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Now she had to laugh as she got to her feet. “Actually, you’d be surprised exactly how much value it has. You really would.”
Daniel stood up as well. “So Gunnar is going to think you launched an offensive at him and that’s why his lab went boom. And he sent you a message last night. Is that our conclusion?”
“One possible conclusion.”
“Fair enough. By the way, what did you do with the body of that guard? And before you tell me it’s none of my business, I’ll agree with you, but I’m a member of this household, at least for the time being, so I’d like to know in case the cops come a-knockin’.”
C.P. looked over at the bathroom door. It was a moment before she could find her voice. “He was a ghost, just like you are. According to what his family knows, he died a long, long time ago, and there was no legal next of kin.”
“You cremated him on the premises, then, didn’t you.”
For a split second, she remembered the last time she and the guard had been together, when Gus had walked in. His name… had been Robert. He had gone by Rob. And she was sorry that he hadbeen killed—and also shocked. He’d had lightning reflexes and the kind of training where bare-knuckle fighting was nothing more than a fun way to blow off steam.
Whoever had taken him out had been highly trained and very deadly.
She had to clear her throat. “I made sure that his remains were handled with respect. He is not my first loss.”
“That I believe. On both accounts.”
As Daniel headed for the door, C.P. said, “You’re walking better, too. No more cane.”
He paused and glanced down at himself. “You know what Gus always says.”
“What’s that.”
“It’s remarkably hard to kill a human, especially one in their prime like me. In most cases, you have to work in order to die.” Daniel shrugged. “Helluva Christmas card, right?”
“Hallmark should hire him.”
At the door, the man looked back. “You ever hear of a guy named Kurtis Joel.”
C.P. frowned. “No. Who’s that?”
“You sure?”
“Yes. Who is it?”
Daniel shook his head. “I’ll let you know. I’m going to keep poking around that F.B.G. database. Talk to you soon.”
As Daniel took off, her first impulse was to goafter him and ask him about the name, but as a wave of dizziness swamped her, she sat back down. She’d given him a workspace in the lab just because it was easier and more secure. If he found anything, he’d just demonstrated he’d come to her, and anything he did on the computer? She could see just by pushing a button up here.
If only all her problems were so easy to solve.
TWENTY-EIGHT
AS LYDIA SATalone with Daniel at the table just off of C.P.’s kitchen, she pushed the food around on her plate. It was late for the whole dinner thing, and she couldn’t remember the last time she’d eaten anything, and yes, of course, the chicken was perfect. But that conversation with Daniel had knocked her off her stride.
The future was… too awful to contemplate.
Reaching under the table, she put her hand on his thigh and squeezed. As she glanced over at him, he was looking at her and his face was glowing. Especially when his eyes drifted down to her mouth and he licked his lips.
As she blushed, she smiled back at him, and the moment lasted a split second and also an eternity. Then she nodded at his plate.
“Look at you. Your appetite is coming back.”
“The metal taste in my mouth is fading so everything is a frickin’ revelation, you know? And I’m still hungry.”
“Don’t fight that feeling. Go get more from the buffet.”
