Free Power Trip: Double Helix, Book 1 by Miranda Baker Page A

yes than no; he was her boss, after all. “I’ll just grab my laptop so I can go over data.” She hurried into her office but her computer wasn’t sitting on her desk. Had she brought it home with her last night? If she had, it was still in the car because she hadn’t carried it into her house last night or used it today.
    She left her office. Peter was waiting with his own laptop bag slung over his narrow shoulder. “Ready?” he asked.
    She nodded, still trying to retrace her steps last night. Maybe Cal had shifted it under the passenger seat? They reached the parking lot. “Thanks, Peter, see you tomorrow.”
    She slid into her car and shut the door, automatically fastening her seatbelt. He waved, but didn’t move toward his own vehicle until she drove away. As soon as he was out of sight, she reached under the passenger seat. No laptop. Shit.
    She wasn’t worried about losing her work; her data was stored online. She could get to it from anywhere, but the laptop was an expensive piece of equipment, not something that could be quickly or easily replaced without a lot of explanation and groveling. If it wasn’t in her office, her car or her house, she was going to have to assume it had been stolen—and tell Peter. Why would anyone want a laptop that was password and fingerprint protected? Could they wipe the hard drive and start over?
    She glanced at the clock on the dashboard and sighed, deciding she didn’t have enough time to stop at home before lunch. Her stomach tightened, both from worry over the missing computer and anxiety over possibly meeting her father. She wasn’t so naïve as to believe it was absolutely him without proof, especially since all of her communication with Michael Fallon had been via e-mail. Would he look like the pictures from her childhood? There weren’t that many of them, but she treasured every one, in spite of the fact he had abandoned them.
    Audrey glanced at the numbers on the buildings as she cruised past them. She spotted Bonfire and slowed to check it out. She had expected something a little fancier. She could see through the front windows that the restaurant was nearly empty and it looked a lot like a warehouse, but not in the upscale, exposed beams and ducts way—more like in the underfunded interior decorator way. The street was silent and nearly deserted too.
    She parked on the street and walked into the restaurant, surprised to see her perpetually late brother was already seated. She sat down at his table. “You’re early.”
    “We need to talk.”
    “Damn straight. Why didn’t you tell me there are other talents in Hudson?” She looked up at the approaching waitress. “Water, please.”
    The server left and Audrey crossed her arms, waiting.
    Jake fiddled with his wraparound shades. “I heard you got attacked last night.”
    She glared at him. “That’s not an answer—wait, you talked to Cal?”
    “And Sam. The Doc too.”
    They both ignored the waitress who set a glass of water in front of her, then mumbled something about giving them a few minutes.
    Jake raised his face. “You’re a neutral, Audrey. That’s why I can’t whammy you. I didn’t tell you about the other talents because I didn’t want you to find out you’re talented too.”
    Betrayal made her feel hollow. She’d grown up feeling like an also-ran and he’d known she was talented the whole time? Jake’s eyes were hidden, but she hoped he could see the anger and hurt in hers. Her mind raced ahead, trying to connect the dots, but fury trumped logic. She reached across the table and punched him hard in the chest. His chair scooted back two inches and he grunted. “Guess you’re mad, huh?” he asked.
    “Damn right I am.” If she hadn’t been sitting, that blow would have knocked him out of his chair.
    “Don’t be like that.” Jake’s mouth was pinched, making him look like a pissed-off snapping turtle. “I’ve never shared your desire to know the scumbag who left his family on