“That’s how I read it, too.” Jane moved into action. “Anna, can you set up an evacuation alert? If we can’t shut down the weapon, we have to warn Deer Lodge.”
“Already done,” Anna said. “Just give the word.”
“Mina, prepare for infiltration and evacuation. We need to give Zachary time to get inside Piper’s head, find the weapon, and get out in one piece.”
“I don’t want to get involved with Piper,” Zachary said. “She’ll just get in my way. I’ll go straight for the underground.”
“You can’t,” Jane said.
“I have to. I can do this.”
“It’s too big, and we don’t know what to look for. You’ve got to make Piper believe that you’re excited about the Young PhD Program. The short timeline is on our side. She won’t play games. If they need you to make the weapon functional like we believe, she’ll lead you to it. But if they even suspect that you know about HAVOC…” Jane reached for Zachary’s hand. “Do you trust me?”
“I do.” He stepped back and raised his chin. “One question.”
Jane’s mouth opened, and she pulled her hand back. “Is something wrong?”
“Depends. Do you trust me?”
“Where did that come from?”
Zachary’s eyes glared for just an instant, then softened. “Never mind.”
What the…why is he… Then it hit her! He was still worried that she was jealous of Piper. How sweet. “Zachary, that was just part of the act. Of course, I trust you.”
“Part of the…” Zachary scrunched his eyebrows. “Okay…that’s not exactly what—”
“Look.” She needed to explain. “Your gift is understanding the forces of geomagnetic attraction. Mine is understanding people. I’ve studied Piper’s profile since Mr. Parker put me on this project.” Mr. Parker. Nerves momentarily flared as her dad’s advice surfaced again. “It’s in her best interest to put you in front of the weapon. That’s how she’ll get what she wants from Mamont.”
“What’s that?”
“Power. Control. Accolades. It’s what she lives for.”
“Exactly why I want nothing to do with her.”
“For which I am completely grateful.” She sighed and looked into his eyes.
“Oh.” Zachary’s face softened, and he reached for her hand. Little chills shot down her back as his fingers grazed hers. His eyes drifted to her lips as he spoke. “On second thought, every kid who loves science dreams about being accepted into the Young PhD Program. I can fake it. It won’t be a stretch.” He stopped talking and simply smiled at her.
“Let’s go, guys.” Anna motioned to Mina and Zachary’s brothers.
“Yeah, look at the way they’re gaga-ing each other,” Nolan said. “They’re about to have a moment.”
“I meant that we have an escape plan to review.” Anna shoved them out the café exit.
Zachary pursed his lips. “I don’t gaga.”
His eyes were so dark. Jane wanted to get lost in them. “Were we really about to have a moment?”
Zachary’s smile returned. “I don’t know. Were we?”
They were still holding hands when Jane decided the time was right. She took a deep breath and…
“Zachary, you know that ORDER is a top secret organization, right? So we have to keep…secrets.”
Zachary was silent for a moment. “What’s wrong? You look so serious.”
“I don’t want there to be any secrets between us.” She closed her eyes. “But I’ve been keeping two things from you. This mission is dangerous, and we have to trust each other completely. I know all about your past, but you know nothing about mine. I’ve done things…that I’m not proud of.”
Zachary pointed to himself and laughed. “Ex-con? You can’t beat that.”
She could. That was the problem. “But you’re innocent. That’s why my father fought to get you an early release.” Wow. Saying the word “father” put her stomach in a twist.
“Your father? I thought Parker got me out.”
Jane nodded and looked up into Zachary’s eyes. She hoped her dad was right about this. “We have a very strict security protocol—I have a very strict security protocol—that has to be followed. So what I’m about to tell you…”
“Hey.” Zachary pulled her into a hug. “It’s okay. I understand top secret. You don’t have to tell me anything. I’m all about national security. Need to know, that’s how it works. And I don’t need to know. So don’t worry.”
“Not national security. My family’s security.”
“Oh. I’d protect your security with my life.”
Jane leaned her head on his shoulder. It felt nice. “I believe you. And I want to show you that I trust you completely. That’s why I have to tell you this. And you can’t tell anyone. Ever.”
“Okay. I promise.”
She fired the words out. “James Parker is my father.”
There. She said it.
Zachary’s mouth hung open. “Seriously? Parker?”
“Mr. Parker, Zachary.”
“Yeah. Mister. Wow. Is that what I saw when you two were all buddy-buddy? ’Cause he normally treats you like an employee.”
“He’s different at home.”
“You live with him?”
Jane laughed. “Don’t you live with your parents?”
“I did until I moved in here. Wow. I guess that explains why Anna and Mina are so comfortable around him.”
“They don’t know. Nobody knows. I think the president knows. But Dad says I’m not allowed to tell anybody.”
“The president of ORDER?”
“The President of the United States.”
“Wait, you know POTUS?”
“Not really. I apparently met her when Dad wanted to adopt me. She was head of the FBI at the time.”
“Your…father.” Zachary ran a hand through his hair. “No wonder he hates me.”
“He doesn’t hate you.”
“Could have fooled me. What if he finds out you told me? Oh, man, I’m so dead.”
