“That’s not what—”

She poked him again. “Instead of this story, I could write about your leave of absence and remind Chicago of the video.”

Jack leaned in close. “If you want to go to Alaska and freeze to death, I won’t stop you.”

“You say the sweetest things.”

It turned out that Bitterman liked the idea of Sophie getting out of Chicago for a while. He also thought his subscribers would enjoy reading some human interest stories about the rugged people who lived in Alaska. If she made the trip, he might as well get his money’s worth.

“I read somewhere that the high school in Barrow has started a football team. It was a clever way to keep the kids in school and off drugs and alcohol. It’s working, too. You might want to go there. You’ve sold me, Sophie. You can do the story. I’ll fund the trip.”

He started to stand, then changed his mind. “Just wondering…how did you find out about Harrington?”

“He had my business card with him. The police up there found it and called me to tell me he had died.”

Before he asked another question, she rushed on, “Jack and I are going to listen to the interview I did with Harrington. I’m hoping he said something I missed that would explain why he went there. It’s a bit of a puzzle I’d like to solve. Would you like to listen to the interview with us?”

Bitterman declined. “It’s been a long day. I want to get home and relax.”

The second the door closed behind him, Jack started toward her. She backed up.

“A bit of a puzzle?” he asked. “Care to explain what you’re really doing?”

She shrugged. “I’m giving William Harrington the last word.”

JOURNAL ENTRY 316

ARCTIC CAMP

Eric and I have become brothers of a sort. Since we’re both still in our twenties, the bond comes naturally. We keep no secrets from each other. I confessed to him that I was doing research on my own, that I had thought to study the effects of the bitter cold and the isolation on Brandon, Kirk, and Eric, too. I admitted I wanted to increase the stress with various experiments but had decided to forget that plan and concentrate on Eric’s amazing discovery.

I wanted to be bolder. I urged Eric to inject more of the new pack. I have certainly changed, for now I believe that scientific discoveries that can benefit others justifies whatever means necessary.

SEVENTEEN

THE MORE JACK HEARD ABOUT SOPHIE’S PLANS, THE CRAZIER he thought she was, and he made the mistake of saying so.

Her response was sharp. “You don’t have the authority to stop me from going there or anywhere else, for that matter. I have to do this.”

“Why?”

“Because no one else will.” She brushed past him as she added, “I don’t think William Harrington’s death was an accident. He was excited about being asked to join some secret group or project because he was so physically fit.”

She suddenly remembered something else Harrington had told her and whirled around to face Jack. “Tests. Harrington told me that they did a CT scan and an MRI, and they took gallons of his blood to test. They were looking for flaws. Admit it, Jack. That’s weird.”

She stood with both hands on her hips. Her face was flushed with excitement. Jack had trouble concentrating on her words.

“Did he happen to mention who they were?”

“No, of course not. He wasn’t supposed to talk about any of it, but wouldn’t it be easy to find out? The list of places where one can get an MRI can’t be all that long. I could start there.”

He followed her into the living room. She bumped into him when she abruptly turned around again.

He shook his head. “You can’t get medical records. You know that.”

“Hmm. You’re right,” she admitted. She folded her arms and stared into space, thinking. “There’s got to be some way for me to check.”

“Could we listen to the interview now? I want to get this over with.”

“Yes, I know,” she said, “so you can leave and go look at an ocean somewhere.” She couldn’t keep the censure out of her voice.

“What’s with the attitude?”

“You should care and you don’t.”

“When a crime is committed, I damned well do care. Harrington’s death was an accident.”

Hands were back on her hips. “I think it was murder.”

Jack didn’t laugh, but he wanted to. “A polar bear murdered him. Was it a premeditated act? Barry could end up on death row if…”

He sat down before she could push him.

“Do you think that’s funny?” she said with a scowl.

“Yeah, I do. Kind of.”

Sophie rolled her eyes, “You are such an idiot. No wonder you work for the FBI.”

He patted the cushion next to him. “Sit down and convince me Harrington’s death wasn’t an accident.”

