Shirlee McCoy - Running Blind

“What are you talking about, Jenna?” Kane sounded exasperated, and Jenna patted him on the arm.

“Nothing worrisome. I just needed some help doing some research. You said Nikolai does freelance work for you, and I thought he might like an extra job.”

“Does this have something to do with Magdalena?”

“What if it does?” She met her brother’s eyes, the fire back in her gaze.

“The men who killed your friend are dangerous, Jenna. I don’t want you going after them. Leave that to the police.”

“So far, the police haven’t done squat. Will you come to the reception, Nikolai?”

The look Kane sent his way told Nikolai exactly what his answer should be, but he’d never been one to conform to others’ expectations. Obviously, Jenna had a plan for finding her friend’s killer. Obviously, she was going to keep searching until she found someone to help her. Nikolai wasn’t sure he’d be the person to do that, but there was nothing wrong with hearing her out.

“Sure.”

“Good. You can follow us over.” Jenna’s smile was brilliant, and Nikolai found himself smiling in return as she slid into the car and turned to speak to one of the occupants.

“You’re not seriously considering helping my sister,” Kane asked quietly, and Nikolai’s smile fell away.

“It depends on what she needs and what she’s willing to pay.”

“That’s rather mercenary, even for you.”

“It is what it is.” Nikolai shrugged, not at all offended by Kane’s assessment. If he chose to help Jenna, he’d probably do it free of charge. But that was his business and his decision, not something he planned to discuss with Kane.

“She’s been through a lot in the past few years, Nikolai. Don’t make things worse by stringing her along, promising her something you can’t deliver.”

“If I promise her something, I’ll deliver.”

Kane frowned, but didn’t push the conversation any further. He’d been the one, after all, who’d called Nikolai when he couldn’t reach Jenna by phone during her trip to Mexico. He’d been the one to call him and ask him to check on Jenna during her stay in Houston.

“Are you two done? We need to head over to the reception,” Jenna called out from the car, and Kane nodded, shooting Nikolai a hard look as he got in and closed the door.

Nikolai ignored it. He wanted to know Jenna’s plan. Only if he knew it could he be sure that she wasn’t going to put herself right back in the path of danger. He jogged the few yards to his GTO and climbed in, following Kane to an upscale neighborhood on the edge of downtown Houston. Executive homes stood on large lots, their mature landscaping speaking of a well-established community. Dozens of cars lined the street, and Nikolai found a parking spot and waited as the Doughertys got out of their vehicle.

“I’m glad you came,” Jenna called out as she walked toward him.

“It’s not a problem.”

“I’m sure my brother asked you not to.”

“I did not,” Kane said as he and an older couple joined Jenna. “I don’t think you’ve met my parents, Nikolai. Lila and Richard Dougherty, this is Nikolai Jansen.”

“Nice to meet you.” Nikolai offered each a brief handshake.

“We can’t begin to tell you how grateful we are for all you’ve done.” Mrs. Dougherty pulled Nikolai into an unexpected hug, and Nikolai wasn’t sure if he should pull back or let her have her way.

“Mom, give the poor man some room to breathe,” Jenna said, tugging her mother away.

“Sorry, but I’ve been waiting nearly a week to thank you.” Mrs. Dougherty patted his arm, and he smiled. Her eyes were the same pale blue as her daughter’s, and looking at her gave him a glimpse into what Jenna would be like in thirty years.

“There’s no need to thank me. I did what anyone would have, given the chance.”

“You went above and beyond, and we won’t forget it,” Mr. Dougherty added, and Nikolai met his gaze, saw the worry there.

“Why don’t you guys continue your lovefest inside?” Jenna broke in, her cheeks blazing.

“Good idea. Is that the house?” Nikolai gestured to a large Greek Revival that sat far back on a manicured yard.

“Yes.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Jenna agreed, but she didn’t sound like she meant it.

“You don’t like it?” Nikolai walked up the driveway with her.

“It doesn’t seem like Magdalena’s style.”

“What do you mean?”

“Big fancy house, big fancy lawn. She liked simpler things.”

“Yet she lived here.”

“John wanted something larger than the little condo they had downtown. This is the first time I’ve been to the house. The opulence surprised me.” She reached out to ring the doorbell, but before she could, the door opened and a young man ushered them inside.

He took their coats and umbrellas, then disappeared, leaving them standing in a large foyer. Marble tiles gleamed in light from an ostentatious chandelier, and a wide curved staircase led to a second-story landing. Obviously, the doctor and her husband had been doing well financially.

“The reception is in the ballroom,” Jenna said, leading the way through a long hallway.

“A ballroom? I thought ballrooms went out of style a century ago.” Richard Dougherty spoke in a hushed voice as they made their way through wide double doors and into an expansive room.

“Apparently they’re back in style,” Kane replied, but Nikolai wasn’t sure he agreed.

Maybe ballrooms were in vogue, but the cavernous room echoed with the sound of quiet conversation and clinking glassware, and Nikolai couldn’t imagine that such a place would ever be in style. The waitstaff milled around the mourners, offering drinks and finger foods. Off to one side of the room, in a back corner where it was barely noticeable, a poster-sized photo stood on an easel.

“That’s Magdalena. Would you like to see what she looked like?”

“Sure.” He followed Jenna across the room and studied the photo of the dark-haired, dark-eyed woman. “She was lovely.”

“As lovely on the inside as she was on the outside.” A tall dark-haired man moved toward them, his brown eyes meeting Nikolai’s briefly before he turned his attention to Jenna. “I’m glad you made it, Jen. I was worried this all might be too much for you so soon after…” His voice trailed off and he shook his head.

“You know I wouldn’t be anywhere else, John.”

John? As in John Romero, Magdalena’s husband?

Before Nikolai could ask, the other man pulled Jenna in for a hug, keeping his arm around her waist as he met Nikolai’s eyes again. “You must be Nikolai. I was hoping Jenna would ask you to come. I know that if my wife had survived, she would have wanted to thank you for saving her best friend’s life.”

“I’m sorry that I wasn’t able to save her as well.”

“I am, too, but I know that you did all you could.” John offered a sad smile that didn’t sit well with Nikolai. Something about the guy’s response seemed rehearsed. As if he’d stood in front of a mirror and practiced just the right smile and just the right words.

Then again, his family had been in the spotlight since Magdalena’s death. Some people were jumping to Magdalena’s defense. Others were whispering about the possibility of drug addiction and illegal drug trafficking. Perhaps John merely wanted to avoid more undue attention and was hiding his true emotions because of that.

“How is little Benjamin doing?” Jenna’s mother asked, and John offered a more relaxed smile.

“As well as can be expected. He’s down in the playroom with some of his buddies. My mother and the nanny are watching them.”

“I think I’ll go down and see him.” Jenna stepped away from John’s arm, and Nikolai wondered if the embrace had made her uncomfortable. Did she know John well? Or were they simply two people brought together through their mutual love for Magdalena?