“You really think they killed a guy across the other side of the hospital just to find out our response time?”
Jordan said, “It’s possible.”
“Only because we don’t have enough information. At this point, anything is possible.”
“Maybe you can find out at this memorial service you’re going to,” Jordan said. “Why is Destiny having it so quickly after her husband died? His body isn’t even cold yet.”
“Actually, she already had him cremated, so temperature isn’t really a factor.”
“Are you serious? Who gets that done so fast?”
The first open parking space Kira found was way down the street from the house. “Maybe she was following his wishes. Or she just wanted to do it quickly so it didn’t drag out.”
“Seems suspicious to me, that’s all I’m saying.”
“People don’t always do things that make sense when they’re grieving.”
“I suppose.”
Kira said, “Hang on a second. I’m going to turn off my car, so the phone will disconnect from Bluetooth.” She shut it off and lifted her phone to her ear, gathering up her purse and climbing out of the car. Her body clock was so far off, she wouldn’t have been able to say what the time was without looking at a clock. The dreary cloud cover wasn’t helping.
Kira had taken a nap this afternoon that lasted a few hours, and woke up confused about where she was—or who she was—until it came rushing back. She figured she’d slept hard and rested well.
“I’m sure Destiny is just trying to get things done so she doesn’t have to worry about any of it.” Kira closed the car door. “Then she can take some time and grieve in private.”
It’s what Kira would do. But she didn’t have anyone in her life except for Jordan that she felt that deeply about. Sure, she had hoped that by now she would be married and have kids. But life never seemed to work out the way she planned.
Meeting Luca again after all this time had sparked something in her. It had made her realize that he might be the person she needed. The one God had brought here for her—a blessing she was grateful for and hadn’t been expecting.
Jordan said, “How is the patient?”
“The doctor conducted the procedure this morning, and he’s been stable since then. All of his levels are coming up to normal.” Kira stepped onto the sidewalk and headed toward Destiny’s house, feeling awkward in this black dress she rarely wore. “It’s really a remarkable thing he’s come up with. If everything works out, it will open up plenty of research into all kinds of lifesaving measures for the disorder we’re dealing with.”
“I’ve been looking into him and his background a little more,” Jordan said. “This Dr. Torres has a few thriving businesses in Renegade. On top of his research, he seems to have his fingers in a lot of pies.” Jordan was quiet for a moment, then said, “Nothing has happened that makes you believe he’s part of this shadow syndicate, right?”
“I think he knows more than he’s saying.” Kira spotted a couple on the side of the house, as if the party had spilled from the yard all the way to the front. “But it’s going to take time to get him to trust me with all of that, whether he is part of it or just knows who is.”
“Are you going to keep pushing it?”
“We won’t be with the patient at the same time. Not for the most part,” Kira said. “And if we are, the patient is going to overhear everything we say.”
“Once the job is done, maybe you could keep things going with Torres. Build up a professional relationship.”
“If I can find out anything, it will probably help Luca’s investigation.”
Jordan said, “Just as long as it doesn’t put you in any danger, it might at least scratch the itch you still have to do some of that work.”
Her friend sounded frustrated, probably because of the lack of information she’d found on the syndicate. Plus, she probably had real CIA work to do. There was no way for Jordan to discern if Torres was connected to the Shadow Syndicate on paper, even if she could connect the doctor to Rousseau’s legitimate businesses. Things would be too clean. This was something that needed to be discovered in person.
Kira said, “How do you know that I miss it?”
“Why else would you be hanging out with Luca Saxon? He isn’t your type.”
“I’m not sure that’s true.”
“Oh, come on. A guy like that? You’d never be able to keep your secrets from him.”
At a certain point, she’d always assumed that there would be no secrets between her and whoever she ended up in a long-term relationship with. “He could be the guy I don’t keep any secrets from.”