Now I had bruises on my neck to teach me the difference between theory and reality.
Finally, Dr. Thomas closed the questioning. “In light of the recent co-org activity, this is most interesting. We’ve heard claims from field operatives before of intelligent action. Then again, we’ve heard that virgin olive oil drives co-orgs away, and a dozen other unprovable assertions.”
He paused, and when he spoke, he spoke louder. “Ms. Roberts, on the other hand, I consider a most reliable witness. While I wish you had captured the creature for study, I value your life more than the opportunity for knowledge.”
He picked up the phone, his voice loud and clear. “Now that it’s just you and I, I want to emphasize that last point. We’ll work with the field teams to recover a Re-Animus and study it. I’ll forward you the activity analysis from the last week as well.”
“The director told me there’s activity everywhere.”
“She told you the truth. The Ministry of Security in the U.K., our partners in Canada, even the Office of Normal Funeral Conditions in China are reporting extreme co-org activity.”
Outside, squealing brakes and a wash of headlights told me I wasn’t alone at the motel.
“I’ve gottta run. Can you give the director a message for me?”
“Certainly.”
I took a deep breath, knowing I was about to make a good decision and a bad mistake. “Tell her I’m declining her generous offer. I’ll stay and finish the journals if she’ll pay for it. Heinrich Carson wrote down pretty much every thought that came into his head, and there might be other information on weapons or co-org nature in them as well.”
“Now that would truly be fascinating. I’ll relay your message, but are you aware that the BSI Analysis has a budget of our own? Your work will be funded fully, if, and only if you actually managed to uncover something useful. Be careful, Ms. Roberts. As they say, don’t get dead.” He hung up on me as Brynner’s boots crunched through the gravel.
I stood inside the door, waiting for his knock. To say what? I’m sorry I said you could kiss me? I wasn’t. What I regretted was not kissing him better, longer. It might have been a mistake, but it was one I enjoyed making.
I unlocked the door and swung it open.
Brynner crouched by the end of the concrete, brushing salt up against the wall. Mud covered him where blood didn’t, dripping from that head wound he’d gotten. He looked up at me, then away.
“I thought you were leaving,” I said.
He tossed the empty salt box in a trash can. “And I thought you had a death wish. Maybe we were both wrong.”
If Brynner’s father knew half the things about co-orgs people believe he did, I could surely find something that could be tested and applied. But only if I could decipher them, and for that, I needed help. “I’m going to work out a chronology for your dad’s journals tomorrow. I’ll pay you for your time. I don’t have much money until payday, but it’ll be easier than farmwork. I tell you an event; you tell me if it happened before or after something else.”
He arched one eyebrow. “You. Pay. Me?”
“Are you not familiar with the concept? Think of it like consulting, not for the BSI. For me.”
That actually drew a smile. “I don’t need your money, Grace Roberts, and if I recall right, you do.”
Damn him! “You may not need my money, but I need your help. The contents of that brain of yours at my command for as long as it takes to work out those journals.”
He recoiled, eyeing me with suspicion. “Why are you suddenly being nice to me? I mean, I’m used to it from women who don’t know me, but you—”
“Because . . .” My voice trailed off as I searched and failed to come up with a reason. It would be so much easier if I were one of the strange women. Someone who’d never met him. I could smile back at him and pretend like I had no responsibilities. “That was the old me. I’m turning over a new leaf, at least until I’m done with this assignment.”
Brynner dusted salt off his hands and nodded. “If I agree, you have to stick to rules: Keep out of my way if there’s a meatskin to deal with.”
“And you’ll help me? Please?” I reached out to take his hand, and he stepped away.