“Very well, sir. Thank you.” She turned and nodded to the technicians preparing the treatments. “Let’s get this started.”
Candy paced nervously and stiffened when she heard the engine approaching. She rushed to the corner of the gate and saw Roger accelerate the ATV up the road and pull into the staging area.
“How’d it go?” she asked nervously as he pulled to a stop.
He stepped off the four-wheeler and sighed. “We talked. He seemed receptive.”
“But?”
Roger hung his head. “He can’t think of a way to convince the others without killing Simon.”
Candy nodded. “Okay.”
He turned and gave her a curious look. “Okay?”
“If this guy is as dangerous as you said he is, I can only see his demise as improving the world.” She fell into step beside him.
Roger understood her logic, but a part of him had hoped that if Simon could just see the possibilities, he could be converted. Another part knew that the only conversion for Simon would be banishment or prison. Death served the same purpose.
“I guess I had hopes that Mike would have another idea.”
“Mike?”
He gave her a crooked smile. “Turns out Savage has a real name. Michael Sutton.” He shook his head. “Who’d have thought that a walking mountain would have a name like Michael Sutton?”
“I like it.” She hooked her arm through his. “So what’s the plan?”
Roger paused and glanced around to ensure they were alone. “He plans to kill Simon.”
She nodded. “And then?”
“Then, once he takes over and gets the people calmed down and feeling secure, he’ll contact me and I’ll go and talk to them. I’ll introduce them to the idea we had and see about getting them incorporated with us.”
She nodded. “And how’s he supposed to make contact?” Her gaze narrowed slightly as she waited for his answer.
Roger smiled at her and patted her hand. “No worries. I didn’t tell him where we are. He’s going to go back to the ambush sight and make enough noise that we can hear him. Then I’ll go to him.”
“And you don’t think Simon will catch on? Or maybe this Savage is playing you?”
Roger thought for a moment. “I can go by their camp and see if there’s any signs of excitement. If there is, we hunker down. If not, we cross our fingers and hope.” He blew his breath out and nodded to the kitchen. “I better get some coffee. It could be a long day.”
She sighed with relief and pulled him toward the cafeteria. “You need to eat. Man cannot live on coffee alone.”
He chuckled as he fell into step behind her. “Wanna bet?”
Chapter 13
Hollis glared at Dr. LaRue. He handed her back his orders and squared his shoulders. “Looks like we trained monkeys are heading to Colorado.”
“I don’t get it,” Hatcher said, giving him a worried look. “You got your primordial sample. Why on earth would we go to Ft. Collins and rifle through somebody else’s research?”
“Because it could prove quite useful in our attempts to—”
“Because orders are orders, ranger,” Hollis said, cutting off Dr. LaRue. “If there’s one thing we trained monkeys are good at, it’s taking orders.”
Vivian opened her mouth to say something when Hatcher held up a hand to stave off the pissing match. “I get it you have orders. But Buck and I aren’t military. We need to get back to our people.”
Hollis’ face was stoic. “I can’t help you with that ranger. Ft. Collins is more or less on our way.” He turned and glared at Dr. LaRue. “If somebody knows what they’re doing, then we shouldn’t be there for long. It will barely be a pit stop on your way home.”
Hatcher groaned and leaned back against the bulkhead. The last thing he wanted was to drag Buck into another potentially hostile environment, especially after just pulling him from one.
Dr. LaRue eyed Hollis cautiously. She keyed her mic. “Captain, would you please switch to channel three.” It was a command, not a request.
Hollis was about to tell her that anything she had to say to him, she could say on the primary channel, but she had already switched her headphones. He sighed and connected with her on the new channel.
“What, doctor?”
She glared at him. “I am the primary on this little excursion. You and your men are at my disposal. I need you to understand that.”
“Disposal. Good choice of words for expendable personnel, doctor.”
“You know what I meant. Don’t twist my words—”
“I don’t have to twist your words, doctor. I am quite aware of the disdain and contempt you hold for we mere mortals.” If the look he gave her had missed and hit the chopper, it would have peeled the paint. “Trust me. I know how to take orders, ma’am. My men and I are at your disposal.”
He switched back to the primary channel before she could respond. He may have to follow her lead, but he didn’t have to show her any more respect than she showed him. She wasn’t in his chain of command and she wasn’t military. She was just another civilian with a god complex.
He turned to his staff sergeant. “Things have the potential to be hairy there. I know you boys are beat, but I need you frosty down there.”
“We’re good, sir.”
Hollis could see the fatigue in the man’s eyes. He knew he certainly felt it as well. He squeezed the man’s shoulder. “Get some sleep if you can. We’ll be there sooner than you think.”
He turned back to Hatcher. “You have no dog in this fight, ranger. I need you to stay on board and if anything happens…” he trailed off.
“I understand. Get the case back to the fleet.” He glanced at LaRue who was ignoring the conversation. He wondered, if she was
