Chapter 28 #2
When he got to the entry hall, stepping around the knocked-over table, he saw the two duffels. Rowan ducked through the strap of her kitbag and settled it on her hip, then pulled on her gloves. Set near the door was a neat leather briefcase with gold clasps.
Dammit, there could be something in there. No heat to the thought, since she wouldn’t have picked it up without scanning it.
She shrugged. Curiosity, my besetting sin. Come on, let’s go. It’s a shame, I really liked this place.
Del privately agreed. He, too, was getting a little tired of constant motion. Oh, well, at least we won’t hear the neighbors anymore. I’d rather have you safe, angel.
That night, hours away in a motel room with snow-promising winter wind moaning at the window, the briefcase sat between them on a rickety table. Rowan settled in a chair, unwinding her scarf with a sigh.
“We could call in,” she said, the line between her eyebrows deepening. “Or string some code. They’d be glad to hear from us.”
Del nodded. He finished the last of the scans, slipping the small handheld instrument into his kitbag. Second scan, standard procedure, but not likely to come up with anything. “Well, it’s not going to explode and kill us, and there’s no tracker. You want to do the honors?”
“If we…” She gazed at the table, dark hair falling softly over her face. It was a sweet piercing feeling, knowing he could look at her as much as he wanted, rediscovering the curve of her cheek and the shape of her flawless mouth. “If we open that, it’s as good as admitting we want to go back.”
I wondered when you were going to realize that, sweetheart. You’ve been itching to do something useful for a while now. Don’t think I haven’t noticed. It felt strange not to automatically share the thought.
She gave him a wry smile. “I can feel you thinking, even if I can’t hear the content.” She stretched, gave the bed a longing glance. “What do you want, Justin? Do you want to go back?”
He considered the question, carefully. The pink-and-brown curtains over the window stirred. The weather-stripping wasn’t up to code, but they both needed rest. Besides, this place was in the perfect location, easy to escape without notice, and that was worth a little chill.
He might even wake up to her cuddling into his warmth, and that was always pleasant.
“Sex fiend.” She shifted uneasily in the chair, and he sighed.
“Goose calling the gander, sweetheart.” He gave her a smile that felt natural, treasured the quick grin she flashed in response. “You really want to know what I want?” Folded his arms, the familiar sensation of dampers giving a subliminal crackle.
She rolled her eyes, then sobered. She glanced at the African violet sitting safely on the small nightstand, under a pink ceramic lamp shaped like an elephant. The plant didn’t seem any worse for wear. “Of course.”
“I want you happy. You want to go back, we’re still not required to do anything other than hang around Headquarters and train a few psions. Or just do the paperwork. I’m sure the old man has a mountain of it.”
Her eyes were dark, almost troubled. “You miss him, don’t you?”
The idea of missing anyone was strange. Unfortunately, she was right. “Yeah, I guess I do. Don’t tell him, though.”
“Silent as the grave.” She put her legs down, leaned forward in the chair, and stared at the briefcase. He watched the thoughts moving in her gaze, the faint blush on her cheeks from the cold, and the mussed silk of her hair.
“All right,” she said finally, as if wrapping up a long internal conversation. “I suppose…” But she didn’t finish the sentence.
“We can toss it off the next bridge without even opening it.” Fat chance, sweetheart. I can see it in your eyes. You’re thinking about going back.
If it was true, it was relatively good news. If it wasn’t, Henderson probably needed them. If it was a trap, Henderson would need them even more.
She reached decisively, fingers flickering, and the locks clicked open. Her gaze met his.
“We can call in tomorrow morning,” he said. “There’s a train station in the next town. Risky, but quick.”
She nodded, her hair swinging. A holster dug into Del’s side as he stretched muscles gone stiff from so long in the car.
“If this is true…”
“If it’s true, Rowan, you brought down Sigma. Congratulations. Now open the damn briefcase. The suspense is killing me.”
“I love you too,” she said, opening the briefcase with one swift, decisive movement. Silence returned, as she shuffled through the contents, quick glances, every sense alert.
I don’t think I’ll ever be able to tell you how much I adore you, angel. If this is true and we go back, I’ll keep you safe. “Well?”
She nodded. “We’re going back. Henderson’s going to need us either way.
” Her chin lifted decisively; she could probably stop his heart if she ever looked at him that way.
She pulled a sheaf of papers free, flipping through them and collating them swiftly with a single glance.
She set aside two sleeve-jacketed DVDs, flipped through more papers. Her eyebrows rose.
He waited.
When she spoke again, it was in a clear, firm tone that made his heart triphammer inside his ribs.
“Transcripts from closed Congressional hearings, admittance papers for Anton, workups on jobs they suspect were done by Zed-wiped psions taken by the private sector…” Her gaze swung up, met his.
“If Sigma’s really destroyed there’s no reason to stay away. ”
“I guess not.” He settled himself in the opposite chair.
“I want to go home.” Her eyes glittered with unshed tears. High hectic color stood out in her cheeks.
She was so goddamn beautiful it actually hurt to look at her, all the way through his chest and lower, too.
Justin Delgado gathered himself. “Great. We’ll catch the train in the morning. Give me a look at what’s in there, angel. I love you too.”
finis