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“They’re relentless, aren’t they?”
“That’s one word for it.”
“And they have the advantage because they know who we are, and they’re just some nameless, faceless assassins to us.”
“Maybe, maybe not.” He slowed the stolen SUV until the car behind them passed on the left and sped out of sight.
“Do you think you might know the man or men after us?”
“I might and you might if Tempest is sending its agents to take care of us.”
She pinned her hands between her bouncing knees. “I can’t imagine even one of my patients trying to kill me.”
“Have you forgotten Simon already? Your patients, as you call them, are programmed to do just that. Tempest will tell lies to get them to do the job. Keep your eyes open for a familiar face.”
“Ugh.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Where are we going now?”
“Dr. Arnoff’s house, as planned.”
She whipped her head around to face him. “Won’t Tempest figure we’ll be heading there?”
He squinted into the rearview mirror at a pair of headlights behind them and then let out a breath when the car turned off. “Tempest doesn’t know what I know. They don’t know if I’ve gone off the rails like Simon or if I’ve put any of the puzzle pieces together yet. That car bomb was meant to kill me or warn me.”
“Uh, it blew up that car. I think the message was pretty clear.”
He held up a finger. “Ah, but it didn’t ignite right away. It’s not like Tempest to make a mistake like that. As soon as I turned on the ignition, I sensed the danger. They had to know I’d figure it out.”
“And if you hadn’t?”
He shrugged. “We’d both be dead.”
Her body stiffened and he silently cursed his insensitivity. She wasn’t like him—cold, unfeeling.
“Sorry.” His hand shot out and covered hers, clutching her thigh. His fingertips brushed her soft skin, and he felt her tremble. He slid his hand from hers and rested it on the console between them.
“Anyway, Tempest might not realize I need to search Arnoff’s house. They know I know he’s dead—end of story.”
“And if they are at his house?”
“We’ll take every precaution. Going to Arnoff’s is worth the risk.”
“If you say so. They’d probably figure us for a couple of lunatics going to Arnoff’s after that car bomb, so we just might be safe.”
“I can drop you off on the way, Ava.” He wiped one palm on his jeans. “I can still take you to the airport.”
“Then what? I go underground? Go into the witness protection program for spies?”
“I told you. Prospero can help you. You get on a plane to anywhere and call Prospero once you reach your destination. I can give you a contact number.”
“You implied earlier that you couldn’t trust Prospero.”
“I can’t trust anyone, but once you separate from me, you should be okay. You can tell them whatever you want. Just don’t tell them you believed me. Tell them I’m insane. Tell them I held you against your will.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll figure it out.”
“You’ll figure it out a lot faster with me by your side. I may not be a real doctor, but I’m familiar with formulas, especially this one. If there’s an antidote out there, I’m going to recognize it faster than you will.”
“I appreciate the offer, but...”
She pounded the dashboard. “You keep getting this crazy idea that I’m doing this for your benefit. Don’t you get it? I don’t have anywhere else to go. You’re it. You’re my protector whether you want to be or not.”
He wanted to be. The thought came out of nowhere and slammed against his chest. Just as quickly, he stuffed it away.
Skimming his palms along the steering wheel, he said, “It’s going to be dangerous. I can’t guarantee your safety.”
“You’ve done a pretty good job of it so far.” She jabbed a finger at the windshield. “Two more exits.”
“Do me a favor when we get there.”
She crossed her arms and gave him a wary look. “What?”
