His face moved closer and Charly shifted back uncomfortably. “It does. Doesn’t it?”
Tom gave a wry smile. “So, will you be demonstrating the use of the Anriotech quick reaction test kits?” Good he was changing the subject and probably took the hint.
Before Charly could answer, her phone rang. It was Antonio. “Sorry, I have to take this. Hello.”
“The seminar starts in a few minutes,” Tom called to her retreating back as she ducked into a quiet hallway.
She looked over her shoulder at him. “Come get me.”
“Sure, sweetheart,” Tom grinned devilishly.
She would have rolled her eyes again, except apprehension prevailed because Antonio was on the phone and predictably made a comment.
“Who’s calling you sweetheart?” he asked softly.
“A friend.”
“He sounds like more than a friend and where are you? I hear many voices.”
“I’m at a seminar sponsored by ERAF. You know who they are, right?”
“Of course,” Antonio said. “My company donated the Ebola test kits among other things. Is it safe there? Who’s your security?”
“Chill. You know who Yara’s husband is, right? Every single attendee has gone through a background check and many of them are ERAF veterans.”
“And the man you were talking to?”
“If you must know, he’s an old …” Charly didn’t know why she stumbled over the word boyfriend and said, “friend.”
“Name.”
“Not if you’re going to hunt him down.”
Antonio cursed.
“Anyway, tell me about Luis’ funeral and how did the luncheon go?” she asked.
“As expected, people from his old life showed up.”
“Ugh, I’m sorry. It must have been a tense situation. That’s the last thing you need.”
“There’s more, but I can’t tell you over the phone. So, why don’t you tell me his name?”
In her annoyance, Charly feigned ignorance. “Who?”
“Charlotte Bennett, do not test my patience.”
“Oh my God, seriously. Chill, Antonio. If you must know his name is Tom Crawford.”
He was silent for so long, Charly thought they disconnected.
“Thomas Crawford III of Connecticut. Your boyfriend of two years—”
Her mouth fell open. Of course! The file he had on her. “How did you even know how long we were together?”
“Minha querida.” There was nothing tender in the way he said it. It came across more like a rebuke that promised further retribution, and she felt the zing right between her legs. “Both your names were on the lease of the apartment. Unless you were merely roommates which I doubt because you did go on vacations together—”
“Stop. You’re acting like a freaky stalker.”
“If that man bought a ring and you were never engaged, then that could only mean that you turned him down.”
Charly actually stomped a foot. “Please don’t do this when you’re so far away.”
“I didn’t expect you to go gallivanting around LA the minute I left.”
“I am not gallivanting! Do you know how much I needed some kind of normalcy outside the lab?”
“But you love the lab.”
“I do, but …” Something inside her changed. She remembered their time at the beach and she wanted more than a sterile life of microscopes, glass slides, and viruses.
“Why aren’t you at the lab?”
“My team’s work is complete, and our CDC director has met with someone from the DoD BSL-4 facility.” Charly paused. “I mean it’s okay, right? You’re not mad that I shared my work with them?”
“No, I’m not mad. It was your work that helped clear my company’s name. That was my main concern as well as public safety. Not making money out of it.”
“Okay.” When an awkward pause filled the line between them, she said, “I miss you.”
“It doesn’t seem like it.”
“Antonio, don’t do this,” she snapped irritably.
“Fuck, I’m a bastard,” he sighed.
“And I’m letting you get away with being a bastard because today’s been tough on you.”
“Thank you.”
“When will you come back?” she asked.
“I—”
“Babe, the seminar is about to start.”
Charly slammed her palm on the mic of the phone and glared at Tom over his shoulder.
He smirked. “New boyfriend?”
“Did you do that on purpose?” she demanded. “Because he’s a jealous-possessive asshole, and I wouldn’t mess with him.”
Tom threw back his head and laughed but when he saw Charly wasn’t laughing with him, he paled. “I … uh, I’ll see you in room three-a.” He hurried away.
Charly inhaled a deep breath, uncovered the mic and said, “You still there?”
“That man has a death wish,” Antonio said in a menacing voice.
“I kind of implied the same to him.”
“You did?” There was a sudden shift in the tone between them and Charly could almost feel the smile in his voice. “What did you tell him?”
“That you’re a jealous-possessive asshole and you’re not to be messed with. He was being a jerk.”
“You seem to pick assholes,” he deadpanned.
“I sure do.”
“But you love me anyway.”
“I do, Antonio. I’m late for the session. Call me tomorrow?”
“Count on it. Love you, minha querida.”
This time the endearment warmed her all over. She ended the call.
Crisis averted.
28
Neto delivered the goods a few days later and Nico was pouring over the information at their basement headquarters.
Their man was Yehven Skoryk who disappeared in 1994 right before Ukraine declared itself separated from Russia.
Martinez was going through several boxes of documents from the Amazon Preservation League. Anything to point to Olga Skoryk. They’d already found her expedition records from 1995. Martinez was going through the box labeled 1996.
The elevator dinged and Antonio looked up. Ida was carrying a tray of sandwiches. In the days following the funeral, Antonio couldn’t help looking for Luis in every corner of the villa. Expecting to see his friend suddenly appear, even devastated that he would never scold his friend about smoking too much again.
That thing will kill you.
If it’s your time, it’s your time.
But it wasn’t your time, Luis. You stubborn old man. Why did you refuse to stay in the villa where the security was top notch? His friend lived with a death wish which was why he smoked even when his lungs were not in the best health.
“I thought you guys might be hungry.” Ida laid down the tray on one of the tables. Antonio slung an arm
