Page 104 of Finding Lexie
“Come on. Let’s get this done so we can head out. I have a surprise for you.”
“You do? What is it?”
“It wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you what it was,” Midas replied with a grin.
They walked back down the hall toward Natalie’s office, and Lexie knocked once more before sticking her head in. “Midas is here,” she said.
They walked into the office and Midas nodded at Natalie. “Good to see you again,” he told her.
“Same. I hope you’re well?” Natalie said.
“I am, thanks.”
“And this is Magnus. I’ve told you guys a lot about each other,” Lexie said a little nervously.
As Magnus stood, Midas took a step forward and held out his hand. Magnus looked at it for a beat too long before he shook it.
“It’s good to finally meet you. Lexie has told me a lot about you,” Magnus said.
“Same. I’m sorry about your brother,” Midas said.
Magnus nodded his head in acknowledgement of the sympathy.
“I’m going to slip out and check on things,” Natalie said, heading for the door.
The second she was gone, Magnus said, “I would like to hear about Dagmar and what happened.”
It wasn’t a question, and it wasn’t said in the most friendly tone either. Lexie tensed, but Midas put his hand on the small of her back as if to let her know he had this conversation under control.
“I wish I could tell you something you wanted to hear. But my team and I weren’t involved much in his transport or his care once we got back to the hospital. We were surprised that we were even headed back to Galkayo in the first place. We didn’t learn of the unexpected stop until we were in the helicopter on the way to the LZ in the desert.”
Magnus visibly stiffened. “My brother was ill. He needed a doctor. Immediately. The flight to the US ship could’ve killed him.”
Midas nodded in acknowledgement, but didn’t respond.
“So you know nothing?” Magnus asked.
“I’m sorry, no. I was with Lexie when the hospital was attacked. I didn’t learn of your brother’s death until much later, after we were able to meet up with my team. I didn’t even know the Jaeger Corps had left the country.”
Magnus made a snorting noise in his throat and turned back to his chair. He sat and concentrated on the computer screen in front of him. “It was nice meeting you,” he said absently. “I have much work to do in the short amount of time I have here in Hawaii.”
“Right. My deepest condolences for your loss,” Midas said, then pressed on Lexie’s back as he turned her toward the door.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” Lexie said over her shoulder. “Maybe we can go out to lunch?”
“That would be nice,” Magnus said.
When the office door shut behind them, Lexie scrunched her nose and looked up at Midas. “Wow. He was kinda rude. I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Midas said. “It reflects on him, not you.”
“But I’ve been talking him up for weeks,” she fretted.
“Doesn’t matter. People aren’t always how they seem. You mostly knew him through email, Lex. And a few phone conversations don’t always show someone’s true colors.”
“I know, but still. And I appreciate you not getting into it about whether or not his brother should’ve gone back to Galkayo or straight to the ship.”
“I still believe he was wrong. He used his money and influence and got the government to approve taking Dagmar to the hospital, but it was the wrong decision. I’m not saying he wouldn’t have still died, because from what I understand, he was in bad shape, but I wasn’t about to tell a grieving brother that. What we know for certain is that if we’d gone straight to the ship, the kidnappers wouldn’t have had a second chance to try to get their hands on either of you.”
