Page 46 of Preying Game

She blinked. “How is that possible?”

“You get them by cable—or with a satellite dish.”

“Which is?”

“An antenna that brings in wireless transmissions. Some channels have news all day. There’s a golf channel. A weather channel. Home and garden. Disney. A couple of channels that are like big commercials all day—designed to sell you everything from jewelry and china to fashions and toys.”

She shook her head, trying to take it in.

“And there’s so many other outlets for news and information that newspapers and magazines are going out of business.”

“Really?”

“Unfortunately.”

“And you don’t have to buy paper books. You read them on your phone or a tablet—which is a little bigger.”

oOo

As they turned onto an access road leading to Decorah Security, Alice stared at a line of long low buildings made of what looked like artificial stone blocks.

“Your company has all this?”

“No, we’re in an industrial park.”

“A what?”

“There are lots of businesses in these buildings. Technology firms. Service companies. We have several of the adjoining units here because we want to be unobtrusive. And the rent’s cheap.”

They pulled up in front of an entrance door with only a small sign giving the firm’s name.

When they got out, she whispered, “I’m nervous.”

“Don’t be. Everybody here is a friend.”

Still, she reached for his hand as they headed down a short sidewalk.

In the reception area, an older man with salt and pepper hair stepped toward them. His eyes were glowing as he clasped Jonah on the shoulder.

“You did it.”

“Yeah, I guess I did.” Jonah’s face broke into a broad grin.

Alice took in the exchange. She’d been so caught up in her own drama that she hadn’t thought about the enormity of what Jonah had accomplished. He’d rescued her in another time—then brought her home with him. Probably nobody had ever done it before.

As she was coming to grips with that reality, the man turned to her. His keen eyes searched her face. “I’m glad you made it here.”

His voice and his expression told her that he was thrilled that she’d arrived safe and sound.

“I’m Frank Decorah. We’ve all been anxious to meet you.”

“I’m glad . . . to be here,” she stammered.

“We’ll try not to overwhelm you.”

She nodded, seeing the other people in the room were hanging back. Two women and two men, none dressed the way she’d expect in a business office. All of them had on jeans and tee shirts or knit tops. The men looked like twins. And all of them seemed to be around Jonah’s age. One of the guys shook Jonah’s hand.

“Congratulations.”

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