Page 131 of The Search

“Ever since I met you, I’ve been fighting your secrets. You didn’t tell me about Kai Chi either.”

“Don’t do this to me now, Sarah.”

“Why not? It’s important. You always have to be the big, strong hero. Well, I’m tired of it. What about sharing? And treating me as a partner? I’m not fragile like Chen Li. You don’t have to take care of—”

“Be quiet.” He gripped her shoulders and shook her. “Don’t throw Chen Li in my face.”

“I don’t have to. Dear God, Rudzak is making sure that neither one of us forgets her.”

“Listen to me.” He stared directly into her eyes. “I’m no longer the person who married Chen Li, but I’m grateful for what she gave me.”

“I know you are. You and she were—”

“Dammit, shut up. You don’t know anything. I love you. I want to spend my life with you. I’ve never felt like this about anyone else, and I’m not going to let anything happen to you.” He kissed her hard. “And I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not. You go out when the security team does.”

She watched dazedly as he walked away from her. “The hell I will,” she called after him. “Rudzak wants me here. He may not come if I leave.”

He walked out the door without looking back.

“Where are you—” She ran after him, Monty at her heels, but Logan had vanished around the corner.

She had no intention of leaving, but there was no time for arguing. There were people to get out of the building.

“Come on, Monty. Let’s get everyone out of here.” Monty followed her as she walked quickly to the lab on the ground floor where Kevin Janus was working.

Her uneasiness was growing. The whole situation was like a puzzle with key pieces missing. It shouldn’t be happening like this. It didn’t smell right.

You sound like Monty on a search.

You should follow your instincts.

She had no choice. There was no time to do anything but rely on instinct.

Okay, put your uneasiness on the back burner. But try to find the cone, try to find the source.

Before it is too late.

10:35 P.M.

The building was emptying. The parking lot was almost deserted.

“You shouldn’t have sent them the warning,” Duggan told Rudzak as they sat in the car watching. “They’re scattering like scared mice.”

“And you prefer the mice caught in the trap.” Rudzak lowered the binoculars. “I’m willing to let a few unimportant people scamper away. The mice that count are still inside, Duggan. Where did you set the charge?”

“Where you told me. In the basement lab. The drainage tunnel was right where the blueprint said it would be. I was in and out in fifteen minutes. But you should have had me put the charge on a timer. That would be a lot safer.”

“I don’t want it to be safe. I want to be there, looking at his face when I tell him what’s coming.” He smiled. “You can understand that. You get a thrill from pressing the trigger yourself.”

“Not while I’m sitting on top of a pile of explosives.”

“But you said I’d have no trouble getting out the drainage tunnel. In and out in fifteen minutes?”

Duggan nodded.

“And you have the switch in the trunk? Get it for me, will you, Duggan?”

“Sure.” He got out of the car, and when he returned, he handed the switch over. “It’s real sweet. And I made sure it wasn’t hair trigger. I didn’t want you blowing yourself up by accident.”