Free The Tenth Cycle: A Thriller (A Rossler Foundation Mystery Book 1) by JC Ryan

that all?”
    Hearing no further discussion, Septentrio ended the call.

Chapter 9 - A Passionate First Move
    After achieving what felt like a breakthrough with their decision that the key was the math, Daniel worried at the problem like a terrier with a toy, to no avail. They had some math facts, certainly. Daniel had a feeling that the technique of skip-sequence coding that he’d found in the Bible Code books had some merit, but they had nothing to which to apply it. He was at a standstill again, and frustration turned to exasperation with the whole project. He had columns to write, including the cave-art column that he’d set aside months ago. The only bright spot in his weeks were the times he and Sarah Skyped. They were developing a light-hearted, teasing relationship that he cherished, almost as much as he cherished the idea of holding her in his arms.
    Every time they chatted on Skype, Sarah searched Daniel’s face, until she had memorized every fold and freckle. Their connection, and her physical attraction to him, had grown so strong over the weeks, and yet Daniel had made no move beyond some kisses. She wondered what was going on behind that handsome countenance. Daniel knew she had been engaged. He had hinted he was no virgin, either. What was holding him back? This week, they were planning on her visiting him in New York again, maybe taking in an off-Broadway show. Sarah thought she might have to take matters into her own hands, so she packed a red silk teddy, one of the guilty pleasures she kept in her lingerie drawer for special occasions. Not that there had been any since her fiancé left, but a girl could hope. If she had anything to say about it, this weekend would be a special occasion. She only hoped that she could manage it with some finesse.
    At last, Friday afternoon arrived again and with it, Sarah. Daniel had left a visitor pass for her at the reception desk, not knowing when she would arrive. Cell phone reception was lousy in the building, so they arranged that she would just come in and get him when she got there. Sarah circled around, putting her finger to her mouth when she was spotted by people to whom he had introduced her. The first he knew of her presence was when a pair of cool hands covered his eyes and a breathy whisper tickled his ear.
    “Guess who?”
    “Oh, man, did the guys send me a lap dancer again?” he quipped.
    Slapping him lightly on the shoulder, she said, “Guess again.”
    But, instead of guessing, he stood and took her in his arms for a long kiss. As the catcalls started, she blushed and pulled away. Public display of affection was all right in its place, but she thought the newsroom of the New York Times probably wasn’t that place.
    Sarah had some shopping to do, and Daniel was willing to trail along. She thought about torturing him by dragging him to a lingerie department, but decided against it. It would be better to surprise him with the teddy than give him any hint of what was to come. With quite a while left to work before their dinner reservations, they went to his apartment after her errands were done, to discuss where they were with the research.
    A strange, almost electric buzz seized Sarah as they walked through the front door. It was as if she were standing in a different plane, watching herself interact with Daniel and observing how he reacted, making a judgment about her decision. With difficulty, she pulled herself together, literally, and with effort focused on what he was saying.
    Daniel had opened his laptop on the kitchen counter and was tapping keys as he spoke.
    “…the only language shared universally, and I mean that literally, regardless of culture, religion, or gender. Pi is still approximately 3.14159 regardless of what country you’re in. Adding up the cost of a basket full of groceries involves the same math process regardless of whether the total is expressed in dollars, rubles, or yen. With this universal language, all of us, no matter