Catalyst (Breakthrough Book 3)(135)
Langford met the man’s gaze. “For your redemption.”
Abegg slowly smiled. “Redemption?”
“That’s right.”
“Redemption of what, exactly?”
“Redemption for knowing that cutting the wrong corners resulted in the largest oil spill and manmade disaster on record. And an expensive lesson.”
“A very expensive lesson,” Abegg replied.
“Indeed.”
“So, what sort of redemption are we speaking of?” Abegg asked.
Miller answered. “Another mistake.”
“Excuse me?”
“Another mistake,” repeated Langford.
“I don’t understand.”
“The old rig you’re bringing back to dismantle. It needs a problem.”
“It needs a problem?” The president looked again at his officers on either side, then turned back to Langford with a grin. “And this problem is supposed to be our redemption?”
“That’s right.”
Abegg merely stared at Langford. “Exactly what kind of problem do you have in mind?”
“That’s up to you. We only care about the location.”
94
John Clay awoke and slowly examined the light-colored blanket tucked neatly around him. The high rails on either side told him it was a hospital bed. Without moving his head, he followed the blanket up to his chest, where he found clear tubes running to either side.
The room came into focus quickly. It was sparsely decorated with little more than a service table and a television high on the opposite wall. He moved both hands and felt something soft to his right.
He turned his head to see a chair pulled close to the bed. Curled up uncomfortably and still sleeping was Alison. Her arm extended across the edge of the bed with her hand resting on top of Clay’s.
Clay watched her as she slept. Even with tussled hair and her head resting awkwardly on a pillow atop the chair, he smiled at how beautiful she was.
He was overcome with emotion, staring longingly into a face he thought he would never see again. He took a deep breath and smiled.
Alison’s eyes fluttered open and stared at him. But only for a moment before jerking upright. “You’re awake!”
Clay smiled. Even her voice was beautiful.
Alison leaned forward to hug him gently.
“When did you get here?” he asked.
She smiled and pulled his hand to her cheek. “As soon as I could.”
A flood of emotions overwhelmed him and Clay’s eyes began to well with tears. “I-I didn’t think-”
“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I’m here now.”
He smiled again and nodded.
Alison lowered his hand, then stood up and leaned in closer to kiss him. When she sat back down, it was on the edge of his bed.
“How do you feel?”
“Old.”
She chuckled. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Everything hurts.” He grimaced and pulled the blanket to the side, examining the cast he felt on his leg. “What day is it?”
“Saturday, the twelfth.”
He peered through the window into a blue sky with soft scattered clouds. “Where are we?”
She grinned. “Honolulu. At the Queen’s Medical Center.”
“Hawaii?”
“Yep.”
He leaned his head back. “Not exactly how I would have wanted to bring you here.”
Alison looked down and straightened the blanket across his chest. “I’ll take you any way I can get you.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
“I know. It was probably better you didn’t. Besides, I had my own problems.”
His eyes narrowed. “What happened?”
She was still looking down at the blanket and pursed her lips tight, but it didn’t prevent what was coming. Alison began to tremble and she fell forward, softly into him. “We lost Juan.”
Clay was stunned. “What?!”
“We lost Juan,” she repeated, sobbing.
“Oh no.” He brought her in closer. “I’m so sorry.”
Clay didn’t need to ask. He knew what Caesare and his team were up against, and he knew how often things went awry, no matter how well-planned. He put his bandaged arm around her, trying to ignore the pain.
After a minute, she looked up and tried to wipe the tears away. “And Chris!”
“Chris?!”
Alison nodded. “He’s in the hospital. There was an accident aboard the ship. The doctors think he’s going to be okay, but we almost lost him too.”
He nodded and squeezed her. “What about Steve?”
“He’s okay, and DeeAnn and Dulce. But he lost two of his men.”
Clay closed his eyes, shaking his head. Nearly everything had gone wrong. Juan, Chris, and now two of Caesare’s team.