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“In case you’re wondering if you can cut my hand off and use it to get inside, you can’t,” Pansy said. “It checks pulse. ”
“I wasn’t wondering,” McCallister said. Bryn was, but she didn’t say so.
“Who exactly are we going to meet?” she asked. There was something vaguely mad-scientist about all this, crossed with evil-villain. It was surprisingly disturbing.
“Manny Glickman,” Pansy said, and frowned at McCallister. “What, you didn’t tell her?”
“I didn’t want to broadcast it to anyone who might be listening. ”
“Jesus, you’re as paranoid as he is. Get help, man. ”
The door hissed open with a puff of cool air, and Pansy held it open as they passed before locking it behind them.
Bryn had expected a decrepit warehouse environment, like the floor below, but this was … high-tech. The floors were concrete, but clean and glossy; to the left she glimpsed a kitchen gleaming with tile and aluminum. Ahead was a series of tables, equipment, humming machines, and computers, all in clear-walled rooms.
At the far end hung floor-to-ceiling burgundy velvet curtains, which seemed very out of place for such a laboratory environment.
Pansy saw her looking, and winked. “The bedroom,” she said. “Trust me—it’s nice. Manny would crash on an air mattress in the corner if someone didn’t keep him civilized, but I do my best. ”
Bryn had been so caught up in all of the busy detail of the place that she’d failed to see the man bending over a complicated-looking lab setup in the corner until he said, “Oh, come on. Really? A dog?”
Mr. French growled, right on cue, an aggressive reply that made Bryn wince and quiet him with a hand on his head. “Sorry,” she said. “He’ll be good. ”
The man sighed. “Dog owners are so gullible. ‘Oh, he won’t bite. He’s perfectly friendly. ’ They say that right up until their pit bulls rip your throat out. Has she been searched?” He was, at first glance, not very remarkable. Frizzy dark hair, body swathed in a white lab coat. That was all she could tell about him, because he didn’t turn around or even glance their way.
“I’m vouching for her,” McCallister said. “She’s all right. ”
“Just like her for the dog?”
“Manny, turn around and at least say hello,” Pansy said. “They came a long way. ”
“Then they should turn around and go back. ” Still, the man straightened up and turned to face them. He was bigger than she’d expected, broad shouldered, with surprisingly green eyes. He didn’t meet Bryn’s gaze for more than an instant, though, before he transferred his attention to McCallister. “Pat, you can’t just drop in. It’s not safe. What if you were followed?”
“You jammed the trackers. You just told me that. ”
“Physically followed. ”
McCallister shook his head slowly. “In all the time you’ve known me, have I ever been that careless?”
Manny stared at him for a long moment, then turned back to his chemistry set, or whatever it was. “There’s a woman involved,” he said. “You’re not the only man to forget to watch his back under those circumstances. ”
“It’s not about that. ”
“It’s always about that, and if you don’t think it is, you’re lying to yourself. ” Manny sent her another fast, scorching glance. “She’s pretty. ”
“She’s an asset. And you’re making me wish I’d never come here, because you’re embarrassing me. ”
“Then we’re even, because I wish you hadn’t come here either. ”
“Manny, come on. What’s got the bug up your ass?”
“Nothing. ” Manny peered through a microscope a
nd made some notes on a pad off to the side. “I’ve got business to do. Clients who need help. ”
“I’m paying. ”
“Damn right, you’re paying. If Pharmadene knows I’m playing in their sandbox, they’re not just going to send me a cease-and-desist letter, you know. They kill people. I’ve got Pansy to think about. ”
