Mik’s boss, Dr. Lowenstein, eyes me with suspicion as we sit across from him. She introduced me with my former title, but he’s not convinced.
“You do understand, Mr. Pritchard, that this is highly irregular? Dr. Salim’s research has the potential to change Parkinson’s treatment forever.” Lowenstein crosses his arms and leans back in his chair.
“And you understand I have Top Secret clearance and used to be in charge of military operations so clandestine, if I even whispered their names, neither one of us would ever be heard from again?” I’m not in the mood to be intimidated, or to waste time. I want Mik back home where I know she’s safe, and goddammit, I want Wren to call with news.
“Stop this stupid posturing. Both of you. Howard, Austin saved my life down in Mexico, and I trust him.” She turns to me. “And you. Calm down. We know who sent the samples, and now that we’ve decontaminated that drive, we’ll figure out what’s on it soon enough.”
Stifling my grumble of protest, I say, “Thisismy calm face, Mik.”
She smashes her lips together, her eyes turning dark with need and a flush creeping up her neck. “Uh huh.”
Oh, the things I’m going to do to her tonight. If she lets me. The momentary thought is all I allow myself because just then, Ronan’s voice comes through my earbud. “Wren sent me to Ripper. Something about being too close to breaking into the Federal Ministerial Police servers to stop now. He’s tracing the shipment, but says it’ll probably take him an hour.”
Ripper’s estimates are always twice as long as they need to be, and I check my watch. We’ll at least know where that shipment came from by the time we leave here. I clear my throat, the only acknowledgement I can give Ronan at the moment, and return my focus to Mikayla. Her voice cracks when she recounts her hike to Site One, and I reach over and take her hand.
The grateful look she gives me is tempered by pain, and by the time she gets to the fire in the mobile lab unit, she’s holding on for dear life. Lowenstein looks like he’s seen a ghost, and I shift my focus to him, watching every change in expression. Analyzing. Thinking. Shuffling puzzle pieces around in my head.
“I told Li and Isaiah to take the rest of the week off, and I don’t want anyone in the greenhouse, the lab, or my office,” she says finally. “Not until we figure out where Corey went and who’s behind the poaching.”
“My God, Mikayla. I can’t believe any of this,” Lowenstein says, then shakes his head. “I don’t doubt you. Not for a moment. But why would anyone steal all Blushing Notes? Even if it was only for profit, why try to kill you and the students?”
“That’s what we’re trying to find out.” I sit up a little straighter and arch a brow at Lowenstein. “Have there been any inquiries into Mik’s research lately? Anyone with an unusually strong interest in her work? You must have a marketing or public relations department. Any chance we can speak to them?”
“They’re already gone for the day,” Lowenstein says. “It’s after five. But I can send them an email and have them meet you tomorrow.” He rests his elbows on his desk and steeples his fingers as he focuses on Mik. “Are you in danger?”
“That’s what we’re trying to figure out.” Her voice is stronger now, and she pulls her hand from mine. “Please don’t share anything we’ve talked about today with anyone. Not the details. If anyone asks why I’m back early, just say the storms got too bad for us to finish out the week.”
“And what about the shipment that came in?” he asks.
Mik steals a quick glance at me, and I give her a barely perceptible nod. We agreed on a course of action, but it’s going to require her to keep some secrets, and she’s so open, so trusting of those she works with, I know it’s going to be hard for her.
“All of the sample cases were empty. The Chiapas police apparently boxed up all the cases in my hotel room and put them in the mail. That’s why none of the standard protocols were followed.” She stares down at her hands, and if Lowenstein is at all trained in reading body language, he’ll know she’s not telling the truth.
The older man nods and when he scrubs his hands over his face, there’s a tremble in his fingers. Parkinson’s, Mik said. He needs this cure, and though I can’t get a read on him—at least not one I’m confident in—I don’tthinkhe’s involved. “Call the PR department in the morning,” he says. “Let them know I said they should give you any information you need.”
Rising, Mik threads her fingers with mine. “Thanks, Howard. As soon as we have any more information, we’ll let you know.”
Ten minutes later, we’re back in the SUV. “Ronan, we’re headed back to Mik’s house. As soon as I confirm the interior’s clear, you can head out for the night.”
“About damn time,” he mutters. “It’s hot as fuck out here. I need a beer and a shower.”
Chuckling as the air conditioning hits us full blast, I turn to Mik. “You okay, sweetheart?”
“Not really.” With a sigh, she closes her eyes and rests her head against the seat. “I hated lying to Howard. And tomorrow? When I analyze those samples? I don’t know what I hope to find. I just hope soaking the USB drive in bleach to kill the phytotoxin didn’t destroy any message Corey wanted me—or someone—to have.”
The sadness lacing her tone makes my own heart hurt, and I reach over and brush my knuckles along her cheek. “Whatever happens, Mik, we’ll be okay. Because we’ll be together.”
Leaning across the SUV, I pull her in for a kiss. It won’t fix everything, but she seems to draw at least a little comfort from the contact. “Take me home, Austin. I want to be home. With you.”
If I thoughtwe’d be safe, I’d take Mik out for dinner. Woo her properly. Despite never once in my life having use for the wordwoo,with Mikayla, I want to do this right.
But as we park in her driveway, she stifles a yawn, and I take a good, hard look at her. “You’re exhausted, sweetheart. Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because it doesn’t matter.” She’s out of the car before I can help her, and headed for her front door.
“Mik, wait. Let me go first.”
Freezing with her hand on the knob, she stares back at me, a haunted look in her eyes. “The cameras…?”
