Beautiful Storm (Lightning Strikes Book 1) (15 page)

But nothing was going to happen. Not now anyway.

"Another place, another time," he muttered.

"What?"

"You and me."

She saw the same awareness in his eyes, felt an almost irresistible pull toward him, but somehow she resisted leaning across the table. It was getting more and more difficult not to give in to temptation.

She'd always followed her passions, but this time she had to be smart. She had to think before she jumped. "We should talk about what we want to ask Liliana's coworker."

"Yes," he agreed, his lips tightening.

For a moment, it looked like he wanted to say something else, but then he picked up his glass and drank what was left of his beer.

"We need to find out what case Liliana was working," she said.

He nodded. "And who she was working with, whether there were any problems with her associates at work."

"We should ask about Liliana's personal life, too: friends, boyfriends, where she lived."

"I have Liliana's home address in my phone. When she first got the job, she gave me her address and I sent her flowers."

"We can go there after our meeting." She paused as the waiter set down their check and took their empty plates away.

"Good idea." He put some cash on the table to cover their bill. "Ready?"

"Michael?"

He gave her an inquiring look. "What?"

"
Maybe
another place, another time—
maybe
you and me."

His gaze met hers, and a smile played through his eyes. "No
maybe
about it, Alicia."

His words stopped the breath in her chest. She didn't know what to say. The silence reminded her of the calm before the storm. She had a feeling Michael could be as magnificent and as dangerous as the lightning she chased.

But she wasn't going to chase him, not now anyway…

* * *

Michael's pulse was racing way too fast. He wanted to blame it on the fact that he was walking into the JAG offices where Liliana had worked, but he was also amped up from talking to Alicia, from acknowledging the attraction between them. Now, all he could think about was taking their future
maybe
plan and making it happen now.

But he couldn't do that, and he felt a little guilty for getting sidetracked from their mission.

He opened the office door for Alicia, and she preceded him down the hallway and into the lobby.

The receptionist gave them visitor passes and took them through another door and into a conference room where she told them to wait.

Michael felt almost too wired to sit. He hoped this trip to Texas wasn't going to be a wild-goose chase. This next meeting would probably be a good indicator of what was to come.

"Breathe," Alicia told him.

Her words made him let out the breath he'd been subconsciously holding. "You're very good at reading my mind."

"I know there's a lot at stake, Michael, but whether this meeting turns out to be filled with good information or not, it isn't going to be the end of anything. It's just a step we have to take."

"You're right, but I'm hoping for a break."

"Me, too."

The door opened and a woman in her early thirties walked into the room. She was in uniform—navy blue skirt, white blouse—and her blonde hair was pulled back into a bun.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I'm Lieutenant Erin Hodges."

"I'm Michael Cordero. This is Alicia Monroe."

After they all shook hands, Erin waved them back into their chairs.

"How can I help you?" she asked. "I already told the police everything I know."

"You spoke to Detective Kellerman?" Michael asked.

"Yes. He interviewed a number of us. I thought he'd come to the conclusion that there was no link between Liliana's life here in Texas and what happened in Miami?"

"We're just following up," Alicia interjected. "The case has gone cold, so we're reviewing all the facts in hopes of finding a lead that was previously overlooked. We really appreciate you taking the time to speak with us."

"Of course. Liliana was one of my best friends. I can't believe she's still missing."

"Do you know what Liliana was working on before she left Texas?" he asked.

"It was a murder appeal. Last year a female Navy lieutenant, Melissa Bryer, was convicted of murdering her husband and another woman. Her appeal made its way back to our office about three months ago. Liliana was reviewing the trial transcripts, the evidence and witness testimony to see if there was any merit to the appeal.

Michael's nerves tightened with that piece of information. "It was a double homicide? Who were the victims?"

