Justine Davis - One of These Nights

“You’re already giving a lot,” Ian pointed out. “You’re supporting this research.” And if he could just figure out what was wrong and fix it, so the material could line the cabins and holds of any aircraft as he intended, it would be worth everything Redstone was putting into it.

“And I’m not the only one.”

Ah-ha, Ian thought. Josh was on that horse again. “Josh, the only one even close on this is Trektech, and Baron’s stumped.”

“He is?”

“I was talking to a old prof of mine at Cal Tech. He said Baron’s called him three times in the last month, with wilder questions each time. He’s lost. I know there are others working on it, too, but I’ll get there first,” Ian promised.

“I believe you. As long as you’re left alone to do it. And that isn’t what worries me.”

“Oh?” Ian said, fairly sure now of where his boss was going with this. And the fact that Joshua Redstone, founder of the entire Redstone empire and veteran of innumerable corporate and personal battles, looked uncomfortable told Ian he was exactly right.

“I got a call from a friend today,” Josh said. “He heard something interesting.”

Ian knew Josh had an incredible network of people who, thanks to his penchant for lending a helping hand, were more than happy to repay him with bits of information.

“Interesting?”

“TriChem has had some inquiries about two of the chemical components you’re using.”

“Two?”

Josh smiled as Ian zeroed in on the crucial word. One might be coincidence, two was suspicious but not conclusive.

As if he’d read his mind, Josh added, “One of them is the compound, Ian.”

Well, that changed things, Ian thought. It wasn’t likely anyone else would need that particular combination at this exact moment in time.

Josh’s voice was dangerously quiet. “I think we have to assume we have a leak.”

Ian hated to agree with that summation, but he knew it was true. “You’re right,” he said reluctantly. “It’s such an odd combination.”

“And unlikely someone else would have come up with it within a month of your breakthrough.”

Ian grimaced. Why couldn’t he just get on with his work? He hated to think about things like this. About someone he knew, someone he worked with and trusted, betraying him.

He glanced at his boss and saw something in his eyes that reminded him that this was a betrayal of Josh, as well. Josh, who’d earned the loyalty of everyone who worked for him. A generous, staunch ally who also made a dangerous, lethal enemy.

“There’s more,” Josh added. “Personnel caught another one.”

“Trying to get hired?”

Josh nodded. “He had the perfect credentials. Would have been just what we were looking for.”

“But?”

“A little digging turned up a JetCal connection. Not a close one—a roommate’s brother or something—but it was there. Again.”

This was the second time someone tied to JetCal had tried to get a job in Redstone Technologies’ research and development division. Ian knew Josh hadn’t thought much of Joe Santerelli’s business methods already, and this only confirmed he was right in his judgment.

“I’m not sure we can make the lab any more secure than it already is, without limiting access entirely,” Ian said thoughtfully. Josh had already spared no expense in setting up safeguards for the R&D section, Ian’s work in particular, but if the leak was already on the inside, that might not be enough.

“We may have to do that. But I’ll deal with the inside. Outside is where the real vulnerability is.”

Ian frowned. “What do you mean?”

“You, Ian.”

Ian blinked. “Me?”

“It’s not a secret that you do a lot of work at home. If they want this badly enough to try espionage from the inside at Redstone, they might try something there, too.”

“I’ve made some security arrangements there,” Ian said. “The work will be safe.”

Josh smiled, that gentle smile that warned Ian he’d somehow missed the point. “They might want it badly enough to come after you.”

“That would be crazy,” Ian protested.

Josh Redstone’s gaze never wavered. “Yes. But it’s a crazy world, my friend.”

Nobody knew that better than Josh, Ian realized. But the idea that someone might come after him seemed too absurd to Ian to contemplate.

“What good would I do them?” he protested. “It’s not as if I’d ever work for them.”

“Voluntarily.” Josh’s voice was grim. “I want you to have protection, Ian, until this project is concluded one way or another.”

Ian couldn’t help it, he burst out laughing. “Protection? You mean like a bodyguard? You’re not serious!”

“I am, Ian. I don’t compromise when it comes to the safety of my people.”

Ian had never seen quite that glint before in the steady gray eyes of the man who was Redstone. But he couldn’t give in to this. He liked his life as it was. He knew his own mental processes well enough to know that the kind of disruption Josh was talking about would rattle his thinking, and he’d likely never achieve a breakthrough on this project. He didn’t like change, anyway, he needed things in his personal life stable so he could free his mind to think about his work.

“I appreciate your concern, but it’s out of the question.”

“Ian—”

“No,” he repeated.

It was not, he supposed, wise to interrupt and argue with your boss, but if Josh had been the kind of man who took offense at such things, Ian knew he would have been fired long ago.

“I mean it, Josh. Somebody around all the time, at my home and wherever I go? I can’t work or think that way.”

Josh studied him for a moment. “And if I made it an order?”

Ian let out a compressed breath. “Then, with great difficulty because of my tremendous respect and liking for you, I would disobey.”

Josh’s mouth quirked upward. “I was afraid of that.”

“Josh, I’m sorry, but—”

Josh waved a hand at him. “Never mind. I had to ask.”

“And I had to refuse.”

“I understand.”

Relieved, Ian stood up. Then he asked, “Was there anything else?”

Josh shook his head. “Just tell your assistant to lighten up.”

Ian chuckled. “I have. She’s a little hyper, so it hasn’t gotten through yet.”

Josh looked concerned. “Is she turning out to be a problem?”

Josh himself had talked Ian into taking the girl on, saying she was bright enough to learn from the best. Ian had a sneaking suspicion Josh also thought having the young woman around might loosen him up a bit. In any case, he didn’t want Josh to think he’d made a bad decision when in fact it was mostly Ian’s own problem.

“No, not at all. I’m just not used to her yet, and she’s anxious to do it all now.”

“Keep trying with her,” Josh said.

Keep Trying. One of the Redstone mantras, Ian thought as he headed back to the lab. Along with Hire the Best and Let Them Do Their Best, and Redstone Likes Happy People. To the outside world, he was sure they all sounded like idealistic dreamers, but everybody on the inside knew it was for real. Because of one man, Ian thought as he keyed in his pass code for entry to the lab. One man with a vision, and the determination to make it happen. Josh had—

Ian stopped dead in the doorway to his office. Rebecca was in his chair, at his computer.

“Looking for something?” he asked.

“Oh!” She jumped, spun in the chair, her hand pressed dramatically over her heart. “You scared me.”

Normally it would have been time for an apology, a statement saying he hadn’t meant to scare her. But Josh’s warnings were still echoing in his mind, and he stayed silent, simply watching her. He’d learned it was a rare person who could allow such silence, and Rebecca definitely wasn’t one of them.