Chapter 12

CHAPTER

TWELVE

While Gage ran out to grab some dinner and a few supplies for them, Kai laid out all the documents Tori had brought with her in the crossbody bag. He spread them on the table in front of him.

As he did that, Tori found some coffee and brewed a pot. Even though it was getting late, they both needed some caffeine.

Kai stared at the papers. There weren't very many and most were handwritten.

But there were blueprints—though he wasn't sure what buildings they went with. There were medical reports—for more than one person, it appeared. Certain elements had been circled. Others had exclamation points beside them.

Then there was a timeline that went back at least fifteen years. It appeared to be a timeline of Nathan's life, if he had to guess. There was high school graduation listed, joining military, being recruited for the special program.

There was a list of names—only last names, however. Kai didn't recognize any of them. But symptoms were listed beside each name. Symptoms that included headaches, tremors, blackouts, dizzy spells, personality changes.

The final page was another list of names, this list with "Suspects" written at the top.

Larchmont was the first name, and there was a red star beside it.

Other names were Commander Ken Davis and Senator Griff Wagner. There was a notation that said: "Who is Rafferty really? What is he hiding?" Then there was "Alias: Ridge Rock."

What did that mean?

He recognized Senator Wagner's name. Commander Davis sounded vaguely familiar.

But he had no idea who Ridge Rock might be or Rafferty.

This was very interesting. But it only raised more questions.

He found it curious that most of Nathan's notes were handwritten. Yet he understood also. Most digital things could be traced, and Nathan had wanted to keep this information secure. Kai might do the same thing.

He imagined Nathan—a man he didn't know—writing these notes. Driving the papers to Tori's house. Finding she wasn't there but leaving the information inside her oven, where it would be safe.

If Kai had been in Nathan's shoes, he would have left his phone at home while he traveled so he wouldn't have been tracked—just in case.

He would have probably borrowed a car also.

Had Nathan also done those things?

Thinking about those details made Kai sound paranoid, and he knew that. But in his line of work, it wasn't paranoia.

It was survival.

As a valuable asset of the government, he knew the military wouldn't have been able to simply let him go and continue on with his life. Sure, his former leaders had made them believe they were free. That they had walked away.

But they hadn't. And they all knew that.

The question looming in his mind was: Was the military behind the efforts to potentially silence Nathan? Or had it been Larchmont? Or maybe it had been someone else entirely, someone they hadn't yet considered.

If Kai's theory was wrong, and Nathan hadn't been killed to stop him from asking questions, then there were other possibilities. If Nathan had been part of Project Elevate, then he'd no doubt made uncountable enemies through his line of work. Any of them could be guilty.

Looking at Nathan's notes right now, Kai could definitely see where it might be someone from Nathan's past.

He'd noted his symptoms—all of which Tori had mentioned already.

He listed his suspects—his former boss, former colleagues, enemies.

He wrote down his fears—that someone close to him might actually be trying to kill him.

He'd also included his medical records, which on the surface appeared clear.

As Tori placed a cup of coffee in front of him, Kai paused at the autopsy report. He took a long sip of his drink before diving into the report.

Tori sat in the chair beside him, pulling it close so she could see over his shoulder.

"I've reviewed that autopsy report at least a dozen times," she said. "And it's true that I'm not a doctor so there could be things I don't understand or that I missed. But I don't see any reason why Nathan would have gone into cardiac arrest."

"If his death wasn't natural, then what's your theory on how it happened?"

She pressed her lips together, the tension building inside her obvious. Then she swallowed hard before saying, "Call me crazy, but certain medications can mimic or even cause cardiac arrest. If someone got their hands on those drugs, they could figure out how to make that happen."

He stole a glance at her. "Wouldn't these medications show up in the autopsy report?"

Her fingers hugged her coffee mug, though the drink mostly remained untouched. "The medical examiner ran a toxicology report, but no traces of drugs turned up in the results."

"But you're still suspicious of that?" Kai continued to watch her expression.

"Yes, I am. Someone's not telling the truth somewhere, and I'm trying to figure out who."

