Joshua stepped into the room. "What about now?"

Alice frowned and her shoulders dropped. "Now I can."

Petra held back the raft of questions. Whatever Alice was, or was not, smelling was beyond her. But both Joshua and Alice were under the delusion they could detect the other through smell.

She tentatively sniffed the air. Nothing.

Petra sighed and leaned on the nearest lab benchtop. How this was going to help them with this war they both seemed to be sure was about to happen was still a mystery she was unraveling. It was on the tip of her tongue to point out if they could only scent each other from that short distance it was moot. If they were within a few feet, they'd see each other and it would probably mean they were in the thick of things.

Alice made a few notes on her clipboard. "We need to make it a little stronger."

Petra drew her brows together and frowned. "There's no way of doing that without introducing a new component to the equation. You've already said anything chemical would be detected." She crossed her arms over her chest. "It would be helpful if you gave me more information to go on. Why is this concoction so important?"

Alice opened her mouth to reply, but Joshua cut her off before she could get a word out.

"Alice, how about you give Daniel a call and give him an update. I imagine he'll be getting a little antsy by now."

Alice fell quiet and looked across at her. Indecision evident on her pixie face. Dark circles were making themselves known. Petra's lips set into a grim line. She was growing concerned about Alice's health. It looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks.

"You know she can't keep on going like this," Petra said, once Alice left the room.

"She's more resilient than you think."

"No matter how 'resilient' she might be, no one can withstand that much pressure."

"With any luck this will all be over soon and Alice can take a break."

"What about you?"

"What about me?"

"Are you looking forward to going back to your old life, rather than babysitting two doctors?" Her stomach dropped when she remembered where Joshua was headed. That's if you don't get killed by some demented alleged army. The thought of him dying had tormented her every sleeping, as well as waking, moment.

Joshua smiled. "That all depends." He reached over and tugged at the pin that kept her bun in place.

Her hair tumbled around her shoulders. She narrowed her eyes at him. The frustrating man had suddenly developed the habit of pulling her hair out of place. In fact, he was taking many liberties. Since their kiss, after their dinner together in Nederland, they had a repeat performance the night he and Alice had returned to Atlanta with her. He'd insisted on seeing her back to her front door. Despite the fact that he and Alice were staying in a hotel not far from her home, he still picked her up and brought her home each night.

He winked and his eyes crinkled in mirth. "I told you. I think you have stunning hair that shouldn't be caught up in such a severe bun."

Her face heated up. Not that she would let on, but she found comfort in their physical contact. Something that was increasing at an alarming rate. Not that he hadn't been the ultimate gentleman. His hand on the small of her back as he guided her through a door he held open. The light touch on her shoulder when she was too immersed in her work do realize someone was addressing her. Each time he made physical contact, her heart pulsed erratically. Images of their brief, but memorable, kisses flashed to the front of her mind. It was when his skin brushed against her's that set her alight. Almost as if there was an electric current that he could trigger at will.

She smothered the x-rated images and took a step back, sure her skin was on fire. She was in her workplace. Serious science took place here. Not hot sweaty sex. Conscious of where her stray thoughts were headed, she groaned inwardly. How could he have this effect on her? This was ridiculous.

Not able to hold his hooded gaze, she cleared her throat, looked away and fumbled with her hair. In the lab she needed to keep it off her face.

"Your heart is racing."

Her heart caught in her throat and her head snapped up. He was standing so close she could feel the warmth of his breath fan across her face. A shiver of desire flooded every nerve ending. They had danced around this for days. She didn't think she could take much more.

With agonizing slowness, Joshua's head lowered towards her. His gaze pierced hers and she was a deer caught in headlights. What would be the harm in another kiss? Maybe the third one would get him out of her system.

A shiver ran through her body as their lips grazed. His tongue flicked out as if tasting her, and she groaned aloud. Anticipation hung heavy in the air and her legs grew weak. She was thankful when he pressed his lips hard against hers in a searing kiss, not sure if she could stand the wait any longer.

If anything, the kiss was more potent than the previous two.

There goes the idea of getting him out of my system.

Without warning Joshua pulled away, leaving her dazed and confused. He took two steps away and glanced towards the door. Alice walked through a moment later.

Petra, bit the bottom of her lip. If he hadn't pulled away in time, they would have had a lot of explaining to do. She forced her erratic heart back under control. There was a bright side to all of this. If Alice hadn't returned when she did, she would have let him devour her whole. And if he didn't make a move, there was no doubt in her mind she would have jumped his bones, tore his clothes off and satisfy the itch that had been nagging at her for days.

What's more, it wasn't one-sided. It was plastered across his craggy face. She'd have to be blind not to recognize the desire that seeped from him. It was a heady feeling that she could easily succumb to.

Alice rubbed her forehead oblivious to the undercurrent. "I'm going to get the next flight back to Denver. If we can't get the Calendula formula any stronger we'll go with what we currently have. I'll make up the batches from there."

