Runner's Moon Trilogy Megabook Series (56 page)

"Except they found Jeb and me first," Hannah broke in.

"Our bedroom was the first door down the hallway, which was why they took us first. And because we were both asleep, we weren't able to fight them or warn you ahead of time."

DeGrassi pulled his cell phone from his pants pocket and punched in a number. "Hello. This is Deputy Thomas DeGrassi with the Russup County Sheriff's Department. Please let Dr.

Fitzhugh know that I called. No, this isn't an emergency, but it's imperative that he gets back with me as soon as possible.

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Yeah. Thanks." He closed the phone and slipped it back into his jeans. "I'm betting there's some kind of homing device in your arms. Something that doesn't signal until you either consummate with your blood mate, or the line is formed in your arm. If that's the case, the doc might be able to find it with an x-ray or some sort of scope."

"Let's hope that's the case," Simon agreed. "If it is, then maybe he can find a way to nullify it."

"And we can let the others know of it, in case they also are blessed," Jeb said.

"Do you know where the rest of you are located?" Sarah asked.

"A few," Simon responded. "For safety's sake, some of us know of some, but not all. But we're able to get out important information simply by letting it trickle through the ranks."

Sarah grimaced. "Well, this one won't be trickling. You'd better designate it as five-star, red-flagged urgent."

The photos were still lying underneath her hands.

Dejectedly she straightened them into a neat stack and reached for the envelope. Seeing the slump in Sarah's shoulders, Hannah said, "One problem solved, but not yours."

Sarah shrugged half-heartedly. "It was a good idea while it lasted. Oh, well. I would rather lose my job than to risk exposing any of you."

"Is it too late to come up with another idea for your project?" Tiron asked.

"My deadline is a month away. Unless it's a really good idea.... "Sarah shook her head. "Forget it. Wouldn't matter if I did. Just gathering all the proof and data alone would take 775

nearly a year, not to mention culling out the stuff I can't use and having enough of the good stuff left to back my proposal."

Simon picked up the top photo and stared at it. "You've got a lot of evidence gathered already. Maybe you can use what you have."

"I'm open to suggestions," Sarah admitted, watching him look back over what she'd laid out.

"Are these all your pictures?" Hannah asked.

"Not all. There's at least a couple dozen more on my laptop."

"Can we look at them?" Tiron asked.

"Sure. Go ahead. Knock yourself out." Sarah turned her laptop around and opened the folder marked "SCANS" before sliding the computer over to Tiron.

"What in particular had you been looking for before you discovered the evidence of alien craft landing?" DeGrassi questioned. He was peering over Tiron's shoulder at the screen.

"Oh, anything."

Hannah gave an exasperated little sound. "We're not as brainy as you, Sarah. Give us a hint. What does an astronomer look for when he's peering through a telescope?"

"Like I said. Anything. A new planet. A previously undiscovered star. A rogue comet or meteor. Any entity no one's ever tagged."

"Tagged?" Tiron queried.

"Named. Identified before anyone has, and thus gets to name it first. Usually after themselves."

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Very casually, Simon asked, "Would a black hole work?"

Sarah turned to him. "Yeah, of course it would. But the only known black hole in this part of the galaxy is near Sagittarius A, right in the middle of the Milky Way. That's the one you're probably talking about."

Simon wrinkled his nose at her. The effect was so human-like, she almost laughed. "T'korra, this planet is on the outer fringes of the ... what did you call this galaxy?"

"The Milky Way. And, yes, our solar system is pretty much on the outskirts. You could almost say we're way past the interstate and out in the country."

Her mate tapped one particular photograph with a thick claw. "This hole is on the other side of your sun. Further away from the outer edge. It's not in the center of your galaxy."

Sarah froze. "That's impossible."

"Not impossible. Picture your solar system at eye level.

The black hole is almost at waist level, underneath your sun star." He shoved the pictures toward her. "See for yourself."

"The hole is there, Sarah," Jeb spoke up from the couch.

"We passed it on our way here."

"Then why haven't our scientists seen it before now?" She grabbed the pictures and stared at the spot where Simon pointed out a barely discernable distortion.

"There's a high magnetic field in that area caused by the hole," Jeb explained. "It played havoc with our controls on the escape ship. It gives off a mirror reflection, bouncing back anything you throw at it. If your scientists were looking for it, they'd never detect it. To them they'd be getting back unreadable debris."

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"Plus its position would explain why we haven't seen it.

You'd have to be sitting at the South Pole to view it. But even then, the brightness of the sun would also prevent you from getting a good look at it." Sarah murmured to herself. "Any scientist studying what they see through a telescope would more than likely chalk it up to space gas or bent light."

