“P8, are you willing to try a little experiment?”
The man gave her a wry grin. “Let me guess. How far away do I need to be so this thing doesn’t affect me. Is that it?”
She smiled. “Yeah. That’s it.”
Sighing, he walked into the dining area. Then, for good measure, stopped in front of the door. “All right. Let’s do this.”
Ingrid pressed the START button again. P8 winced, but it was evident he wasn’t in as much pain as he had been earlier.
“Let me try this outside,” he suggested, and went out the door. “All right! Hit it!”
She hit START a third time.
“Well?” G8 asked, staring out at the man.
“Barely.”
“That’s good. At least we know not to use it when you’re around,” N8 declared.
“And he’ll be able to detect it running when he comes to the lodge,” F8 added.
The microwave beeped. Ingrid reached inside to touch the bowl. “You have to be careful when you try to remove what you’ve heated up. Always check first so you don’t burn your fingers. Mmm, this is okay.” Taking out the bowl, she opened a drawer. “Where do you keep your spoons?”
“Next to the sink,” G8 told her.
She found one and used it to stir the soup before lifting some to her lips. As she blew on the liquid before sipping it reminded him of her mouth on his and a little charge of excitement raced through him.
“Perfect!” Smiling, she held the bowl out to the others, and K8 took it from her.
“It’s warm to the touch.”
“Yep. It’s made to reheat stuff that’s gone cold, although you can also cook in it,” Ingrid noted. “It doesn’t brown stuff like chicken.”
“What about eggs?” T8 queried.
“It depends on how you like them. But I suggest you keep to a skillet for eggs. Oh, but it’s perfect for heating up the milk or formula for the babies’ bottles.”
“Would Cydney know about microwaves?” N8 brought up.
Ingrid smiled. “Oh, yeah. These are pretty much a household staple, like stoves and refrigerators.”
The office phone rang again. G8 went to answer it. They’d gotten into the habit of answering with the name of place as the locals always referred to it.
“Trautman Place.”
“G8? This is Sheriff Biggs again.”
He couldn’t help the knot that suddenly formed in the pit of this stomach. “With good news, I hope?”
“I dunno. It depends. Sheriff Korris over in Gundermon County where those labs are located called me. He and Chief Adams have decided to go into the facility. They’re going to break in, if that’s what it’ll take.”
“W-why?”
“To see if there was a fire. And if there was, if there could be any survivors who weren’t lucky enough to escape.”
G8 had to lean against the desk to steady himself. “When?”
“Tomorrow, bright and early. Around six-ish.”
