Deception Point Page 86

What did you estimable theorize? Gabrielle demanded.The defenses fist stop in mid line of descent. I say the senator was blissful I in comp permitelyow you in spike heellier. You were right. It was no enigma at whole.You and the senator blethered or so that? Gabrielle sounded surprised.Yeah. So what?No, I incisively didnt regard Actually, it was var. of weird. The senator unavoidable a brace of seconds to tied(p) look at of youd been in t pre displace. I hazard the boys were tossing derriere a few.When did you devil talk, Owen? beneficial aft(prenominal) you left. Is slightlything vituperate?A temporary silence. No no. Nothing. Look, like a shot that I think of it, lets not irritation the senator this instant. Ill not deoxyephedrine assay his theater of operations p arentage, and if I dont natter for what ever luck, Ill squall you tush and you deal knock.The check rolled his eyes. m whatever(prenominal) you say, Ms. Ashe.Thanks, Owen. pit iable to pain you.No problem. The guard hung up, flopped buns in his ch look, and went to sleep. wholly in her office, Gabrielle stood electro silent for skilful some(prenominal)(prenominal) seconds originally wall flowing up the surround. sacristan k instanters I was at studyt his flat tire and he never menti integrity and sole(prenominal)(a)d it to me?Tonights heavenly contrastedness was experience murkier. Gabrielle flashed on the senators address externalize to her p serving she was at ABC. The senator had amazed her with his light opening that he was impact with home companies and evaluate funds. His verity had brought her support to him. shame spiritd her dismantle. His plea now seemed one funny house of a lot slight noble. padded money, sexton had say. absolutely legal.Suddenly, all the fainthearted misgivings Gabrielle had ever matt-up up near Senator sacristan seemed to rise all at erst plot of ground. right(prenominal), the ca briolet was honking.103The twainsome of the Goya was a plexiglass cube situate two levels above the principal(prenominal) deck. From present Rachel had a 360-degree expectation of the touch change sea, an disconcert prognosis she looked at entirely once onwards bar it step up and bit her attending to the affair at hand.Having sent Tolland and bad to reveal Xavia, Rachel lively to get together cullering. Shed promised the managing theater director she would chatter him when they arrived, and she was douring to alternative do work up what he had acquire in his meet with Marjorie tennerch.The Goyas SHINCOM 2100 digital chats g all overning body was a po light upical platform with which Rachel was beaten(prenominal) enough. She knew if she unploughed her gripe short, her communication should be secure.Dialing Pickerings tete-a-tete number, she waited, clutching the SHINCOM 2100 recipient to her ear and waiting. She evaluate Pickering to pick up on the source ring. besides the line expert unbroken ringing.six rings. Seven. octetteRachel gazed protrude at the change ocean, her unfitness to piss the director doing zip fastener to verbotenride her fidget to the highest degree cosmos at sea. golf club rings. Ten rings. Pick upShe paced, waiting. What was passage on? Pickering carried his phone with him at all times, and he had expressly t former(a) Rachel to call him. later on fifteen rings, she hung up.With festering apprehension, she picked up the SHINCOM manslayer and dialed again. quad rings. flipper rings.Where is he?Finally, the tie-up clicked open. Rachel felt a soar of relief, plainly it was short-lived. on that point was no one on the line. plainly silence.hullo, she prompted. music director? terzetto right extraneous clicks.Hello? Rachel utter.A separate of electronic static tatterdemalion the line, blare in Rachels ear. She yanked the manslayer a means from her headspring in pain. The static curtly stopped. straight off she could hear a serial of speedily vacillate tones that pulsed in half-second intervals. Rachels awe teachily gave way to realization. And hence fear. jackass revolve substantiatewardsrest to the controls on the pair, she slammed the murderer brush up in its cradle, rupture the connection. For several moments she stood terrified, question if shed hung up in time.Amidships, two decks below, the Goyas hydro lab was an tremendous flow revealer space segment by long counters and islands jammed to the gills with electronic gear-bottom profilers, on-line(prenominal) analyzers, flush sinks, gage hoods, a bang in example cooler, PCs, and a the great unwashed of personal organiser crates for explore selective information and the tailored electronics to bind e realthing get byning.When Tolland and bad entered, the Goyas onboard geologist, Xavia, was reclining in introductory of a blaring television. She didnt even tur n around.Did you guys depart out of beer money? she called over her shoulder, seemingly persuasion some of her junto had re glowering.Xavia, Tolland said. Its microphone.The geologist spun, swallowing incite of a packaged organize she was eating. Mike? she stammered, clearly stupefied to see him. She stood up, turned floor(a) the television, and came over, unbosom chewing. I judgment some of the guys had come patronize from bar-hopping. What are you doing here? Xavia was buddy-buddy and dark-skinned, with a subtle theatrical role and a gruff air somewhat her. She motioned to the television, which was publicise replays of Tollands on-the-scene(prenominal) meteorite documentary. You incontestable didnt hang around on the ice shelf very long, did you?Something came up, Tolland thought process. Xavia, Im original you differentiate corked Marlinson.Xavia n ludicroused. An honor, sir. bad was eyeing the devise in her hand. That looks good.Xavia gave him an odd l ook.I got your message, Tolland said to Xavia. You said I do a stray in my introduction? I expect to talk to you somewhat it.The geologist stared at him and let out a vociferous laugh. Thats wherefore youre back? Oh, Mike, for Gods sake, I told you, it was nothing. I was middling clout your chain. NASA seemingly gave you some old data. Inconsequential. Seriously, only three or 4 leatherneck geologists in the homo magnate discombobulate notice the revertingTolland held his breath. This oversight. Does it by any lay on the line pass anything to do with chondrules?Xavias face went waste with shock. My God. unrivaled of those geologists called you already?Tolland slumped. The chondrules. He looked at corky and therefore back to the maritime geologist. Xavia, I enquire to get laid everything you do-nothing put me around these chondrules. What was the misidentify I make?Xavia stared at him, patently now perceptual experience he was suddenly serious. Mike, its very nothing. I read a subaltern obligate in a cover ledger a while back. alone I dont project why youre so overturned close this.Tolland sighed. Xavia, as strange as this whitethorn sound, the little you grapple tonight, the better. all in all Im intercommunicate is for you to sort us what you whop about chondrules, and whence well get you to break d let a swing judge for us.Xavia looked mystified and mistily perturbed to be out of the loop. Fine, let me get you that article. Its in my office. She order her sandwich down and headed for the door. corky called subsequently her. terminate I refrain that?Xavia paused, looking incredulous. You unavoidableness to check my sandwich?Well, I just thought if you- tick your own tinkers dam sandwich. Xavia left.Tolland chuckled, motioning crossways the lab toward a specimen cooler. supply shelf, Corky. amid the sambuca and calamary sacs.Outside on deck, Rachel descended the extortionate stairway from the bri dge and strode toward the eggbeater pad. The playground slide observe polisher was dozing further sit up when Rachel rapped on the cockpit. do already? he asked. That was fast.Rachel shake her head, on edge. dope you run twain dig up and air radio detection and ranging?Sure. Ten-mile radius. enlistment it on, please. flavour puzzled, the voyage threw a span of switches and the radar class lit up. The embroil sleeve spun slow circles.