He took another sip of his coffee. "As far as you know, did Nathan have any symptoms before this happened? I know you said his physical was okay, but . . ."

She leaned back, her hand sweeping over her mouth. "I think I told you before that he had been having some strange episodes he tried to dismiss. He said something about feeling out of sorts lately, but he couldn't put his finger on what exactly was wrong. He had spans of time he couldn't remember. Headaches. Tremors. Times he didn't feel like himself."

Kai's jaw hardened.

He wasn't sure if he was ready to admit this yet or not.

He knew the implications of his words.

But the truth was, Kai had been experiencing those exact same symptoms lately.

Tori studied Kai's face.

He wasn't sharing something, was he? Whatever thought he had, he kept it private. But what if that thought could help her find answers? This was no time to keep secrets—especially if those secrets had to do with her brother.

Kai caught her staring and did a double take.

Her thoughts raced with questions she didn't want to ask. Yet still, there were answers she needed to know. Those answers right now were more important than making Kai uncomfortable.

She tilted her head as she observed him. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing," Kai said a little too quickly.

"I don't believe you." Tori crossed her arms and leaned back farther in the chair, her thoughts still racing. "When was the last time you had an X-ray with a doctor other than the one your boss provides?"

He shrugged and shook his head. "I can't really say for sure. I haven't had any reason to have an X-ray. Where are you going with this?"

She nibbled on her bottom lip as she contemplated how to word her next statement. "My theory about Nathan being administered medication that caused his heart to stop isn't my only suspicion. I've also wondered if some type of pacemaker was implanted inside Nathan. Pacemakers can be remotely monitored and controlled."

His forehead wrinkled. "Wouldn't that have shown up in autopsy?"

"Yes. But not if someone was trying to cover something up."

Kai shifted, his gaze suddenly darkening. "What exactly are you implying?"

"I'm saying that if my brother didn't die of natural causes and he wasn't poisoned, then there's only one other reason I can think of he might have gone into cardiac arrest."

"And that is?"

"I wonder if there was some type of device inside him that could have stopped his heart. I even wonder if maybe everyone who'd been in the program might have this device."

"I think if I'd had a pacemaker inserted, I would remember it," Kai started, a challenging look in his gaze. "Don't the batteries have to be changed every so often?"

"Yes, usually every five to eight years, and there would usually be a scar of some sort."

A few seconds of silence stretched.

Then Tori asked, "Could I see your chest please?"

Kai swallowed hard but nodded. "Why not?"

He pulled off his shirt, and Tori felt her throat go dry. But she remained professional. No way would she let her expression show just how impressive his defined muscles were.

Instead, her gaze went to the area of his chest near his heart where a pacemaker would have been implanted.

She ran her fingers over his skin. Then she squinted and leaned closer. "Is that a scar?"

He shrugged. "I was injured by some shrapnel. Had to get stitches."

She pulled her gaze from his chest to his eyes. "Are you sure?"

"Sure that shrapnel hit me?" He squinted. "I remember it clearly."

A car rumbled down the lane. She checked and saw it was Gage. A moment later, the garage door opened.

"You're sure that's where this scar is from?" Tori asked Kai.

"What else could it be?"

She touched it again, squinting to examine it closer.

Just then, Gage walked into the room with a pizza in hand and made a face. "I hope I'm not interrupting something."

"No, of course not." Tori cleared her throat and stepped back. "Strange request, but could I see your chest?"

Gage glanced at Kai, who shrugged.

Gage didn't ask any questions. Instead, he put the pizza on the table and took his shirt off.

Tori examined his chest. "You have a mark too."

He glanced down and touched the faint line. Just like Kai, the mark was barely visible. But the scar was definitely there. Usually, she would see a lump also, but not this time.

She couldn't explain that—unless the device had been planted somewhere else in his body.

"I got that when we were on a mission in Uzbekistan," Gage said. "You should see the other guy."

Tori barely registered his attempt at being lighthearted. "Then why do you guys have the exact same mark? In the exact same location?"

The two of them exchanged a glance. But they said nothing.

Tori knew why.

Because there was nothing they could say that fit the narrative they'd been taught to believe.