The Diehard Warrior Page 11

  Tears rushed to Addie’s eyes. Had Jordan developed PZT sooner, it might’ve cured Gram’s Alzheimer’s. Still, it wouldn’t have saved her from developing brain cancer. She was surprised when Maddox reached for her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. He gave her an empathetic smile, showcasing his left dimple. An unexpected warmth settled over Addie. In that moment, she realized how grateful she was to have Maddox by her side.

  Maddox frowned. “None of this explains why Jordan was killed.”

  “I have my suspicions,” Piper said darkly. “Brent Barrett the CEO and founder of Barrett Medical and his lackey, Blanche Richey, thought they had the greatest discovery of this century in the bag. Then, Jordan foiled their plans. The two of them would stop at nothing to get their hands on the formula for PZT.”

  What Piper said made sense. Addie turned to Maddox to get his reaction. She could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

  Maddox stroked his chin. “I’m assuming you keep the formula for PZT under lock and key?”

  “Industrial espionage is the plague of drug research and development. We have a single computer that we keep locked in a vault. The formula for PZT is on that computer.” Piper held up a finger. “However, we suspect that Jordan kept a personal copy.”

  “Your entire theory hinges on the idea that PZT actually works,” Maddox said.

  Piper lifted an eyebrow. “I assure you, it works.”

  The tension in the room grew palpable. A second later, Piper’s father entered. Maddox and Addie moved to stand.

  Hamilton held out a hand. “Don’t get up.” He sat down in the chair next to Piper. She did the introductions. “Maddox, this is my dad, Hamilton Gentry. Maddox is a close friend of Addie’s.”

  “Hello,” Hamilton said cordially as he touched his glasses and nodded. He offered a polite smile to Addie. “Nice to see you.”

  “You too.” As close as Addie was to Piper, she hardly knew Hamilton. To her, he would always be Dr. Hamilton Gentry, the renowned surgeon, who was a little uptight for her taste. Mid-height, Hamilton was wiry with dusty-blonde hair going silver around his temples and thinning on top. In other words, he was the quintessential picture of a successful doctor. He turned to Piper, a brief smile touching his lips. “What did I miss? I was in my office on a phone call,” he explained.

  “Maddox was questioning the effectiveness of PZT,” Piper said.

  Piper’s tone was neutral, but Addie could tell from the tight pull of her jaw that she didn’t like Maddox calling her work into question. Addie didn’t blame her. In Maddox’s defense, however, he was turning over every stone to discover the truth.

  “I told Addie and Maddox that I believe Brent Barrett or someone at Barrett Medical is responsible for Jordan’s death, that they were trying to steal the formula for PZT. Maddox asserted that my theory hinges on the validity of PZT.”

  Addie leaned forward. “Even if that’s true, it still doesn’t explain why someone would be after me.”

  Hamilton’s brows darted together, concern seeping into his eyes. “What?”

  “Someone broke into my cabin and tried to kidnap me.” A shiver ran down Addie’s spine as she hugged her arms.

  A stricken look came over Hamilton. “Are you serious?”

  “Unfortunately, yes,” Maddox answered.

  Piper gave Addie a probing look. “Did Jordan say anything to you? Give you the formula? Obviously, someone thinks he did, or you wouldn’t be a target.”

  Addie had never been blessed with a poker face. She knew the answer was broadcast in her expression.

  Piper leaned forward, eyeing her. “Addie?”

  Rather than answering, Addie turned to Maddox. She’d been fully prepared to tell Piper about the key this morning. Now, however, everything was muddled and confusing. Never in a million years would she have dreamt that Jordan and Piper would’ve kept so much from her. She couldn’t help feeling betrayed by them both. Especially Jordan! How could he stoop to having an affair? Did loyalty mean nothing to him? Clearly, he was not the man she thought he was. So much for her ability to judge character. She gave Maddox a questioning look.

  He nodded. “It’s okay. Tell them.”

