Page 59 of Logan

He’d said the words but wished they could have made the ache in his gut ease.

32

Vivian stopped outside the plastic-covered door, sucking in a deep breath before her hand reached up to gently pull the tape from the doorframe.

She and Logan had spent yesterday working on their plans, practicing them in their house, and modifying them as needed until he was satisfied. He had his team back in Montana watch her as he videoed her practice, a tactic that made her so anxious she thought she might throw up. Finally someone named Sadie told him to stop acting like a nervous ninny and just to let Vivian do what she needed to do.

He had continued to grouse and grumble every step of the way, but she knew it was because he was worried. And the last few nights, he’d held her long after they made love, even in his sleep. It was as though his fears penetrated his dreams, and she would wake with his arms tighter around her.

He had planned her steps exactly. They had carefully watched and, on schedule, the Zamans left on Friday morning for their time at the mosque in Fairbanks, and none of the others showed up either. The Keepers had tracked them before on Friday mornings and reported to Logan that all five attended thesame mosque. It was the only time they were all gone. And now, Friday morning, she was inside.

She noted her gloved hand shook slightly as she peeled the tape back slowly, not wanting to tear any of the setups in the Zaman’s house. Wearing a full chemical hazmat suit, complete with a mask, she finished peeling back the plastic. Knowing time was of the essence, she opened the door carefully and stepped inside. Having familiarized herself for weeks with the inside of the room, she moved with determination to the table on the left wall, ignoring the ones in the middle of the room.

Setting her tray on the floor, she took out the first test tube and dropper. The work was repetitive as she removed a few drops from one of the vials on the table, noted the label before depositing the drops to her tube, placed the stopper in, and then marked it with the chemical shorthand. Next, she replaced their vial back in its exact position, having noted it before she moved it the first time. Over and over, she moved down the table, taking the ones she was certain she needed.

“Babe, are you okay?” Logan’s voice came through her earpiece, causing her to jump but comforting her at the same time.

“Yeah. Just finished the table where Malik and Rashad work. I’m heading to Nafisa’s work now.”

She knew Logan’s team would watch for the group's return, but he’d added a small camera at the end of the road to let them know if anyone else approached. He couldn’t trust that they would use the vehicle with the tracker.

Vivian, battling the urge to keep talking to him, kept quiet, determined to focus on the job at hand. Moving to Nafisa’s lab table, she sucked in a deep breath, noting the difference in the vials and dishes she had. Not recognizing the labeling language, she returned to her task, taking drops of the liquids and depositing them in her vials, where she had to copy the labelsonto her labels. A drop of sweat dripped down the side of her forehead, but she ignored it.

By the time an hour had passed, she stood, knowing she had all she had come for. Jumping when Logan spoke again, she bent to pick up her test tube tray. “Logan, I’m finished. I’m getting ready to leave now.”

“Okay, babe. I’m right outside.”

Stepping through the lab door, she gently set the tray on the floor and turned back to the door. Shutting it, she carefully taped the plastic back in place, making sure to fix it exactly the way it was found. Looking at her handiwork, she nodded in satisfaction. Her eye for detail helped, and she was certain they wouldn’t be able to see a difference.

Taking her tray, she walked down the hall and turned right into the kitchen. Their house was like the one she and Logan shared, only flip-flopped. Walking carefully, she was aware her booties were slick on the floor, so as she approached the counter, she set the tray down before pulling them from her feet. Stuffing them into her hazmat suit pocket, she picked up the tray and approached the back door.

Seeing Logan’s frantic eyes on her, she smiled. “It’s all good, honey,” she said as she stepped outside, avoiding his hand, which naturally shot out to assist. “No, don’t touch me. Not now.”

Logan nodded in acknowledgment and turned back to the closed door behind her, making sure it was secured exactly the way it had been when they first came. “Sixty-seven,” he muttered.

She threw him a questioning gaze.

“You were in there for sixty-seven minutes. I counted each one. I swear they were branded in my mind. Christ, I can’t do this again.”

Landon radioed, “The house looks good. She covered her tracks perfectly.”

“Thanks, everyone,” Logan managed to say. “We’re heading to the makeshift lab.”

He stepped back and viewed the area, and she carefully carried her tray around the back of their property. As soon as she could, she followed the path they had charted to give her the fastest way to the shed without being seen by anyone who might drive down the lane. She heard him jogging behind her, but she made each step as carefully as possible with her volatile chemicals.

Catching up to her, he said, “We’re safe. Even if they come now, we’re out of sight. She nodded but continued on the path into the woods, heading toward the shed. “You just focus on what you need, Viv, and I’m watching out from behind.”

Approaching the shed, he reached his long arm around her and opened the door. She lifted one foot, and he replaced her booties over her shoes, then they repeated the process for the other foot. Stepping past him, she entered the clean, plastic-lined interior. Turning, she said, “Close the door behind me, honey. You know you can’t come in.”

Grimacing, he stood with his fists on his hips, his unhappiness rolling off him. “I know, but I don’t like it.”

“We talked about this, Logan,” she added, her gaze holding his.

“But what if something happens? I don’t want to be back at the house with you out here alone.”

“I have my radio earpiece. And we’ve got your people on the radio, as well. I need to start, and we don’t have time to discuss this again.”

“She’s right, you know,” Landon radioed.

---