No easy way out by Elaine Raco Chase Read Free Book Online

He gave an inward grimace. It seemed Dr.
Farrell was one of those scientists who felt a personal affront
whenever they had to share a facility. He looked through her
bifocal lenses into a pair of unadorned, blinking eyes and was
suddenly reminded of a frog he had once dissected in biology.
    "This is the third time I've been privileged to work with a
member of Briarcliff. Always very successfully, I might add." Alex
tried flattery, but it too failed. His gray eyes eagerly left
Virginia's nondescript, stoic features to focus on a bay of
unfamiliar instruments. "What is your field, Doctor?"
    "Cryogenics," she told him in a superior voice.
    "Dr. Farrell is one of the nation's leading cryogenic
physicists," Jerome Quimby offered. A bubble of laughter erupted
from his barrel chest. "I think it's rather ironic to have a solar
technician who deals with heat energy quartered with a physicist
who deals with freezing."
    "Science is known for such diametric viewpoints." Virginia's
tone held a wealth of patience. She knew from a Briarcliff briefing
that while Quimby headed one of the country's leading
electronic-computer laboratories, his forte was in management and
selective hiring. He possessed only a rudimentary knowledge of
engineering.
    Virginia silently suffered through Jerome Quimby's nasal
dissertation on the laboratory's obvious features. Her gaze drifted
back to Alex Braddock's chiseled profile. Her eyes explored the
planes and angles of his face and followed the poetic pattern made
by his dark wavy hair.
    The carnal memories of their balcony liaison flooded back to
both haunt and excite her. Despite the air conditioning the crisp,
tangy scent of his cologne made her nostrils flare. Her breathing
came faster and heavier when she focused on the movement of his
lips. Her toes curled inside her crepe-soled, tan leather oxfords
as she followed his gesturing hands.
    She reined her thoughts sharply. She had to get him out of the
lab. She needed time. Virginia surreptitiously slid her hand along
the formica countertop until it came in contact with the computer
terminal. Her pinky hit the ring key. A moderate-pitched tone alarm
sounded.
    "Doctor"-Quimby sucked in an apprehensive breath and lifted his
hand from the humming printer -"did I ... did I do something?"
    "I certainly hope not," Virginia returned in a brusque monotone.
Her skilled fingers expertly typed a message on the keyboard.
Instantly the printer responded by bursting into a loud, lengthy
typing operation. The resulting noise effectively ended any further
conversation. "I'm afraid I must get back to work. Excuse me,
gentlemen," she said, raising her voice, then turned to randomly
adjust knobs on the scope.
    "Certainly, Doctor," Quimby yelled over the din, giving Alex a
helpless shrug.
    She favored the departing men with a preoccupied wave, held her
breath until they disappeared behind the air lock, then quickly
punched the terminal's escape key, shrouding the room in blessed
silence.
    Virginia's head collapsed into her hands, and the magnifying
glasses slid down her nose and clattered against the stark gray
tile. Numb fingers attempted to rub the strain from her forehead,
but her subconscious echoed the problem of Alex Braddock, alias the
Bandit, in an ever-increasing distressing refrain.
    A clenched fist punished the countertop. Why had she ever agreed
to go to that damn Halloween party? Why had she worn that
suggestive costume? Why had she perpetrated the illusion by
pretending to be what she wasn't?
    The whys combined with the heavy apron to crush against her
chest. She felt trapped and smothered. Her skin prickled with
invisible sensations; she scratched her arm until it was red and
bumpy.
    "I need help!" Virginia's unnaturally high, strained voice
ruptured the quiet. "Diane!" She quickly untied the apron and threw
it on a nearby table.
    Virginia ran to her desk and made a grab for the telephone. Her
frantic fingers and perspiration-soaked palms sent the entire
mechanism