“It was his idea. He says you have integrity.”
“Then why does he look at me like I spit in his cornflakes?”
Jane shook her head. He’d reacted better than she expected. “He’s just concerned about keeping me safe. ORDER has some high-profile enemies. I suppose it’s for the best, but sometimes I feel so alone because Dad is too busy saving the world.”
“Jane Parker,” Zachary said quietly. “That’s your real name.”
Jane sighed. “No, I’m Jane Lew. He never gave me his last name. That way, no one can connect me to him. If they knew, they could use me to get to him. The security of the entire nation would be at risk. It’s for the best.”
Zachary caressed her cheek. “Not your best. I see it in your face.”
She pressed his hand against her cheek. “I’m okay. It’s just that it hurts to not have his name. It’s like I’m not a part of any family.”
“Did you ever tell him?”
Jane nodded. “I don’t want him to feel bad. He did it for good reasons. It’s just…”
“What?”
“I don’t like this secret. He can’t act like he’s my dad outside of our house. I just like to know that he cares. Zachary, you know you can’t say anything. Ever. Right?”
“You can trust me.”
Dad said so, too. “Thank you.”
“Jane?”
He was looking into her eyes. “I care. And it doesn’t have to be secret.”
“Nolan was right,” she said. “We’re having a moment.”
Zachary moved his face closer to hers. His lips were slightly parted. She wanted so badly to kiss him, she found herself holding her breath. She moved closer. He moved closer.
Then he pulled back and said
quietly, “You said there were two things. What was the other one?”
Jane exhaled. Right, next secret. The first one went well. Dad was right. Next up, you went to juvie because of me. Abruptly, Jane wondered if maybe this wasn’t the right time to confess the other secret. She hated the very sound of it. Even in her mind, it came out more like a betrayal than a confession. In fact, maybe her dad was wrong with this one. The theory was fine, but how could a betrayal of this magnitude build trust?
“I have a secret, too.” Zachary touched his forehead to hers. “As soon as we’re done taking down HAVOC I want to get back into the simulator. I have another hypothetical question that I’d really like to gather data on.”
“Which is?”
“If I kissed you, would you punch me in the stomach?”
“Admirable hypothesis.” Jane glanced at Zachary’s lips. His pursuit of scientific method was commendable, and his timing was perfect. In her mind, that totally justified chickening out on telling the second secret. “But there are two things terribly wrong with it.”
He pulled back. “Enlighten me.”
“First of all, we don’t need the simulator. And second, I’m not waiting.” Jane threw her arms around Zachary’s neck and pulled his face toward hers. She held him there for just an instant, gazing into his eyes, then pressed her lips against his. Zachary’s sudden inhale made her shiver, and she leaned in to him as he wrapped her in a tight embrace. The world disappeared as they sat there locked in a kiss so wonderful that Jane was certain her heart would explode with joy.
Chapter Twenty-One
Zach
Piper leaned against a low wall, and Zach approached slowly. “I see her,” he whispered, trying hard to concentrate. He couldn’t get Jane out of his head. She actually trusted him with her father’s secret. He never saw that coming in a million millennia. And man, oh man, that kiss! Definitely required a do-over.
Act excited. Jane’s voice echoed in his head. Wave to her.
“I am excited.” But thinking about Piper was about to kill the mood. Zach waved halfheartedly. Piper didn’t look up. “She doesn’t see me.”
Jump up and down. She’s like a toad. Motion attracts her.
“Data attracts me,” Zach said. “I hate to leave an experiment unfinished.”
Keep your head in the mission, Zachary. Piper Dane has a deep need to get what she wants, and right now, she wants you.
“Okay, one condition.”
The lives of four thousand people are at stake!
“When I get back, I want to rerun the experiment.”
Radio silence.
“You still there?” Zach whispered.
Stop saying things like that. I’m having a hard enough time as it is.
“Meaning?”
I want more data, too. Her voice came across in a sultry murmur.
Zach shivered. “Schedule the simulator. I’ll be right back. Oh, wait—she sees me!” Dammit. He picked up his pace and waved again as Piper’s eyes locked on his. “I’m going in.”
For just an instant, his stomach filled with butterflies, but he took a deep breath and calmed himself. “Hi. I made it.”
“Hi back at you.” Piper had gone all out for this meeting. She wore a teal business suit and heels that made her nearly as tall as Zach. And she’d totally overdone her makeup. He’d never seen it that heavy, at least not during her juvie visits. Trying to impress someone. She opened her arms wide and stepped toward him.
“Thanks for inviting me.” Zach cringed but stepped into her embrace. He patted her on the back instead of hugging. Collecting data with Jane was a quantum leap better.
“Thanks for coming.”
Say something nice to her. Compliment her hair. She changed it.
Zach looked at Piper but pictured Jane…her eyes, big and beautiful. Her face, small, heart-shaped. Her hair, pixie-ish. “You look stunning. Did you do something to your hair?”
Not bad.
“Thank you, I got a new cut,” Piper said, flipping her fingers through her bangs. “New perfume, too. Do you like it?”
“I, uh…smells nice. Like—”
Flowers.
