Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

"And while the computer system searches, what are we going to do?" Quinn said

"Undertake our own search of both premises."

"How well guarded are they?" I shoved some steak in my mouth and groaned when it all but melted in my mouth. Damn, I'd forgotten how good a properly cooked steak was. I gave a thumbs-up to Liander

"Nashoba is extremely well guarded. Rhoan and I will be tackling that. Hoyle-Brantin has foot patrols and wire fences. Nothing you can't get around."

I nodded. "You got floor plans?"

He pushed over some paperwork. "It's pretty similar to what you saw in the plans you retrieved from Brown's office though there's a new wing added to the main building."

I took a quick look at them, then kept eating

"What about the White Phantom Project - did you discover anything about that?" Quinn asked

Jack shook his head. "There's nothing on the records, and Alex can't recall the project. White Phantom might have been a code name for something else. I've scanned the contents through to her so she can cross-check."

"And the disks?"

He looked at me. "I posted those. She doesn't mind a bit of voyeurism."

Normally, I didn't either, but the thought of watching Brown doing the nasty over and over was enough to turn me off

"So when do we hit these places?" Rhoan asked

Jack gave him a wry smile. "Given the approaching full moon and the fact that three of my current staff are werewolves, as soon as possible."

Rhoan pushed his empty plate away. "How are we stocked in the way of equipment?"

"You and I will have to stop by the Directorate."

"That safe?"

"We'll take the emergency tunnel. Only the directors can get into it, so if someone does attack us, it'll narrow the field of suspects." Jack glanced at me. "I'll take that blood sample with me, too."

I could feel Rhoan's curious gaze but didn't bother meeting it. If he ever found out what Talon had done, he'd kill him. And I wanted to throw the first punch. "Fine."

Jack glanced at his watch. "We'll leave in half an hour. Liander, you right for holding down the fort again?"

"Do I have any other choice?" His voice was dry, yet something in his pale eyes suggested he wanted action almost as badly as he wanted sex. Perhaps I'd been wrong in my estimation that he'd be as unwilling as I to get involved in Jack's schemes

"Not on this you don't." Jack hesitated and glanced at Quinn. "You'll have to stay here, too. Riley's Directorate, and I can protect her if she gets into trouble. I can't offer you that."

"I'm not expecting you to. Nor will I be left behind on this."

"I can't let you go."

"You can't stop me, and we both know it." The two men stared at each other for several seconds, then Quinn added, "You know my reasons for doing this."

"Yes." Jack hesitated. "Just don't expect my help if things go wrong."

Quinn's smile was wry. "Forgive me for saying it, but I have more than enough politicians, judges, and lawyers ready and able to help me out of any situation. Being a multibillionaire has its advantages."

Jack nodded and rose. "Let's get this show on the road."

Ten minutes later, Quinn and I were in the car and heading back to Melbourne, him driving and me studying the plans for the old army base in Broadmeadows. "There's an industrial estate on one side and an old graveyard on the other."

Humor crinkled the corners of his eyes as he looked at me. "You're voting the graveyard, aren't you?"