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Karl grinned. “You’d think so. It’s been pissing down out here. I went out to check the greenhouses and lost my footing.”
“You busy tonight?”
Karl hesitated. “Yeah. David’s got the lead in a play at school. They’re performing tonight. Why?”
David was Karl’s youngest and Gabriel’s godson. “Thought I’d ask you to do me a favor, but it really doesn’t matter.”
“I’m free after about eleven, if that’s any help.”
Gabriel hesitated. “No, it’s okay.” If Hopeworth had orchestrated the attack on Wetherton, surely they’d lay low for a day or two before moving again. He was probably worrying over nothing.
Karl scratched his chin, smearing the mud further. “Are you aware that I’m seeing that pretty partner of yours today?”
Gabriel smiled. He obviously didn’t mean Illie. “Why? Is something wrong?”
“Nah. O’Hearn called me in. She wants some help decoding the gene patterns.”
“So you’ve had a chance to look at the test results I gave you?”
“Yeah.” Karl hesitated. “Look, why don’t you come down to the clinic today? I think we may need to talk to you both.”
And no doubt Sam would be utterly delighted to see him there. He smiled grimly. He had only himself to blame. If he hadn’t been such a bastard over the last few weeks, maybe she’d be a tad happier about seeing him outside of work.
“Why would I need to be there?”
Karl frowned. “I’ve been doing some research on shadow walkers. If O’Hearn’s samples match the test results from Finley, Sam’s definitely got walker in her.”
“That still doesn’t explain why you need me there.”
“Her appointment’s at five. Be there and I’ll explain.”
Obviously, Karl had no intention of explaining anything over the unsecured vid-phone. Gabriel blew out a breath. “Fine. I’ll see you there, then.”
The vid-screen went black again, and Gabriel stared up at the ceiling, part of him wanting to get up and hit the gym and the other half desperate to go back to sleep. The phone rang before he could decide between them. Didn’t anyone sleep in these days?
Frowning, he shifted and checked out the caller ID. It was Sandy. He reached out to answer the call, then hesitated and pressed the auto-answer button instead.
“Morning, Gabe. Seeing we’ve both got the day off, I thought we might get together.”
Her voice was mellow, sultry, but for once it had little effect on him. Maybe he was more tired than he’d thought. Maybe he was simply getting old.
“Give me a call when you wake up,” she continued. “Lunch is my treat.”
Her words invoked memories of the last time she’d treated him to lunch. Eating hadn’t exactly come into it, and damn if it hadn’t been fun. Again he reached out. Again he hesitated.
If he went and saw Sandy, he’d have a hard time breaking away anytime before dinner. He couldn’t go there simply for sex and then walk away. It wasn’t fair to her, no matter how casual either of them was about their relationship.
Better for them both if he simply didn’t respond. He rubbed a hand across his eyes and climbed out of bed. Seeing as he had nothing else planned for today, he might as well grab the chance to exercise, then head down to Federation headquarters.
Surely, somewhere in the vast archives there, he’d find something about shadow walkers.
—
Sam tucked a leg beneath her as she sat on the sofa. After placing her coffee on the table, she grabbed the portable com-unit and pressed her thumb into the lock.
“Voice identification required,” the unit stated.
“Sam Ryan, SIU officer, badge number 1934.”
