CHAPTER 14
Sarah and Logan met Eve at the Phoenix airport that evening. Joe Quinn was not with her.
Eve held up her hand when Sarah opened her mouth to protest. “Jane is disturbed enough. I didn’t want to take Joe away from her.”
“Do you have luggage?” Logan asked.
Eve shook her head as she knelt to pet Monty. “I hoped I wouldn’t need more than my carry-on.” She looked at Sarah. “Will I?”
“I don’t think so.” Sarah frowned. “I wanted you to bring Joe. Did you tell him—”
“I told him you needed me to wolf-sit.” She smiled as she rose to her feet. “After all, that’s all I know. Right?” She started for the exit. “He didn’t like the wolf bit, but he would really have been worried if I’d told him you wanted me to have a bodyguard. Joe’s a little protective.”
Logan snorted. “A little?”
“Maybe more than a little. That’s not a bad thing.” She glanced at Logan. “You’re pretty protective yourself. I’m surprised you let Sarah get into a mess that—”
“I had no choice.” Logan took her carry-on. “But she has one right now, and if you can talk her out of going to Dodsworth, I’ll put you both on a plane to Atlanta.”
“Dodsworth?”
“I’m not going to Atlanta.” Sarah looked him in the eye. “And it’s a dirty trick to try to use Eve to change my mind.”
“Not nearly as dirty as what you’re going to find at Dodsworth.”
Eve said, “It would be nice if you’d let me know what’s going on.”
“I will.” Logan swung open the door of Sarah’s jeep. “I’m dropping Sarah off at the Phoenix house and I’ll drive you to the cabin. There will be plenty of time to fill you in on the way.”
“I’ll drive her,” Sarah said. “I brought her here. I should be the one to explain what’s happening.”
“Too bad. Joe’s not here to ride shotgun, so I take over,” Logan said. “And I want you under lock and key until I get back.” His lips twisted. “You’re the one who wanted to stay on top of Bassett. Maybe you can push him to finish a little faster.”
“Eve’s more important.”
“Yes, she is.” He started the jeep. “And I’ll take good care of her. Do you doubt it?”
Sarah looked from one to the other. She could almost see the bond of memories and experiences that linked them together. She slowly shook her head. “No, you always did take good care of her.”
“Then trust me to care for her now.”
Her gaze shifted to Eve. “If you think there’s any hint of danger after Logan tells you about Rudzak, I want you to go home. Don’t stay. Okay?”
Eve smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m staying clear of trouble these days. Life’s dealt me a very good hand lately. I want to savor every play.”
But Eve had come when Sarah had asked. “Remember that when Logan tells you about Dodsworth.”
Fifteen minutes later Sarah stood outside the Phoenix house and watched Logan and Eve drive out the electronic gates. They were chatting casually as old friends . . . or lovers always did. She felt suddenly empty and alone. It was dumb to stand there, looking after them.
She would call Eve at the cabin and talk with her. Perhaps she’d call Joe too, and tell him what was going on. She’d make that judgment after she talked to Eve.
Another judgment. She didn’t want to weigh lives and choices. She wasn’t Solomon. She was just a search and rescue operator who tried to do the best she could. How had she gotten roped into—
“Thank heaven someone else is here to take over baby-sitting.” Margaret marched toward her across the foyer. “I’ve got a thousand things to do, and I’m stuck with Bassett.”
“Has he been a problem?”
“I guess not. He just doesn’t know what’s good for him and he won’t listen to me.”
“I’ll help all I can.”
“Well, at least a little. Logan placed the responsibility on me and I won’t shirk it.” Her gaze scanned Sarah’s face. “Things not so good with you?”
Sarah shook her head.
“Well, then it’s just as well that you’re here. Nothing like regular meals and exercise to keep your nerves in check. I’ll go dig Bassett out of his lab and we’ll all go for a brisk walk around the grounds.”
