Lib Novel Page 22
Frankie shivered.
I pulled her under my arm. “You need to get the police to check for prints,” I told the guards.
The older man nodded, then looked at Frankie. “That head doesn’t look good, Ms. Parker.”
“I’ll take her to get treated,” I told them.
The female guard looked at Frankie. “We’re required to report this to DARPA. Will you take care of that, Ms. Parker?”
“Yes,” she answered.
I stiffened. “DARPA?”
She nodded. “They’re funding my project.”
She hadn’t mentioned that little tidbit, and that changed everything. I gritted my teeth. “I think we need to have a discussion.”
She bit her lip, but my gaze went to the blood matted into her hair. And the way she was shivering. She was in shock, and we needed to get the head wound treated.
I gently maneuvered her out of the lab. She was quiet all the way to my car.
“What is this car? I’ve never seen one like it before.” Her voice was monotone, and I didn’t think she really cared about my car.
“It’s a Lotus Eletre. It’s electric.”
“Nice.”
Once I got her settled in the passenger seat, I turned up the heat and pulled out onto the street.
I headed back toward the city.
Frankie finally stirred. “You missed the turn to my place.”
“We aren’t going to your place. We’re going to mine.”
“Reath, I just want to go home.”
“Not until I’m sure you’re safe.”
She shivered again.
“I owe it to Jack,” I said.
“Right. For Jack.” She looked out the window.
“You didn’t tell me your project was funded by the military.”
“It didn’t come up. I wasn’t keeping it a secret.”
“Well, I’m not a man who likes not having all the relevant information. I need to know everything so I can keep you safe.”
She lifted her chin. “That’s not your job.”
“It is now.”
“Because of Jack.”
I hadn’t thought of Jack once as I’d raced to get to her. The thought made my gut tighten.