The Planck Factor

If you’re reading this, it means the worst has happened. I’m probably dead, possibly in the hospital in a coma. I know it upset you that I could never talk about my work. But if something’s happened to me because of foul play, you may be in danger, too. In any case, my research must get into the right hands.

I kept my papers in this box for a long time, but recently decided it was too obvious a place. So I leave this letter instead and hope that it reaches you and only you (I think Lena will respect my wishes in this regard).

You may recall a conversation we had shortly after I proposed . . . .

Alex

is thought back. She did recall Daniel saying that if anything happened to him, she should contact her younger sister, Katie, in New York about his research. She’d been confused, even angered, by this.

“Why are you sharing information about your research with my sister but not me?” she demanded.

“Please understand,” Daniel had said. “I’m doing this to protect you.”

Alexis had argued the point but had gotten nowhere. Eventually, she’d given up and simply said she understood, even though she didn’t. She’d been so pissed off, she’d even considered breaking their engagement. However, she couldn’t deny that she still loved Daniel, so she’d let the matter go. By the next morning, she’d cooled off and things looked much brighter. And instead of staying angry, she pushed the whole incident out of her mind.

Alexis stared at the letter, realizing Daniel must have known she might forget to follow through on his instructions. She resumed reading.

You may recall a conversation we had shortly after I proposed. First, I want to apologize for making you feel so marginal to my career. Second, I need you to do as I asked and reach out to your sister. It’s essential for getting my work into the right hands.

I can only hope you understand why I’ve done this. The highly competitive world in which I work has made this necessary.

I wish I could say or do more, but I’ll just close with this advice: be careful.

Love,

Daniel

PS: Don’t tell anyone else what you’re doing.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Alexis

Reading that letter may have been the hardest thing Alexis had been made to endure so far. Daniel’s words coming to her from beyond the grave. That was creepy, as if his ghost were whispering in her ear. To keep from crying, she bit her lip so hard, she almost drew blood.

After taking a few moments to compose herself, Alexis thought about the implications of Daniel’s closing words. Don’t tell anyone else what you’re doing. By anyone, could he have meant Swede? But Swede was his partner. He couldn’t have meant Swede, too--or could he?

Alexis replaced the note in the envelope, folded it, and stuck it in the pocket of her jeans. She picked up the box and got up to leave but stopped short. “What do I tell them?”

She could just tell them it was a private letter, which was true. But Swede would no doubt wonder why Daniel took the trouble to put it in a safe deposit box.

No, she’d have to lie. Tell them something that would raise no questions, or at least fewer questions.

Clutching the box, she walked to the door and pulled it open to find Swede and Lena waiting in the hall.

“So?” Lena said. “I’m dying of curiosity here.”

Swede just stared at Alexis.

Alexis cleared her throat. “The letter was about life insurance he’d taken out. He never told me, and he wanted to make sure I was paid, if something happened to him.” She decided to stop there.

“You’re kidding. Why would he go to the trouble of putting that in a safe deposit box?” Lena pursed her lips and blew out a dismissive sputtering noise. Alexis just shrugged in response.

Swede’s gaze remained pinned to Alexis’ face. He looked disappointed, plus . . . an emotion she couldn’t quite nail down.

“Nothing more?” he said, his voice disbelieving.

“It didn’t have what we were looking for.”