Page 149 of The Lazarus Protocol

Adam glanced back at the battleship that had rescued them, admiring it making its way in. When he was done he slapped Kai on the back. “Let’s go.”

Jay walked with a slight limp. Noah and Marina walked together. Steph joined them from where she’d been watching the ambulance, offering him a relieved smile, and took his hand.

Adam smiled at her. “I believe I owe a lady a cheese plate.”

Kai barked a laugh. “I’ll call Winston and put the order in.”

Noah and Ice both chuckled. Steph was a little more subdued, but that was to be expected when she was worried about her father.

Jay looked at Adam and grinned. “You guys, enjoy. I’m getting off in Seattle and going home as well.”

Kyle chuckled, walking behind Adam. “The look on those sailors’ faces when we walked on their ship in our undies…”

Adam nodded. “Good times.”

Steph squeezed his hand.

They disbursed to the SUVs, naturally splitting into two groups and loading onto the vehicles. Each had a hired driver, which was fine by Adam. Sleeping on a cot the past few days, seeing the ship’s doctor and getting a lot of frowns and muttering from the guy, and eating way too much food in the mess hall had him feeling less than able to navigate unfamiliar streets.

He waited by the door while Steph got in, sliding onto one of the captain’s chairs in the middle row. “Ever been to Hawaii before?”

She buckled her seatbelt. “No, it looks nice.”

He wanted to tell her they should come back and explore more than one corner of a naval base, but the words didn’t make it off his tongue. Adam slid into his seat and shut the door.

They had time.

He closed his eyes and listened to the rumble of the road as the driver took them to the Honolulu airport, chatting softly with Kyle, who sat in the front passenger seat. Kai was already snoring in the back row.

The SUV slowed to go through the private entrance and drove around to an open hangar several rows over. A Hawaiian Airlines 737 lifted off the runway and took off. A black town car was parked in front of the hangar, a suited man standing by the passenger door.

Adam glanced around in the SUV. “Anyone know who that’s for?”

“That’s my ride.” Kyle held out his hand over the shoulder of his seat, and they shook. The handshake lingered a second and Kyle said, “He’s gone.”

Adam nodded. “He’s dead and gone.”

Steph shifted in her seat. “You aren’t coming to the—” Thankfully, she caught herself before she said castle.

Kyle looked at her. “Maybe someday.” He shoved his door open and was gone.

Adam let the rest of them out on his side and kept an eye on Kyle. Awfully quick to get to his fancy taxi. Kyle spoke to the driver, who handed him an envelope from the inside of his suit jacket. The team gathered up, and Kyle came over.

Inside the hangar, the ambulance staff loaded Stephanie’s father onto the plane on his gurney. Ash and Kai went over to help with Dan, who looked to be awake now.

Kyle handed the envelope to Noah. “This is for your eyes only, as they say.”

Noah stared at it for a second, then accepted the envelope. “Thanks.”

“Actually, thank you.”

“We supposed to know what that means?” Adam asked him.

“You know I can’t tell you my assignment.” Kyle gave them an informal salute and wandered off to his car.

Steph touched Adam’s arm. “I’m going to go make sure my dad is settled, and the doctor knows everything he needs to know.”

Adam nodded. She wandered off, and he turned to Noah. “You find out about that facility?”