“I'm not going to take a nap. Why do you keep trying to get me to go to sleep? We need to talk.”
He glanced at her as he took down the coffee canister. “That sounds ominous.”
“What happened last night was ominous. It scared me to death.” She opened the door. “I don't like to be scared. I don't like to feel helpless. And I sure as hell don't like being made a target. I have to know what's happening.” She didn't wait for him to reply but closed the door and leaned against it. Lord, she was exhausted. She needed sleep. Her shoulder throbbed and she felt as if she'd been through a war.
Morgan knew about wars. They were his stock-in-trade.
Well, they weren't her trade. She hated violence. Which made the fact that she had been forced into defending herself against this hideous charge all the more sickening.
Flames consuming the lodge, clawing at the sky.
No, she hadn't even been given the chance to defend herself.
So forget about rest. She had to figure out why this had happened and what she was going to do.
Morgan was still alone in the living room when Alex came out of the bedroom an hour later.
“Did you change your mind about that nap?” he asked. “I was just going to check and see if you were all right.”
“No, I just wanted a little time to myself. Where's Galen?”
“We're low on groceries. He went to town to pick some up.”
“How? I thought Sibley was twenty miles away.”
“There was an old Ford pickup in the barn. Nothing fancy, but it works.”
“Why did I even question? Galen seems to fill all needs.”
“Thank God.” He went to the cabinet. “I'll get you a cup of coffee. This is the second pot. Galen and I killed the first one.”
“I could use the caffeine.” She sat down on the couch in front of the television set. “Was there anything about the attack on the lodge?”
He nodded. “You and your accomplices resisted arrest and they had to fire. They haven't been able to go into the lodge yet to get DNA evidence, but they're almost sure you escaped. Particularly since the fine forces of law and order were ambushed while they were in pursuit of a suspicious vehicle.”
“Resisted arrest? There was no one in that lodge.”
He shrugged. “Poltergeists?” He handed her the cup. “And they've identified me as one of your accomplices. I was wondering when they'd decide to put me in the hot seat too.”
“You're probably used to it.”
“Yes, and you'll be glad to know that the injuries I inflicted were minor. Jurgens has a broken arm, and one of his men has a minor concussion.”
“I'm not sure I am glad.”
He gazed at her with raised brows.
“Or maybe I am.” She took a sip of coffee. “I just don't know. I still find it difficult to believe the FBI is out to get me.”
“Then maybe you should consider that organizations like the FBI and CIA are so spread out and secretive that sometimes one department doesn't know what another is doing. Much less what each other is up to. That was one of the prime outcries after September eleventh.” He poured himself a cup of coffee. “It's entirely possible that we have a bad apple in a fine, healthy bushel.”
“Jurgens?”
He nodded. “But you've got to be aware that he might not be alone.”
“So much for your theory.”
“This attack on you has pretty wicked firepower. The media mentioned Homeland Security.”
“Oh, for God's sake. Now you're saying they're involved? Why not the President?”
“Jesus, I hope not. I like Andreas. By the way, his trip to the dam has been postponed at the request of Homeland Security until the Secret Service can verify there's no threat from Matanza.”
“Or me?”
“Or you. And all I'm saying is that Homeland Security must have been brought into the picture by either hard evidence supplied by the FBI and CIA or the influence of someone pretty high up.”
“There was no hard evidence against me. I didn't do anything.”
“Except be in the wrong place at the wrong time.” He smiled faintly. “And then refuse to go away and forget about it. You're a very obstinate woman.”
“Obstinate? I was at Arapahoe Junction. I dug and dug, and all the time I knew. . . .” She had to steady her voice. “You're damn right I'm obstinate.”
“I'm not complaining. I like it. Which is unusual considering what problems it's causing me.”
“I don't care whether you complain or not. For the last few weeks my life has been a nightmare. I've been caught in a landslide, forced to jump into floodwaters, shot at, run off the road, and now this. For God's sake, it's like something from The Perils of Pauline.”