“Okay, then,” she said, pleased he had decided to be open-minded.

“William Harrington was all set to run what was for him a big race, and then boom!” She snapped her fingers for emphasis. “He dies alone in Alaska in the middle of nowhere with a tent nearby. In the meantime, his home phone and his cell phone were disconnected, and his website was shut down. I went to his apartment building and was told he’d packed a bag and left for Europe, but he was actually in Alaska. Now I ask you, does that make any sense to you?”

She didn’t give him a chance to answer. “Oh, I know what you’re going to say. Harrington had his phones disconnected because he didn’t know how long he would be in Europe—which is a stupid reason, but logical—and he simply changed his mind about Europe and chose instead to go camping miles from nowhere alone in the Arctic.

“Then you would say, all that talk about being so super-fit and being invited to join some kind of Superman project was a lie he made up to impress me. I don’t think it was a lie, though.”

He smiled. “Do I need to be here for my part in this conversation?”

Embarrassed, she said, “I’ll admit I can get a little eager.”

“Because you’re searching for a story?”

“No, because I’m searching for the truth. It’s the right thing to do.”

“I’m not waiting any longer. I’m listening to the interview.”

With that, he pushed the button on the recorder. Harrington’s voice filled the room.

Sophie ran into her bedroom to get her notebook and pen. Very professional now, she returned to sit on the edge of the sofa, pen in hand and notebook balanced on her knees, poised to take copious notes.

An hour later she was sprawled out next to Jack sound asleep. Her feet were in his lap; the notebook was on the floor, and her pen had disappeared between the cushions.

Jack lasted another half hour before giving in. At that point, he either had to take a break or throw the frickin’ recorder out the window. When he stopped the recording and moved her feet off his lap, she woke up.

Sophie opened her eyes and saw him. The hubba-hubba hunk, she’d decided to call him. One of her socks was hanging off her foot, and he was pulling it up for her. When he caught her staring at him and smiled, her heart missed a beat. She was sure of it.

Bizarre, she thought. Absolutely bizarre. She’d never had such an instant love/hate reaction to a man before. Jack was different, and that made her worry. This man could hurt her. The big jerk.

She slowly sat up and brushed the hair out of her face, clearing her mind of hubba-hubba thoughts.

“What did I miss?” she asked.

“If you’re lucky, races one through twelve.”

“You only got that far?” she asked, frowning.

“At least I listened. I didn’t fall asleep five seconds after Harrington’s voice came on.”

“You’re right,” she said. “I shouldn’t have criticized you.”

“Refresh my memory. How many more races do I have to listen to?”

“Twelve.”

“Ah, come on,” he groaned. “This is brutal.” Standing to stretch his legs, he said, “The CIA could use this stuff in interrogations. Stick a pair of headphones on the suspect, and in three hours tops, he’d crack like a piñata.”

“You don’t have to stay.” She picked up the notebook and put it on the table next to the recorder then started searching for her pen. “You could come back tomorrow and listen to the rest.”

“If I leave, I’m taking the recorder with me.”

She knew it wouldn’t matter if she pointed out it wasn’t his to take. He would still be difficult. Did she expect less? Of course not. He worked for an agency that had no misgivings about such things.

“Then you have to stay.”

“Yeah, okay.”

“Meet you back at the sofa in five minutes.”

Sophie went into the bathroom off her bedroom to wash her face and brush her teeth. The cold water revived her. Now all she needed was a little more caffeine, and she could get through the rest of the races without falling asleep. After glancing in the mirror, she decided to comb her hair and put on a little makeup. She had a bottle of perfume in her hand and was about to dab some on her wrist and her neck when she suddenly realized what she was doing and, worse, why she was doing it. She wanted to look pretty…for him.

“Have you lost your mind?” she whispered. She stared at her reflection a full ten seconds waiting for an answer. “Apparently so,” she said then. “FBI. Remember what that stands for?”

The reminder helped. And so did Jack. If he noticed she’d fluffed up, he didn’t comment. The fact was, he barely glanced at her. As soon as he heard her coming, he turned the recorder on.

