Those words probably weren’t as comforting as Wolfe thought. “I should really get into place at the commune,” she murmured, eyeing the elevator door.
“You won’t make it, so don’t try.” Wolfe didn’t bother looking up from the maps he was studying of a parade path in Boston.
Her burner phone buzzed again.
She stiffened, her body turning cold. “Should I answer it?”
Nari Zhang strode out of her office on kitten-heel pumps. With her black slacks and pink shirt, she looked like a lawyer about to head to court. “We’ve ignored the last three calls. I think you should answer this one.”
Pippa drew in a deep breath. “All right.” Her hand shaking, she lifted the phone to her ear. “Hello.”
“Mary, why haven’t you answered your phone?” Isaac snapped.
Just hearing his voice again made her want to puke. “I’ve been driving in and out of service, Isaac. I’m getting there as fast as I can.” She didn’t have to try to sound exhausted. She was already there.
“How much longer?” He sounded like a spoiled child.
“I don’t know.” She let the panic she was truly feeling enter her voice. “It’ll be really late tonight or even early tomorrow morning. I promise I’m coming.” And she was. Whether Mal liked it or not. Then she swore. “There’s a cop behind me. I don’t think I can talk on the phone and drive here. ’Bye.” She clicked off, her breath starting to pant.
“Good job,” Wolfe said.
“You guys know I have to be there, right? If there’s any chance to figure out where the attack will take place, it’s with me.” She looked at both Wolfe and Nari, but neither answered.
The elevator door dinged, and everything inside her grew still.
Malcolm, Angus, and Raider exited, all looking as if they’d been through a cement mixer. They’d been meeting with the Boston cops about the dead bodies.
“Bad scene?” she asked, her gaze staying with Mal.
Mal nodded. “We identified Mark Brookes and a woman—a girl really—named Louise Stratford. She had a notebook with the name Tamarack on it.”
Sharp knives slashed into Pippa’s chest. “She was a nice girl who helped me escape. But she didn’t want to leave.” And Isaac had killed her for that? Tears filled Pippa’s eyes.
“We’ll get him,” Mal said grimly. “I promise.”
“How did she die?” Pippa asked, trying not to puke
“Strangulation,” Raider said, looking beyond them toward the computer room. “I hope my charge didn’t escape today.”
Nari’s narrow nostrils flared. “Brigid isn’t going anywhere. She likes working here already.”
“Humph.” Raider nodded at Pippa and then continued to the computer room. “We’ll see about that.”
Angus paused in front of Pippa’s desk. “I know it sucks, but we need to concentrate right now. We’ll mourn the dead later. Did you identify anybody in the pictures?”
“Yes, but we can’t find them. Or rather, we haven’t found them yet,” Pippa said, trying to concentrate but only seeing Mal.
Angus studied them both. “Pippa? Mal? I need you in case room two.”
The look Mal gave Angus did something funny to Pippa’s stomach.
Wolfe looked up and studied the group. He turned to Pippa. “Do you want to take Kat?”
“No kitten,” Angus snapped, sounding like a guy who’d reached the end of any patience he might’ve had. Stress lines cut into the sides of his mouth, and his pupils had narrowed, as if his head was pounding.
Pippa swallowed. “Angus, are you all right?” She couldn’t help but ask the question.
“None of us are right now,” he said tersely. “Come on. Let’s get this over with.” He’d almost reached his office when he called for Raider.