  “Tell us what?” Piper asked, an edge in her voice.

  Addie tucked her hair behind her ears. “Right before Jordan left the terrace where we were having lunch, he dropped a key into my purse.”

  Piper frowned. “What sort of key?”

  “Show her,” Maddox prompted.

  Addie bent over and reached for her purse, placing it in her lap. She retrieved the silver key and held it up. “This.”

  “What does it go to?” Piper asked.

  “We were hoping you could tell us,” Maddox inserted.

  Addie handed Piper the key. She examined it. “It could go to almost anything.” Disappointment sounded in her voice.

  “Did Jordan have a gym membership? Or storage facility?”

  “Not that I know of.” Piper looked to her dad for help.

  “I have no idea.” Hamilton shook his head regretfully. “Jordan’s behavior was so strange at the end. Who knows what was going through his head.”

  Addie caught the note of bitterness in Hamilton’s voice. His distaste for Jordan was twofold—he’d been unfaithful to his only daughter, and he was sabotaging the company Hamilton helped him create.

  “Wait a minute.” Piper’s voice grew animated. “When Jordan’s mother passed, he put her things in a rented storage unit until he and his siblings could sort through her will. I assumed after everything was taken care of, Jordan would have no further use for a storage unit.” She paused, tilting her head. “I wonder if, maybe, he still had it.”

  “There can’t be that many storage facilities in Birchwood Springs,” Maddox said. “Let’s start by calling those.”

  Piper frowned, a hint of accusation in her eyes, as she looked at Addie. “Why did he give you a key? We were working things out. I thought Jordan and I were building trust.” Her voice hitched. “And yet, he went to see you without my knowledge.”

  Addie grunted, hating feeling guilty for something over which she had no control. “I wish I knew.”

  “Someone—presumably from Barrett Medical—must think you have the only other copy of the formula for PZT,” Hamilton said. “They think it’s easier to get to you than to break into a secure vault.”

  Fear lurked in Addie’s throat. “Well, I don’t have it,” she spat.

  Piper’s eyes held hers. “Did Jordan give you a hint about what the key could go to? What did the two of you talk about during lunch?”

  “Just chit-chat mostly, but I could tell Jordan was on edge.” No way was Addie going to tell Piper that Jordan said she was the only one he could trust. He’d also said Piper didn’t understand. What didn’t she understand?

  Piper gave her a perceptive look. “There’s more. I can tell.”

  The words seemed to tumble out of Addie’s mouth of their own accord. “Jordan said you were a good woman but that you didn’t understand.” She cringed at Piper’s wounded expression. “I’m sorry, but those were his words.”

  Piper leaned back in her seat, looking deflated. Hamilton put an arm around her shoulders. “Are you okay?” he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle. There was obviously another side to him that Addie hadn’t seen. Clearly, he had a soft spot for his only daughter.

  “Yeah.” Piper offered a weak smile. “I’m sorry. This is just so…hard. I’m sure Jordan meant that I didn’t understand his need to fast-track PZT to market.”

  “Makes sense,” Maddox said.

  There was something else Addie needed to add to the conversation—Jordan’s strange words at the end. “Just before Jordan died, he asked me to forgive him.”

  Piper let out an audible gasp.

  “What do you think Jordan meant by that?” Addie continued.

  Piper looked at her dad as a silent exchange passed between them. Finally, Hamilton spoke. “Show them the video.”
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  Piper’s eyebrow lifted. “Do you think that’s wise?”

  A grim determination set over Hamilton’s features. “At this point, it seems to be the best option.”

  12

  “What you’re about to see is highly confidential and could cause us grief if word of it ever got out.” Piper eyed Addie and Maddox. “I need your promise that you will keep this to yourselves,” she added when they remained quiet.

  “Okay,” Addie agreed, her gut churning with uncertainty.

  Maddox squared his jaw. “Sorry, can’t make any promises until I know what we’re dealing with.”

