'Could I have it by tomorrow?' He shook his head.
'Please, it’s very important to me.'
He looked at her face for a couple of seconds and then slowly nodded. 'If you can clear it with Grisby. He’s not going to like me putting everything on hold.'
'Your boss has already okayed it,' Charlie said. 'He said that you’re ours for the next thirty-six hours.'
'That sounds like slave labor.' He grimaced. 'Though Grisby’s pretty much of a slave driver himself. I had to threaten to quit last quarter to make him give me time off to take my finals.'
'I’d be grateful if you’ll try to hurry it,' Eve said. 'You’ll call me?”
“I’ll call you, Eve,' Charlie said. 'I’ll go with Mr. Sung and help.”
“I don’t need your help.' Sung gave Charlie a cool glance. 'The government is too much into our business as it is. FBI, CIA, IRS. Now you come in here and try to pressure me.'
'Hey, man, I’m only doing my job.'
'Yeah, sure,' Sung said as he sat down at the bench. 'I’ve heard that before. It’s always followed by the crack of the whip.'
'Perhaps I could go with you instead.' Mark Grunard smiled at Sung. 'Do you have any objections to a little publicity? It might help you get that job in California.'
Sung looked interested.
'No way,' Charlie said firmly. 'I told you that you couldn’t stay, Grunard.”
“But our friend doesn’t like you as much as he does me.'
Charlie jerked his thumb. 'Out.'
Grunard sighed. 'Maybe I could come back after you’ve finished your work, Mr. Sung.' He handed him a card. 'Call me.' He left the lab.
'The results are confidential, Mr. Sung,' Charlie said.
“Yeah.' Sung looked thoughtfully at the card before stuffing it in his pocket. 'So were the atomic tests in Nevada that gave everybody cancer.”
“Please call me as soon as possible, Mr. Sung,' Eve said. 'It means a great deal to me.'
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'I’ll let you know.'
'What do you think? Can he do it?' Joe asked as he and Eve got into the car.
'Maybe. He seems sharp.' She leaned back in the seat. 'And I think he likes a challenge. Though Charlie may have a tough time. Sung evidently hates government bureaucrats.'
'Maybe you should introduce him to Sarah. So what do we do now?”
“Go home. Wait.'
'That won’t be easy.'
'No.' It seemed as if they’d done nothing but sit around and wait lately. 'But at least Spiro gave us a chance to hurry the process along.'
'He’s taking a big risk dealing with us. He’s impatient to have it over.”
“So am I, Joe.' She closed her eyes and tried to relax. 'So am I.'
It was nearly three o’clock in the morning and the lights were still burning in the professor’s lab on Blue Mountain Drive.
Eve must be happy she’d found someone passionate enough to work on the photo, Dom thought. Passion could be dangerous.
But it could also be exciting. Every move Eve made was raising the stakes. He probably should have gotten rid of that photo years ago, but he had moved on and he had not thought it important enough. But what was happening in the lab was important.
Time changed everything. Technology, morals, good, evil. Who would have known how much his needs would change? His priorities were so different now or he would not be sitting outside the lab.
What was happening in there! Were they getting close?
He felt excitement tighten his muscles. Go ahead, Eve. Come closer. Try to find me…
'More coffee?' Charlie asked.
Billy Sung adjusted the computer. 'Not right now.”
“You didn’t eat dinner. I could go out and pick up some fast food.”
“No.' He was coming close. Screw those L.A. bozos with all their fancy equipment. He was as good as them any day of the week. Just a few more adjustments and he might—'
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