Never Tempt Danger Page 3

  He glared at her for a moment and then he grinned at her. “Well, you can’t drive that thing. Take my car.”

  “Pops, I can’t.” He caught one of her hands in his and she looked into the most caring face she had ever known.

  “I am not asking, I am telling you. Go. The keys are in the ignition. I will repair the bumper while you are gone and she will be as good as new when you return.”

  She contemplated it for a second then nodded in agreement. Besides, the two thugs obviously had seen her car. They would be on the lookout for it.

  “Okay. Thank you.” She rushed to the trunk and pulled her suitcase and the crate back out. From the passenger’s seat, she grabbed her purse and weapon then shut the door and started in the direction of the garage.

  Once she packed her things safely in the back of the 1967 green Ford Bronco, she crawled in behind the wheel and rolled down the window.

  “Whatever is going on, you be careful.” She gave his old hand a light squeeze.

  Leaning through the window, her grandfather kissed her cheek and pulled back. “You want me to tell him you were here? You know he will come.”

  “No!” The response was out before she could think. Peering up, she saw the shit-eating grin Pops wore. Damn the sneaky old man.

  She waved a quick goodbye. “I love you.”

  “Love you back.” He waved as she backed out of the drive and left him to deal with his next visitor.

  FIVE

  The old man sat on the front porch, elbows propped against bony knees as if waiting for him. Lucas shoved the car into park and hopped out. As he strolled up to the house, he had not yet decided how to play things with Gilly’s grandfather when Frank spoke.

  “She isn’t here.”

  Lucas lifted one brow as he continued walking toward Frank.

  “Don’t give me that look, Danger. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know the reason you’re here.”

  Halting in front of the porch and Frank, he grinned at the old man, and shook his head. “You always were too smart for your own good.”

  Frank slapped a wrinkled hand against one knee and pushed himself to his feet then stepped down and stood toe-to-toe with him. “Too bad you weren’t as smart.” He brandished a crooked finger at him.

  Lucas kicked the dirt. This was an old argument between the two of them. One that he was certain would come up whenever he and Frank Gillman got together. “It wasn’t all my fault.”

  “Never said it was. Lemonade is out back.”

  “Frank, I don’t have time…”

  “You want answers then you’ll make time, Lucas Danger.”

  Lucas sucked his lips inward and bit down. He followed Gilly’s grandfather to the back of the house and up the deck.

  “Sit.”

  “Yes, sir.” He took a seat on the wooden bench next to the old man’s rocker and as he did, he eyed a half-pitcher of lemonade, two glasses and a box of cookies. “Did someone warn you I was coming?”

  “No.”

  “Then…”

  “I had company before you showed.”

  “Maureen?”

  “Why would you ask that?”

  “Damn it, Frank. Don’t play games.”

  Frank stood and went into the house, quickly returning with another glass and handed it to him. “You pour.”

  Lucas bit down on the urge to yell at the old man. Instead, he poured them both a drink. “Where is she?”

  “Who?”

  “Frank,” he warned in a low growl.

  Frank chuckled. “You rile way too easy.”

  “And you’re an old man with a sick sense of humor.”

  He turned green eyes the color of Gilly’s on him. “Maureen doesn’t think so.”

  “Where is she?”

  “Why do you care?”

  Lucas rolled his eyes heavenward and asked for patience. “I have always cared.”

  “I see. You have a funny way of showing it, leaving the woman you claim to love.”

  “We’ve been through this Pops. I don’t think we need to rehash it.”

  “Then don’t ask me for help.”

  “Fine.” Lucas stood and slammed his empty glass on the table. When he did, something caught his eye on the extra glass. The rim had a peachy-beige stain on it. He ran an index finger across it. Maureen.

  “Yes.”

  Lucas turned his head to peer down at Frank. “Yes, what?”

  “It’s Maureen’s lipstick.”

  “Where did she go?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “What do you know?”

  “That you’re a fool.”

  He raked both hands through his hair, blew out a sigh, and sat leaning forward, his elbows on his jean-clad knees. “Maybe I am a fool, but I want to make certain she is safe.”

  “She looked as beautiful as ever.”

  Argh. “Your granddaughter has always been beautiful. You know that. I would never say otherwise.”

  “And smart.”

  He shook his head, staring down at the deck. “And smart,” he agreed.

  “Then what the hell were you thinking?”

  Lucas sat up straight, drug a hand over his face. “I was thinking that Maureen wasn’t honest, that she had lied.”

  “Foolish. All young people are foolish.”

  “It’s not foolish to want the woman you love to be completely open and honest about everything. Everything.”

  Frank inclined his head. “True. However, you could have listened. She was afraid.”

  “Of me? Don’t be ridiculous. I never hurt her.”

  “You did. That is exactly what she feared. Losing you hurt her.”

  “I won’t take blame for that. She did it.”

  “She has always been afraid of her gift. Always. Even now. Maybe more now.”

  “You think that’s because of me?” Lucas gave a bark of laughter but there was pain underneath. He did not want to be the cause of Maureen fearing anything.