  The air held its breath as Piper looked at Hamilton. Finally, he gave her the okay to continue. She held up the remote and pressed a button.

  A picture came on the screen. Addie instantly recognized the elderly woman. “That’s Priscilla Roseman.” She and Jordan were in an office, sitting across from one another.

  Maddox turned to face Addie. “Do you know her?”

  “She was an Alzheimer’s patient at the same care center with my grandmother and Jordan’s mom.”

  Jordan peered into the camera and announced the date of the interview, a little over a year ago. “State your name,” Jordan said.

  “Priscilla Marie Roseman.”

  “Your birthdate.”

  “November 3, 1945.”

  “How many children do you have?”

  “Four. Two boys and two girls.”

  “How many grandchildren?”

  Priscilla smiled. “Sixteen and one on the way.”

  As the interview progressed, Addie was utterly amazed … floored. The last time she’d seen Priscilla, the poor woman was wearing a hospital gown, being spoon-fed applesauce. The Priscilla on the interview was nicely dressed, well spoken, completely lucid. She spoke of her career as a nurse, how much she missed her late husband, how she was looking forward to leaving the care center and going back to her home, where she planned to take up gardening. Addie looked down and realized she was still holding Maddox’s hand, squeezing it for all it was worth. “Sorry,” she stammered, releasing it. She looked at Piper. “H-how?”

  Piper clicked the remote, turning off the TV. Her face had regained some of its color, her eyes shining with pride. “PZT.”

  “Jordan gave this woman PZT?” Maddox asked.

  “Yes,” Piper answered.

  Disapproval sounded in Maddox’s voice. “But the drug hasn’t been submitted to the FDA, much less approved.”

  Hamilton touched his glasses. “Hence the risk in showing you the video.”

  Piper’s face glowed with an inner light. “Jordan knew what PZT could do. He knew the lives that could be changed by it. He felt like it was an atrocity to sit back and watch people waste away when the cure was right there.”

  “So, he tested it on the patients at the care center,” Maddox inserted.

  “Not all the patients,” Piper said, a touch of impatience in her voice. “Just those he felt would be good candidates.” Her voice grew tremulous. “I only wish he’d developed PZT in time to save my mother.” Her eyes locked with Addie’s. “Or your grandmother.”

  A rush of emotion rose in Addie’s chest. How many times had she prayed that Gram would be healed? To think that the cure was just around the corner. Sadly, not in time to help Gram. The irony carved through her like a scalding knife. Even though Gram’s life had been taken by cancer, it would have been miraculous if she could’ve known her family in the end. If she could’ve known how much she was loved.

  Regret sounded in Piper’s voice. “To answer your question, I think Jordan asked you to forgive him because he wasn’t able to save your grandmother.”

  Tears sprang to Addie’s eyes, and she was unable to stop them from spilling down her cheeks. Understanding flowed between her and Piper. Just like that, Addie realized what was driving Jordan—why he refused to wait until PZT could be put on the market. Even if one life could be saved, it was worth the risk.

  “While I don’t agree with Jordan’s methods of trying to bypass the system,” Piper continued, “I also know the good PZT can do. That’s why I’m pushing so hard to get it on the market, so that it’ll be available to all people who suffer from this terrible disease.” She looked at Addie. “I’m just sorry that you got caught in the crossfire.”

  Maddox let out a breath. “All right. That helps answer a lot of questions. We need to find what the key goes to, so we can put an end to this thing once and for all.” He held out his hand. “The key please.”

  Addie realized then that she’d handed the key over to Piper for examination and hadn’t gotten it back.

  “I’ll hold onto it for safe keeping,” he added.

  For a second, Piper looked like she might argue but instead gave him a strained smile. “Of course.” She handed it over. Addie could tell it was hard for Piper to trust Maddox, which was understandable considering they’d only just met.

  “Maddox may look like your everyday piece of eye candy,” Addie joked, “but I can assure you, he’s very capable and can be trusted implicitly.”

