“Is there any reason we can’t move our think tank back to the hotel? I know you’ve got copies of just about everything here. Could you pack up a few boxes and take them with us? That way you’d have access to the information without having to live here around the clock.”
“I suppose I could,” he said reluctantly. “But what if there’s something here I miss?”
“Would it be the first time that happened to you? In fact, it might help shake up your thought processes a bit.”
“How do you get that?”
“Sometimes with my puzzles, what’s not there is more significant than what is.”
“Would you care to clarify that for me?”
“I wish I could explain. Come on. Let’s do it.”
Zach took an empty box, and I started collecting my random notes as he collected copies of his documents. By the time he was finished, I’d been standing impatiently by the door for a good ten minutes.
“I’m coming,” he said. “Just give me one more minute.”
“Take all the time you need,” I said. “I’ll just take a little nap while I’m waiting.”
I pretended to snore, and then I heard my husband laugh. “You’re good for me, Savannah; I’ve told you that lately, haven’t I?”
“Sure, but a girl can never get tired of hearing it. Or a woman, either.”
“Then I’ll try to say it more often,” he said. He looked around the room again, and then nodded. “That should do it.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to have to come back here tonight.”
“Maybe you’re right. Give me one more minute.”
Me and my big mouth. I should have known better than to tease him.
He stuffed a few more copies into his box, and then he smiled at me. “You were right. I’m finished.”
I was about to ask him if he was sure about that, but I knew better. “Then let’s get out of here.”
We walked out the door, and as we were locking it behind us, Davis came out of the elevator with a heavy frown on his face.
“What happened?” Zach asked.
“We got another note, and this one’s a direct threat toward both of you.”
Chapter 18
Zach studied it after he’d read it aloud, and then he flipped it over. Instead of a number and letter sequence, there was some kind of odd-looking grid on the paper, barely discernable.
“Can I have that a second?” I asked.
The note was in a plastic evidence bag, and Zach handed it to me.
There was definitely something there. “I need to get to the copier.”
“This is no time to make copies,” Davis said. “This is serious.”
“Really, Davis? Is it? Because I wasn’t sure, what with the murder threat and all.”
“Easy, Savannah,” Zach said as he unlocked the door again.
I ignored everyone, turned the copier back on, and then turned the exposure to its darkest setting.
What had been faint before was now clearly outlined on the copy of the original. In this case, the duplicate was better than the source.
But it still didn’t make any sense. There were oddly shaped ovoids and faint numbers placed randomly on the page.
“What does it mean?” Zach asked as he looked over my shoulder.
“I have no idea. But I will. If the killer thinks he’s going to run us off this way, he doesn’t know either one of us very well.”
“You’re staying?” Davis sounded incredulous as he asked the question.
“Of course we are,” I snapped. And then I thought to look over at my husband. “Aren’t we?” I asked softly.
“I’m willing to hang around as long as you are,” he said.
“Then that’s settled. Are you ready to go back to the hotel now?”
“You’re not going to work on the case here at headquarters?” Davis asked. I saw his gaze take in the foam insulation boards filled with copies, notes, and drawings that Zach had been putting together.
“No. I need some fresh air. Let’s go.” There was no room for misunderstanding in Zach’s tone of voice. It didn’t
