“How about we make a deal? I’ll get your doors fixed, then you and your data come with me.”
When she still hesitated, he walked closer to her. “We aren’t competitors. You know that by now, right?” His voice was quiet, so much so that she had to look up at him as he spoke to hear what he was saying. “I’m not going to scoop your paper. I don’t want any part of your professional spotlight. I want to keep you safe while we find out what info the WKB wants so bad they’ll make a scene to get it.”
“Who’s ‘we’? The guys you were with the other night—your team?”
Greer nodded. “There are a few of us, enough to keep you safe while we figure things out.”
“You can get my house fixed?”
“Yeah. One phone call.”
There was an edge about him that set her senses on warning. It was like standing too close to a big cat whose keepers thought was tame. She stepped back. But of course, she was then distracted by the way his tee molded his ripped arms and torso.
“Deal?” he asked.
Her eyes met his. There was nothing classified about her data. She wasn’t afraid of being scooped by another academic; she was the only one she knew who was studying the Friendship Community. She just wished she knew for a fact she wasn’t jumping from the pan to the fire by going with him and his friends.
His lips thinned as he waited impatiently for her answer. “If you stay here, I guarantee they’ll be back. They could even be on their way back as we speak.”
“All right. I’ll go with you. I have to be back in a week.”
He nodded, then lifted his phone and punched a quick-dial number. “Tell Kit I’m bringing the professor back with me. She’s agreed to show us her data. I need someone out here ASAP to fix her doors… Right… Roger that.” He hung up and looked at her. “It’s done. Bring me your legit laptop, then go pack a bag. If I were you, I’d hustle.”
“But my doors—”
“Will be fixed before sunup.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll be right down.” She returned with her laptop and handed it to him.
“Log in,” he ordered. “I don’t have time to hack it.”
She sat on the sofa and opened her laptop. He took control of it, opening a command screen. “Go pack.”
“What are you doing?”
“Sending your info to my computer.” He looked at her. “Just in case.”
“In case what?”
“In case we’re delayed getting back. Get moving.”
Chapter Nine
Remi’s hand shook as she dialed her department chair.
“Dr. Chase…is everything all right?”
Remi hesitated. She should have gotten her thoughts together before calling him. She already knew she wasn’t going to tell him about what happened at her townhouse, but she felt obligated to let him know she was going to be out of town for a while. “Yes. I just wanted to let you know that I’m going to be away for a few days. Maybe a week or so.”
“The provost gave you a week to shut things down. You’re not going to, are you?”
“Dr. Zimmers, the university was well aware of my research when I was hired. In fact, it was a deciding factor in my selection.”
“Things change. Your work is now putting you and the university in danger. It must stop before someone gets hurt.”
Remi held the phone to her forehead, shutting her eyes as she considered what might have happened had she not hidden when the WKB were here. And she wasn’t the only person in danger anymore. Her work endangered all the students and faculty at the university.
“I’m leaving town tonight.”
“So you’ll be stopping your work on the Friendship Community?”
Remi paused. She hadn’t yet decided. “I don’t know.” She wondered if she should tell her department head where she was going, but she didn’t know that either. “I’m going to take a break and give it some thought.”
“You do understand that your entire career is on the line—”
“I do. That’s why it’s a decision I can’t make without a great deal of thought.”
“There’s no thought needed. Not for a rational person.”
“I just need some time.”
“Then I will let the provost know you will voluntarily stay away from the university, and that in no more than one week, we’ll have your official response. Understood?”
A terrible thought struck her. “They got to you, didn’t they?” she asked.
“Who?”
“The ones behind these attacks. Did they threaten you?”
“That’s crazy talk. This is not a big conspiracy. It’s some thugs being bullies. Some gang rite of passage. Let the detectives do their work. Let them find out who’s behind this. Lay low until we get some answers. Then we’ll revisit things with the provost. The university will be in session in just a couple of weeks. Focus on that.”
Remi felt her chest tightening up. Without a job, she couldn’t keep the lights on. But without her work, did she even want the job?
“I’ve made arrangements to stay…someplace safe for a few days.” How did she explain Greer and his team? They weren’t friends. They weren’t allies. Telling her chair she was in contact with consultants for the DHS sounded like a really bad option.
“That’s a good idea. I’ll call and check in on you. Don’t return to the university unless you’re ready to comply.” There was a pause. “Dr. Chase, if I don’t hear from you in two weeks, I will be forced to place you on leave for the remainder of your current appointment, and you will not be eligible for reappointment. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Very well. Good night. And be safe.” The line went dead.
“How’s it goin’, doc?” Greer called up from downstairs.
“Fine. I’ll just be a moment.” She didn’t move. She had an awful feeling she’d just lost her position. Choosing between her work and her job was useless. Her work came first. It had to. It was the only thing that helped her make sense of her life, helped others understand what people like her—survivors of cults—went through.