mission.
He pulled the SUV into the parking lot next to the only other car at this time of night. Probably belonging to the fixed-based operator’s lineman. Another reason Noah had chosen this little FBO. At this time of year, there was no skydiving and therefore, the airport was pretty much barren, especially so close to midnight. He favored two types of setups. Either one with too many people or hardly anyone. Both had advantages and disadvantages.
When it came to Archimedes, deserted won the battle. The guy could blend into a crowd. Which is why not one identifiable description existed of the man who had killed so many people.
Noah slid from the seat. “Wait here. I’ll make sure we’re fueled so we can take off.”
“No need,” Rafe said from the passenger side.
“The Lear’s ready? Who?”
“Zane. Our favorite computer jockey evidently likes propellers as much as you do. Elijah’s staying behind to analyze the evidence with the other forensics squints and hopefully get us a lead. He’ll join us as soon as he can.”
Lyssa twisted her fingers in her lap. “I think Elijah should go with you. Now.”
Her voice was too calm. Noah twisted in his seat, that bad feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. “You mean go with us. ”
“No,” Lyssa said. “I’m not leaving with you. Two people are dead—and Reid could die—all because of me. I have to do something, and I’m not involving anyone else.” She opened her hand. “Give me the keys to the SUV, Noah. Archimedes won’t follow you. You’ll be safe, but I’m staying. When this is over, I’ll leave the car for you. I’m sure you can find it.”
He gripped the keys in his hand. “Hell, no. You’re not remaining in Chicago while that guy’s still on the loose.”
“I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have called Reid.” She met his gaze with an unwavering one of her own. “I’m doing what I should have done in the first place. I’m going to my apartment and wait with my 12-gauge across my lap and my .45 at my side. He won’t get away again.”
“You try this alone, and he’ll change it up. He’ll attack from behind or poison the air, or God knows what,” Noah argued. “ We need to flank him.” He slammed out of the SUV’s front seat and scooted in the back beside her. “We’ve just gotten started. Give us a chance, Lyssa.”
“You’re not going to stuff me in some fortress in the middle of Texas. I can see it on your face, Noah. You want to hide me away. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“The idea has merit,” he said but retreated the moment she glared at him. “Look, we need to regroup. We’ll be analyzing every minuscule piece of information that’s been collected about Archimedes. We’re going to uncover the connection, and we’re going to find a way to trap him.”
“I gave you two chances. Reid’s in the hospital. Chastity is dead. Go back to Texas.”
Noah gritted his teeth. “Rafe, finish the preflight for me.”
His friend said nothing. He exited the vehicle and walked out to the plane. Noah gripped her shoulders. “I’m not letting you do this.”
“You can’t stop me.” She turned her palm up. “Keys.”
He shoved them into his front pocket. She followed the movement with her eyes. The challenge in them scared the hell out of him.
“There’s only one way for this to end,” she said softly. “He wants me. I’m going to give him what he wants. Hand me the keys.”
“I’m not going to convince you to come with us, am I?”
She shook her head. “You did what you could. Tell Reid...if he wakes up, tell him I appreciate what he tried to do. And that I’m sorry.”
“Damn you, Lyssa. You’re going out there to die, aren’t you?”
“I’m not planning on it.” She straightened her back, her chin lifted in determination. “But he’s going to die, Noah. And if I die, too, I’ll have done the right thing. For everyone.”
“I’m not letting that happen.” Before she could say another
He pulled the SUV into the parking lot next to the only other car at this time of night. Probably belonging to the fixed-based operator’s lineman. Another reason Noah had chosen this little FBO. At this time of year, there was no skydiving and therefore, the airport was pretty much barren, especially so close to midnight. He favored two types of setups. Either one with too many people or hardly anyone. Both had advantages and disadvantages.
When it came to Archimedes, deserted won the battle. The guy could blend into a crowd. Which is why not one identifiable description existed of the man who had killed so many people.
Noah slid from the seat. “Wait here. I’ll make sure we’re fueled so we can take off.”
“No need,” Rafe said from the passenger side.
“The Lear’s ready? Who?”
“Zane. Our favorite computer jockey evidently likes propellers as much as you do. Elijah’s staying behind to analyze the evidence with the other forensics squints and hopefully get us a lead. He’ll join us as soon as he can.”
Lyssa twisted her fingers in her lap. “I think Elijah should go with you. Now.”
Her voice was too calm. Noah twisted in his seat, that bad feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. “You mean go with us. ”
“No,” Lyssa said. “I’m not leaving with you. Two people are dead—and Reid could die—all because of me. I have to do something, and I’m not involving anyone else.” She opened her hand. “Give me the keys to the SUV, Noah. Archimedes won’t follow you. You’ll be safe, but I’m staying. When this is over, I’ll leave the car for you. I’m sure you can find it.”
He gripped the keys in his hand. “Hell, no. You’re not remaining in Chicago while that guy’s still on the loose.”
“I made a mistake. I shouldn’t have called Reid.” She met his gaze with an unwavering one of her own. “I’m doing what I should have done in the first place. I’m going to my apartment and wait with my 12-gauge across my lap and my .45 at my side. He won’t get away again.”
“You try this alone, and he’ll change it up. He’ll attack from behind or poison the air, or God knows what,” Noah argued. “ We need to flank him.” He slammed out of the SUV’s front seat and scooted in the back beside her. “We’ve just gotten started. Give us a chance, Lyssa.”
“You’re not going to stuff me in some fortress in the middle of Texas. I can see it on your face, Noah. You want to hide me away. Tell me I’m wrong.”
“The idea has merit,” he said but retreated the moment she glared at him. “Look, we need to regroup. We’ll be analyzing every minuscule piece of information that’s been collected about Archimedes. We’re going to uncover the connection, and we’re going to find a way to trap him.”
“I gave you two chances. Reid’s in the hospital. Chastity is dead. Go back to Texas.”
Noah gritted his teeth. “Rafe, finish the preflight for me.”
His friend said nothing. He exited the vehicle and walked out to the plane. Noah gripped her shoulders. “I’m not letting you do this.”
“You can’t stop me.” She turned her palm up. “Keys.”
He shoved them into his front pocket. She followed the movement with her eyes. The challenge in them scared the hell out of him.
“There’s only one way for this to end,” she said softly. “He wants me. I’m going to give him what he wants. Hand me the keys.”
“I’m not going to convince you to come with us, am I?”
She shook her head. “You did what you could. Tell Reid...if he wakes up, tell him I appreciate what he tried to do. And that I’m sorry.”
“Damn you, Lyssa. You’re going out there to die, aren’t you?”
“I’m not planning on it.” She straightened her back, her chin lifted in determination. “But he’s going to die, Noah. And if I die, too, I’ll have done the right thing. For everyone.”
“I’m not letting that happen.” Before she could say another
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