Page 21 of The Lazarus Protocol

And that’s where it got sticky. Because as she wandered to her chair at the desk, both of them were definitely aware his presence here wasn’t normal for either of them. He doubted he was here so she could show off her impressive security system—the one currently heavy breathing in the next container—or all the bells and whistles in this place. He doubted it was even to offer him an apocalypse escape plan.

Noah pulled out his laptop but didn’t open it. “There was something you wanted to tell me?”

Marina turned on her chair to face him, her hands pressed together between her knees. “I actually need your help.”

EIGHT

Rio Grande, Argentina

Adam sipped from the small china cup, and his brows rose. “This stuff is good.”

“Told you.” Ash nudged his elbow. “Plenty of places in the world with better coffee than Seattle.”

The two of them were at a tiny round table that barely fit their knees under it, in a dining area on the beach side of a lobby that spilled outside onto a patio. Overhead the sun beat down in a blue sky, and traffic buzzed past on the road. Beyond that was a strip of sand, the heavy waves of the South Atlantic, and a view of the Falkland Islands baking in the morning sun.

Adam peered over the top rim of his Aviators. “You look ridiculous in that shirt. We’re supposed to be professionals.”

“How dare you!” Ash ran a hand down the Hawaiian shirt he’d dug up from who-knew-where, laughing. “I’m a consummate professional in these khakis. You’re in shorts!”

“Dress shorts. Nice ones, with pockets. And a shirt without flowers all over it.” Adam sipped his coffee and stared at the water rather than the women walking by. Trying not to tap his foot waiting for the representative from Earthnet to show up. The receiver burning a hole in his pocket.

“Point taken. How was Ice this morning?” Ash bounced his knee up and down under the table.

Adam set the cup in its saucer. “Dan said it’s just bruises. He’ll be fine.”

“You know what book she was talking about?”

Adam shook his head, not wanting to talk about the intel gathered as a result of Ice’s actions. He’d rather wait until Ice’s injuries healed…and then wring the guy’s neck. Not that any of the rest of them would’ve done differently, but that wasn’t the point.

A silver Porche pulled sharply out of the flow of the traffic and stopped at the curb. The driver climbed out, unfolding his tall frame. Nice shorts—with pockets. White dress shirt. Silver watch and flat-bottomed white sneakers.

Tanned enough he’d been here a while, or he didn’t like sunscreen. Light blond hair and a beard along the line of his chin, across his upper lip, and in a vertical line down from his mouth—an extended goatee.

“Here he is.” Adam got up as the guy approached and held out his hand. “Good to see you, Mr. Johannsen.”

The guy slid off his sunglasses and took Adam’s hand, a half smirk on his face. “You as well. The mission was successful?” He shook with Ash.

Adam took the receiver out of his pocket and handed it over.

“Thanks.” Johannsen nodded, and they all took their seats.

“We got what we were tasked with retrieving. Two birds and all that.”

“That’s good.” Johannsen lifted his finger to a server and ordered something that Adam didn’t catch. “They’re definitely up to more than they’re advertising. This will help.” He slid the receiver into his pocket. “You got the downloads?”

Adam slid out the two storage devices. Bigger than flash drives, they were closer to the size of a phone. “If Earthnet wasn’t counting on us not noticing that the information belonged to a company called Starwise Holdings, you’d be wrong.”

Johannsen sat back in his chair, his expression placid. “That’s company business.”

“If you paid us to steal from your competitor, then we’ve got a serious problem.”

Johannsen smiled. “I’m happy to hear you say that, because it means I’m right about you. Even after all these years.”

So this was a test to see if Adam was still a good guy?

Depended on a person’s definition of good. He didn’t think that’s what Johannsen meant, but this wasn’t the kind of place where they could speak openly.

Adam eyed him. “Does Earthnet wanna have a problem with us?”