Page 44 of Shadow Break

She pulled Chris aside before they left. “Sorry. I’m a bit jumpy after everything that has happened. Thank you for doing all of this.”

“Don’t worry about it. You need to focus on getting results from this fungus and you’ve got enough other stresses weighing on your mind. I get it. I just want to help.”

* * *

Aaron followed behind the large black van carrying everything that Sydney was most concerned about that didn’t fit in his car. Her computer was packed at her feet, along with a thick metal box in the back seat that contained the biological weapon.

His skin crawled at the thought. He had tried to call Knightly several times to tell him what they had. Currently, it was only Sydney, Pallon, and himself who knew what they were transporting. But Knightly needed to know. There were protocols that needed to be followed. Having the fungus moved to the government facility should be enough to allow Sydney to continue her work, but this was a very sensitive matter.

He looked at the time. “We’ll get the fungus under lock and key as soon as we get there, but after that, we’re not going to have time to unpack. We’ll need to get your ID sorted out first so you can come and go as you please. Then we can get in early in the morning and set up the lab.”

“I’m not leaving without the proper security active on my computer either. The information on here is just as dangerous.”

He knew there was no point arguing. It was a twenty-four-hour facility. They’d stay as long as it took.

* * *

Sydney breathed deeply as they approached the gate to her new home away from home. Despite her apprehension about moving in there, the building was impressive. While they were packing, Pallon had informed her that the facility was state-of-the-art and would have advanced technology that she would have access to. Maybe there were perks to having her life threatened.

They stopped at the gate, and Aaron handed over his badge for the guard to check.

“I’ll need your driver’s license,” Aaron said to Sydney.

“Oh, right.” She pulled out her wallet and dug her finger into the plastic window, but the license was sticking. “Sorry.” She looked up and saw the van with her stuff pull out of view. She dug harder, finally pulling it free.

“Is this going to take long?” she whispered.

“It takes as long as it takes. And you should be glad it does. They don’t rush anyone through, and that’s a good thing. There are no shortcuts.”

She didn’t enjoy watching her work drive off, but this place would protect everything, including her, much better than the last lab. Internally she had been resistant to the change, but as she waited to get permission to pass through the gate, she took a moment to consider that God’s hand was all over this move, and if this was God, she’d need to stop resisting.

Aaron handed back her license and drove forward into the parking lot. “I’ve instructed our moving crew to wait for you to be present before they unload.”

“You did?”

“Yeah. Should I not have?”

“No. Thank you for thinking of it.”

“We’ll take this stuff straight to where you’ll be working before we organize the rest of the move.” He carried her computer in while she held the metal container close to her chest as they walked toward the building. “Once you’re settled in, I’ll go interview the Russian while you are busy saving the world.”

“Are you trying to be funny?”

“Not successful? Just trying to lighten your mood,” he said, pulling the door open for her. “We got off to a bad start this morning. I know this isn’t ideal.”

“No, Aaron, I’m sorry. I’m feeling relieved being here, even if I can’t help a snide comment or two about being watched. It feels better knowing that no one is going to have the chance to break in here. After what happened, I wouldn’t have felt safe at the other lab and that means I wouldn’t get as much work done because I would have been distracted.”

“Just don’t expect to get much work done in the next day or two while you get things set up.” He turned a corner. “But after that, you can spend as much time at work as you need. Or want.”

“I do hope to go home sometimes. But if they let me play with their toys, I can’t guarantee it will be often.”

“Then you’ll be pleased to know they’ve got a barracks here where you can shower and sleep, and there’s a cafeteria too. Whatever you need.”

“Wow. This place has everything. Is the coffee any good?”

“No idea, but I bet it’s terrible.”

“Probably. Listen, Aaron.” Sydney stopped walking and Aaron turned to her. “You’ve been great and despite what I said before, I’m glad your boss put you on the job. It hasn’t been easy for either of us — What? What’s wrong?”

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