Full Moon Rising (Riley Jenson Guardian 1)

"I do, but I doubt he'd be here. Whoever is behind this cloning is very clever and very cautious. Lax security would not be part of it. It's too much of a risk."

"But maybe that's why he's been so hard to find. We're looking for one thing, while he's hiding under our very noses."

"I have no doubt he's hiding under our noses, but I don't think this place is it."

"Why?"

"You said it yourself. Smell the air."

I already had. "Ammonia." But it was overwhelmed by the richness of sandalwood and man

He nodded. "This place does make cleaning products."

"That doesn't mean it can't also be making clones. The base is huge, and from a look at the plans, they're only using a small section of it."

He studied me for a minute. "You're looking for an argument, aren't you?"

Right then, arguing was the last thing on my mind. I raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think that?"

"Because two seconds ago you were saying you didn't think anything more than cleaning products was being made here, and now you're arguing it could be a front."

"I'm just playing devil's advocate."

"You're definitely playing. I'm just not sure what the game is yet."

I gave him my most innocent smile, but it didn't seem to offer him any comfort

"This way," he said, after a pause

He turned and led the way to the right. The wind stirred the gums and pines scattered around us, and rattled the loose tin on the roof of the buildings just ahead. From behind us came the steady growl of traffic along Camp Road, and from up ahead, the solo roar of an engine

"There's a car headed our way."

"More than likely a guard doing his rounds."

I glanced at my watch. "It's right on nine, so maybe they do either half hourly or hourly checks."

"How close is it?"

"A distance off yet."

"So we've got time to get to the main building if we run?"

"I think so."

He grabbed my hand, fingers hot as they encased mine. "Blur," he ordered, and tugged me forward

We made it to the main building a heartbeat before the car came into view. The sweep of lights as it turned the corner turned night into day, almost pinning the two of us in brightness

I crouched in the corner shadows beside Quinn, watching the car and feeling nothing along the sensory lines. Which meant the guard was human. Anything else I would have felt

"He's bored," Quinn said, his breath brushing warmth past my ear. "And hates his job."

My thigh rested against his, and electricity seemed to spark the air between us. The fever began to burn so bad, sweat trickled down my back, despite the ice in the wind. I was still in control, but it wouldn't take much to push me over the edge. I had a feeling Quinn knew exactly what my state was and that he wasn't about to make a second offer of relief. Next time, I'd have to ask. If he thought I wouldn't, he was sorely wrong

"He's obviously neither psychic nor shielded if you can read him so easily."

He didn't answer immediately, his expression distant. After a minute, he blinked and glanced at me. "I've searched his mind. There's nothing here to find."