Simon grinned. "And isn't that what a black hole does?

Bend light?"

Sarah uttered another expletive and hurried into the bedroom to retrieve her cell phone. She walked back into the kitchen with the phone glued to her ear.

"Yeah, hi! This is Professor Sarah Drumman at Northern State University in Templeton. I know Professor Tillotson isn't working today, but I need a copy of the latest scan of these coordinates sent to this number. Can you accommodate me, please? Yes, I'll hold." She placed her fingers over the receiver. "If this is the real thing, you've just got me my tenure! Yes, I'm still here," she quickly returned to the cell and turned her back on them.

* * * *

Across the table, DeGrassi gave Simon a thumbs-up signal. Simon smiled, feeling pleased with himself. More so, he was relieved to have been able to help his life mate out of her dilemma. Although he knew that the loss of her position at the university would not have created a financial burden on them, it was the emotional and psychological loss that would have disheartened her. 778

He watched Sarah's face light up, and the way her hands worked the air as she animatedly described to whoever was on the other end what she needed. No doubt the next four weeks would be strenuous as she dumped everything and started anew. But he had every confidence in her that she would be able to meet her deadline and perhaps earn herself some well-deserved praise at the same time.

Simon's grin grew wider. His t'korra was quickly becoming as indispensable to the rest of the family as she was to him.

And for that reason he couldn't be any prouder.

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Epilogue

Sarah hurried into the Student Union Building, late as usual. She checked her watch. Well, ten minutes late, but what the hell. The envelope she carried would more than make up for her tardiness. And then some.

She caught sight of him sitting at a table at the far corner, near the big potted plants. It was his favorite spot and hers, too. The greenery gave them a little privacy whenever they met for lunch. Already she could see he was on his phone.

The salad in front of him was untouched. She smiled. He wouldn't start eating until she'd joined him, and that bit of knowledge was enough to make her heart beat faster. She quickly got in line, behind a group of co-eds wearing ragged jeans that all but showed off their butt cheeks, and thin tops that proved they weren't wearing any bras. Sarah ignored them, but it was difficult not to listen in on their conversation.

"Look! There he is! Is that him?"

"Oh, gawd, isn't he the most finger-licking delicious thing?"

The dyed blonde flipped her hair back over her shoulder. "I heard a rumor that he's married."

The only brunette in the group snorted. "Since when did that matter? Look at him! All hot and sweaty. Bet you could bounce quarters off those abs."

Sarah's eyes flew over to where Simon was still immersed in his phone call. It was definitely hot out today, and the t-shirt he was wearing was clinging to his sweaty skin. Every sculpted muscle was every bit defined through the light-gray 780

cotton. Oh, yeah. She could definitely bounce quarters off his abs.

"Do you think he likes 'em tall or short?" the blonde queried.

The faded redhead smacked her lips as she reached for a plate of meat loaf. "Short. No doubt, short. Men like to tower over their women. Can I have some gravy on that?"

The blonde wriggled her hips and set a bowl of sliced fruit on her tray. "Think he's a boob man? Or an ass man?"

Her companions swiveled as one to stare at Simon. "I'll say leg man," the redhead finally declared.

"Boob. My guess is boob," the brunette announced. "What do you think, Stacey?"

The blonde nodded. "He looks like a boob man to me, too,"

she agreed, and proceeded to tug on the hem of her cross-strap tee until the upper portions of her own breasts were well defined. Her actions were not lost on her friends.

The brunette giggled. "Do you really think you have a chance at him?"

The blonde grinned. "Sweetie, there isn't a man alive, married or not, who I can't have if I wanted."

"Excuse me." The girls turned to stare at Sarah, who motioned toward the drink dispenser. "Tea?"

The redhead moved aside to let her get a clean glass.

Sarah thanked her, then conversationally asked, "Are you really thinking about trying to get a date with that guy?"

Woman to woman. Female versus the males. It worked every time. The blonde shook her hips. "We all know a man's eye never stops roaming. Given the right opportunity and a 781

good excuse, and there isn't a man out there who'll stay faithful. We all know that, right, girls?"

The others agreed wholeheartedly. "And that goes double for the really hot-looking guys," the blonde added. "They know they got killer looks. They know all they gotta do is crook their finger at a girl, and she'll go running to him in a flash." The blonde tossed her head again. "That guy? As long as he keeps his looks he'll have women fawning all over him.

You take my word for it."

"So you don't think that any man can remain faithful to his wife, especially if he's got movie-star looks?" Sarah tried to clarify. She chanced another glance in Simon's direction, but he remained engrossed in conversation. A little lock of hair had fallen over his forehead in one of those irresistible temptations women dreamed of. She could feel her own fingers itch to brush it out of his eyes.

