Touched by a Phoenix (31 page)

“Thank you Dad, but I’m not hungry.”

“Honey, you need to eat,” his voice firm, but loving.

“You’re right. Anything will be fine, Dad. Thank you.” Alexis turned to walk away, then paused, “Dad, what happened?”

Phillip hesitated, “The investigation is on-going, but it appears that someone tampered with the elevator.”

Alexis didn’t seem surprised, “They want Brad’s development. Please find them before they can hurt him again.”

“Alexis, what development? What are you talking about?”

“He was planning to demonstrate the new technology for you tomorrow. No—today, during the concept show-and-tell.”

“Alexis, think, my dear. Any information you can provide may give us a lead on who did this.”

Those days seemed as if they were a lifetime ago. She struggled to think, to remember. “May I borrow your phone?” as she stepped towards Phillip.

“Of course dear, but who are you calling?”

“I can tell you what he was working on but Nate might have more information.”

Phillip quickly withdrew his hand and the phone. “Not yet. Tell me what you know, honey.”

“Dad please, let me call Nate.”

“No, Alexis.”

Realization set in. Her eyes widened with shock. “You think someone within the company is behind the accident, don’t you?”

“It’s entirely possible, my dear. The security feeds were on a loop for exactly thirty minutes just before the accident. John is here and we’ll get to the bottom of this but I need you to tell me everything, Alexis,” his voice was commanding.

She sighed with resignation, “Dad, Brad has completed the visual improvements and programmed the listening capabilities. He also built a voice and facial recognition software. The drone is now able to identify and verbally communicate information back to command,” she finished quietly.

“Alexis, this is huge. He was only supposed to develop listening and transmission capabilities. If Brad figured out how to make the drone hearing enabled with voice recognition from 40,000 feet, do you know what that could mean for our troops? We might be able to prevent a war from ever occurring. My God….”

Phillip placed his forefinger and thumb against the bridge of his nose as if he were thinking.

“Alexis, is there anything else that you can tell me?”

Alexis hesitated.

“Alexis, you must tell me.” Phillip’s voice softened, “The information may save both your lives.”

“Dad, there are four phases. Brad is close to completing phase three. “

“Alexis…what is in phase three?”

“Dad…Brad created a laser system for her. She no longer carries a payload.”

The color drained from Phillip’s face.

“Dad, you had better sit down.”

“Nonsense Alexis, would you mind telling me what else I don’t know?”

“Dad…Brad should be the one to tell you.”

“Dammit, Alexis! Do you have any idea what is happening right now? Someone just tried to kill you both.”

She sighed. Brad had been so excited about the project. He should be the one telling Phillip about Rescue One’s capabilities, not her.

“He is working on several ideas for phases three and four but they’re not finished yet.”

“Alexis, where is Brad’s computer?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Alexis, I need you to think. Did Brad have his computer when he got on the elevator?”

She shook her head, trying to clear away the cobwebs from last night. “No, I don’t think so.”

“Sugar,” Phillip turned to Catherine, “I must get back to the office. I’ll send a driver to take you home.”

Phillip then made a mad dash for the door as he started dialing a phone number. “Bill, are you still at the office?”

“Good. Lock down Brad’s office. Do not let anyone in or out. I will be there in about twenty minutes.”

“No, I want you on it. Put Luke on security detail.”

“I’ll explain when I get there.”

“Bill,” his voice was now hushed, “cut the hard lines to the building while you’re at it. No one gets access.”

Chapter Thirteen

P
hillip arrived at
AAS in record time.

He sped up the long drive, the car screeching to a halt at the front entrance. Phillip raced through the front doors, past the security check, and headed for the stairs. He didn’t notice the pain shooting through his leg as he took the stairs two at a time until he reached the third floor. He burst through the door and ran down the hallway until he rounded the corner, coming face-to-face with Bill.

“Sir, someone ransacked his office.”

“Is his computer still here?”

“Yes, sir.”

Phillip sighed, “Thank God,” as he leaned against the wall.

“Mr. Kincaid, what is going on?”

“Brad made a technological breakthrough…several breakthroughs as a matter of fact. I’m sure the information is what they were after. The elevator was simply a diversion—a way to gain access to the building. If I’m correct and Brad had been killed in the elevator crash, there would be no one to stop them from completing his development.”

“What development sir,” Bill asked curiously.

“Never mind, apparently it is safe—at least for now.”

“Right. While you were away, we completed the preliminary run through of all phone calls, emails, and instant messages. Only one thing appeared out of the ordinary that day.”

“What?”

“Sir…I’m not exactly sure how to say this but there was an IM between Mr. Scott and Miss Saunders at noon that day.”

“Why is that odd?”

“Sir, they made dinner plans for 7:00 PM.”

“Shit, they had about seven hours’ notice to do what they needed to do.”

“Excuse me, sir?”

“Someone knew Brad and Alexis were going to be on the elevator together and when. I want security on both Brad and Alexis, 24/7,” he bellowed.

“Sir, what do you want me to do?”

“Take care of security. John has arrived and is putting a crew together. He and I will meet this evening. Until then I want you to go over every background check…on every employee. I want someone to go through every email and telephone call in and out of this building over the last thirty days and I want every suspicious activity listed. Going forward, if someone sneezes the wrong way, I want to be informed immediately.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Bill, I’ll have John’s team do a full security sweep of all offices, starting with Brad and Alexis’s office and the bunker. He’ll send men to their homes to sweep those as well. In the meantime, I want you to do a thorough inspection on both of their vehicles.”

“Yes sir, anything else?”

“I will make some calls. You’ll have extra help starting with the morning shift. I want security doubled, 24/7.”

“Thank you, sir. I’ll assign a guard to Mr. Scott’s office. Is there anything else, sir?”