"The lieutenant's husband, Thomas Bryer, a professor at Texas A&M and his alleged lover, Connie Randolph. The lieutenant was believed to have killed them in a fit of rage after finding them together in her house. The Bryers were living in Navy housing, and since the case involved a naval officer, Lieutenant Bryer was tried in military court."

"What was the basis for the appeal?" Alicia asked.

"Incompetent defense counsel. Lieutenant Bryer had two attorneys work on her case. The first attorney left JAG halfway through the trial to accept a civilian offer. Her replacement attorney was a younger, less experienced counselor. The appeal claims that mistakes were made because of the change in representation and the level of experience of the second lawyer who had not defended a murder case before."

"Why didn't a more experienced lawyer get the case?" he asked.

"We were low on manpower. Some of our attorneys were overseas at the time. It was an unfortunate set of circumstances." She paused for a moment. "But I don't see how the case could be connected to Liliana's disappearance in Florida."

"It may not be, but we need to check it off the list," he said. "Did Liliana find any merit to the appeal?"

"The day before she left town she told me that she thought the lieutenant deserved a new trial, but she didn't say why. I was busy on another case, so I wasn't paying much attention to what she was doing. I wish now that I'd asked her more questions."

"She must have been keeping notes," he said. "Where are those?"

"Detective Kellerman was given access to her computer, and I believe all relevant information was copied and sent back with him as well."

"Could we see that information?" Alicia asked.

Lieutenant Hodges immediately shook her head. "I'm sorry, but I'm not authorized to provide that information to anyone but the police."

Michael was discouraged but not surprised. "Tell me this then—was that case the only one Liliana was working on?"

"There were other smaller pieces of litigation, but that's where she was spending the majority of her time."

"Is there anything else you can tell us?"

"I don't think so. What's happening in Miami?"

"The police investigation has come to a grinding halt," he said.

"I'm sorry to hear that. I was hoping for better news."

"You said you were a friend, not just a coworker."

"Yes."

"Then you need to help us. The police have no more leads to follow and aren't interested in looking into what happened here in Texas, but we're not going to overlook any possible clue. We're going to keep digging and pushing until Liliana comes home."

Lieutenant Hodges suddenly smiled. "I would expect nothing less. Liliana told me about you, Mr. Cordero."

"Please, call me Michael."

"She said that you were her best and most stubborn friend, but that's probably why you got along so well, because she was just as bullheaded."

He was touched that Liliana had spoken to her friend about him.

"She also said that you'd always known her better than anyone else. That you gave her the best present for her thirteenth birthday."

"A second edition of Jane Austen's
Emma
," he murmured. "I can't believe she told you that."

"You gave her
Emma
?" Alicia asked curiously.

"It was her favorite book. I saw an edition online that was really old, and I thought she'd like it," he said, feeling a little awkward about the present now.

"She told me because she brought the book to our book club one night," Lieutenant Hodges added. "She said you'd told her she was a lot like Emma, nosy and meddling."

"That's true. She both of those things, but she was also smart and caring."

"She was," Lieutenant Hodges agreed, sadness filling her gaze. "I thought it was just a random attack, that someone grabbed her off the street, Michael. Now you're making me think it wasn't that at all."

"That might have been what happened," he admitted. "But on the chance that it's not, I can't leave any stone unturned. If the situation was reversed, I know Liliana would keep looking for me."

"I'm sure she would."

"Did she tell you that she wanted to see me when she got to Miami?" he asked.

The lieutenant shook her head. "No, she didn't say anything beyond the fact that she didn't care much for her sister's fiancé but she was going to have to be nice now that he was going to be family. She also seemed a little irritated that she was going to have to put her investigation on hold for what she called a week of silly wedding events. She's not the type to enjoy the big bridal show."

"No, she definitely didn't care about that kind of thing."

"Is there anything else you can tell us about the case?" Alicia asked, bringing the conversation back to the appeal. "Were there any other suspects besides the wife? If she didn't do it, does she have any thoughts as to who did? What about someone connected to the woman who was killed? Did she have a boyfriend?"

