mop handle.”
“What?”
“The object you saw in the window. It could have been some innocent cleaning crew at work instead of this alleged assassin.”
“Trust me, Dr. Lemay. I do have some experience with firearms and am able to recognize one.”
“It was dusk and you’re probably jet-lagged like me.”
“I’ve been informed of your skepticism. We can discuss this further once you’re somewhere safe.” She gestured toward the front desk. “Let me pick up my bag first. I left it here when they told me you had gone for a walk.”
He put his palm on the small of her back as they moved toward the desk. It was a courtly gesture. It went along with the faint trace of the South that tinged his deep voice, a holdover from his early childhood. It also fit with the gallant way he’d tried to protect her out there on the sidewalk…even though he claimed not to believe her.
Sarah was accustomed to working with men as her equals. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been treated with gallantry. She had to admit it was a pleasant change, but she couldn’t allow it to distract her attention.
She was here to protect him. Those were her orders. Work with the local authorities, organize security and take whatever measures were necessary to keep Hawkins Lemay alive while he attended the Stockholm Energy Conference. Once the conference ended, so did her mission.
She retrieved her suitcase from the desk clerk and turned toward the elevator.
Lemay took the suitcase from her grip before they had gone two steps. “Please, allow me.”
She decided not to argue with the courtesy—she preferred to keep both hands free, anyway. Besides, the weight of the gear in her suitcase was substantial. “Thank you.”
“How did you know where to look?” he asked.
“I was scanning the buildings as I walked and spotted the glint from the sniper’s scope.”
“I meant how did you know where to look for me?”
“Your hobbies include fishing. Since Stockholm is built on islands, I deduced you would likely gravitate toward water so I chose the route that led to the nearest bridge.”
“That’s very astute reasoning, but how did you know about my hobbies?”
“I assembled a background file on you when I accepted this mission and I memorized it on the flight over.” She stopped in front of the elevator. It was an old-fashioned model with frosted glass doors and a folding metal gate. The visibility it provided was an asset—Sarah could see at a glance it was empty.
“Background file?” Lemay asked as they stepped into the car.
“It’s standard operating procedure, Dr. Lemay. Nothing personal. Unfortunately, it appears as if the shooter we encountered this afternoon has acquired information about your habits, as well.” She closed the doors and slid the gate into position. She pressed the button for the fifth floor, which was the top story of the historic building that served as the hotel’s main wing. The elevator started upward with a jerk. “As I said before, we can discuss this once we’re somewhere more secure.”
“Where are you staying?”
“Since I’m your bodyguard, I’ll be staying with you.”
“Wait a minute. I never agreed to this.”
“It’s the only way to do my duty properly. Until the conference is over, I’m your shadow. You don’t go anywhere without me.”
He hit the emergency stop button. The car shuddered as it clunked to a halt between the second and third floors. “This has gone far enough.”
“You have a two-room suite consisting of a bedroom and sitting room. I realize the rooms in the King Gustav are small by North American standards, but there should be adequate space for both of us.”
“That’s not the point.”
“I’ll bunk down in the sitting room. I’ve already arranged to have a cot sent up.”
He set her suitcase on the floor and grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him. “I didn’t agree to any of this. Who sent you? Let me talk to your commanding officer.” He paused. “Captain?”
She had tried to keep her face expressionless but she hadn’t been able to stop the wince when he’d touched her bruises. She shrugged off his grip and stepped back. “My C.O. for this mission is Major Mitchell Redinger. You can reach him at Fort Bragg. I’ll give you his contact number once we’re in your suite.”
He leaned down to bring his face level with hers. “What’s wrong? And don’t tell me it’s nothing.”
There was no point lying—even someone who wasn’t as intelligent as Lemay would be able to see she was in pain. “I took a round during my previous mission,” she said. “My body armor stopped the bullet but the impact of the high-caliber round dislocated my left shoulder.”
He returned his hand to her shoulder. He didn’t touch her. He held his fingers a breath above her coat, then caught a stray lock of her hair and tucked it behind her ear.
The gesture was so unexpected, so…tender, it took Sarah a moment before she could continue. “There was some bruising so the joint is still somewhat sensitive,” she said. “I assure you it won’t interfere with my ability to do my duty.”
He dropped his hand. “You hit me with your left shoulder when you knocked me down,” he murmured. “You reinjured it because of me.”
“My comfort is immaterial. My duty is to protect you.”
“My God, you don’t even know me.”
He was wrong, she thought. She knew every fact about Hawkins Lemay that could be gathered by Army Intelligence. The background file she’d assembled had been impressively thick and contained far more than a list of his hobbies. And it had been a long flight.
His credentials as a scientist were beyond repute, his accomplishments in the field of particle physics were astounding. At only thirty-five, he was the world’s leading expert on nuclear fusion, respected by his colleagues, courted by foreign governments and ambitious businessmen alike…and considered important enough by the American government to warrant personal protection. Major Redinger’s orders had come straight from the Pentagon.
Still, there were things the file hadn’t told her. She’d known Lemay was six foot two, 198 pounds, physically fit because of his daily jogging, but she hadn’t known how gracefully he moved, or how long and tanned his fingers were, or how the battered, brown leather jacket he wore creaked subtly with his motions and smelled so deliciously of fresh air and man…
“You’re the man I’ve been assigned to protect, Dr. Lemay,” she said. “That’s really all I need to know.” She stretched past him to restart the elevator. It resumed its slow ascent with a jerk. Lemay reached out to steady her, but she ignored him and took a quick step sideways.
He picked up her suitcase. His voice was low and tense. “I’m
