Page 132 of The Search

“Thank you for your concern, Duggan.” He leisurely got out of the driver’s seat. “But I really don’t want you to have to worry about me anymore.”

Rudzak shot him in the head.

11:10 P.M.

Darkness.

Logan stopped in the doorway, tensing. He knew what was ahead in that darkness. When his eyes became accustomed to the blackness, he’d be able to see Rudzak. He could almost feel the waves of hate bombarding him from the depths of that room.

But the verbal threat didn’t come from the darkness. It came from behind him.

“Go on.” The barrel of a pistol was suddenly pressed against his spine. “Move, Logan.”

11:45 P.M.

Four labs cleared. Three to go.

Sarah and Monty hurried down the hall.

Galen’s men had already cleared the seven scientists out of the second-floor lab by the time she and Monty got there. Next stop—Hilda Rucker and Tom Bassett on the third floor.

She ran into Hilda Rucker on the stairs. The gray-haired woman was carrying a boxful of files. “I know. They told me to get out and I will be in two minutes.”

“You stopped to grab those files?”

“Do you think I want my work blown to smithereens?”

Logan was right. These people were as committed to the project as he was. “Where’s Bassett?”

“Right behind me. He came back to the lab just after Galen’s men left and I told him about the evacuation. He was dumping computer disks into his briefcase when I left.”

“And probably throwing files into boxes like you did. I’d better get him out of there right now.” She continued up the stairs.

She’d get Bassett out and then—

Get Bassett out.

Protect Bassett.

She stopped short.

Sweet Jesus.

Her phone rang as she started up again.

“Get out of there, Sarah,” Galen said as soon as she picked up.

“Damn you, Galen. You and Logan both knew, didn’t you?”

Silence and then, “Get out of there, Sarah.”

“Go to hell.” She hung up and took the rest of the stairs two at a time with Monty at her heels.

Protect Bassett.

Keep Bassett safe.

“Bassett!”