Love, Lattes and Danger. Sandra Cox

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СКАЧАТЬ such a male, trying to make everything into one big mystery.”

      We grin at each other before I say, “Let’s get to it.”

      We both start searching. Though I manage to keep it light, tension crawls like a fast moving spider along my spine. There’s so much at stake, both my child and my sister.

      I try one false lead after another. There are a lot of wackos online. I glance at my watch. It’s nearly four-fifteen. My stomach spurts acid, either from the coffee or nerves.

      “Joel.”

      Something in the quality of her voice has me whirling in my chair. “What?”

      “Jammers. We can build them or buy them.”

      Chapter 3

      I snap my fingers. “Of course.” Then add, chagrined, “I’m a guy. I should have figured that out.”

      She snorts. “Oh, pu-lease.

      “We’d need them waterproofed.”

      Amy nods. She’s studying the computer. “There’s also a way to create fake GPS signals.”

      I jump out of the chair, scoop her up, and buss her on her forehead. “False GPS signals, now that’s information that could really come in handy. You’re the woman.”

      She preens. “I am aren’t I?”

      “You sure are.” Her gaze has already wandered back to the screen.

      The next time I look at my watch it reads four forty-five. “We better scoot. Hopefully, we can do some more researching tomorrow night.” I’m already moving toward the door. “Come on.”

      On the way out, I notice a pen on one of the desks and snag it. “Here’s the key to unlock your door.”

      She takes it, hiding a yawn behind her other hand.

      When we get back to our containment areas, I whisper, “Lock the door.”

      She nods, enters her room, and locks it. I do the same and lie down on the cot, hoping to get some sleep. A few minutes later, I hear the quiet snick of the doorknob.

      You didn’t want Leif to know you had us locked in, did you, you bastard? Still I’m relieved. I was beginning to feel the unwelcome tendrils of claustrophobia.

      My stomach rumbles, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since yesterday lunch. It’ll be another hour before our breakfast arrives on the freight elevator.

      I lean my head against the hard, cold surface of the wall and close my eyes. My heart does a hard ka-thump as I picture the baby girl. For a little thing, she has a head full of downy, blond monkey hair. She’s so pretty. She’s going to have guys falling all over themselves when she hits her teens.

      I force myself to relax, unclenching fingers I’ve curled into fists, and open my eyes. And she’s going to hit her teens as a normal young woman. No one is going to perform experiments on her or sell her to the highest bidder. I shudder. God knows what would happen if she fell into the wrong hands.

      My mind shifts to the baby’s mother. Hunger for Piper consumes me. My skin heats and my belly throbs. I desperately need the sea and salt air. It’s every dolph’s drug of choice.

      “Joel, are you awake?” The muffled voice comes through the wall.

      I get closer to the wall that separates us. “Yeah, I’m awake.”

      “Too early for breakfast, right?”

      “Yeah.”

      “Want to tell me what’s going on?”

      I push out the air in my lungs. I want to hold her hand while I tell her and let her know I’m here for her, I’ll get her out of here and she doesn’t need to be scared. “I think Craven and Stranger are in cahoots to harvest eggs from you.”

      Silence.

      “Ames. Amy?”

      “They want a mini-me? More dolph-girls? They want to take my eggs and keep adding dolph DNA until they create a monster?” Even through the wall, I hear the hysteria in her voice.

      “Shh. Take it down a level.” I caution.

      “Who’s going to hear us down here?”

      Good point. “We aren’t monsters. We’re humans with dolphin DNA. No one would have any idea we aren’t human unless we told them.” Or they looked into our turquoise eyes, listened to our melodious voices, or noticed the film that comes down over Amy’s eyes.

      “I know that, but if they take an egg from a dolph and add more dolphin DNA, what are they going to end up with?”

      “They already have.”

      “What are you saying?”

      I lower my voice. I don’t want it to carry any further than through the wall in case anyone is roaming the bowels of the ship. “They took Piper’s egg and my sperm and created a baby. She’s floating in a vat of amniotic fluid. She’s beautiful. And so intelligent.”

      “What? How do you know she’s yours and Piper’s?”

      “She has a blowhole and my birthmark on her shoulder.” Warmth shoots through me. My daughter may not have been created in the traditional way, nonetheless, she exists and she’s perfect.

      “I’m an aunt?”

      “Auntie Amy.”

      “Oh, Joel, how wonderful.” Her voice comes back more forceful. “We have to get her out of there.”

      “That’s the plan.”

      “Which is what exactly?”

      “First thing we have to do is get out of here.”

      Just then my door rattles. I stand up as Leif Voorhees walks in. “How are you, Joel?” His voice booms.

      “Okay.”

      “Stranger says you’re the picture of health.” Leif’s Nordic blond hair is pulled back in a ponytail that moves with the same arrogance he does. His shirt strains across his massive shoulders.

      “So I’m told.” My stomach rumbles, reminding me it’s been nearly twenty-four hours since I last ate.

      Leif laughs. “I was going to ask if you’d had breakfast yet but I take it that’s a no.”

      “Yeah.”

      “Why don’t you and Amy come to my quarters? I’ll feed you both and tell you about your next assignment.”

      My pulse jumps, but I don’t show surprise. Just raise my eyebrows.

      “It’s СКАЧАТЬ