Killer Harvest

“You can do this, Sassa. Even your colleagues believe in you.”

She ducked her head again. This time a smile wavered across her own lips. “Actually, I am a pretty good biologist. I guess it’s just my family I keep letting down.”

He frowned. “From what I’ve seen, your family is very proud of you. You haven’t let them down.”

She made a small sound. “I thought I had a bright future. That’s all down the drain now. If the FBI wasn’t backing me, I’m sure Dean Trujillo would have kicked me off the campus. He never liked me.”

“I take it Sassy Sassa made an appearance during one of your encounters with the man?”

Laughter escaped before she could stop it. “I think you spent entirely too much time talking to Sam.”

He folded his arms tighter. “I wish I’d spent more time. Now it’s too late.”

“Yes...for both of us.” She took a deep breath and looked around. “All I ever wanted was to support my daughter, to take care of her without the world constantly falling down around me.”

He straightened from leaning on the jamb and lifted her chin with his finger. “You didn’t create this disaster.”

“No. I didn’t. But it’s up to me to fix it.” Her words sounded a little shaky...like she felt.

Jared took a deep breath. “My grandfather had a favorite scripture he always used to quote when I felt like I was in over my head. Jeremiah 29, verse eleven. He made me memorize it so I could repeat it. ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you...thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’”

She looked up. His brown eyes were deep, dark and sincere. “I thought you said you don’t believe.”

His lips twisted in a wry smile. “I’m not sure I do. But you do and you’re ruining my good story, so listen up. My granddad would always finish the scripture by saying, ‘You don’t know what His plans are for you, but you can be sure He never sends the wrong man for the job.’”

“You think I’m the right person for the job?”

Jared nodded. “You are. And don’t forget, it’s not all up to you. It’s us. I won’t leave you alone in this.”

Us. The last time somebody said “us” to her, it turned out to be a disaster. She would never forget that again. No matter how appealing Jared made it sound, there would never be an “us” for her.

She stepped forward, trying to push her way through, but he wouldn’t budge.

“It’s been a rough morning. I think you need a pick-me-up. How about a cup of coffee?”

“I’m more of a tea drinker.”

“Okay, can I get you something else?”

Her laugh was rueful. “What I would really love to have is something I absolutely don’t need.”

“What’s that?”

“I could eat a dozen hallongrotta from my favorite Kingsburg bakery. You know...raspberry caves? Yummy shortbread cookies with raspberry jam in the center?”

“Yeah, I’ve seen those.” He paused and a doubtful frown creased the place between his brows. “A dozen all by yourself?”

Now. Right now was the perfect time to set their relationship back on the right course. Time to cut through all the nice words and the hopeful pulse-pounding smiles. She met his gaze squarely. “You don’t think I got these hips from eating like a mouse, do you? I’m a stress eater. So, yes, a dozen cookies all by myself.”

Surprise flitted over his features, but he didn’t rush in to contradict her or to feed her false compliments. Sassa knew the truth about herself. She was short and rounder than most women. Years of stress eating had added on the pounds and she’d never been able to shed the extra baby fat. Probably never would. She had no illusions about herself and she hoped Jared didn’t foster any, either. She would be sorely disappointed in him if he did.

She had no illusions about him finding her attractive in any way. His wife was probably tall, slender, dark-haired with lovely dusky skin. And immaculately put together. Just the opposite of Sassa’s thrown-together, baby-on-her-hip usual style. She knew the truth and hoped Jared wouldn’t try to make her feel good with a bunch of insincere compliments she could see right through.

He didn’t. He kept silent.

What a relief. And yet...a tinge of disappointment crowded the edges of her awareness.

He could have protested just a little.

And that’s exactly why you have to keep your distance, girl. You always fall for his kind. Now put that nonsense behind you and get on with the real issue.

“I’m ready for you now, Ms. Nilssen,” the computer technician called out.

Relieved, Sassa pushed around Jared’s silent form. As she sat at the desk, she glanced up once to see his frowning features before the tech explained the FBI’s equipment and the log-on procedure.

After a few moments, Jared turned and left. He flung the outer lab door open and gave a little salute to the guards outside. Sassa forced herself not to watch the portal close behind him.

