Oh. Of course, Nolan gets a day off. Just because you don’t know what to do with yourself on weekends doesn’t mean he’s equally pathetic.
Fynn hid his disappointment. “Sure. I’m going to get ready and then head in to the lab.”
“On a Saturday?”
“I had a cool idea yesterday, but got kind of sidetracked. I need to make up the time.”
“I’ll let Charlie know to meet us there at three. Or will you work a half day?”
“Once I’m there, might as well get shit done.” He flushed, because he’d used the wordshitinstead ofstuffin an effort to seem less wimpy to this competent-looking woman who could probably beat him up with one hand tied behind her back.Did it sound as fake to her as to me?
Amelia nodded, though, and went back to swiping through her phone. She looked tall for a woman, probably Fynn’s height if she stood up, and her arms below her short sleeves showed a curve of muscle. Very unlike his mother’s slender fragility. Not that he remembered his mother’s appearance well. At fourteen, he should’ve had solid memories, but the ones that stuck around now, nineteen years later, seemed to be of her voice, her faint floral scent, her smile. She’d still been taller than him when she died, and he couldn’t say what her actual height had been…
Stop staring at the nice lady and get your ass in gear.
Fynn grabbed his first mug of coffee for the day, and headed back to shower and dress, trying to stuff his grumpiness away. He’d gotten used to a routine, and now they’d changed things on him. But how petty, to bitch just because they sent a new person. Nolan’s people catered to his every whim. If he’d said, “I’m going to the beach” or “I’m headed to the LEGO Store,” he’d bet Amelia would have that same calm acceptance.
Maybe not if I said I was going hang gliding.He wondered what bodyguards did if the person they were guarding decided to do something dangerous. What if they insisted on, say, walking down the middle of a freeway or free-climbing their office tower? What if they were going to do something illegal? Was a bodyguard supposed to stop them?
I’ll ask Nolan.Then he remembered he had Amelia today and felt his grouchiness return.
She led the way to his door when he was ready, checked something on her phone—oh yeah, they put in cameras— and then ushered him out. She seemed surprised when he hit the elevator button for the parking garage. “Isn’t Joe picking you up like usual?”
“Joe gets weekends off too.”Like Nolan. Like normal people.Fynn wondered if perhaps he should do some weekend thing, but he had his notes from last night waiting for him. “I do know how to drive.” Although his stomach fluttered unpleasantly at the prospect of driving down that same, slightly-secluded section near the lab. Driving wasn’t his favorite thing to begin with, and now he’d be passing the spot where the first pickup had lurked…I’ll be fine. Get back on the horse.
He strode out into the garage resolutely. Amelia was at his side within two steps, though, and caught his arm as they neared his old Volvo. “Is this a habit, driving yourself to the lab on weekends?”
“Habit? I guess. Joe’s had the same days off since we hired him. I don’t always go to the lab, though.”Sometimes I stay home and play with toys.
“I wish you’d told me. I’d have brought down the bug sweeper to check the car for tracking.” Amelia sighed. “Come on, back upstairs, it’ll only take a few minutes.”
“You’re kidding.” He hated retracing his steps. Going back risked encountering distractions. Forward momentum was important. “Do we have to?”Now you sound like a child pouting to his mother. Are you going to stamp your feet next?
“Yep. Sorry.” She didn’t sound sorry.
At least the delay only lasted ten minutes before Amelia declared the car bug-free and set the detector on the back seat.
See, we could’ve skipped checking.Except he knew as a scientist that assumptions would come back to bite you in the butt, every time. Get the data. Luckily, data showed no one cared where he drove. He opened the driver’s door.
Amelia took the keys from him, nudging him aside. “I drive, you ride in style.”
“Why?” He resented the scared bit of him that said,Yes, let someone else do it.
“Protocol.” She tilted her head, waiting for him to be sensible.
In case someone tries again, doofus.He swallowed, nodded, and went round to the other side.
Other than the Volvo’s noisier engine, the drive felt abnormally quiet. Fynn wondered why, and realized he was already used to chattering to Nolan about whatever was on his mind while Joe drove them.Is Nolan humoring me when he listens and nods and asks questions? Would he prefer this kind of professional silence?
“Hmm.” Amelia sped up as they hit the freeway, moving to the fast lane.
Fynn glanced at the speedometer. “You’re doing seventy-five. Eighty!”
“I thought someone might be behind us. Just checking.”
Fynn swallowed hard, his heart racing. He clutched the handle over the door even though they were traveling smoothly.
Amelia drove a couple more minutes, then slowed, easing her grip on the wheel. “Don’t see them.”