  Maddox jerked, a surprised smile creeping over his lips. “Wow, I don’t believe it. Addie Spencer just gave me a compliment.”

  Addie laughed. “Don’t let it go to your head.” She saw the startled look on Hamilton’s face, which made the situation even funnier. His brows shot down like he was about to reprimand Addie for telling a joke. She had the ridiculous urge to burst out laughing. She looked sideways at Maddox. Amusement lit his eyes as they shared the moment.

  Hamilton stood, offering a stiff bow. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a meeting with the funeral director in an hour.” He looked at Addie and Maddox. “I trust you’ll be attending Jordan’s funeral next Wednesday?”

  “We wouldn’t miss it,” Addie said speaking for them both.

  “Very well. Good day.” He turned on his heel and strode out of the room.

  Addie felt sorry for him. He was so robotic and socially awkward.

  Maddox brought his hands together, his tone becoming all business. “Okay, we need to find out what the key goes to.”

  “I’ll get my computer,” Piper said, “and look up storage locations.”

  His lips pressed together in a determined line. “All right. No time like the present.”

  * * *

  Maddox looked out the car window at the passing trees ablaze with the crisp, tawny colors of fall. His gaze traveled up to the clear blue sky touched with tufts of stringy white clouds. The storm the night before had left everything fresh and clean.

  Addie chuckled. “Look at you … salivating over the landscape. I’ll bet you wish you had your camera right now.”

  “It would be nice,” he agreed, “under a different set of circumstances.”

  “Yeah, if we weren’t on some wild goose chase to find out what the key goes to. Or if someone weren’t trying to kidnap me … or worse.” She shuddered.

  He touched her arm, the familiar zing racing through him when their skin touched. “Don’t worry. I won’t leave your side until this is over. Promise.”

  Addie gave him an appreciative smile before turning her full attention back to the road. She tightened her hold on the steering wheel. “Do you really think it could be that simple? That the key goes to Jordan’s storage facility?”

  “We can only hope.” His thoughts went back to the conversation with Piper and Hamilton. “What’s your take on the things Piper said about Jordan?”

  “Which part?”

  “The part where she said he was trying to sell the drug formula to Barrett Medical?” His question was met with silence, making him wonder if she was going to answer.

  “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure what to think. Does it sound like the Jordan I knew? No, not in the least.” Her voice hardened. “Then again, my two closest friends were having major marital problems, and neither of them breathed a word of it. What do I know?” She glanced at him. “What’s your take?”

 
“Everything Piper and her father said sounded plausible. It corroborates what we know about Jordan—that he’d been to a divorce attorney.”

  “It fits with the things Jordan said, how Piper didn’t understand and why Jordan asked for my forgiveness.” There was a glum note in her voice.

  “I’m sorry about your grandmother. I can only imagine how hard it must’ve been to see that video of the Alzheimer’s patient—to think your grandmother could’ve been cured.”

  She gave him a sad smile. “Yes, it was hard.” She let out a half-laugh. “Crazy, but I found myself feeling jealous of Priscilla Roseman when I watched that video.” Her voice hitched. “At the end of the day though, I’m happy for her. She has her life back, knows who she is, knows her children and grandchildren.” She let out a heavy breath. “Regardless of what shortcomings Jordan had in his personal life, I’m grateful that he developed PZT.”

  “Interesting, how all three of your lives were brought together by Alzheimer’s.”

  “Yes, it is.”

  “And, all of the people who had Alzheimer’s died before they could take PZT.”

  “Yeah. Sad.” Silence settled between them.

  “A penny for your thoughts?”

  She gave him a slight smile. “I was thinking about the card on my refrigerator. The one you asked about.”

  His interest piqued. “Yes?”

  “I was at the care center, visiting Gram.” She paused and took in a shaky breath. “I had just learned that she had cancer and that the prognosis wasn’t good.”

  “I can’t begin to imagine what you’ve been through,” he uttered, feeling the urge to put his arms around her and pull her close.