Nichols waved an unconcerned hand. “A commonthreat.”
Hugh held up the keychain USB. “Given thereputation of certain people in Mrs. Manning’s family, I’m sure yeknow it’s not an unfounded fail-safe.”
Claire could tell by the look on his facethat Nichols was taking his words seriously, and she breathed aninward sigh of relief. Why hadn’t she thought to begin with thethreat rather than trying to find humanity and reason in peoplewhere there was none?
“There is a keystroke between ye anddisaster, Agent Nichols,” Hugh continued. “Astonishing really, taehae such an… outbreak at a facility – that despite the nature ofits top-secret projects – had never experienced a threat greaterthan an occasional chemical leak. So many negative… side effects.It would be a shame if it all got out.”
Eyes narrowed, Nichols refused comment, butClaire wasn’t discouraged by his silence. She could see his mindspinning, calculating just how bad it would be for him. “If ye’lltake a moment tae look at a website called whistleblower.com?” Hughsuggested, nodding to the desktop monitor.
Nichols lifted a wary brow but moved to anopen laptop and depressed a few keys. His eyes widened onlyslightly but it was enough for Claire to know that whatever Hughand her brother had planned, it was proving affective.
“That is just a teaser,” Hugh’s broguewrapped awkwardly around the new word. “A taste of what is tae comeif ye continue tae pursue this path. I’m nae asking for the wholething tae be shut down—though God knows it should be. I’m nae evenasking for ye tae consider the morality of what ye hae done.”
“What do you want, then?”
“I want ye tae gi’ up this madness and leaveMrs. Manning alone. She hae done nothing tae threaten yer projector its future.”
“And what about you?”
“What aboot me?”
“Don’t you want to go home?” Nichols saidsilkily. “I can send you there.”
Hugh froze but only for a moment, sayingdecisively, “I can buy my own plane ticket.”
“No, to your real home,”the INSCOM agent baited the hook further. “I was just explaining toMrs. Manning that the problem has been fixed. Allnegative side effects ofthe project can be remedied. You can go back where youbelong.”
Hugh did not even twitch at the offer. Home.Was it surprising that he did not miss it? Or was it simply knowingthat the Scotland he would reach was not truly his own?
“I am where I belong.There is no place I would rather be,” he said firmly. “If we wereto come across any of your negative side effects, however, we willbe sure to let them know about your generous offer. Now is thatall?”
A reluctant smile curved the corner ofNichols’ lips. “I had to try, you know? I was never worried aboutthis, not like Jameson was. I figured that the escapees wouldsimply walk in front of a car or something and the problem wouldsolve itself.”
“It was probably a freight train,” Hughsaid, since he had felt rather decimated on occasion since hisarrival. “Either way, I would wager that yer problem is completelytaken care of … except for the matter of the project informationleaking tae the public. Nasty business that.”
“Yes,” Nichols nodded thoughtfully. “I wouldhate to see that happen.”
“Sir!” Jackson appeared at the door, pantingfor breath, as he looked frantically between Hugh and Nichols anddown to Jameson, still unconscious on the floor.
“No need to worry, Jackson,” Nichols held upa hand. “These two were just leaving.”
“But sir!”
“Let them pass, Jackson.”
“Do we hae an accord then, Agent Nichols?”Hugh asked, taking Sorcha by the hand.
“I would say we do,” the agent nodded. “I amretiring soon, but I will see that the case is closed and all other… impediments”—he glanced down at Jameson with a grin—“to yourcontinued freedom are taken care of before I go.”
“I would appreciate that.”
“And I would appreciate retiring without aflaw on my record.”
“What were you thinking?” Claire asked assoon as they were clear of the van and the rousing agents. “Youwere supposed to be going to Canada this morning.”
“And ye were supposed tae be going wi’ me,”Hugh answered sternly as he towed her away.
“I was trying to save you.”
“And I had tae save ye as well.”
Hugh tugged her around the corner and behinda tree. “Ye foolish, foolish thing. I’ve ne’er been so angry as Iwas when I woke and found you gone. Promise me ye’ll never doanything so imprudent again.”
“But Hugh …”
Raking his fingers through her hair, hetilted her head back until Claire was able to look into his brightblue eyes fully and read the warmth and caring there. “I could naelose ye when I hae lost all else,” he whispered in his huskybrogue, stroking his calloused thumb against her cheek.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t go with you.”
“I dinnae mean tae pressure ye,” Hugh toldher. “I only wanted tae share my new life wi’ ye.”
“Oh, Hugh … but what if Nichols’s offer wasgenuine?” she asked, her heart racing. “What if he could have sentyou home?”
“Did ye believe him?” Hugh wondered. “Idinnae.”
“So you would go home, if you could?”
“Nay, Sorcha lass, my place is wi’ ye now,”he whispered earnestly. “If ye’ll have me.”
“But I want you to have what you reallywant,” Claire protested. “I want you to be happy.”
“Remain by my side, my love, and I willbe.”
“You don’t have to say that.”
“Lass, look at me,” Hugh commanded. Clairemet his eyes and read the sincerity there. It echoed everythingthat burned in her heart, everything she had refused to voice.Everything she had feared feeling once more. “Ye are what I want,my love. Wi’ ye I hae found everything I need.”
“Mé gráigh tú?” she asked, stumbling overthe foreign words that had lingered in her thoughts.
“I adore ye,” he translated softly.
Claire’s heart skipped a beat. “Mé adhradhtú?”
Hugh lifted her hands, pressing a tenderkiss against her knuckles. “I worship ye.”
“Mé gr-gray…” She started with amispronunciation.
“Mé grá tú, mo Sorcha. I gcónaí,” hecorrected and finish for her. “Can ye nae guess?”
“I couldn’t bear the thought of losing you,Hugh,” she whispered, her throat tight with tears. “Anywhere yougo, anything you need, I will be there for you. I love you. Somuch.”
“And I love ye, my Sorcha,” he whispered,bending his head to hers. “Always.”
