But Tavak was still experiencing that intoxicating jolt. Demanski had seen it in his expression in those last few minutes before he had thrown them out of his office.
It had made him jealous as hell.
"No, I'm not upset. The first battle seldom decides a war. They took something away from me. Now let's see what we can take away from them."
"Yes."
"Kirby and Tavak impress me as being an odd duo. I believe we need to know why they're working together. To do that, I need to know everything I can about Tavak."
"No problem." Gower's smile lit his rough features. "Consider it done. But I still think you should let me break their heads."
ARDMORE UNIVERSITY
"Nice campus," Tavak said, gazing out the window of Simon's Toyota. "I generally don't like anything connected to university life, but this is very unprepossessing."
"Why don't you like universities?" Rachel asked.
"I grew up in one." One side of his lips lifted in a sardonic smile. "I was a freak, and Harvard might have been a high-class carnival, but I was a sideshow nonetheless."
"I imagine you were," Simon said. "But you seem to have survived pretty well."
"When I was able to shrug off the brainwashing and set off to do my own thing."
Rachel tried to recall all the details of his dossier. "And your own thing was being a mercenary, a thief, and God knows what else."
He smiled. "God knows. He also knows I usually have a hell of a good time, and I never look back." He gazed at the building they were approaching. "Is that Jonesy's domain? I'm eager to come face-to-face with him."
"Well, you're not going to do it yet. We're just here because I want to pick up my car. I left it here before I went to Cairo. Simon is going to take you to the Galveston lab so that you can show him all your backdoors into Jonesy. You used that branch of the network to tap into us, didn't you?"
"Yes, but I can just as easily show you what I did from here."
"Not anymore. Until we get your hooks out, we've isolated that branch from the rest of the system."
Tavak nodded. "Of course. Very wise. You're not going to escort me personally?"
"Simon can do it. He's the one who found the break. I'm going to see my sister."
Tavak was silent a moment. "I'd like to meet her."
"And I don't want you to meet her." Rachel got out of the car. "I'll be back here at the lab by six tonight. That should give you enough time to show Simon what we need to know."
"Probably," Tavak said. "Why don't you want me to meet her?"
"You're something of Pied Piper. She thinks I'm nuts to believe you can find a cure for her. But after I started thinking about it, I decided it's better if she does think that. You have a way of making black look like pure gold. I don't want her hopes raised, then dashed." She opened her car door. "So you stay away from her."
"Whatever you say." His brows rose. "Pied Piper? I never thought of myself like that. Didn't he lead the rats into the river? That's almost a heroic role."
"You're no hero." She glanced at Simon. "Make sure we close every backdoor in Jonesy, Simon."
Simon nodded. "Every single one. I remember what a headache it was looking for them." He backed the car out of the parking area. "See you at six, Rachel."
She watched them drive away before she got into her car. It was noon, and that gave her at least five hours to spend with Allie. Lord, she wasn't looking forward to it. It was going to be difficult as hell trying to handle Allie.
Dammit, she would look forward to it. Forget the problems. Every moment she spent with Allie was precious.
* * *
"Allie! I'm home," Rachel called as she opened the front door. "Where are you?"
"Here." Allie came down the hall from the direction of the kitchen. "I've been cooking lunch. I've found a new Paula Deen recipe for crab cakes that's terrific."
Rachel gazed at her warily. "Paula Deen?"
"Yes, Southern cooking is better than anyone else's. Don't you think so?"
"Your cooking is always wonderful."
"Yes, it is." She smiled serenely. "I'm quite the chef. It's one of the few skills I could learn that you gave your full approval. Probably because I could do it within the safe confines of home and hearth. That's also why you approved of my becoming an artist."
"For heaven's sake, you have an incredible talent."
"Yes, I do. But wasn't it convenient that I could exercise that talent here with no stress? I could enjoy the creativity and have a limited fan base. No risks. No challenges I couldn't handle." She turned away. "Lunch is almost ready. Go wash your hands and we'll eat and you can tell me what a fantastic cook I am."
"How do you feel? You look great."
"I'm good. I'm on the upswing again." She was moving down the hallway. "Lots of energy."
"Wait. What's happened? You were upset as hell when I last talked to you."
"You bet I was." She turned around to face her again. "And then I thought about it and realized I wasn't being fair. You were desperate and you wanted to do something. You grabbed for the brass ring again." She smiled faintly. "Do you remember when we were kids and used to ride the carousel in the park? I could never stand up and reach for that brass ring, so you'd do it for me. You were pretty small, but you'd stand up on the horse's back and try and try until you got it for me."
"It wasn't worth it. Just a cheap little trinket."
"I still have one of those brass rings in my jewelry box. It wasn't cheap to me. Whatever you do has value for me." She wrinkled her nose. "Even going on crazy quests for the biggest, brightest brass ring of all. It was hard to swallow that particular sacrifice. It choked me."
"It's no sacrifice. That's bull. Nothing I do for you is a sacrifice."
"The hell it's not. You never even thought about getting that brass ring for yourself." Her lips tightened. "And I wasn't generous enough to think of it for you. I just accepted everything when I was a kid. After I grew up I tried to stop, but the habit was firmly in place for both of us." She looked her in the eye. "It's time to put an end to it, Rachel."
Rachel shook her head. "I have to do this, Allie."
"I know you do." She paused. "But this time I'm not going to let you be in it alone. If you think there's a brass ring to be had, then I'll help you reach for it. I'll give you a little time to get used to the idea, but I'm not going to be left behind. I'm not helpless. I'm on the upswing and feeling much better now. I may not be as smart as you, but I'm intelligent, and I have skills that you don't."
"Allie, no."
"Rachel, yes," Allie said softly. "You're not going to leave me home and take this challenge away from me because I'm sick and you want to protect me. It's too late for that now. I won't have it."
"Allie, there's nothing for you to do."
"We'll see." Once again Allie gave her that serene smile. "Now come and eat my crab cakes. They're better when they're hot."
ARDMORE UNIVERSITY
"Six sharp," Simon said as he pulled into the parking spot beside where Rachel was standing. "As you commanded. But I didn't get all the work done in Galveston."