“No, that’s all for now.”

“Yes, sir.” Bill started to walk away; deciding against it, he turned to Phillip. “Sir, what are you not telling me?”

Phillip let out a long deep sigh, “Brad’s on to something and I’m afraid they will use Alexis to get to him.”

“What exactly do you mean, sir?”

“Bill, they are in love, and he would do anything to protect her. She will be the perfect target.”

Bill did not try to hide his surprise. “If what you say is true, sir, you are correct. If I wanted something and could grab her, she would be the perfect motivator. I’d be able to control him better knowing he would do whatever I wanted in order to protect her.”

Phillip put his hand on Bill’s shoulder. “When John arrives, I need you to look after the security for the building. John can take care of Alexis and Brad.”

Bill smiled grimly, “Sir, couldn’t you have picked someone better? He’s a hired gun.”

Phillip’s shoulders sagged just a bit. “He was a soldier first, and he is the only person I can count on to protect my daughter and her future husband—regardless of what it takes.”

“Sir, you know….”

Before Bill could complete his sentence, Phillip interrupted him, “Bill, I have the utmost respect for your abilities, but you would follow the letter of the law. John will just do what needs to be done.”

“I understand sir.”

Bill was a former Seal, excellent at his job, and had been loyal for many years. He could not put his friend in the position of breaking the law. Phillip’s voice softened, “Bill…thank you.”

“You’re welcome, sir.”

Brad was safely back in his room and resting comfortably. He smiled over at his sleeping beauty.

On the return trip, the nurse teased him about being whipped. It hurt to laugh, but she was right—he was whipped, and in the best possible way…but he would not change a thing. He would give Alexis anything her heart desired and knew she would do the same for him.

The nurse had gone on to say, “Ms. Saunders loves you. Mr. Scott, you’re a lucky man.”

Yes, he thought, I am a very lucky man, as he dozed into a peaceful sleep with Alexis by his side.

When he woke, Alexis was gone.

He called for her groggily through the haze, “Alexis….”

“Hi sweetheart,” she cooed sweetly as she stepped out of the bathroom wrapped in only a towel. “How are you feeling?”

“
Mmm,
you look good,” he managed a small smile.

“On no you don’t Michael Bradley Scott, you just stop right there. There will be none of that until you are feeling better.”

She sounded like her father when she took on her commanding tone; no wonder everyone feared her. She would make an excellent drill instructor; he thought.

“But you always make me feel better,” he smiled devilishly, all the while trying to hide the grimace as pain shot through his head and arm.

Her face softened as she bent over to kiss him gently. “I love you too baby, but the answer is still no.”

“Okay then, in that case; I believe I’m beginning to suffer a relapse. Would you take my temperature Nurse Alexandria,” as he pulled her down for a kiss with his free arm.

“
Ooh…
Brad. That is so not fair. You’re not well enough for that…,” as she returned his loving kiss. Yes, she thought he was going to be just fine.

“How long have I been asleep?”

“Most of the evening. How’s your head?”

“A little foggy and it still hurts.”

“And your arm?”

His smile was mischievous, “That hurts too. Would you kiss it and make it better?”

“Bradley…,” her tone warning him she would not tolerate his misbehavior until he was well.

He pretended to pout, “My sweet, sweet Alexis…you can’t blame a man for trying now can you?”

“No, I guess not and when you are feeling better, I promise to kiss every inch of you,” borrowing his devilish little grin.

“Oh darling, as soon as I am better, I will hold you to your promise,” his voice low and husky.

Her eyes softened. “I plan to show you how much I love all of you…every day…forever.”

“You are my angel and I’m very aware of how much you love me. When I was unconscious, I felt your heartache—felt your pain. I tried desperately to wake up to comfort you, but your sweet voice filtered through and calmed me so I could sleep.”

“You heard me?”

“Yes, my darling.”

Alexis blushed, “Exactly how much did you hear?”

“Enough,” was all he said as he drifted off to sleep.

“Good morning, beautiful.”

“Good morning,” she said groggily. “How long have you been awake?”

“A little while.”

“Why didn’t you wake me? Do you need anything?” as she stood beside his bed.

“You.”

She bent down and kissed him tenderly.

“Alexis, do you know how much I love you?” his voice was soft and full of love.

“Yes I do, because I love you just as much,” she replied as tears glistened in her beautiful golden eyes.

“Take me home, Alexis.”

“I will, my love…as soon as the doctor releases you.”

His voice was thick as he insisted, “I need you beside me and not in some damn chair.”

She smiled tenderly at her lover. Her breath caught in her throat as glimpses of him saving her life flashed through her mind. “I love you,” she whispered.

“Hi Mom,” Alexis said as she answered the phone.

“Yes, I’ve got him all settled in.”

“He’s tired, but glad to be home.”

“Mom, you didn’t have to cook for us, but I appreciate it.”

“Okay then, I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you too.”

His curiosity piqued. “Is everything okay?” he asked.

“Yes, love. Mom prepared dinner for us and wanted to know what time would be good to bring it over.”

“
Aww
…that was sweet of her.”

“Yes, it was.”

“What time will she be here?”

“A couple of hours, why don’t you rest for a while?” as she snuggled up beside him on the bed.

“As long as you promise to stay with me,” he murmured as he wrapped his good arm around her, pulling her close to his body. The heat from her body pressed against his as he drifted into a peaceful sleep.

A soft knock on the door roused Alexis from her sleep. She slipped out of bed as Brad continued to sleep peacefully.

“Hi Mom, come on in,” she whispered.

“Hi honey.”

“How’s Brad,” Phillip asked.

“He is sleeping,” as she kissed Phillip on the cheek.