"Everyone believed Ms. Randolph's boyfriend was Professor Bryer," Lieutenant Hodges replied. "She had an ex-husband, but they'd been divorced for about a year and he wasn't in town when she was killed. He had a strong alibi, too." She paused. "The police spoke to a lot of people: the Bryers' housekeeper, the neighbors, people at the university and also at the company where Connie Randolph was employed. Very few people had any relevant information. Lieutenant Bryer's sister, Cheryl Alton, was, however, quite vocal in defending her sister. She also didn't believe that there was an affair. But she had no proof."

"We really need to see the case file," Michael said. "It sounds like there were a lot of players."

"There were. It was a double homicide, so the investigation had to cover both victims in great detail. One thing is for certain. The bodies were found in the Bryers' house, so whatever relationship Thomas Bryer had with Connie Randolph, they were together the night they were killed. I'm sure you can find a lot of the details on the Internet. The press was very interested in the case. Love triangles are always media headlines, especially when the military and the university are involved. Just about everyone here in Corpus Christi knows someone who's either in the Navy or going to Texas A&M. It's that kind of town."

"Did Connie work at the university?" Alicia asked.

"No, she worked for MDT, which stands for Mission Defense Technology. They're a defense contractor. That's where she met Professor Bryer. He did some consulting work for them."

"What kind of technology?"

"They have many different product lines, electronics, radar systems, weaponry, GPS trackers and other military devices. The company has over ten thousand employees around the country, and at least seven hundred here in Corpus Christi. I know Liliana spent at least two days there talking to people. She came back pretty excited about some of the new technology they were working on." Erin smiled fondly. "Liliana loved gadgets. I think she had a secret desire to be a spy, not a lawyer."

Her words tugged at an old memory in his heart. "She did love spy movies. She'd drag us all to the newest Bond movie as soon as it came out, usually at midnight." He exchanged a sad, commiserating look with Lieutenant Hodges.

The lieutenant checked her watch. "I'm sorry to cut this off, but I have to be in court in twenty minutes."

"What about the case files?" he pressed. "Can you give us anything? It would be really helpful. It doesn't have to be official, just informative."

She hesitated. "Where are you staying?"

"The Bayside Hotel."

"If I can come up with any information, I'll leave it at the front desk. How long will you be in town?"

"At least a few days."

"I'll see what I can do."

"We appreciate that. One last question—was Liliana seeing anyone here in Texas?"

"She went out occasionally but nothing ever led to a second date as far as I know. And she had no problems here at work, if that's your next question."

"But what about the lawyer whose performance was the basis of the appeal?" Alicia cut in. "Wouldn't that person have been a little upset that their work was being questioned?"

"Well, sure, but appeals are part of the business. You have to learn to not take them personally."

"Who was that attorney?" Michael asked.

"Vince McIntyre."

"Could we speak to him?"

"He was assigned to a carrier three months ago. He's somewhere in the Indian Ocean right now. I know Liliana spoke to him briefly on the phone, but her investigation needed to be conducted without his influence, so she didn't ask him a lot of questions."

"What about now?" Alicia asked. "Who's handling the appeal now that Liliana is missing?"

"It's still in the process of being reassigned. It's possible I may get it, but my boss hasn't yet made that determination. We've all been hoping that Liliana would return." Lieutenant Hodges got to her feet. "I really do have to go. If you have more questions, you have my number."

"Thanks for your time," Michael said as they walked out of the conference room together.

She paused at the entrance to the lobby. "I want you to bring Liliana home. If it were up to me, I'd give you everything."

"I understand."

"Good luck."

"Thanks," he said. "We could use some good luck for a change."

Twelve

They walked back to the rental car in silence. Michael's brain spun with the information Lieutenant Hodges had presented. There was a lot to think about, which was good. But it was also bad, because there was so much new ground to cover. And were they even heading in the right direction?