Chapter Five

"Wait there," Jaime told Doctor Hatch. "If you move from that chair while I'm changing clothes, I will tie you into it, take your keys and go by myself. Understand?" Hatch nodded his assent. As quickly as her bionics allowed, Jaime dug through a clothing box that was maintained at the safe house for operatives who needed to conceal their identities. She pulled her hair into a very high ponytail and tucked every strand under a tan newsboy's cap, then chose a loose-fitting men's white denim shirt, tan cargo pants and tan sneakers. Looking very similar to a college student who might apply for a research assistant's job at a place like Hatch Laboratories, she emerged to find Doctor Hatch still in the chair, in exactly the same position he'd been in when she'd left him there.

"Where's your car?" Jaime demanded, taking an authoritative stance, assuming - correctly - that Hatch was unarmed.

"About three miles down the road," he answered, getting up.

"Sit back down and give me the keys. I'll get the car, bring it as close to the house as I can and and come back in to get you." She knew she'd reach the car much faster without him. "You need to understand something, Doctor," she said, very calmly, "I trust you zero percent. You may have initially been victimized, but you turned around and subjected me to 48 hours that no human being should ever have to endure. I've never in my life been as close to completely losing my temper and severely injuring someone as I am right now. But if what you've said is true, someone I care deeply about - someone I love - is in serious danger, and I have to help him. We may need your testimony, so I'll protect you if I can, but you will not cross me in any way, or you will get hurt. Now...don't move."

Jaime was back in just minutes and handed Hatch the keys. "You drive, but I'm watching every move you make. Keep in mind that I don't have to be armed to do serious damage to you."

The 45-minute drive to Hatch Laboratories was silent and extremely tense. Jaime yearned for a way to contact Steve, to know he was alright and to warn him. If he'd already found Naud...

Finally, they were there. Steve was in the building; somehow Jaime just knew it. "Pull over," she told Hatch. The car was just beyond the far end of the fence and hidden by a cluster of trees. "Where do I find his office?"

"As we're facing the building now, third floor, third and fourth window from the right."

"And the lab?"
"No, child - you just grab the files and get out. I'll deal with Naud."

"I'm calling the shots," Jaime said firmly. "Remember? You stay right here. Now, where's the lab?"

"I don't want -"

"Dammit! I don't have time for this! Where is the lab?"

"Out the office door and down the stairs at the far end of the hall."

"Stay here." Jaime jumped the fence and took off across the lawn, faster than she'd ever run before.

Doctor Hatch didn't get out of the car, but he didn't follow orders, either. As soon as Jaime was running toward the building, he put the car in gear and sped away.

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Jaime landed on the ledge between Naud's two office windows and paused to listen carefully. She could hear two voices, and - yes - one of them was Steve's.

"If you're really an innocent pawn, then you won't have any problem with giving me the files,"

Innocent? Jaime thought, Don't buy it, Steve - he was the phony general who took the decoder from me.

"Of course," Naud answered, "anything you need. C'mon - everything you're looking for is in the lab."

No! He's lying, Steve! She heard the office door open and then close again. Damn! Jaime didn't waste time trying to ease the window open. One fast, solid kick was all it took, and she stepped into the office. She pulled out the center desk drawer and punched a hole in the bottom. A hidden compartment; Hatch had told her the truth - at least this far. Working quickly, she pulled the drawer apart. Bingo! The papers! Jaime headed for the door, rolling up the papers so they could go in the big side pocket of her cargo pants. Just as she reached for the doorknob, the door flew open, very nearly slamming into her face, and she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun, just inches away and pointed directly at her head.

"I'll take those, Little Girl."

Oh, God. "Inspector Gregory, take a minute to look at these papers. They prove I'm innocent."

Once again, Gregory smirked. "Oh, I already know you're innocent."

"Did Steve -"

"I've known all along." Gregory grabbed Jaime roughly by the arm. Considering the gun to her head, she didn't try to resist. "You could've lived a nice, long life down in The Hole, or even on the run, but you just had to go and get nosy, didn't you? Very dumb. Also very fatal. Now we're going for a walk. You'll find the lab here quite interesting."

The lab! Jaime tried her best to stall. "If you're gonna shoot me anyway, why don't you just get it over with, so you can get out of here?"

"Nice try, and very noble. I know your fiance is in the lab with Naud."

"I don't have a fiance," Jaime told him truthfully.

"Whatever. You know who I mean. I'll deal with all three of you at once; less hassle, and quicker, too."

"I don't know about John Naud, but Colonel Austin has nothing to do with this."

"Maybe he didn't, but like you he just had to stick his nose where it didn't belong. He'll have to pay the same price as you will." Gregory pressed the gun directly to her head and yanked on her arm. "Let's go. Now!"

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