03 - Organized Grime Read Online Free PDF Page A

of those times I’d almost gotten him killed along with me had made him a quick study.
    The important thing at the moment was that he agreed with me. Sierra couldn’t be responsible for any of this. My racing heart slowed for a moment. It was going to be okay. Everything would be okay.
    My phone jangled. I snatched it from the end table beside me and shoved it to my ear. “Hello?”
    A crackle greeted me. Bad connection. “Hello?” I repeated.
    “Gabby, it’s me.”
    I sat up straight. I’d hardly recognized the quick, whispered voice. “Sierra?”
    Riley leaned toward me, straining his ear toward the phone.
    “Listen, I –” Static broke through. “…name’s Lydia.”
    “Lydia? What about Lydia? Lydia who?”
    Syllables of words broke through, but nothing I could make out.
    “Sierra, I can’t understand you. What’s going on? Where are you?”
    “I…Gabby—sorry.”
    “Sorry? Sorry about what—?”
    Sierra didn’t answer. The phone line went dead.
    I looked at Riley and bit back a frown. The bad feeling in my gut turned into an all-out disaster. What had Sierra gotten herself into?
     

 
     
    Chapter Five
    I ran my hand over my face, flabbergasted, exhausted and curious, all in one huge gust of emotions.  “Lydia. That’s the only word I could make out. How am I supposed to find some random woman named Lydia?”
    Riley leaned toward me, the picture of calm, cool and collected—as always. “Maybe she was talking about Lydia Harrison, the wife of James Harrison.”
    I perked, even more enamored with the man in front of me. “You’re brilliant. Now, how am I going to track down Lydia Harrison?”
    “You’ve tracked down people who were far harder to find, Gabby. I’m sure you’ll locate Lydia.”
    I cast a quick glance at Riley, unsure if I’d heard him correctly. “I can’t believe you’re not discouraging me from this.”
    He shrugged. “I know you well enough to know that discouraging you will do no good.”
    I threw my head back into the couch, disbelief settling over me. Riley held out his arm. “Come here.”
    I gladly fell into his arms. Images of our rocky relationship played in my mind. Just as we’d been on the brink of a relationship—or so I’d thought—his fiancée had shown up. Okay, she was an ex-fiancée who hadn’t gotten the message yet. Good old Riley had to give their relationship another shot, though. That’s when I started dating Parker. But then Parker fell for his new partner. Then I met Chad, who’s now my business partner. Our relationship is comfortable and flirty, but deep down I know that Chad isn’t Riley. Sounds like a confusing mess, huh?
    And I know I need therapy. Lots of therapy. Maybe some electric shock. Water boarding?
    Of course, my relationship problems were the least of my concerns at the moment. Nice distraction, though, Riley. For just a moment, I’d forgotten the problems at hand as I relished Riley’s strength.
    “I’m sure Lydia’s address is unlisted. Her husband’s office has now been demolished by a bomb, so I can’t snoop there. And the feds are swarming anything vaguely connected with the company. They’ll never let me get close.”
    Riley said nothing. Which made me pull my head back and look him in the eye. “You know something?”
    He hesitated. “She’s on the board for the nonprofit Arms of Love. I’m sure you can get in contact with her through that.”
    I sat up straight. “You know her?”
    Riley shook his head. “No, but I’ve seen her at different events around town.”
    I leaned toward him, curious now. “What do you know about her?”
    “She’s one of those mover and shaker types. There’s something about her that I’ve never quite trusted, though, Gabby. I can’t put my finger on it. On the surface, she seems like the perfect citizen. But there’s something in her gaze that makes me cautious.”
    “Your gut feeling is rarely wrong.”
    He twisted his lips like he needed to say something but