Dead Aim(52)
“Jack the Ripper?” Morgan's tone was mocking as he watched her face. “Attila the Hun?”
“Don't be ridiculous.”
“I'm relieved.” He stood up and took his cup to the sink. “But you're still not eager to jump back in bed with me.”
“What do you expect? You may not be Jack the Ripper, but you sure do a good imitation of Jekyll and Hyde.” Her eyes narrowed. “Or was that intentional? It's a great way to distance me. Isn't that your modus operandi? Distance?” She stood up. “Well, you're going to get it. I can't deal with split personalities at the moment. Get me my computer and let me get to work.”
“I'll call Galen and have him send it right away.” He headed for the front door. “But it can't happen in the next few hours. He's on his way to Brownsville. Let's get out of here and take a walk. We both need to blow off steam.”
“You go. I'll stay here.”
“No way. Nothing has changed as far as security goes. We're joined at the hip.”
That's not how they'd been joined last night. Dammit, why had the memory popped into her head when she was trying to maintain her cool? Because she was confused and hurt and her body was still aching and sexually attuned to Morgan. Just shut it off as he had done. “You're right. Nothing has changed. I'll get my coat.”
They had been outside for only a little over an hour when Morgan's phone rang. “I didn't expect to hear from you this—Shit.” He listened for a moment. “Okay, I'm on it. No, don't send anyone else. I'm on it.” He hung up. “Galen called from the Houston airport. He was between flights when he heard about the explosion.”
“Explosion?”
“The Fairfax Textile factory. The fire department probably won't be able to tell what caused it for weeks. They can't get the fire out.”
“A cover-up.”
“And an excellent way to dispose of an awkward corpse.”
Corpse. She had never met Scott, but it seemed callous to refer to him in that impersonal manner. “You think they left him to burn up in the fire.”
“Probably. If they heard him on the phone with Galen, then they'd know it was too risky not to destroy the plant. Now there's no plant and no Scott.” He turned and headed back toward the house. “And by the time that plant collapses, there won't be any basement sporting holes to China.”
She hurried to keep up with him. “You told Galen you were on it. Are you going to Houston?”
“No, he found an address on one of Powers's credit-card receipts. I'm going to Indiana. First I'm taking you to your friend Sarah's house on the coast. Logan will be able to deal with the security, and the devil with keeping you away from her. None of us ever thought we'd be in this situation.”
“You're not taking me anywhere I don't want to go. I'm not going to be dumped like so much garbage. And if you think I'm going to risk landing all this mess on Sarah's doorstep, you're nuts. Where in Indiana?”
“Terre Haute.”
“Do you think there's any chance of the credit-card info being legitimate?”
“A small one. If it's not, I may be able to trace it. Or there's always the goat for the tiger.”
“And that means?”
“If he finds someone is trying to trace it, he may come hunting.”
“And that's why you're the one who has to go. Because you want to catch the hunter.”
“Exactly.”
“Has it occurred to you that he may not be the only one waiting at the trap?”
“In which case I get out and try again another day.” His pace quickened as they neared the house. “But I'll have a bead on him. I'll be that much nearer.”
“We'll be that much nearer.”
He paused before climbing the steps. “I can't talk you out of going with me?”
“Don't try. Just tell me how the devil we're going to wander around Terre Haute without being recognized?”
“We can handle that problem.” He paused. “Let me take you to Logan, Alex. Please.”
She moved past him up the steps. “What about false ID, credit cards?”
He nodded his head resignedly. “Galen.”
“Always Galen.” She waited until he unlocked the door. “Then tell him I'll need him to supply me with a laptop and those programs by the time we get to Terre Haute.”
“Fairfax is gone?” Powers repeated. “But you thought we might need it for more backup experiments after Arapahoe. I could have blown it for you. All you had to do was say the word.”
“It was more risk than it was worth after Kimble found Scott in the basement. He was on the phone, and there's no telling who else knows about Fairfax.” Betworth paused. “And you. He was making inquiries at the hotel. I understand you used a credit card. I believe I told you to use cash.”