Page 76 of Red Boar's Baby

“So what are the chances of me getting food, some clothes, and a shower? Not necessarily in that order.”

Costa grinned and squeezed her arm. “Let me go get the doc.”

A moment later he returned with Mavis and several other doctors and technicians she hadn’t met yet, at least not while conscious. Mavis firmly shooed Costa out. Diana submitted to being prodded, having her temperature and blood pressure taken, and giving more vials of blood from an already perforated arm.

“So what’s happening to me?” she asked.

“I know this isn’t going to be as reassuring as you’d like, but at the moment, apparently nothing,” Mavis said, making some notes on her tablet. “Farley also seemed to be fine when he woke up. Your BP is a bit elevated and we’re getting high white blood cell counts from both of you, but that’s it. We’re still analyzing the substance that was recovered from the lab in Alamagordo. I can tell you it’s not a virus or a bacterial substance, it’s chemical, but beyond that, we have no idea what it does yet.”

“You’re right, that’s not reassuring.”

“Well, maybe it’ll be more reassuring if I tell you that you certainly don’t seem to be contagious in any way, so there’s no reason why you can’t leave. I can get something for you to wear; I’m sure there must be female agents here who are about your size. We’d like you to check in if you experience any unusual symptoms, and come back for more bloodwork in a few days, but otherwise it seems pointless to keep you here.”

“Music to my ears, Doc.”

Ten minutes later, she was sitting in the SCB cafeteria with Costa, dressed in borrowed jeans, a T-shirt, and a pair of low-topped boots that were slightly too big for her. Outside the window, the desert was brilliant in early afternoon sunlight. Diana demolished two sandwiches from the cafeteria vending machines, washed down with two cups of coffee and an energy drink.

“Yes, I know I’m making sure I’m not going to sleep anytime soon,” she said at Costa’s look. He also had a cup of coffee in front of him, along with a slice of pie. “I’ve slept enough. In fact, I’vehadenough. I am completely done with all of this. I’ve been kidnapped, experimented on, and had my house burned down. I literally lost my last set of clothes in the desert. I have hit my limit.”

“What are you planning to do? For the record,” Costa added, “I’m behind you a hundred percent.”

Diana squeezed his hand. “I appreciate that. But honestly I’m not sure, at least not yet. The SCB arrested a bunch of people at the Alamagordo lab, right? What have they found out?”

“I’m not really the person to ask,” Costa admitted. “I’ve been out of the loop on most of it.” He brightened. “Oh, but look who just walked in: the exact person who would know.”

Caine had entered the cafeteria, moving in a way that suggested weariness. Costa waved him vigorously over toward their table. With glacial speed—evidently he didn’t like being summoned—Caine collected a couple of sandwiches, a chocolate bar, and a cup of coffee, and approached their table.

“Just the man we wanted to see,” Costa said. “How is progress on securing the Alamagordo facility?”

“No longer my problem.” Caine stirred two packets of sugar into his coffee. “Delgado is handling the scene, along with the new guy from the Seattle office. They’re going to be trucking over material for our labs to look at.” He glanced at Diana. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”

Diana grinned; coming from Caine, that was concern indeed. “I’m doing fine. The doctors couldn’t find anything seriously wrong with me. Hopefully whatever they’re bringing over will shed some light on it.”

“We don’t have much light to shed anywhere, but we’re just getting started on questioning suspects,” Caine said. “Well, okay, we did get one useful confession. The fire at your house was definitely arson. One of their security team spilled the details.”

Diana rubbed a hand over her face. “I thought so. I guess it’s good to know.” She turned to Costa. “You know, speaking of which, my car’s still over there. I’d like to go pick it up.”

“Today?”

“Why wait? I just drank three cups of coffee and a Red Bull.”

Costa snorted and shook his head. “Well, I won’t be driving us, because my car is still at the Desert Tours hangars unless someone’s moved it back here.”

They both looked at Caine.

“No,” Caine said flatly. “I’m not your travel agent. Take a company car and drive yourselves.” He unwrapped a sandwich. “I’ve been on the go for two days solid sincesomeonedecided to get kidnapped. I’m sitting here and eating, and then I’m going home.”

Costa stretched and stood. “We’ll take a car from the SCB garage, then. You’re driving, Ms. Three Cups of Coffee and a Red Bull.”

“Try not to get kidnapped again,” Caine said before taking a bite.

CHAPTER25

Costa had expectedit to be bad, and it was.

Most of Diana’s house still stood, fire-scorched walls surrounded by a great outwash of black ash and flame-retarding chemicals. But it was clear that there would be little to salvage. Even metal items would likely have been melted by the heat.

“Look at this.” Diana plucked a butterfly-shaped wind spinner from a corner of the yard. Like many Arizona front yards, it was decorated with rocks and xeriscaping rather than having a lawn. “My last surviving possession.”

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