Jared glanced at the two boxes on the car seat beside him—little white boxes with curling blue designs tied with a blue ribbon. Each box held a dozen hallongrotta, one whole box for Sassa and one for the other lab technicians.

After the half hour drive to Kingsburg, he’d easily figured out which bakery on the small town’s main street he needed to visit. He just looked for the most customers and parked cars. Apparently, the bakery was a local favorite. Half an hour to return to the lab and almost as much time to find a parking spot. The university semester was in full swing during March. He had to park nearly a mile away. He hurried to the lab, shaking his head. An hour and a half to buy cookies.

But it would be worth it to see Sassa’s face.

He’d been uncomfortable with her attitude and the comment about her hips. Nothing was wrong with Sassa Nilsson. She had gorgeous eyes, pretty lips, long blond hair some women would kill for and yes...she was curvy. That’s the word he would use. Curvy. It suited her. So, if she needed a full box of raspberry-filled cookies to get through the day, then she would get her cookies.

Besides, the sweets might ease the news he’d been holding back. He hadn’t wanted to give her the info he’d received earlier from Kopack. She’d already had a rough morning. He hoped the box of cookies would soften the news.

He entered the lab. Sassa came out of Sam’s office. She’d twisted her long hair up into a knot and stuck a pencil through it to keep it in place. Small tendrils had escaped the back and the sides, little wisps that brushed against her cheeks. Her white lab coat flopped down around the knees of her jeans and she had a distracted air about her, like her mind wasn’t on where she was going as she studied the papers in her hand.

She glanced up. “Good. You’re here. I need to run home to pick up some things and get Keri’s travel bed. We’ll be staying here tonight.

“Here? At the lab?”

Still distracted, she glanced up again. “Yes. We’ve done it before. Keri’s young enough she doesn’t get into things and I can keep her close.”

He studied her. “You’ve discovered something.”

A slight frown crossed her brow as she read the papers. “I think so, but I want to crunch the numbers. I hadn’t realized Sam had instructed Matt to double the amount of X on one of the slides. If they all broke...that means it mixed triple the amount of the virus. I don’t know. It could be significant. Anyway, it’ll be easier if I stay in the lab tonight, but I have to pick up Keri. The child-care center won’t hold her after five. Most classes are over by that time. I’ll grab what I need from home, get some dinner and head right back here.”

“I’ll come with you.”

“That’s not necessary.”

“Yes, it is.”

She finally looked up from the papers. Her gaze landed on the boxes in his hands. “What are those?”

“Raspberry caves.”

Her lips parted and her hands lowered. “You went all the way to Kingsburg?”

He shrugged. “I told you. We’re in this together. If my partner needs a box of hallongrotta, my partner gets a box of hallongrotta.”

A slow, sweet smile, one he had only seen her share with Keri, slipped onto her face. Did that little lift mean she understood his subliminal message...that she was fine just the way she was? Or would she think it was a ploy to keep her on task? That was partly true. But he meant every word about them being partners. He would not fail her like he’d failed Sam.

“Thank you...that was kind, but I don’t really need them.”

“You might.”

Her smile faded. “What do you mean?”

“Kopack called. Sam’s pastor is trying to reach the executor of Sam’s estate to make...funeral arrangements.”

Jared stumbled over the word funeral. It was hard for him to say and it crushed Sassa. Her eyes closed and her stance wavered for one long moment. Then, with trembling fingers, she unbuttoned the lab coat and tossed it in a bin near the door. Grabbing her jacket, she slammed open the door and strode down the hall.

Jared was hard-pressed to keep up with her, but he knew where she was going. He lengthened his stride and walked beside her. The FBI agents assigned to watch over Sassa fell into step behind them as they crossed the campus to the child-care center. Inside the small facility, they waited at the counter for the assistant to fetch Keri. Sassa stared at the room with a dazed, on-the-brink look. She seemed about to tumble over the edge. How could he anchor her and keep her grounded?

The assistant crossed the room and handed Sassa her baby. She clasped her daughter to her like she was a life vest in an angry sea. The baby—instinctive, wise little creature that she was—reached both hands up to clasp her mother’s face. Sassa closed her eyes and touched her forehead to her daughter’s. Mother and baby held each other close.

Jared’s heart jolted. He’d just witnessed one of the most beautiful sights he’d ever seen.