Page 103 of The Lazarus Protocol

“Yes,” Adam said. “I’ll get an assignment, and it will be on behalf of someone else. No one knows who they’re working to protect, but we all pitch in when we’re called.”

Dan said, “Do not fret because of evil people?”

“Something like that, I guess.” Plus, Adam didn’t want anything to do with Montrose, and would rather not go to prison for multiple counts of what would be labeled murder. Or wind up in a facility again.

Dan continued, “So we’re here, retrieving Steph, because no one retrieved you. No one saved you, and you can’t stand the thought of someone falling through the cracks.”

“Just as long as we get Kai back.”

A guy went ahead of them, pressing the button on the outside of the doors. They swished open, admitting the man and then Adam and Dan.

“Left,” Dan said. “She’s in this car.”

“Got it.” Adam scanned the seats, wondering how accurate this thing was. Checking every face. Making his way along the aisle. “Here we go.”

She sat slumped against the window, her eyes closed and a hood up over her hair.

He took the seat opposite her, and Dan sat across the aisle. Adam settled in, adjusting his jacket and trying to avoid tweaking the stitches on his chest. He lifted his foot and rested it beside her on the chair to hem her in. “Steph.”

She didn’t move or open her eyes. He reached over and squeezed her knee.

She woke a second later, her eyes glassy. Focused on him and sucked in a quick breath, looking around. She nearly fell out of her chair. After she’d caught herself and sat back, she reached for the necklace. “Where is it?”

Adam frowned. “I don’t have it.”

If Ice took it, he’d left that part of the story out in the telling. Which meant Adam needed to follow up about it. Their first priority was Kai. After that, the situation. Then they’d worry about her necklace/communication device thing.

“How did you find me?” She tipped her head one way, then the other. “What did Ice do to me? I feel like I’ve been asleep for a week.”

Adam reached over and took her hand, running his fingers over her wrist until he could feel her pulse.

She stared at their hands, her expression obscured, till he let go of her hand. “Whatever he gave you, there won’t be any lasting damage.”

“Oh. My pulse.” She nodded. “Right.” She spotted Dan across the aisle. “Hi.”

The big man said, “We come in peace.”

Steph stared at him for a moment. “So your buddy Ice drugged me and dumped me on a train, and he has my necklace. Did he tell you to come and pick me up?”

Adam shook his head. “Tracker. In your shoe.”

Steph frowned. “He dropped me off, and you’re picking me up? What is this?”

Adam shrugged his shoulder. “Far as I’m concerned, this is an all-hands-on-deck situation.”

“You look terrible.” Her head tipped to the side. “Should you even be up?”

Laughter bubbled up in his chest, and across the aisle Dan chuckled without looking up from the laptop.

“Ouch.” Adam didn’t rub his hand across his chest. “I’ll be good as new before you know it.”

Steph shook her head. “Is Kai okay?”

“We’re working that. The team will get him back.”

“Ice, and the team? Guess he didn’t need my help, so he got rid of me like I’m extra baggage.”

Adam said, “Forget about that. He and I will figure it out. What do you need?”