Page 4 of The Search

Castleton’s gaze shifted from the scarab to Logan’s face. “Bassett has a wife and kid. What are you going to tell them?”

“Nothing.”

“What do you mean, nothing? You have to tell them what happened to Bassett.”

“And what am I supposed to tell them? We don’t know what happened to him. Not yet.” He turned away and headed back toward the jeep.

“Rudzak’s going to kill him,” Castleton said, following Logan.

“Maybe.”

“You know it.”

“I think he’ll try to make a deal first.”

“Ransom?”

“Possibly. He wants something, or he wouldn’t have bothered to take Bassett.”

“And you’re going to deal with that bastard? After what he did to your people?”

“I’ll deal with the devil himself if it will get me what I want.”

It was the answer Castleton expected. John Logan had not gotten to be one of the foremost economic forces in the world by avoiding confrontation. He had made billions with his computer company and other enterprises before he’d reached forty.

And he had risked the lives of several scientists to realize the gigantic rewards this project offered. Some people would say that no man with a conscience would have set up this facility when he knew what the consequences might—

“Say it.” Logan was staring at him. “Let it out.”

“You shouldn’t have done it.”

“Everyone in this facility chose to be here. I never lied to them about what they were facing. They believed it was worth it.”

“I wonder how they felt when the bullets hit them. Do you think they still thought it was worth it?”

Logan didn’t flinch. “Who the hell knows what’s important enough to die for? Do you want out, Castleton?”

Yes, he wanted out. The situation was becoming too deadly and complicated. He didn’t deal well with either, and he cursed the day he’d become involved in it. “Are you firing me?”

“No way. I need you. You know how things work down here. That’s why I hired you in the first place. But I’ll understand if you want out. I’ll pay you and let you walk away.”

“Let me?”

“I could find a way to keep you on the job,” Logan said wearily. “There’s always a way to do anything you want to do. You just have to decide how far you want to commit yourself. But you’ve done a good job for me and I’m not willing to force you to stay on. I’ll try to find someone else.”

“No one could force me to do anything I don’t want to do.”

“Have it your way.” Logan got into the jeep. “Take me back to the airport. I’ve got to get busy. Am I going to have trouble with the local police?”

“You know better than that. These hills are deep in drug country. It’s not safe to ask questions. The police just look the other way.” He smiled bitterly as he started the jeep. “Isn’t that why you built the facility here?”

“Yes.”

“And they won’t help you get Bassett away from Rudzak. He’s a dead man.”

“If he’s not dead now, I’ll get him back.”

“How? Money?”