CHAPTER 15 #3
“A pain in my ass. She and Monty have been over every inch of the facility looking for cracks in my security. She knows emergency procedures better than my second-in-command, and I think she’s memorized every corridor in the damn building.”
“Did she find any cracks?”
There was a hesitation. “One. But it was more of a hairline fracture.”
“So she’s satisfied that Dodsworth’s safe?”
“Yes, but now she doesn’t see why Rudzak would persist in targeting it.”
“Tell her about the blueprints.”
“I’ll tell her. She may still worry about all your other facilities.”
“Your job is to keep her from worrying.”
“Until she makes another one of her four A.M. inspection tours.” His tone was distinctly sour. “I’d rather take care of Maggie. When are you coming to get her out of my hair?”
“I’ll be there as soon as I can, but I assure you that Rudzak isn’t going to start without me. No word from him?”
“Just the missing blueprints. That’s a pretty decisive statement. Give Margaret my best.” He hung up.
Logan slipped the phone in his pocket and headed for intensive care. It was no surprise that Sarah was giving Galen a hard time. She wouldn’t care how much she liked someone if it got in the way of her job and, in this case, her job was to keep Dodsworth from becoming a disaster area.
“What are you doing here?” Margaret’s voice was only a breath of sound, which he could barely hear from where he stood in the doorway.
He crossed the room and took her hand in his. “How are you feeling?”
“Like shit.” She glared at him. “And mad. Why are you here moaning and groaning instead of going after the asshole who shot me? Did you think I was going to die?”
“The thought never occurred to me.”
“Liar. But I’m not going to die and”—she had to pause to get her breath—“and I have enough problems with my brothers being overprotective. So get out of here.”
He stood looking at her.
“Okay, okay, I promise I won’t die, John.” She showed her teeth with tigerlike ferocity. “And instead of flowers, why don’t you send me Rudzak’s head?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good.” She closed her eyes. “Now get out of here. I’m tired.”
“Shall I call a nurse?”
“His head, John.” She didn’t open her eyes. “Stop standing there worrying and just get out of here and bring me his head.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He turned toward the door. “Right away, ma’am.”
7:45 P.M.
“Joe got here yesterday,” Eve told Sarah on the phone. “He’s going to be here as long as you need me. Do you have any idea yet how long that will be?”
“I wish I did.”
“No problem. I just like the idea of being home with my family.”
“Jane is okay now?”
“No thanks to me. She worked it out for herself . . . I think.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s funny how clear and simple everything is when you don’t let baggage get in the way. What are you doing there at Dodsworth?”
“Keeping myself busy.”
“Is the security as good as you hoped?”
“Better. And that bothers me. Why would Rudzak think he could take down this facility?”
“You’re afraid he’ll target another place?”
“I seem to be the only one. Galen and Logan think the stolen blueprints are cast-iron proof. I’m afraid it might be a red herring.”
“Logan’s nobody’s fool.”
“I know that. It’s just—” She stopped, frustrated. “I’m afraid we’re on the wrong track. It doesn’t smell right.”
Eve chuckled. “You sound like Monty on a search.”
“Monty’s usually right.”
“I’m the last one to disagree. You should follow your instincts. I’ve got to go. Time to feed Maggie.”
It was time to feed Monty too. “Come on, boy.” Sarah hung up the phone and headed toward the cafeteria with Monty at her heels.
She’d packed one of the kitchen cabinets with his food and vitamins, and she tried to feed him in the evening when he wasn’t distracted by the constant attention of the scientists.
Monty was already practically a mascot, and he’d rather have gotten belly rubs than eat.
Bassett was sitting at a table, and he looked up when Sarah came into the room. “Got time to sit down and have a cup of coffee with me?”
She shook her head. “I just came to feed Monty. I’m nervous enough without the caffeine.”
“Are you? I feel a lot safer here.” He got to his feet and followed Sarah and Monty into the kitchen. “Funny. I felt fine until that last day in Phoenix. Have you heard how Margaret’s doing?”
“She’s still alive.”
“I complained a lot about her, but I really liked her.”
“I know. How do you like your lab here?”
“Fine. They’ve assigned Hilda Rucker to work with me.
She’s brilliant.” He wrinkled his nose as he looked down at his bandaged left hand.
“And she’s got two good hands to operate the computer.
That’s nothing to sneeze at.” He finished his coffee in one swallow.
“I’d better get back to the grind. Hilda’s no Margaret, but I can’t let her get ahead of me. Let me know about Margaret.”
“I will.”
Galen passed him at the kitchen door and gave him a casual nod before coming toward Sarah. “Logan’s on his way. He just called and told me that Margaret had kicked him out. He should be here within a few hours.”
“Good.” She leaned down and put Monty’s dinner before him. “Then she’s better?”
“Well, it’s clear she’s functioning in her usual manner.” He made a face. “I’m glad she’s in Phoenix. I don’t need another high-powered woman here.”
“Yes you do. But you’ll have to be satisfied with me. Speaking of high-powered females, I talked to Eve a little while ago. She thinks Maggie is either pouting or mourning. She won’t stop howling.”
“Then why don’t you go home and take care of your wolf yourself?”
She gave him a sly glance. “Maybe I should send for Maggie and Eve, have them come here instead.”
“Forget it.” He headed for the door. “I’m out of here.”
“Can’t take the heat?” But he’d already gone.
The large kitchen was suddenly cavernous and lonely. Her smile faded as she leaned on the counter and watched Monty eat. Sparring with Galen was an outlet she badly needed. The tension was growing with every hour, and she needed it over.
Monty looked up at her. Sad?
She shook her head as she filled his water bowl. Not sad, uneasy. And lonely. It was strange how lonely you could feel when you’re apart from one special individual. “Eat your dinner. You haven’t eaten decently since we left the cabin.”
Sad.
“This is our job. I had to take you away from Maggie.”
Sad.
“Heaven save me from a lovesick—” Why was she blaming Monty, when she’d been mooning around herself only a few minutes before? “It’s okay,” she whispered as she reached down to scratch behind his ear. “I know it’s bad, but we’ve got to go on. Now eat your dinn—”
“Sarah.”
She turned to see Galen standing in the doorway. “Why did you come ba—” She stiffened. “What’s wrong?”
“A package for you.” He crossed the room and handed her a neatly wrapped box. “It just came. Special delivery.”
All packages coming into the facility were X-rayed. “What is it?”
He shrugged. “I couldn’t tell. Something weird. But it’s not an explosive.”
She slowly took off the wrap and opened the lid. The object inside was old, very old, the ivory yellowed by time, but the gold-sheeted mirror still shone. She felt her stomach clench. “Chen Li.”
Galen stiffened. “I was afraid of that. Don’t read the note. Maybe we’d better save it for Logan.”
“It’s addressed to me.” She unfolded the paper.
Sarah,
As I told Logan, the last gift wasn’t for you. This one is far more fitting. Notice the asp? You can share it with Logan.
Martin Rudzak