Page 87 of Hunting Justice
She stared at the plastic. Sweat beaded on her forehead. Her heart rate skyrocketed from the memories.
“Now!”
The rage in the man’s gaze had her following his instructions. First order of business—survive. If she stayed alive, she could escape or be rescued. She slid her hands into the cuffs, and he tightened them, cutting into her flesh.
At least he’d cuffed her hands in front of her. She had options.
Jack withdrew a folded handkerchief from his pocket. “Time to have some fun.” He placed it over her nose and mouth.
The sweaty odor of chloroform registered in her brain. She bucked against Jack’s hold, but he pinned her to the seat.
The world dimmed.
His hot breath fanned her ear. “My father loved Moby Dick. I prefer Jack the Ripper.”
A muffled cry fell from her lips, and she lost the battle to stay conscious.
* * *
Jonah lifted his gaze from Richard Nelson’s decomposed corpse and glanced at the clock in the autopsy room. An hour had passed since Noelle had made her hasty escape. He hadn’t said a word about her departure, knowing her struggle with the turn of events. She’d retreated into herself last night and hadn’t shaken off the shock as of that morning. He wasn’t surprised she hadn’t returned to the room, but for some reason—call it his gut screaming at him—worry wrapped him and squeezed, sending a shiver snaking up his spine.
He examined the hole in Nelson’s skull one more time. The man’s death…definitely not natural causes. He’d request that the crime techs search the grave for the bullet. But if it hadn’t lodged in Nelson’s head, the dirt wouldn’t contain the evidence. And who knew where his final breath had taken place?
With the condition of the remains, the autopsy hadn’t taken as long as he’d expected. He snapped a few final pictures. “Anyone heard from Noelle?”
Matt checked his phone. “Not me. Juliette?”
“Sorry. No text message or call. She tasked me with your protection, so as you know, I haven’t left the room. And as harsh as it sounds, you are my priority. But something’s not right. She’d never leave you for this long without checking in.” A scowl formed on Juliette’s face. “Matt, I’m turning Doc’s safety over to you while I go find Noelle.”
The detective nodded, and the petite bodyguard hustled from the room.
Matt folded his arms over his chest. “Noelle looked a bit green when she left.”
“It had nothing to do with witnessing an autopsy, and you know it.” Jonah covered the body with a sheet and dealt with his instruments.
“I do. I’ve known her a while now, and her reaction yesterday surprised me.”
“Have you read her entire case file?” Jonah wondered how much his friend knew about Noelle’s past.
Matt rubbed the back of his neck. “Enough. That, along with what she told us—I can only imagine what she went through.”
Juliette rushed through the door. “Her car is gone, and she’s not answering her phone.”
Jonah shed his gloves and paper apron, tossed them into the biohazard can, and scrubbed his hands in the sink. “I have a bad feeling about this. I’ll have security run through the video feed.” He placed a call to the security office in the building and then one to Bonnie to have an assistant take care of Nelson’s body.
Matt’s phone rang. He put it on speaker. “What’s up, Decia?”
“I heard from Alana. The restaurant, Twilight Serenade, is owned by a company linked to Congressman Sanford.”
“I thought the bartender, Austin James, or something like that, owned the place.” Jonah’s worry for Noelle had slowed his reasoning abilities.
“Hi, Doc. He very well might. But even so, the congressman has a hand in it.”
The room phone rang. Jonah picked it up. “Dr. Harris.”
“Doc, this is Mitch with security. I found your lady. She left in her car with a man. I’ve never seen him before.”
“Thanks, Mitch.” The situation was all kinds of wrong.