Dark Summer

the one that encoded that nasty little chip?'

'Yes. That's not important right now. How the hell did you do it? The chip shouldn't have been able to be triggered by any of the machines in your office.'

'It didn't. Hugh couldn't do it at first. He tried Vera chip and Avid. Then he decided to use one of the old machines Nick had before I took over the practice. He said it was doing some funny stuff in the transfer, but it made contact.'

'Dammit to hell. It would be one chance in a thousand you'd have that out-of-date RFD remote. Did you print out the information you got from the chip?'

'Yes, I was curious. But I decided that it was tech error, like Hugh said.'

'Where's the printout?'

'In my purse.'

'Good. Then the only record would be in the memory of the decoding machine in your office and the computer.' He released her. 'They may still be there. The police wouldn't have any reason to take them if they suspected a drug theft.' He turned, his stride quickening as he headed for the house. 'I have to get back to the clinic.'

She had to half run to keep up. 'Why?'

'I've got to get that computer.' He was cursing again. 'If Danner's men didn't take it with them. They might not have had instructions to do it. If they think you work for me, there wouldn't be any reason for you to try to decipher the microchip.' He added harshly, 'Dammit, it shouldn't have happened. Everything went wrong. I was counting on taking that sniper down the same day you left. That would have let me get to you a day earlier.'

She tried to follow his thinking. 'Before I went back to the clinic. Before I had even a chance to decode the chip.'

'Yes, but I didn't really think you'd try a decode. I just wanted to keep Danner from killing you.'

'You did that.' She added bitterly, 'But you didn't keep them from killing Hugh and Terry, did you?' She added, 'Taking down. You mean killing. Who did you kill, Marrok?'

'Kingston, the man who shot Ned. I knew if he was dead, it would buy me a little time.' He slanted her a glance, and said deliberately, 'But I would have killed him anyway. He tried to kill my dog, and he would have kept coming after us. I couldn't let him do that.'

The answer was raw and honest and brutal. He was not trying to sugarcoat any of his actions. It was bizarre to listen to him talk about killing as if it was an ordinary occurrence, she thought. It was just another example of how her life had changed, twisted down this dark path. He dealt out death as casually as those murderers who had killed Hugh and Terry. 'And your only regret is that killing him delayed you?'

'Yes.' He met her eyes. 'And kept me from being in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that can change everything.'

'That night on the mountain on Santa Marina you were in the wrong place for me.'

'Possibly. Probably. I can't do anything about that now. That's past history.'

'Not for me.'

'Sorry, I'm not known for my sensitivity. I've said all I can. Done all I can. Now we have to just go on.' He took out his phone and dialed. 'Walt, we're going back to Denver. We left something behind. Arrange it.' He listened impatiently, 'No, I can't send someone else. Dammit, this is my responsibility. I'm the one who sent Ned back with her.' He hung up and dialed again. 'Bridget, Ned's chip's been decoded. I know. I know. Danner may not have it and, if he does, it will take him time to do a translation. But we can't count on either one. Go to Carmel. Danner will probably hit there first.' He hung up. 'Shit.'

She was still in shock from the violence her words had unleashed in him. 'Why are you this upset? Tell me what's happening.'

'The sky is falling, that's what's happening. If you wanted to get back at me for using you, you couldn't have picked a better way. You lost two people you cared about? I'll be lucky if I don't lose a dozen.'

And there could be no doubt of his desperation and agony at the thought of that possible loss. 'No matter how bitter I am, I'd never want to cause anyone hurt because of something I'd done. You're going back to the clinic?'

He nodded. 'I have to get that-'

'It's really that important to you?'

'It couldn't be more important.'

'And it will mean more deaths if Danner gets that decoding?'

'If I can't find a way to prevent them.'

She walked in silence for a moment. 'I'm going with you.'

'No.'

'I'll do what I please,' she said fiercely. 'I don't care about your chip. Except that I don't want those killers to get anything they want. And I don't want anyone else to die.'

He was silent a moment. 'It's not your fault. I was angry.'

'And desperate.'

'Yes, it's been a long time since I've been this desperate.'

'You kept talking about the domino effect before. Well, something I did evidently caused the dominos to start falling again. I'm not going to look back and find out that I caused anyone to die or be hurt.'

'You can't help.'

'It's my clinic. I can locate the equipment fast.'

'You can tell me where it is.'

'I know every inch of that place. I could find that computer blindfolded with my hands tied behind my back.' She shook her head. 'And I don't trust you. You're too damn violent. There's bound to be police guarding the crime scene. I haven't had great experiences with my ex-husband's pals on the force but I don't want you hurting a cop just doing his job to get that computer. I'm going to be there to make sure you don't.'

'I won't kill the damn police-'

'I'm going,' she said fiercely. 'I won't be moved from pillar to post wherever you choose to put me. This is my life.'

He didn't speak for a moment. 'You'd be safer here at the ranch. There's a good chance Danner may have left men stationed at both your farm and office. He covers all his bases.'

'Then you'll have to make sure I survive. Providing everything you've told me isn't crap.'

'It's not crap,' Marrok said.

'That's for me to find out. I do know that your damn research isn't worth a human life. Prove it to me. Tell me what's on that chip.'

He shook his head. 'Same answer. Is it worth a life? It depends on who you ask. But I didn't start this. I didn't take the first life.'

'But you're willing to take the last.'

'No question.' They had come to the steps of the front porch. 'Change your mind. I worked hard to keep you alive. I don't want to risk you again.'

'I'm the only one who decides what risk I'm going to take.' She turned to face him. 'Now there's only one thing I want to know. Were you telling me the truth when you said that Danner would have killed Nick and Janet if you hadn't gotten them away?'

He nodded. 'After questioning them first. You'd be his first choice, but what he really wants is information, and he doesn't care where or how he gets it.'

'And he'll try to get at them again?'

'Yes.'

She stared at him in helpless frustration. Should she believe him? He was the stranger who had totally disrupted her life. It wasn't safe to accept everything he said.

Yet there had been no doubt about how angry and desperate he was about the decoding. It was dangerous to ignore what he told her until she could get proof one way or another. She had to know more, and she couldn't do that by sitting here. 'I'm going with you.'

He shrugged. 'Suit yourself. I warned you. Just stay out of my way.' He started up the steps. 'We'll go to the local airport and meet Walt Franks. We'll take the helicopter to San Francisco, then rent a private jet to Denver.