The Second Ship (The Rho Agenda #1)(88)

Mark glanced across at Jennifer, sitting beside him, her eyes still shining with wetness, her face taut with the horror of what Heather had been through. It brought a lump to Mark’s throat. His sweet sister was so fragile and vulnerable.

The Rag Man was gone, but without a doubt, forces were descending upon their families that threatened to rip their world apart. Well, he’d be damned if he was going to let that happen. Mark was quite sure Jack Johnson was playing the game for keeps, and he intended to do no less.

Jack had saved Heather, and for that, Mark would be eternally grateful. But if a man like Jack was in town, there would be others, many of whom would be up to no good. And even Jack would crush them like bugs if he discovered their secrets.

When the car rolled into their garage, Mark retreated to his room, Jennifer trailing along closely behind him. As Mark reached the top of the stairs, his dad called out.

“Mark.”

Mark turned back to see his father right behind them.

“Would you mind telling me what happened to the banister?”

Mark glanced down at the wooden railing where his father was pointing. It had been broken, almost crushed in a section just at the top of the stairs. Suddenly he remembered something that had failed to register at the time it had happened. He had broken it during the adrenaline rush over Heather.

“Dad, I’m sorry. I meant to tell you about it, but forgot in all the news about Heather. I grabbed the railing when I slipped and it just broke. It must have had some weak wood.”

His father scowled down at it, scratching his chin. “I’ll say. Crap. Maybe we have termites. I’ll have to get the inspector out to the house tomorrow and see if they've damaged anything else.”

He shook his head and walked back down the stairs, muttering under his breath.

Mark stepped into his room and Jennifer followed, closing the door behind her.

She shook her head. “Weak wood.”

“It had to be. Even with my strength, I can’t crush wood like that.”

“It didn’t look like that to me.”

“Well, let’s forget about it for the moment. We have some pretty important things to get figured out.”

“I’ll say. Did you see Raul smooch Heather as he left?”

“It’s a miracle I didn’t blow chunks all over the room.”

Jennifer frowned. “Do you think you can be any more melodramatic?”

“I’m working on it.”

“Well knock it off. It’s going to hurt Heather’s feelings. I think she really likes him.”

This time it was Mark’s turn to scowl. “There’s something about that kid I just don’t like.”

Jennifer’s eyebrow rose. “Do I detect a hint of jealousy, perhaps?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. This is Heather we’re talking about. Our little math wizard, Rain Girl. I just don’t want to see her get hurt.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Whatever.” Mark’s hand tightened around the back of the chair.

“Please don’t go breaking more furniture. I don’t think Dad will buy that story again.”

Mark’s scowl deepened, but he eased his grip. “If you'll quit busting my chops for a second, maybe we can have a serious conversation. This thing with Jack has me thinking. Why is he interested in our families?”

Jennifer’s eyes widened. “Do you think he knows?”

“No way. If he knew what we’ve been up to, he would have no problem throwing us in jail and turning the ship over to the government.”

“But he was in our house.”

“And Heather’s. Then he just happens to show up at the right time and save her?”

“So you think he’s watching us?”

“No. I think he’s watching Dad and Mr. McFarland.”

“That’s terrible. Why would he suspect them?”

“I don’t know that he does. Maybe he’s just being thorough, checking everyone that works on the Rho Project. Anyway, if he was watching our houses, then he must have seen the Rag Man grab Heather. There’s something else, though.”

“What?”

“The dead man in the cave. I’ve been playing the whole thing back in my mind. The Rag Man said that he had called Jack a nickname. The Ripper. That means the dead man was an agent too.”

“We don’t know for sure that these are NSA people.”

“No. We don’t. But I think it’s likely. After all, we gave them the first heads-up that something strange is going on with Dr. Stephenson and the Rho Ship.”

“What if they bugged our houses?”

“Crap. I should have thought of that.”

“They could have done it at dinner. They got the tour of both houses.”

Mark began pacing slowly back and forth across the room. “If they had every room bugged, we would have already been caught. So, either they didn’t bug anything or only areas where the adults hang out.”

“Like Mom and Dad’s room and office.”

“That makes sense. It’s not likely they’re thinking that high schoolers have access to Rho Project info. They probably have the phone line bugged too. We need to confirm it though.”

“They sell those bug sweepers at stores like RadioShack.”