“You’re too smart to do anything that would irreparably cause an upset in your relationship with Kendra. I’ll go for the former, which, according to Kendra, might have the same result.”
“Or there could have been four or five options.”
“Absolutely, you’re a man of limitless possibilities. But those two were the most obvious.”
“And how would you have responded?”
“I would have done my best to disappear and keep Kendra from trying to rescue me again,” he said quietly. “That’s my real threat to you, Lynch. Our relationship is very complicated, and you don’t have to worry about my ever becoming her lover. There’s too much else going on that has to do with gratitude and pride and admiration. Maybe deep friendship and a hint of a father-figure image thrown into the mix? God knows what else. But the one certain thing she knows now is that we’ll always be friends, and Kendra doesn’t have any idea how to go halfway with anything.”
“Is this going somewhere?”
“Oh, yes, most definitely. When you whisk me off to my safe little paradise, you must not ever tell Kendra where it is. Because if she ever got a hint that something was wrong with me, she’d be there in the next breath. She couldn’t help herself. She has an almost maternal protective instinct about the people she cares about. That’s who she is, and it will never change. I think you know that.”
Lynch nodded slowly. “And I had no intention of telling Kendra where you were.” He shrugged. “Though I knew I’d catch hell.”
“You can tell her it was my decision.” Waldridge smiled. “I always get special dispensation because of the gratitude thing.”
“I’ve noticed.”
“But think how grateful she’s going to be to you for protecting me while I strive to do my all for humanity. I’m sure you’ll be splendid and innovative, and we’ll become fast friends while you’re doing it. Isn’t that better than destroying me?”
“I don’t want gratitude any more than you do, Waldridge. It just confuses things and gets in the way.”
“Exactly.
Lynch was silent. “And I never said I wanted to destroy you. That wasn’t one of my chosen options.”
“Yet.”
He shook his head. “I like what you’re working on. I appreciate what you gave to Kendra. I was thinking more about option four.”
“And what was that?”
Lynch smiled.
“I’m not to know? A mysterious threat to hover eternally over my poor head?” Waldridge chuckled. “You’re a terrible and complex man, Lynch. Maybe I should be the one to rescue Kendra.”
“Really? Then perhaps option five would be better.” His gaze returned to Kendra and Jessie. “Make a friend of Jessie Mercado, Waldridge. You may definitely need her if you decide to make my life difficult. But I don’t think you will. You’re a driven man, and you’ll be too busy to worry about me.”
Waldridge’s smile faded. “But not too busy to worry about my friend, Kendra,” he said quietly. “I’ve made a huge investment in her happiness. You will treat her well, Lynch.” Then he was once more smiling. “But then we both know that Kendra will not permit anything else. However, just remember: If you don’t behave satisfactorily, and someday you desperately need a heart or some other vital organ, I’ll see that you never receive it.”
Lynch looked at him, stunned. “Damnation.” And then he started to laugh. “Option six?”
Waldridge nodded serenely. “Option six.”
*
“YOU KNOW THAT THIS isn’t going to be a permanent arrangement,” Jessie warned Kendra as she reached into the passenger seat to get her duffel. “I’m not going to let my business go down the tubes while I play babysitter to Waldridge at some godforsaken back-of-beyond hideout.”
“I never expected that you would. I’m just grateful that you’re taking the time to protect him during the initial stage and set up his security.” Kendra made a face. “And I’m sorry that I can’t afford to pay you the kind of money Delilah Winter would throw at you for the job. I don’t even know if you’ll need hazard pay or not.”
“It’s part of my job to make certain that I won’t.” Jessie smiled. “And that Waldridge won’t either. I’ll keep him safe, Kendra. I’ll wrap him in a cocoon and won’t let him out until he’s finished his work. Before I leave him, he’ll be surrounded by top-notch people who will answer to me.” She looked at Lynch. “And to him. There’s no way Lynch is going to have it any other way. By the way, where is this place we’re going?”
“I don’t know. Things were moving too fast. I’ll ask Lynch when I take you to the plane.”
“That would be helpful,” Jessie said dryly. “I’ve moved around the world enough to have contacts almost everywhere, but I’d like to get things moving before we touch down.”