Petra's eyebrows drew together and her gaze darted to Joshua. Her pulse picked up speed and her stomach clenched in pain. This would mean he would join the battle against whomever, or whatever was murdering good people.

Snippets of the recorded conversation repeated in her mind and she was suddenly reminded of the original mission. One they still thought she was in the dark over. Without some way of defending themselves against this poison, they didn't stand a chance. Her blood ran cold through her veins. Joshua didn't stand a chance.

She thrust her hands into her lab coat pockets and squared her shoulders. Enough was enough. "That may be well and good as a deodorant, but how the hell did you think you can go up against the Lycan?"

Alice drew in a sharp breath and her eyes flew open wide. Joshua's head snapped around to face her so fast she heard the pop from his bones as they complained about the sudden movement.

A smug smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. It's about time the shoe was on the other foot.

A long drawn out silence fell across the room. With it, a thick blanket of tension made the situation a little uncomfortable.

"How do you know about them?" Joshua asked.

He turned to Alice, who shrugged and said, "Don't look at me."

Petra tapped her foot. "It doesn't really matter how I know. This is suicide. Why would you go fight something you have no defense against?"

Joshua sighed and moved back towards her. He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Because if we don't know one else will." He smiled sadly and tipped her head back so they were eye to eye. "You don't get rid of me that easily. I've made reservations for Petite Pierre's to celebrate your birthday."

It was now her turn to be shocked. Petite Pierre's was the most popular restaurant in Atlanta, and had a four-month waiting list. The reason for the reservation slammed into her like a freight train. How does he know it's my birthday next week?

She cleared her throat and tore her gaze away. He was far too intoxicating for her to think straight. It was disconcerting just how much he'd gotten under her skin in such a short time. Daniel's spy or not, there was something about the man she was unable to resist.

"You're being a little presumptuous, aren't you?" She didn't want him to think she was that much of a pushover.

He chuckled. "Of what? The battle, or the dinner?"

She rolled her eyes. "Both! I don't know what the hell is wrong with you all. Let the authorities know of this group of mercenaries that are killing people. It's their job. Not yours."

"That's where you are wrong. It is my job. And the police will be powerless against them."

"What makes you think you will fare any better then?"

"Petra. Stop worrying. It will be right as rain."

She threw her fists on her hips. How dare he just dismiss this idiocy. "How can you say that. You're about to—"

She froze.

No. It can't be.

Conversations she'd had over the past two weeks bombarded her mind. Her heart thumped in her chest so hard she was sure her ribcage was about to burst open. It must be. There's no other explanation.

Joshua shook her gently. "What's the matter? Are you ill?" He turned to Alice. "Something's wrong."

She broke out of her stupor, pulled away from Joshua and paced the lab. "Don't you see? I'll need to get the exact calculations." She stopped and tapped her jaw with a finger. "But how do I test it?"

Her mind was working a mile a minute. Formulas, calculations and list rushed across her brain in quick succession as she sifted through what she knew about the subject.

"See what?" asked Joshua.

"Rain."

Joshua and Alice frowned. "Now you're really not making sense," he said.

"Murphy said it was raining when he was attacked. Thunder and lightning rain."

"Yes...and?"

"You told me the other day he was in Nebraska at the time. They've been dry all year. It's been in the news. Before they lost all the crops, the state agreed to fund seed clouding for the farmers."

"A key component in the pellets that react with the atmosphere to make the rain is Silver Iodide." She turned to Alice. "You said you found trace amounts of silver in the wound."

Alice nodded. "Yes, but I just assumed it was related to the chemicals he'd come in contact with. It was an abandoned paint factory."

Petra's mind raced. "What if it was the silver that allowed him to fight off the poison when the others couldn't?"

Joshua rubbed his jaw and his brows drew together. "Murphy also said the Lycan raced off soon after the rain started." He looked toward Alice. "What do you think?"

Alice bit her thumbnail as she considered the new information. "Let's put aside the fact that you know of the Lycan for now and how you found out... how do you suggest we test the theory?"

Petra shrugged. "That's the easy part. We need some silver and a Lycan."

Joshua groaned. "The first will be easy. The second... not so much."

Alice placed her hands on the side of her face and shook her head from side to side. "This is all a little too late. If we wait until we know for sure, innocents will be destroyed. Even then, we can't guarantee your theory is right. Daniel will not call this off on an outside hunch. There's too much at stake."

Petra's chest ached and a measure of panic set in. This was not how things were supposed to go. Her job was to solve puzzles. There were still so many questions that hadn't been answered.

Joshua sighed. "She's right. We have to go. Fate now controls our destiny. The masking will have to be enough."

❧ ⚛ ✺ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ≋ ✺ ⚛ ❧

📎A/N. Well.. they know she knows.... but what is Daniel going to say when he knows she knows??

They have a way to get in... we hope... but Petra's theory has come a little late. They have no time to test it!! Silver.. who'd a thought ;-)

Take care till next time.

❤ ℳ