Retribution (Secrets & Lies #3)(33)
Nathan looks up at the ceiling above us, then down into my eyes. “I love you, Melissa Sands. But right now... I need to be certain my mind is up to the task at hand. The consequences are too dire.”
I nod, and give him a smile. “I can wait. I've waited nearly thirty-one years for the man I can love with all that I have. I can wait longer if I have to.”
Without waiting for Nathan to reply I walk back to my bedroom, surprised to see Katrina sitting on my bed. “Sorry,” she whispers as I close my door. “I woke up to pee, and saw the two of you talking. I didn't mean to eavesdrop.”
“That's okay. Promise me you're not going to threaten to kick his ass again?” I ask, and Katrina chuckles.
“Considering I had to win by him letting me? No thanks,” she says softly, giving me a smile. “Don't worry, this stays between you and me. It was nice to hear him be a little emotional. That’s rare.”
Chapter Twelve
Nathan
“Hey, can I see your cell phone?” Katrina says with a bit of excitement as I come in from my trip to town. “I've got a new app for you.”
“Uh, sure,” I say, taking my phone out of my pocket and handing it to her. She's got that expression on her face that tells me her inner computer geek is in full control right now. “But why would you be so happy about that? We only take them down mountain every couple of days.”
“Sorry,” Katrina says, but I can see by her grin she doesn't mean it. She and I share so many different things, but technology is the one area where she knows she can run circles around me, despite my best efforts. “Basically, I'm going to wirelessly link your phone to my laptop. Then when we run the app, you'll be able to tie your phone number to my laptop, which will then tie in with the satellite internet link we've got. Your call quality isn't going to be great, you might have a bit of a delay because of the bouncing, but you'll be able to get and talk to folks without a problem.”
“So you're setting up a repeater station basically,” I say, causing Katrina to raise an eyebrow. “What you just said, it is like what we used to do in the military using radios.”
Katrina nods and taps at her laptop some more. “That wouldn't take much. Let's see how well it works. I've got the app up and running now, I think the only drawback you might find is that since your phone will be active all the time running the app, your battery life is going to suck. I'd say if you're not outside, leave it plugged in to charge.”
“Thanks. Have you heard anymore on the New Orleans front?”
“Not so far, I think Peter's slowing down on his hits he's sending Isis on. She still harassing you?” Katrina asks, pulling up a chat room.
“Take a look at the picture folder, you can see for yourself. She is doing things that I have read about, but never actually seen before,” I say, getting up and brushing off my pants. “I think I will go chop some wood, makes me feel a bit cleaner about the world after that.”
I go outside and notice that despite our near constant use of the fireplace, our wood pile is actually as large as we can make it. I guess when you have four people chopping nearly every day, there isn't a single log needed today. With Valentine's Day being just a week away, I doubt we're going to go through all of this before the winter starts to fade away and spring comes to the mountains.
I think about maybe just using some of the larger chunks of log to try and get some exercise in when my phone rings, and I'm surprised, I guess Katrina's app works better than we hoped. I take it out of my jacket pocket, seeing that it's Margaret DeLaCoeur. That's not a name I expected to be calling me.
“Margaret?” I greet her, trying to play it cool. It's been a long time, and the last time we talked, I was trying to actively deceive her husband. “And to what do I owe the dubious pleasure?”
Margaret and I have never really gotten along. Besides her own mental issues that are the result of Peter's mistreatment of her, she blames me for covering for a lot of his indiscretions. Of course I did, but I didn't do it for any other reason than it was part of my job. Not that it matters, and I understand her point of view as well.
“Nathan, please, I don't know who else to turn to,” Margaret says, and in her voice I hear something that tells me she isn't the same alcohol-numbed hot mess I'd last spoken to. “Please, I need your help.”
“What's wrong?” I ask, taking a seat on the large stump we've been using as our chopping block. “You sound... well, you sound scared out of your f*cking mind.”
“I am,” she says, without a trace of slurring or drugs in her system at all. “Nathan, I think Peter's sending that woman after me next.”
I see Jackson coming around the corner of the house, and I wave him over. Jackson knows Margaret even better than I do, and he needs to hear this. “Just a moment, Margaret.”
“What's up?” Jackson asks as I put the call on pause. “How's your phone working?”
“Ask your wife. As for what's up, I have Margaret on the phone, she says she thinks Peter is going to send Isis after her. Mind listening in?”
Jackson shakes his head and squats down. I tap my phone and put the call on speaker. “Sorry Margaret, I was looking for a place I can set my phone down. Talk to me, what is Peter saying?”