“We had some help.”
Kat’s memory flashed back to the conversation she’d had with Matt the day they’d first made love. As adults, that is. Her heart had broken as she sat in his arms, listening to him explain the evidence Derek had found against Todd.
“Todd helped set this place up?”
“In a manner of speaking.” Walker nodded. “Kennedy sent us pictures, along with a list of essential equipment and supplies that would be needed for the job.”
“I can’t believe he associated himself with you.”
The man shrugged. “People do all sort of things you wouldn’t expect them to when they’re desperate. Make them an offer they can’t refuse, and they’ll do just about anything you want.”
Kat thought of the explosion. “Did he set the explosion in the lab on purpose?”
“He did.”
“Why?”
“Why do you think?”
She felt sick. “To kill me?”
Walker gave her a single nod.
“The text?” she asked, knowing he’d understand.
Again, Walker nodded. “My boss is a little…inept when it comes to using modern phones. He also tends to rush things.”
“That’s why he sent the go-ahead to steal the formula to my phone by accident. He transposed the last two numbers.”
“I’m afraid so. After that, the job became more about damage control. And when that happened…”
“I became a target.”
“Yes.” Walker shoved his hands into his jeans. “Kennedy explained how, since you were the head engineer on the project, your computer was the only one with full access to the entire formula, notes, and data. You were also the only one with the access codes needed to obtain it all. He was supposed to get you out of the way so he could take your place.”
Todd was the next one in line for the position. If she’d died, the job automatically would have gone to him, along with all the access codes.
“We were hoping to wait until the formula was stable enough to be fully effective, but my boss is also very impatient. He took it upon himself to text Todd, or rather you, which set off the unfortunate chain of events. When Todd blew himself and the entire lab to pieces, he also inadvertently destroyed the one thing my boss wanted.”
Kat studied the man a moment. “Were you the one in my apartment?”
“Yes. I’d hoped to find instructions on how to create the formula to avoid all…this.” He gave her a sad smile. “Unfortunately that didn’t happen.”
“I’d never bring something like that home with me,” Kat told him. “It’s too dangerous. If something like that were to fall into the wrong hands—”
She cut herself off when she realized how stupid she sounded, given her circumstances.
Walker continued on with his explanation. “Since the lab and all the data was destroyed in the explosion, and you didn’t bring it home with you, that left one other option.” His knowing eyes stared back at her.
“You want me to recreate the formula here.” She glanced around the room. “That’s why your boss constructed this lab. You know about my eidetic memory.”
The man smiled before looking over his shoulder. “See? Told you she was as smart as they said.”
“She’d better be.”
A second man entered the room. One she’d never seen before.Walker’s boss.
Older than her by several years, Kat guessed him to be in his late fifties or early sixties. In a black button-up shirt and khaki dress slacks, he reminded her of a modern-day grandpa. Somewhat elderly yet stylish.
