Page 96 of Guarding the Singer

William didn't bother reminding Badger that he knew where it was, too. That wasn't the point. The most important thing was to get on the road.

William jumped in a moment before the SUV peeled away from the curb.

Badger cast a quick look into the rear-view mirror. "He said he'd get a ride back to the rental office."

William let the words wash over him.

"It seems like Cypher is worth her weight in gold."

William nodded. It was almost true. "She's worth more than that. With no cell reception at the airport, she still managed to get through and call us. I wouldn't have a clue about how she found out the number for the landline at the TSA checkpoint.

Once Selene was safe and back where she needed to be, he'd call Cypher and offer her his thanks.

Whatever she wanted from him, he'd find a way to give it to her.

PART XIV

When Gary pulled the car up to the front of the house, Selene opened the passenger door, stepping out.

By the time she crossed over the front of the car, Gary was out of the car and calling to her.

"You want me to come in with you?"

She felt her teeth grind together at the thought she'd already put this poor man through difficulties by changing their flight plans. She didn't want to put him out any further.

"I'll be okay, Gary. Thanks for the ride. I'll make sure you're reimbursed for any expenses and your time."

"Selene," he called after her. "It's okay."

As she reached the top of the steps, she heard him one more time.

"Call me when you need me! I'll be there!"

The door opened before she could knock, and she barely glanced at Mandy before she was dashing inside. "Where is he?"

"His office. It's-"

Selene didn't wait for directions; she was moving through the entry toward his office down the hall. "What's going on?"

She'd called back over her shoulder, but she didn't even hear Mandy's footsteps on the floor.

The door to Cooper's office was open and she paused just inside the door. Cooper was sitting at his desk, no, not sitting, he was slumped over on this desk.

"Cooper?"

She dropped her bag on the floor and moved over to his side. She didn't know much about what to do, but she touched her fingers to the side of his neck, feeling for a pulse.

His skin was cold and clammy, and Selene fumbled a little before she found a pulse lightly pushing back against her fingertips.

"What are you doing?"

"How long has he been like this?"

Crouching down beside his desk, she turned his head to look at his face.

There was something on the desk, on the deskblotter, an odd shade of yellow with clumps in it. "Oh my god, Mandy? Tell me you called 911!"

"Get off of him."

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