Street Game (GhostWalkers, #8)(70)

Paul shook his head, his gaze sliding away from Mack. “It’s not what you think. Protection, not to spy.”

“Protection for who?”

Paul heaved a sigh. “Me. Sergeant Major assigned me to your unit because he believes you have the best chance of protecting me.”

“Tell me the rest.”

“I’m not at liberty to do so, Top.”

“Damn, do you think this is a game? You pose a threat to even one of my men, do you think I have the least compunction about putting a gun to your head and pulling the trigger?” Mack stalked across the short distance to stand in front of the kid, glaring, staring straight into his eyes. “I hope you can read, because I’m giving you the gospel here, Paul.”

“I read you loud and clear, boss,” Paul said.

“You haven’t earned the right to call me boss,” Mack said. “Until I can trust you, you call me Top.”

Paul stared straight ahead. “Yes, Top.” He barked it out, a marine to a master gunnery sergeant.

“Just what can you do for Gideon?” Kane asked.

“I have some healing talent, sir,” Paul said. “I’m able to visualize the brain and skull and see any damage done.”

Mack sucked in his breath. “You’re a f*cking psychic surgeon,” he guessed. There was a note of awe and respect in his voice in spite of his anger at Sergeant Major for planting someone on his team with unknown skills. A psychic surgeon was one of the rarest of talents. Mack had never actually met one. It was rumored they existed, but no one he knew had even seen one. Joe Spagnola, like many others, had the rudimentary skills to heal wounds, but none of them could actually operate as a psychic surgeon was reputed to be able to do. “You’re the real damn deal.”

Paul’s gaze shifted around the room, touching on all the faces. “I could be killed if anyone found out.”

“Are you crazy? If you’re the real thing, you’re invaluable.”

“Let me help him.” Paul took a deep breath.

For the first time Mack realized the kid couldn’t stop looking at Gideon and his hands seemed to be weaving a pattern, fingers moving continually as if he was under a compulsion. Mack stepped aside.

Stay close to him, Kane. I’ve never seen a psychic surgeon in action, but I’ve heard stories that they’re a little insane. The kid’s showing some disturbing signs. I’ll take Jaimie’s drink down to her. We need to find out what exactly is on that computer.

Why wouldn’t Sergeant Major want us to know? Any team leader would give their right arm to have him on their team. We argued against taking Paul on for half a day. Why didn’t Sergeant Major just tell us and spare the argument?

More importantly, why didn’t he want us to use him? Watch him close. If he looks like he’s hurting Gideon, kill him. Don’t ask questions.

Mack shrugged. “Go ahead, kid, but you be careful of him. He’s our eyes and ears. We’re crippled without him.”

For the first time, real animation came into Paul’s face. He hurried over to Gideon and, holding his palms an inch from Gideon’s body, began to pass his hands slowly over the entire frame, taking his time, paying special attention to the head and skull. He looked as if he’d gone into a trance.

Freaky, boss. The kid’s out there somewhere, Kane said.

You just make certain nothing happens to Gideon.

The other men were moving in close for a better view. Mack pushed his way to the kitchen. He needed answers and they were on the kid’s laptop. Jaimie and Javier had to get inside of it.





CHAPTER 12


“Oh, this isn’t good,” Javier whispered.

Mack froze at the bottom of the stairs. They needed to know what Paul was hiding from them. If Javier and Jaimie couldn’t figure out how to open the laptop and hopefully clear Paul’s name—well, he couldn’t have a spy on their team risking the others.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Javier admitted.

“Fortunately for us, I have,” Jaimie said.

Mack stood for several minutes drinking in the sight of Jaimie absorbed in her work. This was one of those times he loved the most. The complete concentration and focus, the absolute joy of discovery when she found what she was looking for. She made love to him like that. Wholly focused on him. Every magnificent brain cell, every nerve ending, every particle of her being, was given to him. All of her. Body, mind, soul, and heart. He could see that in her work. Jaimie was an all-or-nothing person. And her work, like her love, was her all.

She enjoyed the journey. The harder the challenge, the more she enjoyed the fight along the way. That, she said, was as good or better than the actual discovery. Unfortunately, she didn’t always care about how long it took to get her information. And he needed it immediately.

He came up behind her silently, very aware of her head so close to Javier’s. She had great affection for Javier, and he shared her love of computers and code. The two of them could spend days or weeks talking a language that gave Mack a headache, but he didn’t care, he loved to see her excited and happy.

“Here you go, honey. One iced coffee with whipped cream.” He put it on the desk a distance from where she was working but within reach. He dropped a kiss on the top of her head. “I hope you have good news for me. And here’s your hot coffee, Javier. Plenty of sugar. Kane said to tell you real men don’t use sugar in their coffee.”