Read The Singularity Race for Free Online Page B

the second thoughts plaguing him every time he closed his eyes. Should he have seen the killers approaching sooner? Surveyed the room before running to evacuate his charge? Would his warning to Ted have made a difference if it had come a second or two earlier? His professional brain said no; his personal loyalty to a friend and colleague argued otherwise.
    So, with mixed feelings, he entered Peet’s Coffee a few minutes ahead of their ten o’clock rendezvous. Elizabeth Lewison was waiting in the back. Two cups of coffee were already on the table.
    She smiled and gestured to the seat opposite her. “Medium roast, black. Correct?”
    â€œPerfect.” He sat.
    She reached out with her fingers curled halfway open and he cupped his hand over hers, latching onto her, digit for digit, as if what they shared was too important to be bound by a common handshake.
    â€œHow are you, Rusty?” She eyed his left arm immobilized by a sling.
    â€œI have no complaints. I’ll mend.”
    â€œHow’s the PT?”
    He gave a one-shoulder shrug. “A home health therapist comes every day.”
    â€œI didn’t know the company’s insurance was that good.”
    â€œIt’s not. I mean…” he stammered at what he was afraid sounded like criticism “…I mean our coverage is fine. I was told Jué Dé’s providing the therapist.”
    â€œWho?”
    â€œThe Chinese company that employs Dr. Li, the woman I was guarding.”
    â€œGood. You earned it.”
    Mullins took a deep, slow sip of his coffee. He wanted to buy some time and let her lead the conversation. It was strange seeing her without Ted. They’d been married twenty-four years. While Ted had been posted around the world, Elizabeth had put herself through Howard University and passed her CPA examination. When Ted gave his final salute, Elizabeth created the business plan that would become Prime Protection. She wasn’t only his friend’s wife, she was the person who signed his paycheck.
    He took a second sip and thought how much the couple looked alike. She was tall, nearly six feet, and she carried herself with Ted’s military bearing. Although she was physically striking, it was her aura of self confidence that defined her. She was a woman comfortable in her own skin and gifted with the ability to put others at ease.
    Except she wasn’t at ease this morning.
    â€œWhat have you heard?” Her eyes searched his face for any sign of duplicity.
    â€œNothing. And I’m supposed to,” he admitted. “From sources high in the investigation.”
    â€œDo they not know anything, or are they not telling anything?”
    Mullins had been asking himself the same questions. “My guess is that they know precious little and are guarding that scant data hoping they can work it without alerting their suspects. But the press is baffled and in a town that leaks like a sieve, I’d say that means the investigation is going nowhere.”
    She nodded. “I’ve got my own connections and I’m hearing the same silence. It’s like this Double H appeared at the hotel and then vanished from the face of the earth.” She rotated her cup on the table, staring at the black liquid for a moment. When she looked up, her eyes were moist. “When are you back?”
    It was the question he’d been dreading. He took a deep breath. “I don’t think I will be. Prime Protection deserves someone in their prime. It’s time I came off the front line.”
    Disappointment covered her face. “Is that you or Kayli talking?”
    â€œDoes it matter?” He couldn’t tell her the one speaking to him was his dead wife. But, then, maybe Elizabeth would understand.
    â€œNo. I guess it doesn’t. But, Rusty, would you work for me?”
    The request confused him. “What do you mean? Some sort of office job?”
    â€œWork for me personally. Someone