Page 62 of The Lazarus Protocol

She didn’t follow him, so he glanced back and found her biting her lip. “I’m pretty sure by now you realize I might not be on the usual ‘officer’ spectrum of CIA employees, assets, and agents.”

“Wanna tell me about that?”

“I’m not accustomed to…sharing.”

“Or trusting people?”

She laughed. “You might as well ask me to eat broccoli.”

“Not a fan?”

She made a face that told him enough of how she felt about broccoli.

Regardless, Adam moved closer to her. “I need you to tell me about that thing around your neck, and the phone call you needed to make.”

“I couldn’t have borrowed a phone for that call.” She didn’t look guilty over this.

“I heard you offer them the book.” He figured he may as well say it. “Giving it to the CIA in exchange for your career and your life back isn’t a bad idea. If that’s who you were talking to.”

“I don’t know who was on the other end of the line, but I can guess.”

“Not a friend of yours?”

She winced. “I was trying to talk to my father. I’m surprised it worked actually. I figured they’d have disconnected it.” She lifted the necklace over her head and held it up, the small vial thing dangling from the end of the chain. “It’s a communication device.”

“I figured that out.”

She flushed, smiling. “It’s for me to communicate with my father. I can also call for help, if I squeeze both ends.”

“Better lifeline than a phone. Even if you can only call one person.”

There was more. Just like when she’d been talking about the woman, Vesper, he got the sense she was holding back. Seemed like sharing even what she had shared was huge for her. He wanted to know everything because he needed all the information, and he was curious about her, but he wasn’t going to be pushy about it.

“You’re right. It is a lifeline.”

“Is your father all right?”

She shook her head. “There’s nothing I can do about it without finding that book.”

“I don’t think it’s here, but looking is a start.”

She glanced around. “Whatever we’re looking for, I’m not sure we’re going to find it. This place looks like a bolt hole. Is this guy with the CIA?”

“Why do you ask that?”

“Come on.” She waved a hand. “His ‘home’ has all the personality of a hotel room.”

“It’s where he lived.” Adam shrugged. “Check those drawers.” He sent her to the rolltop desk in the corner, which had no cables or even a pen. Just a chrome lamp.

“Are you worried about Johannsen?”

“It’s suspicious he just up and disappeared. We’ll be home by dinner. What’s the harm in looking?” Adam didn’t need to oversell being here, but he needed to see the place with his own eyes.

“Just seems like maybe you care about him more than just some guy who hired you for a job.”

Which meant he needed to be careful. “If Johannsen is wrapped up in this, he’s in danger. That’s what you said. And if he’s in danger, then finding out what happened and where he is could provide a lead.” He turned to her. “Assuming you don’t know where to find this Vesper?”

She shook her head. “I’d love to know what happened to Doctor Warrington, but I have no way of finding him, either. Unless we somehow capture her and ask her where he is.”