Part 15 (1/2)

She listened patiently as the footsteps came up the staircase. Within moments, her faithful servant came through the doors. He bowed his head in subservience, but his tone was chiding.

”It is worse than we thought.”

Ryan sighed. ”No, Edward. I am certain it is worse than I thought. But nothing is ever as bad as you believe it to be. What news?”

Edward began without preamble. ”The men are employees of a biotechnical and pharmaceutical firm known as Grantech International. I obtained a meeting today with the owner, a Mr. Alan Grant. He is a man most impressed by his own limited capabilities.”

Ryan smiled at his editorializing as Edward continued.

”He is quite interested in Dr. Ryerson's research and apparently quite willing to go to great lengths to obtain it.”

Ryan leaned back, stretching her neck. ”Is he as ruthless as I am?”

Edward shook his head. ”I have yet to meet your equal, my lord,” he said dryly.

Ryan again smiled. ”Enough of your flattery. Did you convince him of the error of his ways?”

Edward was thoughtful. ”I left him an oblique warning. There is nothing more dangerous than a petty man with power. I did not wish to corner him, but to let him know that Dr. Ryerson is not without allies.”

Ryan absorbed this information, silently pondering Edward's words.

”Who is watching Dr. Ryerson and her son now?”

”There are three of your best men guarding her as we speak. There are another four standing by should a situation develop.”

Ryan was thoughtful. ”Well, it seems that if anything is to happen to Dr. Ryerson, it will happen on my watch. I have had sentries posted on her 24 hours-a-day from the moment I saw that article, and yet twice now I have been the one to defend her.”

”I don't believe you would have it any other way, ” Edward said. He glanced at her shrewdly. ”And I think these fortuitous events are due to more than fortune.”

Ryan glanced at him from beneath lowered brows, but did not speak.

Edward continued. ”I have long been aware of your ability to look back in time with such acute perception. I wonder if you do not look forward as well.”

Ryan was quiet for a moment, then shook her head. ”That is not my gift.”

The odd inflection caused Edward to look over at her. It was obvious, though, that she was not going to elaborate, so he did not ask.

Both settled into silence and Ryan's thoughts drifted to the events of the night before. She was slightly angry with herself. In her attempt to remain at a distance from Dr. Ryerson, she had allowed her to be injured. She pondered what other mistakes she had made in the confrontation.

”I should not have let those men live,” she said at last.

Edward did not disagree with her. ”One of the men has already succ.u.mbed to his injuries. One is still unable to speak. But the third has told his story many times. Fortunately he is incoherent, and has very little credibility at this time. But who knows what time will bring?”

Ryan nodded. ”I concur.” She turned to him. ”Will you see to it that neither lives to see the dawn?”

Edward bowed. Now this was the Ryan he knew. ”I live to serve you,” he said, a gleam in his eye. ”And the leader of Grantech?”

Ryan took the silver case from her pocket. She stared at the inscription on it. ”Leave him be. I trust your warning will be enough for the time being. If he persists in this misguided direction, I will deal with him myself.”

Edward nodded, then left to carry out her bidding.

Ryan turned her attention back to the fire. Details, details.

CHAPTER 20.

JASON PRESSED HIS FACE AGAINST THE GLa.s.s to get a closer look at the mummy's remains.

”Ahem,” the museum attendant said, clearing his throat loudly. Susan stepped forward and pulled her eager son back.

”Not so close, kiddo, they don't want you to wake him up.”

Jason squealed with laughter, moving on to the next exhibit. This one held artifacts and talismans the mummy had been buried with. The carved alligator particularly fascinated him.

Susan glanced around her, searching for Ryan's face in the crowd. They moved from the Egyptian exhibit to one covering the Middle Ages. Jason wasn't much interested in the cooking pots or farming equipment, but he was fascinated by the suits of armor and weaponry.

”Do you think you could lift one of those?”

Susan turned, surprised to see Ryan standing right next to her. Jason's eyes grew wide in recognition. He turned back to the broadsword she referred to. ”I don't know,” he said doubtfully, ”it looks kind of heavy.”

Ryan nodded. ”It's very heavy.” She pointed to the suit of armor. ”So are those.” She glanced at Susan. ”In hindsight it seems a very silly way to fight.” She bowed in her somewhat chivalrous manner. ”Thank you for meeting me here, today.”

Jason raced on to the next exhibit. ”What do you know about these?” he asked.

Ryan glanced at the display case. ”Those swords are for thrusting. See how they're narrow at the end? They're not that great for chopping,” Ryan accented this comment with an imaginary swing, ”But they're great for slipping right between here.” Ryan leaned down and poked Jason in the ribs. He giggled, a little nervously.

A small crowd of people was gathering around a carpeted platform where one of the museum curators was speaking. Ryan, Susan, and Jason moved closer. Ryan eyed the ancient weapon the man held in his hands. It was nearly as long as he was tall.

”An English longbow,” Ryan whispered to Susan, ”or at least a good replica.”

The museum curator was speaking. ”These were used around the first part of the 14th century and were the deciding factor for the English army against the French.”

”Until gunpowder,” Ryan said somberly. Susan glanced over at her tone of voice, then turned back to the man.

”It takes over a hundred pounds of pull to even draw the string,” the curator intoned, ”and there's no guarantee of accuracy even if you can pull it.”

The curator made a valiant effort and drew the string back to perhaps half its capable distance. He let the string go with a tw.a.n.g. A few in the crowd clapped. He turned back to the crowd. ”Is there anyone here who'd like to try?”

Two younger men had been watching the display with interest. They wished to try their hand at the bow. The curator waved them onto the platform to the polite applause of the crowd. The curator handed the first the bow. ”Now be careful. But go ahead and try.”

The first young man grasped the bow and with a great show, pulled the string back perhaps a little further than the curator. He handed it triumphantly to his partner, who repeated the effort, pulling it back a little further than his friend. The crowd again politely applauded.

Ryan watched them, her ever-present amus.e.m.e.nt in her eyes. ”It helps if you use correct technique,” she murmured to Susan. Jason tugged on her s.h.i.+rt.

”Why don't you try?”

Ryan shook her head. ”I don't think that's such a good idea.”