“I don’t need—”
But Margaret was gone. Sarah shook her head resignedly. It seemed she was being established firmly under Margaret’s wing. She should never have admitted anything was wrong.
Bassett came down the hall a few minutes later. “Hi, I’m glad you came back. It gets kind of lonely here.”
It was the first time she’d seen him. He had been in his laboratory when Logan and Sarah had dropped off their suitcases. His hair was tousled and there were circles beneath his eyes. Evidently he’d been burning the midnight oil.
“I don’t see how anyone could be lonely with Margaret around,” she said.
“She’s a cross between a mother and a dictator. She makes me eat, go for walks, and constantly interrupts my work.”
“Good for her.”
“But I could use some company who doesn’t nag me twenty-four hours a day.”
“Well, you shouldn’t be lonely long. Logan says you’re almost finished and should be heading for Dodsworth soon.”
He went still. “Logan told you about Dodsworth?” A smile lit his face. “I’m glad. I didn’t like closing you out after you helped me, but it was necessary. Artificial blood is a prime target for industrial espionage and—”
She held up her hand. “I’ve been over that with Logan. As long as there’s no danger of anyone at Dodsworth being hurt, I’m not going to blow the whistle.”
His smile faded. “We all knew what we were getting into when we took the job.”
“You didn’t know about Rudzak.”
“No, I guess I didn’t, but I’d still hire on to get in on the ground floor of this research.”
“How close are you to completing your notes?”
“At least another five days. I’m working as hard as I can, but there are only so many hours in the day.”
Her gaze narrowed on his face. “And you haven’t spent very many of them sleeping.”
“I told you, it’s my dream. Maybe you can understand now that you know how important the project is.”
“I do understand.” She shook her head. “But you don’t have to kill yourself.”
“I’ll survive. People are dying every day who could live if we meet our goal. It’s worth a little exhaustion.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I try to take a walk every day to work out the kinks and clear my head. Want to come with me?”
“I thought that was Margaret’s job. I don’t want to hurt her feelings.”
He made a face. “I guess she can come with us. I like to amble and she sets a pace like a Nazi drill sergeant.”
“I’ll come if you can wait until I give Monty some water.”
“I’ll wait. Maybe we’ll even have a real conversation.
” He leaned against the doorjamb. “You know, I get a little lonesome with no one to talk to. My wife says I’m way too gregarious for a scientist.” He chuckled.
“Which means she thinks I’m a chatterbox.
I tell her my work is so solitary that the floodgates just break open when I leave the lab. ”
“How is your wife?”
“Fine. I miss her. I call her every day, but it’s not the same. She’s taking our son to the Bahamas for a vacation this week. We went there on our honeymoon. I wish I were going with them. Do you know the scuba diving is fantastic off— I’m babbling, aren’t I?”
“Well, you can babble all you please as soon as I get Monty his water. Neither one of us is a talker, but we’re both good listeners.”
“You say that as if your dog is human.” Then he nodded. “Why not? He’s part of your work and your work is your passion too.”
“He’s more than that. He’s my friend.”
“Lucky Monty,” he said wistfully. “I haven’t had much time for friends. I’ve barely had time to be a decent husband and father.”
“You’re young. You’ve got plenty of time.” She motioned for Monty to precede her into the kitchen, then added grimly, “If you don’t let Logan bulldoze you into another project like this one.”
“Logan never bulldozes me. It’s not his way.”
“Not unless he thinks it’s necessary.” But she knew what he meant. Logan’s usual way was charm and subtle maneuvering, which invariably got him what he wanted. Who should know better than she how powerful that spell could be? She had been caught and was still held fast by Logan.
“You’re still angry with him? I hoped you’d realize what a great guy he is.”
“I’m not angry.” But she wanted to be. It would be so much easier if she didn’t know Logan so well.
But she’d seen his vulnerability, his humor and determination.
Walking away from him would be difficult.
What was she thinking? He would probably be the one to walk away from her.
