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attractive. ”Later.” She hung up and tucked the phone into her pocket.
Fresh staff was entering the building, cautiously peering around the doorframe until they spotted familiar faces. A supervisor was busy making a schedule, and two other new faces were pulling out monitoring consoles from boxes and setting them up. ”We did it,” Dar stated, in a wondering tone. ”I don’t believe it.”
Kerry exhaled. ”We sure did,” she confirmed.
They both looked up as someone called out Dar’s name. A man trotted towards them, pulling up as he reached their sides.
”Ms. Roberts?” he asked. ”There are some people outside. I think it’s the environmental people. They want to see you.”
Dar went very still. ”Same people as last night?” she asked cautiously.
He nodded. ”Yeah, that same doctor, but she said her boss is here, wants to talk to you.” He made a face. ”They were kinda rude about it,”
he added, then turned as someone called him, and moved off.
Kerry looked up at Dar’s face, seeing the confusion and reluctance there. ”You want me to take care of this?” she asked bluntly.
Pale blue eyes flicked to hers. ”Thanks, but, um, I’d better go,” Dar told her heavily. ”You wait here. It shouldn’t take long, since I don’t really care when they clear the other building now, as long as we keep the generators going.”
Kerry didn’t back off. ”Sure you don’t want company?” She had no idea what was spooking Dar so badly, but she was damned if she wasn’t going to find out. ”Two of them, only fair if there are two of us.”
Dar hesitated. ”Her boss and I have a history,” she finally admitted.
”I gathered,” Kerry answered quietly. ”That was the old history, right?”
A nod. ”Yes.”
”Dar, it’s been a really long night. You’re tired, let me go take care of them for you,” Kerry pleaded gently, seeing the stark indecision in Dar's eyes. ”Or at least let me come, too.”
She gave in. ”All right.” Dar ran a hand through her hair. ”Let’s get it over with, I want to get out of here.” She picked up Kerry’s duffel, and slung it over her shoulder. ”We can just go after that.”
They walked out, side by side, into a gray drizzle.
IT WAS ALMOST like her stomach was twisting into knots. Kerry paced alongside her boss, watching the jaw muscles bunch and relax on the side of her face as they moved around to where the networking office was. Two figures were standing under the overhang out of the rain, and Kerry almost felt Dar bristle as she spotted them.
This was potentially very ugly, she realized, studying the two people. One was Dr. Simmonds, she knew. The other, a taller, stockier Hurricane Watch
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woman with sun streaked chestnut hair was standing quietly, watching Dar like a hawk as they approached. Kerry had an immediate, very visceral desire to kick her in the shins, and had to wonder about her newly found physical nature.
”Hey, Dar!” A voice interrupted them, and they stopped, turning to let a jogging figure catch up. It was the Bellsouth regional manager, who held a hand out to Dar as he came up to them. ”Hear it worked, congratulations!”
Dar mustered a smile, and took his hand. ”You made it happen,”
she amiably told him. ”You guys really came through for us, don’t think I’ll forget that.”
They were close enough for the two women to overhear, Kerry realized, and she saw their faces fall. A grin worked its way onto her face. ”Yes, it really was great working with you,” she added, shaking his hand as well. ”Your techs were wonderful. They got us back up with no problem.” She made sure her voice was a little louder than necessary.
”Well, thanks.” he grinned. ”Can I treat you ladies to an old fashioned country breakfast?”
Dar regretfully declined. ”We’ve got things to take care of, but thanks for the offer.” She nodded towards the waiting women. ”I think the scientists have something to tell us.”
”Right, well, you take care.” He waved, then trotted off, hailing one of the techs nearby.
”You know, Dar, ” Kerry fell into step beside her as they resumed their stroll. ”If I didn’t know better. I’d say those people were disappointed to hear things worked out.” Her eyes flicked to their targets.
”Mm,” Dar murmured. ”You could be right.” She swallowed to get the cotton out of her mouth, and tried to ignore the pounding of her heartbeat, very aware of Shari’s eyes on her. She summoned her coldest, fiercest outer persona, and wrestled it into place.
”Dar?” Kerry's voice dropped to a low murmur.
”Hmm?” She ducked her head a little, nervously clenching and unclenching her fists.
”I love you.”
Dar blinked, then looked up as they came even with the two women. Shari who? ”You needed to speak with me?” she asked amiably, feeling the dread fall away, nudged aside by the living, breathing acknowledgement that Shari had been wrong, all those years ago. Her eyes met her old lover’s, and she gave her a small nod of acknowledgement. ”Hello, Shari.”
”Dar,” the woman answered, in a low, musical voice. Her eyes flicked to Kerry’s face, then an eyebrow rose.
”Sorry.” Dar felt a smile edging her lips. ”This is my associate, Kerrison Stuart. Kerry, this is Shari Englewood. ”
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”Pleased to meet you,” Kerry responded politely, extending a hand, and returning the firm grip with one of her own.
An awkward silence fell. ”Would you two please excuse us,” Shari finally said. ”I’d like to speak with Ms. Roberts in private.”
Dr. Simmonds ducked away immediately, seemingly glad to get out of the situation, but Kerry paused for a long moment, gazing at the chestnut haired woman steadily before she took the duffle from Dar and gave her boss a quick grin. ”See you at the car.”
Dar half turned her face, and winked at her. ”Won’t be long.” She watched Kerry stride off towards the vehicle, ducking her head against the still falling rain. Then she turned back and folded her arms over her chest.And waited. The cool gray eyes studied her, and she returned the look without flinching, keeping her expression noncommittal. Shari hadn’t changed much, save that she’d gotten a bit heavier, and her face had taken on a colder, more predatory expression. She was, Dar acknowledged, still very attractive, and the look of those familiar eyes brought up old and painful memories she tried to shove back down.
”You haven’t changed much,” Shari finally said. ”You still running around doing their dirty work?”
Dar refused to take offense. ”Sure,” she drawled. ”Only now they pay me more to do it, and I’ve got an office in the penthouse.” It gave her quite a bit of satisfaction to say that, and a tiny smirk caught the edge of her lip as the jibe registered. ”And incidentally, if the chemical team finds no trace of your dangerous substance, you’ll find the bill for this sitting on your desk.”
”Oh, they’ll find it,” she responded. ”I wouldn’t have bothered making that up. I was just so happy to hear it was going to screw you up, that I had to come see for myself.” Her eyes wandered over Dar’s body. ”But you pulled the fucking rabbit out of your ass again, didn’t you?” She snorted. ”That sucks, Dar. I should have come over last night, when Anne told me you were tearing your hair out.”
”Sorry to disappoint you,” Dar replied. ”Now, unless you actually have something to say, I have a Jacuzzi and a nice warm bed waiting.”