-the-line. Alana and Juliette will take turns monitoring the perimeter at night while I sleep. I’ll take the day shift. If I need to go somewhere, one of the others will step in.”
He narrowed his gaze. “So you’re going to be my shadow? Everywhere?”
“I’m not going to follow you into autopsy or be always on your heels. You can go about your day as normal. If you need privacy in your office, I’ll stay in the hallway. But I won’t be far if you need me.”
He returned the pressure on her fingers. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She rested her head on the back of the couch and gave him a lazy smile. “Dinner will take thirty minutes or so. Would you like to rest first or take a look at Ken’s planner?”
Rest sounded wonderful, but figuring out what had put him in the line of danger held a sense of urgency. “Let’s dive into the planner while we wait for the soup to heat.”
“Stay here. I’ll go get it.” She retrieved the bound calendar and returned to her seat.
Jonah scooted to an upright position and accepted the planner from her.
She shifted closer and peered over his arm.
“He didn’t tell me when he started falsifying reports, but his wife died a few months ago. I’m thinking we should flip back to a few months before she died and see if anything stands out. If not, we continue to work backward.”