Hourglass (Hourglass 1)
“I know, I know.” Nate held up his hands in mock surrender. “But do we have another option? It’s not like we won’t return the money.”
She shook her head reluctantly. Nate took that as a yes and disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“Speedy,” Michael said. The space on the kitchen table where his car keys had been was now empty. “He’d better not drive like he moves.”
“Okay, what else?” Cat looked at the list in her hand. “I wish we could work out a place for Liam to hide, but I just don’t see how.”
“Stop worrying. He’ll be alive.” Michael sat down in one of the kitchen chairs before his eyes met mine. “That’s all that matters.”
“Wait.” Cat’s eyes lit up. “You can get it!”
“What are you talking about?” Michael asked.
“Liam’s research. You can save it from going up in flames. It’s a miracle,” Cat said, clapping her hands together, her excitement visible. “All you have to do is get the disk. He only had one. It’s in a clear case, and it always sat beside the mainframe computer in Liam’s lab.”
“Sure,” I answered.
“Excellent.” Cat snapped her fingers and pointed toward the living area. “You need coats. If I remember correctly, it snowed that weekend. Michael, come with me. Help me dig some up.”
They left the room just as Dune shut the top of his computer. “Thomas and Dru are in Charlotte. They’re about to board their next plane, if you want to call them.”
“Thanks.” I stepped around the corner, pulled my cell out of my pocket, and sat down on the back stairs. Thomas answered before the first ring had finished.
After I hung up, I looked at the timetable in my hands and tried to wrap my brain around what was about to happen. I jumped when Kaleb stepped around the corner.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?” I asked, lowering the timetable.
“Not getting the files. What I said to you last night. Am I forgiven?”
I sighed. “Of course you are.”
“You okay?” He lowered his body onto the step below me, then scooted down one more so that we were at eye level. “Tell me the truth.”
“You know I’ll tell you the truth. If I can be real with anyone, it’s you, and not just because you have a built-in bull detector.” I rested my chin in my hands. “The truth is, I don’t know. I thought I’d have more time to prepare.”
“Are you sure you want to do it?”
“What does your built-in bull detector tell you?”
“That you do.”
I nodded.
“Well, since you’re going anyway, the computer disk case Cat mentioned …”
“Yes?”
“The formula for my meds went up with the lab, too.”
I looked at Kaleb, really looked. Tiny lines were etched in the skin beside his eyes; the creases on either side of his mouth were deeper than they’d been even two days ago. “You said your dad made some for you just before he died. How long have you been without it?”
“I’ve been tapering off for a while now. I ran out completely a few weeks ago. It only got bad today, with everything going on.” The past few hours, all the emotions flying around—and Kaleb with no way to filter it all.
“Why didn’t you tell anyone?”
“What could anyone do?” He shrugged.