Free Capturing Kate by Alexis Alvarez Page B

for particles of lead in the water. But the pipeline leading to the richer side of town is clean.”
    “Why is Eli the only one who’s gotten sick?”
    She shrugged. “I don’t know, Sloan. He has a condition where his body can’t purge heavy metals properly. So they build up in him faster. But the lead from Mancini’s plant, it’s way outside EPA limits. Nobody should be drinking water that dirty. Studies prove that even low levels of lead for children, over time, lead to a reduction in IQ. Eli’s case is special because of his medical case, I admit that. But it’s not good for anyone who drinks that water.”
    “I agree.” A beat. “But you remember nothing with that phrase. Anything about a heart. She didn’t say anything else.”
    She averted her eyes. “I told you. No.” She put her face into her hands. “I’m sorry. It’s just—I know her. This isn’t a story on TV, Sloan, or in a book. She’s a real person, and that water killed her daughter and damaged her grandson. Her whole life. And now her, probably.”
    “We’re going to get him.” Sloan’s voice held conviction.
    “Yes, but when?” Her voice was dull. “And I hate knowing that all the research, all the work I had Ella do—for me, Sloan, for me—is not only responsible for getting her killed, it’s ultimately worthless. Do you know how that makes me feel?” Her voice was full of rage.
    “This is not your fault.” His voice was firm. “Do you understand? None of this is at all your fault. It’s Mancini’s—his alone. You need to remember that, Kate.”
    She shook her head. “But if I hadn’t asked her to give me information, Sloan? I feel terrible. And so angry!”
    Sloan stood up and put his hand on her shoulder. “Anything else you can tell me that might help? Use that rage, that anger. Tell me anything you can that might help us unravel what exactly Ella had that Mancini wants. She may still be alive. I’m sure he’s asking her the same questions, so we need to figure it out before he does.”
    She swallowed. “If I think of something, I will let you know.”
    She still didn’t know why she wasn’t telling him about the numbers. She’d tell him—soon. Ten minutes. She just needed a little time, time to process, to think. She wanted to come up with an argument about why they should try to save Ella with her grand idea, and if she just had time to think, she could make it sound appealing.
    “I need to get a few more things from my stock. Can you handle being alone for a few minutes?” He stood up, pointing to the window.
    She looked up. “Oh. Yes. Fine.”
    “All right.” He headed for the door, and to her immense surprise, he didn’t even put down the lid of the laptop, let alone lock it or take it with him. Stunned, she waited for him to come back in and fix that oversight, but he didn’t, and when she ran to the window and pushed back the curtain, there he was, already at the entrance to the woods.

Chapter Seven
     
     
    Breath in her throat, she sat down gingerly in his seat, still warm from his body. She flushed, thinking about that perfect ass sitting here. Sitting her ass down in the same spot seemed intimate, and made her think about the things she’d like him to do… wicked things from novels hidden in her nightstand.
    The screen showed an array of numbers; some kind of spreadsheet. Nothing she found useful. She clicked, minimized it, waiting for alarms to blare, but only silence met her fast breathing.
    Settling into the chair, she examined the icons and clicked on Google Chrome. She typed the numbers into the search bar just as Ella had written them: 1945 2 23.
     
    U.S. flag raised on Iwo Jima - Feb 23, 1945 - HISTORY.com
    The B-29 Superfortress: A Comprehensive Registry of the…
    The Bob Hope Radio Show, October 23, 1945 (II)
     
    Ugh. History! Boring. Ella couldn’t have meant this. She tried again: ‘1945 2 23 Maryville,’ adding the same of their town.
     
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