CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
BY THE TIME I’d reached the main building, I had switched my background mind to a physical therapy routine in attempt to message the pain from my throbbing shoulder and tightening hamstring. Limping to a stop in front of my office, I palmed the door and slid into the chair behind my desk.
Booting up my desktop, I left the video off and dialed Evie’s direct number. Most of the contents from my book bag lay in a neat pile in the center of the desk. After tidying up, she’d taken the movies and the copy of The Austin Job.
Why wasn’t she answering? The bookshelf had been shoved into place. If my memory of the last couple hours had been wiped out, I would’ve never known my daughter and I had discovered a hidden cavern over fifty feet below. How quickly the day had gone from adventure to horror.
“Pick up.” Why had I sent her home? Why had I put my work and my lab ahead of her again? Maybe I was hopeless.
“Dad?”
“Oh thank God, Evie.”
“You okay? How come you’re not calling from—”
“Evie, listen. The lab was attacked physically. A member of my team was killed.” I couldn’t believe the stark brutality of the words I spoke, but I couldn’t afford any miscommunication. “I’m fine, but it appears taking hostages may have been part of the plan.” Dead silence emanated from the other end. I panicked. “Evie, are you there?”
“What are you saying?”
“You’re not safe. Where are you?”
“Next door at the Claxtons’, working on a project.”
Evie routinely spent time at the neighbors’ after school. Anyone who knew our security protocols would know that too. “You have to leave. Tell them I’m taking you out to dinner.”
“Daddy, you’re scaring me.”
“Good! Three extremely dangerous men left the lab over a half hour ago. They’ve killed already. You have to get out!”
“Where?” Her voice cracked.
“Go to the corner market. I’ll pick you up there. Go now, out the back! Evie, I love you.” I moved to cut the connection before I broke down entirely.
“I love you—” she was gone.
Maybe no one would come. Maybe we’d laugh about it later. Maybe.