Penumbra (Spook Squad 3)

Wonderful. “Is this all you called me in here for?”

Stephan smiled. “No. There’s been a break-in at the Pegasus Foundation that we’ve been asked to investigate.”

“The Pegasus Foundation?” Gabriel frowned, trying to recall what he knew of the organization. “They won a military contract recently, didn’t they?”

“To develop a stealth device for military vehicles, yes. But whoever broke in wasn’t concerned about stealth devices.”

“Then what were they after?”

“That’s something you’ll have to find out. All I’ve been told is that the person or persons involved managed to get past several security stations, three laser alarms and numerous cameras. It was only due to the fact that the intruder set a lab on fire that they were even aware someone had slipped their net.”

“So we’re saying that the person who started the fire is someone who can become both invisible and insubstantial? Is such a thing even possible?”

“We’ve never seen it before,” Stephan answered. “But then, we’ve never seen a lot of the things we are now encountering, so who knows?”

“Was it just the lab that was destroyed?”

“That I don’t know. They’re not giving much away—not over the phone, anyway.”

No real surprise there, given how easily phone co

nversations could be hacked these days. “So why were we called in? The Pegasus Foundation has more military ties than we have agents. Why not ask them to investigate?”

“It was the military that asked us to investigate.” Stephan hesitated. “They asked specifically for you and your partner.”

“So they want Sam.” But if the military didn’t know anything about her, why had they specifically asked for her to be included in the investigation?

“Who signed the request?”

“A General Frank Lloyd.”

As Alice would say, curiouser and curiouser. “Sam met Lloyd at Han’s.” She’d been wary of the general and convinced they’d meet again. “You have to warn her about the military’s interest.”

“No, I won’t.” Stephan hesitated. “And neither will you.”

Like hell he wouldn’t. It was one thing to let her go; it was another to leave her blind. He crossed his arms. “What time is the Pegasus Foundation expecting us?”

Stephan glanced at his watch. “You’re to meet with the director—Kathryn Douglass—at four thirty.”

It was nearly four now. Then Gabriel frowned. “Kathryn Douglass? Why does that name sound familiar?”

“Because her name is on that list Kazdan gave to Sam.”

A list that had marked potential clones and vampires, as well as assassination possibilities. “So which one is she? Clone, vampire or potential dead meat?”

“That we can’t say, as there’s no note beside her name,” Stephan said. “Illie’s requisitioned a car and is waiting out front.”

Gabriel met his twin’s gaze. “Thought I’d skip without him, huh?”

Stephan’s smile touched his eyes for the first time. “I know you, brother. I know the way your mind works. Don’t ever forget that.”

Then he’d know Illie wasn’t going to be a fixture in Gabriel’s life for very long. If he’d wanted a partner, he’d have kept Sam.

“Then you’ll know precisely what I’m thinking now.”

Stephan’s smile widened. “Yeah, and it’s not polite to abuse a family member like that.”

Although it was when your brother was being such a bastard.