  “I know it’s because of you. She suppressed her talent most of the time until she met you. Then she started to feel comfortable with herself. Because of your love, she finally felt she could be who she was. When she told you, you abandoned her and made her feel like a freak.”

  “I never said she was a freak.”

  “Damn right, she isn’t.”

  “Frank, please. I only want to find her and make sure she is safe.”

  “I don’t think she needs you to do that anymore.”

  Lucas jerked back. “What do you mean?”

  “She had a ring on her finger. I think she has another man.”

  No. No. No.

  “Yes.” Frank answered his unvoiced denial.

  The picture. He swallowed the burning sensation that rose in his throat. Gilly had been there and the man in the picture was her fiancé. What was she feeling? She had to be scared to death.

  “Her fiancé is dead.”

  “What?”

  “That’s why I’m looking for her. Our boss said Gilly was there when someone shot the man dead.” Oh, jeez. Maybe he should not have been so blunt. The horrified look on Frank’s face mirrored his own thoughts. Lucas stretched out a hand and clamped it to one of the old man’s. “We’re afraid whoever killed him may want Maureen too.”

  “No wonder she didn’t stay.”

  “Now you know why I need to find her. Are you going to help me?”

  He gnawed a lip between his teeth and glanced away. Lucas was sure Frank would lie.

  “I don’t know where she went. I only know why she came here.” Wide-eyed and anxious, Lucas looked at the older man and waited.

  “She came for her robot.”

  “Robot?”

  Frank nodded. “The one she used as the prototype for the DARPA contract. She said there was a problem with the contract and so she needed it.”

  “Shit!” Lucas stomped a foot and stood. “How does she know that’s not what someone wants? Maybe they want the prot
otype? Or maybe they want to make certain there is nothing left of the original work? Damn it, Gilly, what are you doing?”

  A throat cleared behind him and he spun to see Frank standing right behind him, smiling.

  “What?”

  “Think about it. She is doing exactly what she should do. She is fulfilling her obligation.”

  “And possibly going to get killed.”

  “She obviously feels differently.”

  He grabbed the old man by the shoulders. “Tell me where she went.”

  “I don’t know. But you do or will.”

  Lucas scrunched up his face. What was he trying to tell him?

  “When you find her and I have no doubt that you will, don’t you hurt her again.”

  “Frank.”

  Frank held up one hand to silence him. “Think. You knew to come here. You know where she’ll go.”

  Where? “You don’t think she would go after whoever shot the boyfriend do you?” The thought had Lucas clutching at his chest in the area of his heart.

  Frank’s white T-shirt lifted and fell at the shoulders. “Not yet. I think she came for her toy so she could go off and finish a job.”

  “Okay, but where?”

  “You need to go now.”

  Lucas blinked in surprise. “What?”

  “It’s time you go. The sooner you leave the sooner you will find her and keep her safe.” Frank was already down the deck stairs when Lucas caught up with him.

  “Damn it, Frank. I don’t know where she is.”

  Frank stopped, poked a bony, crooked finger at Lucas’s chest and glared. “Then you damn well better figure it out. Because even though she may forgive you for being a jackass, I will never forgive you if she ends up dead.” He dropped his hand and wheezed in air. “You got that?”

  Lucas bobbed his head. “Yes, sir.” He followed the old man and nearly ran him over when he pulled up short in front of the garage. “What the heck, Frank?”

  “I believe your concern is warranted.”

  Lucas crossed his arms over his chest and eyed Frank with suspicion. “Why do you say that?”

  Pops lifted the garage door and revealed Maureen’s blue Nova.

  “Damn it!” He bent to take a closer look at the car’s bumper. “Did she tell you how that happened? Where?”

  Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Frank shake his head. “Did she tell you anything?”

  Frank swiped a hand over his mouth. “Not to tell you she was here.”

  “Shit!” Lucas stood and stalked toward his car.

  They reached the Mustang and Frank stroked its fender. “She hasn’t touched the one in the garage since you walked out.”

  “I know. I saw it.”

  Frank lifted one brow. “Yeah, I went there first then came here.”

  “Go. And make sure she knows I didn’t tell you anything.”

  “You didn’t,” Lucas grumbled, slid into the car and turned the engine over.

  “Where would you go?”

  “Goodbye, Frank.” He gunned the engine and backed out then put the car into drive and took off.

  Lucas drove away asking himself Frank’s question. Where would you go? If he wanted to go away where he could do some work it would have to be off the beaten path. Knowing that someone wanted him dead, it would have to be some place no one knew about. He shook his head. If it had his name on the lease or mortgage or he used a credit card, anyone could find him. A place not in his name. Scratch that. A place not in her name.

  His heart kicked him in the ribs, hard. A shot of adrenalin pumped into his system. He slapped the wheel and gave a hoot of triumph.

  SIX

  “Damn, Lucas Danger.” The rat bastard and the last man she wanted to see. Why couldn’t he stay out of the picture? Even though she and Lucas worked for the same organization that did not mean they saw each other that much. In fact, it was extremely rare. They had yet to be on an operation together, thank goodness.

  “Mickey probably sent Lucas to find me.” She loved her boss, but he always thought he knew best. She had news for Michael Augustson, he was not always right and this time he was dead wrong.

