“I’m sure Nick has glue around here somewhere. Or else I’ll just run to the craft store when all this is over. The biggest thing is that it’s back together again. Thanks to you,” she said, wrist deep in the bear’s body.
A glint of light caught Sara’s eye. She looked at the bear’s face again, not certain what it could’ve been. Holding the material in her hands, she tilted it back and forth. A little flash from the loose eye. Sara held it up to the light. In the depths of the toy eye, there appeared to be a tiny brighter square that caught the light when you held it just right. The middle of the other eye was darker, flatter. “This is strange,” she said, comparing the eyes again.
“What’s that?” Becca said, glancing up from stuffing the arm.
“One of these eyes is different. Almost looks like there’s something in it.”
“What?” Becca said, almost alarmed. “Can I see?” Sara handed it to her, unsure about her reaction, and Becca held it up to the light just as she had moments before. “Oh, my God, Sara. I think you’re right. Come with me,” she said.
Sara followed Becca down the hall to a closed bedroom door. She knocked. A man’s voice welcomed them inside.
“Hey Charlie, up for a chat?” Becca asked.
“Sure,” he said, looking up from a laptop as Becca crossed to a chair. Sara hovered in the doorway. A black puppy lying next to Charlie on the bed raised its head, its tail lazily wagging.
“It’s okay, Sara,” Becca said, waving her into the mostly plain, windowless room.
“I’m really glad to see you doing better, Charlie,” Sara said.
“Thanks,” he said, peering up at her, almost like he was shy. Charlie’s glance shifted to Becca. “What do you need?” he asked, gently swinging his legs off the bed so he didn’t hit the dog, who jumped down anyway.
The dog had three legs, Sara noticed, doing a double take. “What happened to him?”
“Her,” Becca said with a smile. “Eileen. I’m not sure. I found her that way.”
Eileen came over and sniffed Sara’s legs, and Sara couldn’t resist squatting to give her a pet. The puppy apparently thought that was an invitation to play, though, because she whacked at Sara’s hand with her paws and tried to nibble on her fingers. With a last smile at the dog, she rose.
Becca held up the bear. “While you were unconscious, Marz noticed the ID tag on this bear had the number to Dad’s Singapore account on it.” Charlie’s eyes went wide. “So Marz cut it apart, thinking something was hidden inside, but it was empty. Just stuffing. But just now, Sara was putting it back together for me, and she noticed there’s something weird about the eye.” She handed the bear to Charlie.
Frowning, Charlie looked closely at the eyes. “I don’t see anything. But that lamp isn’t very bright. Either of you have a flashlight app?”
“I do,” Sara said, turning the app on and passing Charlie her phone.
“Thanks,” he said. He shined the light in the eyes. First one, then the other. Back and forth several times.
“There’s something in the loose eye,” Charlie said. “It almost looks like a microchip.” A chip for what, Sara wondered, stepping closer.
“Like, for a computer? That small?” Becca asked, excitement in her voice.
Charlie nodded. “Smallest chip in the world is two millimeters square. Looks like the Colonel might’ve given you the key in the form of the bracelet and the lock hidden in here.” He rose off the bed wearing a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt. “Maybe Marz has some tools that I can use to take this apart. Chips this size are fragile. I don’t want to break it.”
“You might’ve just unraveled a pretty big mystery,” Becca said, squeezing her arm around Sara’s shoulders with a smile.
Sara didn’t know what to say. The whole thing was crazy, but she was glad to have done something helpful given everything Shane’s friends were doing and risking for her.
Charlie led them through the apartment and to the gym. Becca punched in the code, then they headed to the big computer station in the corner. “Where is everyone?” Charlie asked.
“They got a lead on the delivery’s location tonight,” Becca said. “They’ll be back soon.”
Setting the bear on the edge of the desk, Charlie searched Marz’s station for tools. “Aha,” he said, finding a small red toolbox on the floor. While Sara and Becca leaned in as close as they could, Charlie gently separated the back of the eye from the glass. And there, in the center, sat a computer chip no bigger than Sara’s pinkie nail.
Charlie held it up with a pair of tweezers and turned it around as he examined it. “What were you trying to tell Becca, Colonel?” he said, almost to himself.
“He wasn’t just trying to tell me, Charlie. He sent you the account information, after all,” Becca said. Sara glanced at Charlie, wondering why the guy referred to his father that way.
“Hmm,” was all Charlie said, looking around. “I wish I had my own equipment. I’d know better how to try to access this.” He settled it on a piece of white paper.
“Well, wait ’til Marz gets back,” Becca said.
It was like her words conjured him. The door opened, and the whole group of men entered and crossed the gym. Shane was in the middle of the group, looking sexy in a long-sleeved gray shirt and a pair of black jeans. Of course, now Sara knew he looked every bit as sexy without clothes, too.
“We have news,” Becca said, almost jumping with glee.
Using the tweezers again, Charlie held up the chip as the men joined them around the desk, Nick going to Becca and Shane taking Sara in his arms.
“Holy shit,” Marz said, rushing closer.
“Pretty sure Sara just found what we’ve been looking for,” Charlie said. “In the eye of the bear.”
Heat rushed into her cheeks as every pair of eyes in the room turned on her. And then as Shane watched with a wide smile that sent Sara’s heart soaring, they all took turns shaking her hand and hugging her. Marz even took her for a few dancing spins, making her laugh and squirm with all the attention. Meanwhile, Becca explained how they’d found the chip.
“Hey, guys?” a voice called, finally breaking up the celebration. It was Jeremy, leaning in the door. “Heads-up. The first of the Ravens are here.”
“Well, hell,” Marz said. “Guess it’s showtime. We’ll have to save this prezzie to open later.”
AS HIS TEAMMATES, Becca, Charlie, and Miguel made for the door to greet the Ravens, Shane hung back with Sara, absolutely overflowing with pride and love. “I leave you alone for a few hours, and you save the world,” he said.
Chuckling, she dropped her gaze and shook her head. “I didn’t do anything. It was just dumb luck.”
Shane tilted her chin upward. No way she was playing this off. “Maybe, but it was dumb luck none of the rest of us have had. I’m serious, Sara, whatever is on that thing is probably going to be huge for us. So, thank you.” He pulled her in for a kiss, wishing they could’ve had the day to lounge in bed and make love and talk about what would happen between them after tonight. She wound her arms around his neck and pressed in close. Shane’s body responded immediately, his pulse spiking, his cock hardening. “Mmm, the things I’d like to do to you,” he said, pulling away from her lips.
Sara lifted her eyebrows. “That sounds promising.”
Shane nearly growled. Sexy, tormenting woman. “Just you wait.” He gave her another quick kiss. “Do you want to come meet everyone or hang inside? Up to you.” A sound like thunder rumbled around the building.
“I’ll come with you,” she said, slipping her hand in his. And, aw, damn. It was a small gesture, but her initiative in showing him affection was proof positive how far they’d come in the past week. Couple more hours, and they’d have Jenna back, then nothing would stand in their way.