“Yeah…” Zach sniffed. “Uh, roses. Smells like roses.”
Not a particularly good save. Just saying.
“I like it. It’s good on you.”
“Thank you, Zachy,” Piper said. “Are you nervous?”
Yeah, Zachy. Are you?
“I don’t know! I wouldn’t be if you would quit—” He realized Piper was staring straight at him.
“If I would quit what?” Piper said.
Zach could hear Jane laughing.
“If you would quit looking so hot.”
The laughter stopped short.
“That’s sweet. I can tell we’re gonna get along just fine.” Piper pointed across campus. “Walk this way.”
Zach shook his head. He had to focus. He followed Piper across campus, wondering what her plan was. “Where are we going?”
“Professor Mamont’s office is in the Astronomy Building,” Piper said. “He’s very excited to meet you.”
Private office, penthouse. If Mamont’s ego was as big as Parker said, his office would be on the top floor.
“You’re awfully quiet,” Piper said. “Is something wrong? You were much cheerier on the phone.”
Tell her you’re overwhelmed.
Right. Thank you. “I am just totally overwhelmed. Piper, you have no idea. I’ve wanted to join the Young PhD Program since I was six years old. Who wouldn’t?”
“I agree.” She smiled. “It’s such a fantastic organization.”
“How long have you been with the program?”
“Not long enough,” she said. “I still don’t know much about it. There’s so much to learn.”
She’s been with Mamont for two years.
“I can’t believe Professor Mamont actually wants to meet me,” Zach said. He tried to sound sincere. “You said you talked to him. I can’t thank you enough.”
“I didn’t have to work too hard,” Piper said. “I mentioned that you seemed very competent talking to Dr. Reddington at the conference. He said you wrote a paper on a beam something-or-other. Next thing I knew, he was ranting about how his space program needed a mind like yours.”
“Beam compression system. Controls the power of the Large Hadron Collider beam so nobody gets fried. Uses kicker magnets and a few other techie things.”
“I speak psychology. Talk to me about Sigmund Freud or Josef Breuer.” Piper laughed. “But physics is a foreign language. I can see why the Professor wants to meet you.”
Why is a psychology student working on a technology program to heal the ozone?
Good question. “What does psychology have to do with ozone-healing tech?”
Piper’s eyes lit up. “The Oh Three project? I’m impressed that you remembered. It isn’t just about technology. It’s about building a mindset. Professor Mamont has physicists working on the technology. It’s my job to set the mood.”
“You’re in charge of public relations?”
“Helping with it, yes.” Then Piper frowned. “By the way, how are things with June? I can’t help thinking that I caused a problem for you.”
“Jane. We’re good, why?”
Pay attention. She’s about to test you.
Piper moved closer. “She slapped you across the face the last time I saw you. I hope it wasn’t because of me.”
I’m jealous. Tell her I’m extremely jealous.
“To tell the truth, it was. Jane has a bit of a jealous streak. She thought maybe I was more attracted to you than I should have been.”
“And are you?” Piper leaned into Zach’s shoulder, smiling at him.
Play hard to get.
“I, umm… Who would
n’t be?”
That wasn’t exactly hard to get.
“Oh, Zachy, that’s sweet.”
“That’s me,” Zach said, cringing at what Jane must have been thinking. “Total puddle of sweet.”
Seriously? Puddle?
“Here we are,” Piper said, pointing. “Magnificent, isn’t it?”
Magnificent was not the word that popped into Zach’s head when he saw what Piper was pointing to. A massive glass building with an arched doorway stood directly in their path, and guarding the door, a bronze image staring right at Zach. Its lifelike face and smug mouth totally creeped him out. “Is that Professor Mamont?”
“He certainly has a flare, doesn’t he?”
Parker was right about Mamont’s ego. “Flare. Yeah.”
A flare for being extremely disturbing. Gag me! That statue is awful.
Zach agreed.
Piper shook her head in admiration. “The Quantum City Council had it made to thank him for his generous contributions. So, Zachary Keen, boy genius, one question.”
“What?”
“What will we do about this attraction?”
What attraction? He glanced up at Mamont’s effigy. “The statue?”
“You said you’re more attracted to me than you should be.”
Zach caught his breath. Not where he wanted to go. “Piper, we’ve met like twice. Shouldn’t you give me a little time to get to know you?”
That’s better.
Zach exhaled slowly.
“We have all the time in the world,” Piper said with a sly glance, then stepped through the door beneath Professor Mamont’s intimidating gaze. “Follow me.”
“Where are we going?” He fell in behind her with one last look at the statue’s stern bronze face.
“I want to show you the project I’m working on.”
“Oh Three? You mean that project?”
This is it. She’s going to show you the weapon before she takes you to Mamont.
“That’s the one,” Piper said with a twinkle in her eye. “It’s restricted, but I’ll show you what I can get away with.”
Piper navigated a maze of hallways and stopped in front of a bank of hovervators. She placed her palm onto a panel next to the hovervator marked Authorized Personnel Only. The portal flashed open. Zach swallowed and followed Piper inside.
Ionic Attraction Page 13