  Well, Lucas and Mickey had another thing coming if they thought she would just walk away from the cognitive robots project. If she did, she would never get another contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. She refused to lose that opportunity. More importantly, she would not leave until she identified who killed Jimmy and why. The only way to get to Jimmy’s killer was to finish the Cognitive Technology Threat Warning System project, what she referred to as DANGR. The only way to get back to the point in the project where Jimmy and his team had been is to hide and work.

  The hideout she planned on using was a no-brainer and the last place anyone would look for her. Salem, New Hampshire. She deliberately chose a place that did not belong to her, did not have her name on it, and was tucked away between lots of trees and a lake. Because of its secluded location, no one would be able to sneak up on her. In addition, the quiet location would give her the peace she needed to do the work.

  Maureen just hoped she could see the turnoff in the dark because by the time she arrived it would be close to midnight. Before she went there, she needed to stop for some supplies for her and the robot. First stop was an electronics shop.

  She parked and went inside the shop she had visited many times since falling in love with electronics and gadgets and received a warm greeting by the owner.

  “Gilly! You caught me just in time.” Mr. Warner came around the glass counter and enfolded her in his long arms. “It’s been quite a while. How have you been?”

  Returning his hug, she stepped back and gave him a weak but friendly smile. “Mr. Warner, you’re looking as good as ever.” She patted his expanding stomach. “Looks like Mrs. Warner is taking good care of you.”

  He chuckled and rubbed his belly. “Too true. She loves me.”

  Maureen beamed up at him then reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. “I need to pick up a few things.”

  “Ah.” He slipped the folded paper from her fingers and read. “Looks like you’re going to be doing quite a bit of work,” he commented as he walked away and down an aisle.

  Unfortunately, she thought. Not that she minded the work. She loved it, just not under the circumstances. Picking up a basket, Maureen worked from memory on the list of things she wanted and tossed them into the bin and met Mr. Warner back at the counter to pay. His old-fashioned cash register dinged as he rang in the price of each item.

  “This is going to be a hefty total.”

  “I figured as much.” It wasn’t even everything she required but at least it was a start.

  “Not to worry.” He winked at her. “I give my best customers a discount. You and your father have always been my best.”

  “Dad loved making the drive to your shop every Saturday. He used to say it was a road trip for him and his little girl.” The memory of getting in his refurbished, yellow 1967 El Camino and driving the long distance to get electrical supplies and sharing an ice cream shake together afterwards warmed her inside.

  Mr. Warner gave her the grand total and she handed him her credit card. About an hour after entering the store, she tucked her purchases in the Bronco and was back on the road.

  * * * *

  Maureen hit the border of New Hampshire a couple of hours later and stopped at the first restaurant she came to, a place that boasted the best hot wings. She walked into the crowded place and took a seat at the back of the restaurant, giving her a clear view of any and all who came through the front door. After ordering the hottest wings the establishment offered and a draft beer, she pulled out a pen and paper to make another list.

  She had to find another electronics shop that was a little more upscale than Warner’s Electronics in order to get the things she needed and unfortunately, that would probably be in Boston or DC. Since she knew she had to go back to DC to locate what she could of Jim
my’s work, she decided to get the equipment at that time.

  The bigger question was how she would manage to get any of Jimmy’s files or notes on the robot work. If someone torched the NanoRobotics lab, did anything survive the fire? What about Jimmy’s condominium? Had someone searched it the same way they had her house?

  Maureen pushed her hair back from her face and took a sip of the beer. When she heard the door open, she dipped her hand into her purse and wrapped her fingers around the grip of her weapon. Once she saw the new customer, an obvious regular by the way the other patrons greeted him with a slap on the back and handshakes, she relaxed and let loose of the gun. Even as she ate her wings, she kept an eye on the door.

  After finishing half the wings ordered and a few fries, she asked for the rest to be boxed up and ordered a cup of coffee to go. It was when the smiling waitress returned with her Styrofoam box and cup that Maureen thought her dinner might come back up. Before the guy walked through the door, she had seen him. Beneath his navy blue blazer was a holstered gun and at his waist a knife sat in a leather scabbard.

  Keeping her head bent, she snatched hold of the server’s wrist and lowered her voice. “Is there a back way out of here?”

  “What?” The blonde woman looked at her and tried to tug herself free.

  “Is there a back way out?”

  The waitress glanced around the room, her gaze pausing at the man standing in front of the door then turned back to Maureen and moved closer. “Are you okay? Is that man after you?”

  She nodded once. “He’s my ex, but he doesn’t seem to get that. There’s a restraining order out on him.”

  The woman gulped. “Did he beat you? Why that son of a…”

  Maureen tugged her arm. “I’ve got to get out of here before he sees me.”

  The woman winked, patted her hand, and answered. “You leave everything up to me.”

  Her head lowered, Maureen watched as the waitress made a few stops at other tables on her way to the front door then escorted the completely bald man in his blue blazer to a table on the other side of the restaurant. The waitress was on her way to the kitchen when a waiter came out carrying a cake. She snatched it from his hands and headed back toward the bald guy.