“Good riddance. Did you do it?”
“I guess I can take some of the credit, but only indirectly.”
For three or four seconds he sent her his impression of the fight. It was one of the marvelous aspects of the egg. Words weren’t necessary, merely recalling a vivid memory would transmit it to whomever you were connected to.
“Oh my God, John. You’re injured.”
“Ah, well, yes. It’s nothing serious though.”
He hadn’t really expected her to pick up on that part of his memory.
“John, I hear voices. One of them sounds like Holdren.”
“Pretend you’re still unconscious. If they think you have a serious injury, they probably won’t move you until you’re awake.”
“All right, but don’t leave me. Please.”
“Caitlin, I swear I won’t leave you. If they move you out of range, I’ll find you. I will come for you, Caitlin. You have my word.”
***
“You can drop the ruse, Ms. Maxwell. I know you’re awake.” He stood over her and waited. After a few seconds, she still hadn’t responded. Holdren placed one hand over her mouth and then pinched her nostrils shut with his thumb and index finger.
A half-minute passed without movement, and then she grasped at his hand and bent his thumb backwards.
He laughed. When she continued to bend his thumb back, Holdren slapped her, hard.
She let go of his thumb then and opened her eyes. “You murdering bastard. I hope you rot.”
“Now, now, you’ve got to learn to control your temper if we’re going to get along.”
“Tell you what. Let me go now and I’ll try to keep John from killing you.”
Holdren had to laugh again. “Ms. Maxwell, you are just too much. You really think this bodyguard you hired is good enough to get to me?”
“Everyone can be gotten, Holdren. It’s just a matter of motivation and patience.” Christ, had she really said that? She was beginning to sound like John.
“I won’t argue with that, but you must realize that means Blalock can also be gotten.” Holdren stopped. What had she said? She’d called him by name. Where had she learned his name? Could Blalock have a contact inside the agency? Maybe they should take him alive. Questioning him might prove to be useful. “You’re going to be coming with me, Ms. Maxwell. You can either come peacefully or we can drug you and take you out on a stretcher.”
She glared at him for a moment and he realized she was more attractive than he had first thought. Perhaps it was the anger. It gave her a healthy glow.
“I’ll go peacefully.”
He looked at her carefully. He had no doubt that she’d only be as peaceful as necessary. As long as she thought Blalock would try to rescue her, then she would be predictable. “That’s better. I’ll leave you alone to dress. You have five minutes.”
“Where are you taking me?”
“On a little trip,” Holdren responded without turning.
***
John threw open the door to the bedroom and stormed into the kitchen. Bright light from a rising sun poured in through the windows to his left. To his right, the sun reflected off the snow covered western mountains and the rolling plains of the foothills.
The Gunny sat at the dinette table, working on a piece of electronic equipment. “Well, Captain. It’s good to see you’re up. I was afraid I’d have to call for the coroner.”
“Not likely. They’re starting to move her, Gunny. I need to get after them.”
“Don’t go rushing around too fast. Do you know where they’re taking her?”
“Not yet, but I need to be ready.”
“Come, sit here. I’ll fix you something while we work out what you can do, breakfast okay?”
“I don’t have....”
“Don’t be giving me that, Captain. There’s nothing you can do until you get some food in you. Never go off halfcocked, you know what that got you the last time.”
John fingered the scar that ran down the left side of his face and nodded.
The Gunny stood and went to the cupboards. “That’s better. Eggs, bacon, biscuits, and jelly will get you going. The coffee isn’t too fresh, but I put some of it in the Thermos in case you wanted some when you woke.”
John sat down and examined the equipment Gunny had been working on. It was another repeater like the one John had used to increase the range on the egg.
A minute later, the Gunny set a large mug of steaming coffee in front of John.
“What’s this, Gunny?” John asked as he indicated the equipment.
“Just what it looks like,” the Gunny answered as he clattered pans around.
“A dual frequency repeater?”
“That’s right. I picked up a couple of them yesterday along with some other things you may find a use for.”
“Why a dual frequency repeater?”
“Where’s your sense at, Captain? You know they can trace the signal to you. But they’ll only be looking for the frequency that keys into these egg things of yours. Right?”
“Yeah, of course. I must have been shot in the head or something. You’ve placed a repeater somewhere else. It picks up Caitlin’s broadcast and frequency shifts it to this repeater. This repeater shifts the frequency back and transmits the signal to me.”
“That’s right. You should have thought of this already. I know I taught you better. How would you like your eggs?”
“Over easy, please. What’s this other equipment you have for me?”
“You want to be able to rescue the fair damsel, right? Well, if you’re going to play hero you’ll need some field leveling hardware.”
The Gunny cooked while going over a shopping list that would have made the day of any professional thief, or maybe
