Codename: Kryptonite

Chapter Twenty-nine

Agent Mission Log Entry:

The bracelet the assassin left behind on that rooftop has an Ident-a-spot on the underside. Obviously, my thumb print isn't the one required to make it work, so I can only assume that the logo on the top means it's part of the time device.

My gut says this is his way home. It could be mine instead.

"It looks like a man's ID bracelet," Jon commented from behind her left shoulder. He was leaning over to get a better look at the piece of jewelry in question. His breath ruffled the little wisps of her hair that had come loose from the braid she'd pinned it up in for the party. The musk of his cologne wrapped around her filling her mind with images of their lovemaking.

From his spot over her right shoulder, Richie put his two cents in, pulling her back to reality. "I gave one just like that to my first girlfriend."

Trying to ignore the distraction of Jon's close proximity, Gabby responded to Richie's comment. "Not like this one." She turned it over and pointed to the black rectangular screen. "See this? It's an Ident-a-spot. It's programmed to a specific thumb print; that's what will activate it."

"What does it do?" Jon asked, the discomfort of his chest momentarily forgotten.

She had been trying to determine that very thing for the past half hour. She'd been sitting at Jon's desk while she examined the bracelet and gave brief, terse answers to their unending and expected questions. They'd asked what it was, where she'd found it, and what she intended to do with it.

The only one she couldn't answer with absolute certainty was that last one. She could only guess at what it did. "I think it was supposed to be his way home, to our time."

At those words, Jon took a deep breath and stood up, his mind racing. She had a possible way home? She could leave? That put a whole new spin on things. It also made him think about this unknown killer. What exactly did Gabby intend to do with him? But, most important, "You could go back to your time?"

Richie's eyebrows rose. "Ah, fuck. That's my cue to leave." He wasted no time heading for the door. He recognized the tone in Jon's voice and there was about to be a scene that he was sure neither Jon nor Gabriella would want him to witness.

Richie heard her answer just as he was pulling the door closed behind him. "If I can figure out how to make it work, yes."

"You'd leave me?" Jon asked. Damn. Where had that needy question come from? "Disregard that," he told her quickly, straightening to walk to the other side of the room.

"I do have a life back there, ya know?" she replied softly.

"A life where in your own words, 'No one will miss you'," he reminded her. "Isn't that what you said?" Wait. He really didn't want to have this discussion right now.

"I'm not going to discuss this right now." Her chin lifted sharply in defiance, as she stood up from the desk to turn to face him.

"You're right." He refused to take a step back and appear to be retreating.

She did a double take. What? "Excuse me?"

"You heard me." He wasn't going to give her any more ground. That admission was all she was getting.

"Yeah, I heard you," she nodded in agreement. "But honest to God, I don't think I heard you correctly."

He grinned down at her. "You are such a smart ass."

She grinned right back. "Well get off the field of the Superdome there, Jon. 'Cause you ain't no Saint."

A sharp bark of laughter filled the room, and then he flashed her his best boyish grin. "I could get used to having you around."