about anything. You’ll likely want to go beyond traditional channels. And if you need something…more under the radar, Redstone Security has some interesting capabilities.”
Liana smothered a smile at her tone. “I imagine they do,” she said neutrally. “I assume our search needs to cover any entity in the world with the capability of completing any of the work that might have been stolen?”
“Yes.”
Her mind was already racing ahead, planning, figuring out how she would find those entities and track their actions, looking for any sudden leaps in progress, or heretofore unknown projects paralleling Redstone’s research, using Redstone’s massive resources to access information.
“You have an idea?” Lilith said quietly.
Liana nodded, still focused on her thoughts. “I assume you have IT people in house who could write me a program?”
“Of course.”
“Good. I’ll need one to monitor Web site changes.”
“You think something would show up publicly?”
“I think when you need to dig, you start at the surface,” Liana said absently, then realized she had sounded a bit less than deferential to her new boss. Her gaze shot to the woman’s face. “I’m sorry, that sounded rude. I—”
Lilith quickly waved her into silence. “It sounded like you’re off and running. That’s why we hired you, so don’t apologize.”
Liana smiled. “Thank you.”
“First, though, I understand you have another concern. Something about that police officer who’s being investigated?”
She blinked. How on earth had Lilith found out so quickly? She’d only told Josh, and that had been barely an hour ago.
“I…yes, I am concerned,” she admitted. “Because I know it can’t be true.”
“He’s the officer from your situation with the armed robber, isn’t he? I remember seeing the reports about that when it happened.”
Liana wasn’t surprised; the robbery had been headline news for days, as had the heroics of the police officer who had saved her life and nearly died in the process.
“Yes,” she said. Then, feeling more explanation was required, added, “I owe him my life.”
“Is it possible that’s coloring your perceptions?”
She couldn’t fault the question. “Normally I’d say that was possible,” she admitted honestly. “But the time I spent with him was under the kind of conditions where…you tend to tell the truth.”
“As hostages, you mean?”
“And after. When he was in the hospital.” She looked up then, meeting the woman’s gaze levelly. “When he thought he was going to die.”
Lilith looked surprised then. “I see. I didn’t realize.”
Whether she meant she hadn’t known Logan had expected to die, or that Liana had been with him in the hospital, Liana didn’t know. But clearly her words had had an effect, because Lilith nodded slowly.
“And you’re certain he can’t be complicit in this?”
“Absolutely certain.”
After a moment, her new boss nodded. “I imagine Security will be contacting you to ask some questions, then.”
“Just like that?” Liana asked, more than a little boggled by all this.
“You’re Redstone now,” Lilith said simply. “If we can help, we will. In fact,” she added as she glanced through her office window, “here comes help now.”
Liana turned, saw a tall, leggy woman striding their way. Her hair was that incredible shade of platinum blond one usually saw only in young children, and Liana saw that it was quite long, given that she had it up at the back of her head and secured with a clip that let a few strands escape to drape down to her shoulders.
The blonde tapped quietly on the office door, and at Lilith Mercer’s call, stuck her head in.
“Hello, Sam,” Lilith said.
“Hi, Lil.”
“Come on in.”
She had, Liana realized, the most amazingly bright blue eyes. Like Logan Beck’s had been, she thought suddenly, that day so long ago.
“You must be Liana,” the blonde said, with a smile so engaging Liana couldn’t help but return it and take the hand the woman held out to her. “Welcome to Redstone. I’m Samantha Gamble, Redstone Security.”
Liana blinked. She automatically glanced at the woman’s left hand, saw the simple gold band that matched the one she’d seen on Ian Gamble’s finger.
This was Ian’s wife? Lord, her brother had been right. And at first glance the combination seemed incomprehensible. But something in the woman’s eyes, some quick, clever intensity, brought to mind the crackling intelligence she’d sensed in the young inventor, and suddenly it didn’t seem so strange after all.
“Nice to meet you,” Liana said hastily, hoping the woman hadn’t noticed her moment of shocked recognition. Or perhaps she was so used to it she didn’t pay attention to people’s reactions anymore.
“I’m told you have something that you’d like us to look into.”
“I…” She didn’t know what to say. Her mouth twisted wryly. “Things move fast around here.”
Samantha laughed. “Yes, they tend to.”
“IT won’t have your setup complete for another hour or so,” Lilith said. “Why don’t you and Sam talk, and I’ll page you when they’re done and you can actually start work.”
Still not quite able to believe what was happening, Liana followed the stunning blonde out of Lilith’s office. Once outside in the lab area, she saw Samantha’s head turn. Liana looked in the same direction, saw the floppy-haired inventor she’d just met. There was the barest hesitation as their gazes locked, and Liana’s eyes widened at the nearly palpable connection between them across the big room. Then Ian winked, one corner of his mouth lifting in an endearing smile. Samantha grinned back at him, then resumed her brisk stride.
After a moment during which she could only think, “Wow!” Liana followed. If she’d had any lingering doubt about the marriage between the eccentric inventor and the daring security operative, it was gone now.
They walked in silence until they reached the end of the hall and the huge bay window that looked out on the courtyard. The building that was Redstone, Incorporated’s main headquarters was built around a cool, green garden with a big pond and waterfall. On her tour of the building she’d been told that in the heat of a California summer it was a preferred spot for all the employees.
“This is Ian’s favorite place when he needs
