Midnight Sun (13 page)

“
You
mean
the
boss
is
coming
here?
”

“
Yep.
”

All
four
of
them
looked
impressed.

“
What
prompted this visit
?
”
Lonnie asked.

“
I
bet
it's
for
the
Alaska
Gas-Pipeline
opening
ceremony,
”
Marcus said.

“
Double
damn,
”
Tonia said,
“
a
hottie
and
smart
to
boot.
Girl,
you'd
better
take
care
of
this
man,
'cause
I
am
shopping.
”
She
winked
at
Lonnie,
then
returned
to
Hilde's
question.
“
Big
guy
is
coming
up
for
the
event
next
week.
A
few
other
international
big
leaguers
are
joining
too.
”

“
Wow.
How
did
we
not
know
about
this?
”
Mike asked.

“
Well,
honey,
”
Hilde said,
“
we’ve been in
the
process
of
getting
married
for
the
past
few
months.
That
takes
precedence
over
any
significant
worldwide
news.
”

“
Gotcha
there,
Mike,
”
Lonnie said.
“
Woman's
got
her
priorities
straight.
I
think
we're
going
to
get
along
just
fine,
Hilde.
”

The
man
Tonia
had
been
talking
to
strode
over.
“
We
need
to
get
moving.
”

“
Warner,
this
is
Mike
Farris,
”
she
said,
pointing
to
Mike.

Warner
looked
at
him
silently.
He
was
the
type
of
person
who
seemed
to
see
everything,
but
said little.
He
was
not
particularly
muscular,
and
definitely
military
before
the
Secret
Service. He carried
himself
with
a
humble
warrior's
confidence
that
could
make
a
weaker
man
melt
in
self-doubt
just
looking
at
him.

“
Outstanding
job
in
Ohio,
sir,
”
Warner
said.
“
Sorry
we
can't
talk
much,
but
we've
got
work
to
do.
”

“
Understood,
”
Mike
said.

“
Okay, Mr.
Roboto,
”
Tonia
said
with
a
shake
of
her
head.
“
Sorry,
Hilde,
I've
got
to
get
back
to
establishing
a
defensible
perimeter
and
surveying
potential
vulnerabilities.
”

Warner
turned
his
expressionless
face
toward
her.
“
We
need
to
finish
the
sector.
”

“
Let's
get
together
for
drinks
later,
”
Hilde
said.

“
You
got
it,
”
Tonia replied.
“
I'll
try
to
find
another
date,
though.
Lurch
here
only
drinks
gun
oil.
”

Warner
crunched
his
eyebrows.

“
I
don't
drink
gun
oil,
”
he
muttered
as
they
walked
away.

They
checked
in,
then
got
into
the
elevator.

“
I
’
ve
made
seven
o
’
clock
reservations
at
the
Crow
’
s
Nest
restaurant
on
the
top
floor
of
the
hotel.
”
Marcus
said
as
they
ascended.
“
Until
then,
get
some
rest
in
your
room
to
work
out
the
jet
lag.
”

Lonnie
suddenly
winced
and
pressed
a
hand
on
her
belly.