“Where did the attorney go?” Kip typed a note on his tablet.
“Right to his car, and off he went,” Zayne reported. “The baby gate arrived. Until they are installed, I’ll post someone in the hall so the girls don’t fall down the stairs.”
Kip laughed. “Where’s the gate?”
“In the box at the top of the hall,” Zayne replied.
“I need my drill and my toolbox. I think I can handle a baby gate.” Kip left his office, pulled the directions off the gate box, did a quick read and went to get his tools.
Together with Zayne, Kip installed the gate. Satisfied with his handiwork, he went to return his tools. As he stepped from the rear door, Zayne almost yanked him out of his shoes. “Locking you down. We have an intruder alert.”
Kip turned and ran up the stairs to check on Harper. She was sitting on the rug dragging a wooden train on its tracks, making choo-choo noises. Babette was imitating her, while Desirée was curled in between her bent knees.
“Kip,” Babette said with her French accent.
“Can I play?” Kip asked, sitting on the rug next to Harper.
Babette ran to her closet and pulled her backpack to him. When she struggled to open the zipper, Kip scooped her up to help open the pack for her. She reached inside and pulled out a toddler’s version ofThe Little Prince, a blanket, and a small notebook. “Mama.” She gave it to Kip.
Harper froze. “Kip?” Paling, she chewed her lip and held Desirée tightly.
He looked inside and whispered, “It’s the other trial.” Now more on edge, he did his best to read the storybook. “Once, when I was six…”
Bang!the shot rang out. Both girls started to cry. Harper shrieked and looked to Kip for reassurance.
Kip put his finger against his nose. “Shh. Come with me. We’re going to play Navy. Let’s crawl.” Kip scooped Desirée into his arms, soothing her as he led the crawl to their ensuite bathroom. “Harper is going to climb into the bathtub boat, and, ladies, you’re going to climb into her lap.” He helped them in. “Oops, I forgot my captain’s hat. I’ll be right back.”
As he closed the bathroom door, he heard two more shots go off. He ran to his office and pulled a comm from the drawer. “Sit-rep,” he called as the device connected.
“We have three shooters pinned down at the cottage,” Zayne said. “We requested additional assistance.”
Kip checked his gun, confirming a round was in the chamber. He was about to head down the stairs when he stopped. He tapped his comm. “Keep me posted. I’ll be with the girls in their bathroom.” He stopped in his room and pulled his cap off a shelf in his closet. Removing the protective plastic, he put the cap on and returned to the bathroom with his girls.
Twenty long minutes passed. “I’m coming in,” Julian’s voice boomed through the door. “Hey, I’m a better sailor than him.Bonjour, mes petites filles.” He sat beside the tub and proceeded to sing a Cajun folk tune.
Harper’s breathing began to slow down. “It’s fresh bottom and nap time,” she said, her voice an octave higher than normal.
“Sweetheart, would you mind if Julian and I returned to work?” Kip stood, put the cap on Harper’s head, and kissed her cheek.
Kip and Julian sat in his office. “What the hell happened?” Kip asked.
“The three are all on their way to the hospital. They hopped the wall at the south end of the property. The censors picked them up immediately. No IDs. All immediately lawyered up. The fact that they headed to the cottage makes me think Harper was the intended target.”
“I found this in Babette’s backpack.” Kip opened the small marble-covered notebook and leafed through the pages. “Oh God. Adelaide and Gabriel were involved up to their necks. Gabriel believed he found a cure for ovarian cancer. He created Ovax, not the people Seraphina represented.
“Adelaide writes about how she was sandbagging Harper. She also was encouraging Jerrold’s affections to distract her. Damn it.” Kip frowned, running his hand through his hair.
“Does it say anything about the people other than Serafina?” Julian asked.
Kip went through the pages. “Formula, formula, formula, money, payments, money.” He held his head. “Tell me I’m not seeing this.” He handed the book to Julian.
“It’s minutes from an update meeting. Rene, Lourdes, Beverly White and Colvin Hellman—the two fake pharmaceutical reps—Gabriel, and Adelaide. Marie, the nurse’s assistant; Brigitte Mone. Otis Bernville, Mr. and Mrs. Eduard Jeremy, Mr. and Mrs. Terrance Libscomb Jr.,” Julian read off four more couples and six more medical staff. The last names on the list were Pierre and Rosalind Rousselle. “Merde. We need to tell her.”
“As soon as the girls are asleep.” Kip stared up at the ceiling.
* * *
Harper hugged Kip.“Thank you. I was so scared. What happened?”