The girls paid for their food. The blonde grinned.

"Especially if he's got those kinds of looks."

"And especially if his wife lets herself go. Know what we mean?" the brunette added.

Sarah watched the girls proceed toward the back-corner table. By the time she paid for her lunch, the trio had settled down where they could all get a nice close-up view of Simon still talking on the phone. For that matter, there were three other tables near his that afforded an equally good view. And each one of them contained more long-legged and busty young women eager for a chance to make his acquaintance.

Casually, Sarah sauntered past the trio and set her tray down on the table next to him. She didn't dare turn around to 782

see the expressions on their faces, but she was thankful for the fact that the term "if looks could kill" was merely a phrase and not reality.

"Hey."

"Hey!" Simon closed his phone and rose to give her a gentle kiss.

"Was that Dr. Fitzhugh?"

"No. Jeb. But I talked to Dr. Fitzhugh right before I came here to meet you," he smiled.

Sarah's eyes widened. "Well?"

"You were right. Those tiny slivers he found and removed from our wrists are some sort of biological tracking device. He still hasn't been able to figure out exactly how they work, but he's certain they remained dormant until the formation of our blood lines triggered them." Simon made a motion toward his phone resting on the table. "Jeb's sent out word to let the others know so they can have theirs removed, too."

"That's great! It's going to make the Arra's job to keep tabs on you nearly impossible, now that those things are gone."

"Not really, Sarah," Simon disagreed. "They know the general vicinity now. It's just a matter of time before they're able to pinpoint our location again. That last ship wasn't a scout like it was the time the Arra went after Jeb and Hannah, or Tiron and Thomas. This last ship was a hostage ship. We were damn lucky it was only manned by a crew of four."

Sarah shrugged and dug into her chicken and dumplings.

They ate in silence for a minute before Simon grinned. She 783

could feel his amusement curling all the way down to her toes.

"Well? How about you? Heard anything yet?"

She smiled into her food. "You know damn well I have. You knew the moment I got the letter."

"Well?" he persisted.

"Well, what? You already know the answer!"

"Sarah!"

She burst out laughing. "I got tenure!" She threw out her arms and stood, leaning around the table to accept his hug of congratulations. From the corner of her eye she could see the trio of buxom beauties staring slack-jawed at them. Once they were re-seated, she continued.

"I also got a phone call from the Institute of Astronomy in Cambridge. They want me to present a lecture there next month. And Professor Tillotson at Mauna Kea is getting ready to go national with the news!"

"That's great!" Simon praised her. "What happens next?"

"Oh, lots of things. Lots of educational things. Maybe a publishing contract. But you know what?" She laid her hand over his and leaned closer to him. "It really doesn't matter anymore," she confessed in her low, silky voice she knew could turn him on in a flash. And from the sudden sparkle of those green flecks in his eyes, she could tell it was working.

No, her man wasn't a boob man or a leg man, or even an ass man. He was one-hundred percent a heart man.

"It doesn't?" he murmured, drawing closer.

"Mm-mm," she answered with a shake of her head. "And you know why?"

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"Why?" he breathed across her lips.

"Because black holes are passé, t'kor. I have you, and you are more important to me than anything this whole universe has to offer. Now ... what do you have to say about that?"

They brushed lips, and the simple act sent shivers through both of them. Pulling back, Simon gave her a smoldering look. "I say ... maybe we need a little physical exercise to burn off these calories we just consumed. How about spending the rest of our lunch hour over at my place, Mrs.

Morr?"

She smiled seductively. Reaching up, she tenderly pushed back the errant lock of hair. "Just the lunch hour?" she purred.

"Or two."

"Won't the boss be angry if you're late getting back to work?"

Simon chuckled. "We're still newlyweds. I think he'll understand."

"Where are you parked?"

"In Lot Five. Your car's closer."

Quickly, they rose from their table and hurried to dump their trays in the waste receptacle. Simon grabbed her hand and led her to the nearest exit, but not before Sarah got the chance to glance back at the trio still sitting in shock at what they'd witnessed. She barely managed to give them a little mock salute before her husband rushed her out the door and into the bright June sunlight. But she knew they could hear her delighted laughter as her heart anticipated the joy his body would bring to hers.

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Finally, her life and her life's work were meshed. And from here on out the universe would forever lie snugly in the palms of her hands.

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About the Author

Linda loves to write romance with a fantasy or science fiction flair. Her technique is often described as being as visual as a motion picture or graphic novel. By day she is a kindergarten teacher, wife, and mother of two who lives in a small south Texas town near the Gulf coast. But at night she delves into worlds filled with daring exploits and sensual, erotic romance.

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