Page 141 of Fury In Death

Deciding he’d probably prefer the brisk, too, she aimed for it.

“Yeah, they rank. And he couldn’t do anything but lie there. He’d had the proof. He’d destroyed his own work in the lab, but he’d taken proof home with him.”

“And that was destroyed in the explosion.”

“Move aside, Roarke. I’ll work on her face, her head. Did you lose consciousness, Lieutenant?”

“No. Came close, I guess, but no. I don’t have a concussion. No dizziness, no blurred vision. Headache, I did, yeah. Small wonder. No nausea, and blah blah. I know the signs.”

“Regardless, you have lumps back here. Had some bleeding as well.”

“Wyst is dead. He got to him. Penthouse, executive-type penthouse in Nadine’s building. Your building.”

The blazing blue returned. “He got through security?”

“Roarke, you have to see—or feel—to believe. I have to see the security tapes.”

“As do I.”

“The report is, air ducts, staff lounge, and a service elevator. He pried the freaking doors open on an elevator with just his hands, then he traveled inside the shafts, climbing up, must’ve climbed up on the cables. Up and over, up and over to the private elevator.”

She looked at him. “Ever done something like that?”

“This isn’t about me.”

“So sort of anyway. After examining the body, assessing the scene—which had two armed security guards outside—I knew he didn’t just walk in the doors. No way in from the outside unless he climbed up fifty-three floors. I thought of the elevator. The only other way in. I was heading down to look at the security feed, and he dropped down on me.”

Summerset ran a healing wand over her jaw, her cheek. It felt good, almost lulled her.

“Wyst taunted him, actually taunted him in the hospital. Told Redman he hoped he lived a long life as a vegetable.”

“You feel for Redman.”

She glanced at Summerset as he smoothed something around her aching eyes. “They killed his wife, his pregnant wife, his little boy while he was out getting his wife ice cream on a hot summer night. Collateral damage, them and everyone else who died that night. I feel for him. That doesn’t mean I won’t stop him.”

“Why?” Roarke took her hand now, gently. “Did he tell you the why of all of it?”

“Banner’s in custody—remanded without bail—because we linked them to Cruz. And we found files and chemicals in a restricted lab. They’re busy making bioweapons, on the order of Red House.”

“And he worked that?”

“No, that’s new. He called his project Rainmaker. Some weather manipulation, something. He was developing it to help people, the planet. Beyond my scope, but he said they’d be able to end droughts, control floods, more. But he’d learned the company intended to use it to cause them, so they could wipe out livable land, then take it over, save it—for themselves. Seems to me they’d make a tidy fortune while scooping up worthless land, then regenerating it.

“Am I done yet?”

“Nearly. Since you’re modest, Roarke will see to any other bodily injuries. When have you last eaten?”

“I don’t know.” Chips, she thought, salty chips in the car.

“That long. Soft food,” he told Roarke. “No need to aggravate her jaw. She favors spaghetti, so that would serve. Once she has something in her stomach, a glass of wine wouldn’t hurt, as she won’t tolerate a tranq.”

“I’m right here, and I won’t.”

“I’d rather you didn’t in any case. You’ll run her a bath. I have something to add to the water.”

“What?” Eve demanded.

“Something that will ease the soreness, stiffness. She’ll insist on working.”