Jake had dinner with Glynis as often as he could. Just to make sure she’s okay, he told himself. Just to see that nobody’s bothered her. But he knew that it was merely an excuse. He wanted to be with her. Talking with her, even if it was only over the table of some second-rate restaurant, was the one bright spot in his life.

Glynis seemed oblivious to his desires. “If the FBI is looking into this,” she complained over dinner, “they’re invisible to the human eye.”

Trying to put a good face on it, Jake countered, “Come on, Glyn, do you think they’d come charging in with guns blazing? They’re not a SWAT team, after all.”

She smiled dubiously at him. “I suppose you’re right.”

It was on one of his late August visits to the big rig that Younger took him outside for a walk around the building. It was a blazing hot August afternoon, and there wasn’t a tree or a scrap of shade anywhere in sight once they’d walked a few yards out into the dusty scrub. The distant mountains shimmered hazily, as if they were trying to pull themselves up and get away from this baking summer heat.

“Glyn tells me you two have been seeing each other,” Younger said, his voice tight, his face grim.

“Um, well, yeah,” Jake stammered. “Nothing serious. Just dinner now and then.”

For several moments Younger said nothing. Jake saw the stony expression in his eyes. The muted roar of the MHD generator drowned out the whisper of the slight breeze. Nothing seemed to be moving on the sun-scorched land, not even a tumbleweed. The sun felt like a hot iron pressing down on his head, his shoulders. Perspiration trickled down Jake’s ribs.

At last Younger said, “She’s not serious with me, either. Not yet, anyway.”

Jake wondered if Younger knew about Glynis and Sinclair.

Trying to smile, Jake said, “The first time I saw you two together, up here at the rig, I thought you were going to throw her out.”

Younger shook his head. “She’s a good kid. I like her a lot.”

“I know,” said Jake.

“I don’t want you getting in my way,” Younger said.

“Tim, I don’t—”

Jabbing a finger at him, Younger said, “Just keep away from her.”

“Now wait a minute…”

“She told me she’s got a bodyguard.” Younger looked incredulous.

“She’s convinced that Sinclair didn’t commit suicide. He was murdered. And Senator Leeds is mixed up in it.”

“The two of you have been threatened?”

Jake nodded.

“Well, just keep away from her. I’ll look out for her.”

“You’re up here at the rig most of the time.”

“Just keep away from her,” Younger insisted. “Understand me?”

“That’s for her to decide, isn’t it?” Jake retorted.