He eased the lock out of the door. “Got what?”
“The lab book.”
“But the auction was set for two days from now.”
“Not any longer,” she said. “Our preemptive bid has been accepted.”
He gripped the lock in one hand and looked around the edge of the door. “Are you sure?”
“Not until I actually see it.” Abby was aglow with triumph and excitement. “But I just got a message from Milton, who claims that he wants to unload the lab book as quickly as possible and he’s giving my client first crack. Actually, we’re getting first and last crack. He wants to know if we’re still interested.”
“Why did we get lucky?”
“In a word, me. I told you, my reputation is good. The bottom line here is that Milton is running scared and wants to unload the lab book as quickly and safely as possible.”
“He figures I’m the safe bet, because you wouldn’t be working for me if you thought I might be untrustworthy.”
“That’s pretty much what it comes down to,” she said. “He’s decided to trust you because he trusts me. But he wants to move fast. I get the impression that he is very nervous. Believe me when I tell you that it takes a lot to make someone like Milton nervous.”
Sam pulled the lock mechanism out of the wall. “Get the details. Tell him the money will be wired into whatever account he wants as soon as we have verified the authenticity of the journal.”
She sent the message. A moment later, she looked up from the screen.
“Done. Milton just sent the code for the pickup location and his bank-account information.”
Sam headed for the door. “Where is the pickup point?”
“A place where no one ever thinks twice about someone collecting a package.”
41
“I LEFT A SHOPPING BAG HERE A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO,” Abby said. She held up the claim ticket that she had found in a sidewalk planter in front of the museum.
The woman behind the coat-and package-check desk smiled. “I’ll be right back.” She took the ticket and disappeared into a back room.
Sam glanced around. “Isn’t this a risky way to conduct business?”
“Beats the old locker routine at the bus station,” Abby said.
Sam surveyed the monumental glass-walled forum in which they stood. There was art everywhere, some of it hanging from the high ceiling. “Definitely more upmarket.”
The woman reappeared. She held out the shopping bag with the familiar department-store logo on its side. “Here you are.”
“Thanks,” Abby said.
She took the bag and opened her senses a little. Currents of energy swirled in the atmosphere. The object inside was hot. She looked at Sam and knew that he had picked up on the heat. Without a word, he took the shopping bag from her. They walked through the front doors onto First Avenue and turned right toward the Pike Place Market.
“This better be the right lab book,” Sam said.
“I’m sure it is.”
“Wonder where Milton is? Think he’s watching us?”
“No,” Abby said. “I think he’s on a plane out of town as we speak. I told you, he was scared.”
“Like everyone else involved in this thing.”
“Except us, of course,” she said proudly.
“Speak for yourself.”
“Hah. Nothing scares you, Sam Coppersmith.”
“You’re wrong. I’ve been running on the edge of panic since that first day you came to see me on the island.”
“I don’t believe that for a minute.”
“Believe it,” he said.
“Why?”
“Because I’ve known from the start that you were in danger.”
She glanced at him. “And that scares you?”
“Like nothing else I’ve ever encountered in my life.”
“Oh,” Abby said. She was not sure what to do with that information. “I’ve known some people who were scared
“Trust me, I’m scared for you. That’s why we’re headed back to the island.”
“Okay,” Abby said. “For now, I mean. I appreciate it. But I can’t stay there forever. After I break the code on this book for you, my job is done. I’ve got things to do. I have to find a new place to live, someplace that will take dogs. Got to put my old condo on the market. Then I have to get back to work.”
“We’ll take it as it comes.”
A brisk wind whipped Abby’s hair. She could see a bank of ominous dark clouds moving in over Elliott Bay.
“It’s going to rain soon,” she said.
“I understand it does that a lot around here.”
It was clear that Sam’s mind was not focused on the weather.
“How will we know?” Abby asked after a while.
“What?”
“How will we know when this thing is over? It will be easy to get the word out that the lab book has been acquired by a new owner and that the code has been broken. Heck, I’m sure it’s already out in the underground. But we can’t be sure that will be the end of the matter. What if whoever tried to kidnap me decides to try to steal the book from you?”
“I don’t think the killer will risk trying to steal the lab book from my vault. He knows that he can’t get through my lock.”
“You’re still convinced that whoever is after the book is the person who murdered Cassidy, aren’t you?”
“I’m sure of it.”
“Now what?”
“Now we go home. Can’t miss the annual tech summit and the big barbecue.”
“I didn’t realize you were looking forward to it.”
“The weekend is going to be a lot more interesting than usual this year.”
“Why?”
“The killer will be there.”
42
THE COPPERSMITH FAMILY COMPOUND WAS ABLAZE WITH fiery grills. The annual Black Box technical summit was concluded, and the big barbecue was in full swing. The weather had cooperated, with plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the mid-seventies. The long summer day was drawing to a close, but there was still some light in the evening sky.
Abby stood at the edge of the crowd, a glass of sparkling water in her hand, and tried to shake off the chill