Their sleeping together meant nothing. Even now he was with a woman he’d had a relationship with not even a year ago. Who would be next year’s woman?
“And I do admire him,” she told Bassett. “I just don’t think he’s a hundred percent right a hundred percent of the time.” She followed Monty into the kitchen. “I’ll be back in a minute. I’ll give Monty his drink and then we can get Margaret.”
“If I didn’t know you better, I’d swear you have no conscience, Logan,” Eve said sternly. “You shouldn’t have involved Sarah.”
“You’re preaching to the choir.” Logan parked the car next to the cabin and turned off the ignition. “But it’s too late now. I just have to do what I can to protect her.”
“As long as you can also protect this Dodsworth. I wouldn’t want that responsibility.”
“Neither do I.” His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “You know I’m no saint, Eve. I’m arrogant and selfish and more bullheaded than any man has a right to be. Years ago I made a mistake and let Rudzak live, and now I have to correct it. Dodsworth is the bait, and I have to run with it.”
“If Sarah lets you.”
“She’ll let me. I’ll make sure that security is so tight, she won’t believe Rudzak has a chance.”
She was silent a moment. “You said that Rudzak would target anyone close to you. Does that include me and my family?”
“I don’t think that’s likely. I’ve had two security guards watching your cottage since Rudzak surfaced, but it was only a precaution.” His lips twisted in a wry smile. “He’s not interested in past history.”
“You’ll always be my friend, Logan.”
“I know, and that’s enough for me.” He paused. “Call Quinn and tell him to come. Sarah will feel better about it.”
“What about you?”
“You’d probably all be safer here. You’re under surveillance from the foothills and it’s a clear view to the cabin. It’s hard to guard that cottage in the woods. You found that out when you were dealing with that murderer who stalked you.”
She shivered. “Rudzak couldn’t be as clever as Dom.”
“Don’t bet on it. He fooled Sarah, and she’s pretty canny.”
“Yes.” She frowned. “I’ll think about it.” She got out of the jeep and reached for her suitcase. “Don’t get out. I’ll introduce myself to Galen. I know you want to get back to Sarah. You seem worried about her.”
“I am. All the time.”
“But the guards at the Phoenix house are very—” She stopped, her gaze on his face. “My God.”
He nodded. “No possibility that she’s not a target.” He said, mockingly, “Quinn would laugh. He always told me I didn’t love you enough, that it had to be an obsession. I didn’t understand then, but he was right, you know. It’s an obsession.”
“If anything happens to those people at Dodsworth, she’ll hate you, Logan.”
“I’ll hate myself.” He started the jeep. “Call her and tell her you’re going to ask Quinn to come. She’s worried enough about Dodsworth. She doesn’t need to worry about you.”
Logan’s phone rang on the drive back to Phoenix.
“I met your Sarah,” Rudzak said. “Did she tell you what an entertaining time we had together? She’s an interesting woman.
Not nearly as fascinating as Chen Li, but then, you never had the sophistication to appreciate her.
It doesn’t surprise me that you’ve formed an attachment to someone as blunt and straightforward as Sarah Patrick. ”
“She did a job for me. There’s no attachment.”
“It’s too late to lie to me. I saw you together and I read you so well.”
“You don’t know jack. You haven’t been around me for a long time. I’m not the man you knew all those years ago.”
“You’ve matured, you’re sharper, but the basics are still there. You become involved and you’re pitifully sentimental when your sympathies are aroused. Look how unreasonable you became when I did what was best for Chen Li.”
“I agree. It would have been far more reasonable to have broken your neck then. I’ll have to do it now.”
He laughed. “Then come and get me, Logan. Find me. I’m waiting for you. Oh, by the way, the comb wasn’t for Sarah or anyone at Apache Lake. That was just a mere exercise, not worthy of Chen Li.”
Logan stiffened. “Then why throw the comb in her jeep?”
“It wasn’t for Sarah, Logan.” He hung up.