alive.”
“That’s because the safety catch hasn’t been integrated into the program yet,” Garrett said. “William needed more time to finalize the process. To keep it safe for a few days, he hid the safety in his favorite painting. Then he disappeared.”
“His favorite painting . . .” She paused. This time, none of the guests butted in while she probed her memory then continued. “As I recall, it’s a beautiful piece of work by Edwin Deakin, depicting an old hotel on a snowy night. I remember, this painting used to hang in our living room. Yes, that’s it, and the name was . . .”
“‘Christmas Morning,’” Jessica provided.
Yes, exactly. Excitement heating her cheeks, Tracy smiled her thanks at Jessica before turning her attention back to Garrett. “But I didn’t tell you anything about a painting. There must be a mix-up.”
Tracy searched her recollections for more clues. As understanding dawned on her, she winced. “His Christmas gift, of course. God, that one was farfetched. The guy you’re looking for is a joker, isn’t he?”
“The clue must have been intended,” Garrett said. “Whoever he is, he’ll go to any lengths to acquire the painting. Assuming he’s perfectly aware that the safety catch is essential, it means your father is safe for the time being.”
Jake threw his napkin on the table. “All right, the guy’s a clown. But damn it, Garrett, are you going to play Almighty for much longer? Tell us where it is.”
“Here in California. Gold Run to be precise.”
Drawing the napkin back toward him as though he wanted to take back his impetuous throw, Jake looked surprised. “That location is quite far away. Are you sure you’re not mistaken? There are so many places closer to home he could have picked.”
“Indeed, Jake,” Garrett said, “although I must say there’s a good reason for William’s choice. A few years ago, he purchased a mine in Gold Run, for he had found in that location what he called ‘a complex’ and ‘weird robotics.’”
Tracy frowned. Her dad’s mysterious life in this world kept growing and growing. What would come next? Finding out he got married in Las Vegas to a retired casino card dealer and fathered a dozen kids? Unwilling to go down that alley, she refrained from sighing and licked her lips before gazing at Garrett. “What kind of complex?” she asked. “Is it like a secret lab?”
What appeared to be a brief smile slipped across Garrett’s lips before he replied, “I haven’t been there myself, but I know he had materials brought in from your dimension. Which is why I believe that you, Miss Richardson . . .”
The breath caught in her throat and her mouth dried up when his lecturing composure shifted to keen interest as he looked at her pointedly. “You have a pivotal role in entering the complex.”
Garrett might well see a link between her world and the mysterious means giving access to the complex, but she didn’t. As a matter of fact, she felt kind of blind and lost in the intricacy of her dad’s brain.
“Should we consider ourselves lucky or doomed?” Jessica smiled at her with such vitality that Tracy wondered why Jake Cooper didn’t marry the woman when he had the chance.
“Sorry, why?” Tracy asked.
“I’m just saying, your father seems as secretive and eccentric as mine,” Jessica replied.
As much as she didn’t want to, Tracy had to agree with her. True, a mad scientist versus a blood sucker hunter. What a lovely couple. Yet, the mention of her dad’s eccentricity reminded her of the silver necklace and the precise, unequivocal instructions he’d attached to it.
The necklace might well be important to enter the complex. She didn’t possess anything else, but she didn’t dare voice her hypothesis right then because her father’s life was at stake. But not just that.
Her instincts never let her down. She’d follow them, even though she sort of perceived herself like a betrayer amongst a circle
“That’s because the safety catch hasn’t been integrated into the program yet,” Garrett said. “William needed more time to finalize the process. To keep it safe for a few days, he hid the safety in his favorite painting. Then he disappeared.”
“His favorite painting . . .” She paused. This time, none of the guests butted in while she probed her memory then continued. “As I recall, it’s a beautiful piece of work by Edwin Deakin, depicting an old hotel on a snowy night. I remember, this painting used to hang in our living room. Yes, that’s it, and the name was . . .”
“‘Christmas Morning,’” Jessica provided.
Yes, exactly. Excitement heating her cheeks, Tracy smiled her thanks at Jessica before turning her attention back to Garrett. “But I didn’t tell you anything about a painting. There must be a mix-up.”
Tracy searched her recollections for more clues. As understanding dawned on her, she winced. “His Christmas gift, of course. God, that one was farfetched. The guy you’re looking for is a joker, isn’t he?”
“The clue must have been intended,” Garrett said. “Whoever he is, he’ll go to any lengths to acquire the painting. Assuming he’s perfectly aware that the safety catch is essential, it means your father is safe for the time being.”
Jake threw his napkin on the table. “All right, the guy’s a clown. But damn it, Garrett, are you going to play Almighty for much longer? Tell us where it is.”
“Here in California. Gold Run to be precise.”
Drawing the napkin back toward him as though he wanted to take back his impetuous throw, Jake looked surprised. “That location is quite far away. Are you sure you’re not mistaken? There are so many places closer to home he could have picked.”
“Indeed, Jake,” Garrett said, “although I must say there’s a good reason for William’s choice. A few years ago, he purchased a mine in Gold Run, for he had found in that location what he called ‘a complex’ and ‘weird robotics.’”
Tracy frowned. Her dad’s mysterious life in this world kept growing and growing. What would come next? Finding out he got married in Las Vegas to a retired casino card dealer and fathered a dozen kids? Unwilling to go down that alley, she refrained from sighing and licked her lips before gazing at Garrett. “What kind of complex?” she asked. “Is it like a secret lab?”
What appeared to be a brief smile slipped across Garrett’s lips before he replied, “I haven’t been there myself, but I know he had materials brought in from your dimension. Which is why I believe that you, Miss Richardson . . .”
The breath caught in her throat and her mouth dried up when his lecturing composure shifted to keen interest as he looked at her pointedly. “You have a pivotal role in entering the complex.”
Garrett might well see a link between her world and the mysterious means giving access to the complex, but she didn’t. As a matter of fact, she felt kind of blind and lost in the intricacy of her dad’s brain.
“Should we consider ourselves lucky or doomed?” Jessica smiled at her with such vitality that Tracy wondered why Jake Cooper didn’t marry the woman when he had the chance.
“Sorry, why?” Tracy asked.
“I’m just saying, your father seems as secretive and eccentric as mine,” Jessica replied.
As much as she didn’t want to, Tracy had to agree with her. True, a mad scientist versus a blood sucker hunter. What a lovely couple. Yet, the mention of her dad’s eccentricity reminded her of the silver necklace and the precise, unequivocal instructions he’d attached to it.
The necklace might well be important to enter the complex. She didn’t possess anything else, but she didn’t dare voice her hypothesis right then because her father’s life was at stake. But not just that.
Her instincts never let her down. She’d follow them, even though she sort of perceived herself like a betrayer amongst a circle
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