William Harrington had just begun his riveting chat about blisters. To his credit, Jack managed to get through all the races without cursing.

“Nothing Harrington said would be helpful to Steinbeck in his investigation,” he concluded as he flipped the Off switch.

“Did you think there would be something? Whoever tried to kill me had to be someone who lost his pension when Kelly’s closed, or maybe was a relative or friend of someone who lost his pension. Harrington didn’t have a thing to do with it.”

“Maybe” was his noncommittal response.

“I don’t understand why Detective Steinbeck didn’t bring my recorder and listen to the interview himself.”

“Steinbeck is following up on leads and questioning people, and this interview is low on his priority list. Alec knew you wanted to get your recorder back. Like I said, I was doing him a favor.”

“Now you can tell Detective Steinbeck and Alec that there wasn’t anything relevant to the investigation.”

Jack headed to the door. “I could tell Alec, but will I? Doubtful,” he said. “Real doubtful.”

She could hear the mischievous smile in his voice. “What are you saying?”

“I’m saying my partner would have to listen to the entire interview if I were to suggest that there were some suspicious comments made.”

“You’d lie to your partner?” she asked, pretending shock but inwardly thinking it was a great idea.

“I’m seriously considering it.”

“What about Detective Steinbeck?”

“I’d tell him the truth.”

He unlocked the deadbolt, then turned around. Sophie took a step back, but she was still entirely too close to him. The foyer was cast in shadows.

“Sorry your evening was ruined,” she said. “It’s just a little after nine now, and didn’t you say you wanted to be in bed by ten? You can still make it.”

“I did say that, but I think I’ll go home instead.”

It took a second for her to understand what he was telling her. He had planned to be in some woman’s bed by ten, not his own.

“There’s always tomorrow.” She tried to sound cheerful.

“Or the day after. You can wait that long, can’t you?”

“Me?” she asked indignantly. “Are you suggesting that you’ll be in my bed? A bit presumptuous, wouldn’t you say?”

“You haven’t thought about it?” he asked.

“I…um…I might have…but it’s too complicated…it’s all…”

He smiled and said, “Trust me. It will be worth the wait.”

He pulled her into his arms and slowly lowered his head, his lips lightly brushing hers in a sweet, no-nonsense, see-you-around kind of kiss. When he raised up, their eyes met. She could have pulled away, but instead she put her arms around his neck, and this time there was nothing sweet or hurried about their kiss. His mouth was hot, wonderfully hot. He didn’t have to force her lips apart; she willingly gave him what he wanted. His tongue slowly penetrated and rubbed against hers, igniting such heat inside her. He stroked and explored her mouth, learning the taste of her.

A kiss shouldn’t be lazy and erotic at the same time, but this one was unbelievably arousing. He acted as though he had the rest of the night to seduce her, and when he ended the kiss, he could have taken anything he wanted.

He knew it, and so did she.

He didn’t say good-bye. He simply turned her into Jell-O and left. She didn’t know how long she stood there leaning against the wall, but she finally got it together and turned the deadbolt. She switched off the lights in the kitchen and the living room, then went into her bedroom.

She held her hands up in front of her face. They were trembling. But that was all right—she had simply been surprised by his kiss. Her curiosity was appeased, and she could move on. She’d just forget about it.

Sophie fell back onto her bed and stared at the ceiling, trying to convince herself that it hadn’t been any big deal. All the while, a little voice in the back of her mind whispered, Holy Crap!

JOURNAL ENTRY 400

CHICAGO

Our work in the lab has given us incredible results. K-74 doesn’t stop the aging process completely, but it slows it measurably. By what percent, we still don’t know.

More amazing to us is the correlation between stress factors and physiological reactions. No matter how horrible the conditions, the animal demonstrates no fear and the heart rate never fluctuates. Is this drug a way to control or completely eliminate the ravages of prolonged stress on the body?

The rat placed in the tank with the python showed no fear, even while he fought to his death. Did K-74 make him feel invincible?

How will the wolves react to an increase of the drug? We’ll soon find out.