Read Online Zero Separation by Philip Donlay - Free Book Online

she’d held for Abigail had just been put in jeopardy.
    â€œAs early as this afternoon,” Donovan replied. “I’ll be there as fast as I can and we’ll talk.”
    â€œI’ll be here.” Lauren ended the call and then thrust the phone into her pocket and went to Abigail. She gathered her daughter in her arms, feeling the need to hold and protect her. Abigail stirred and pursed her lips, then she turned her head to the side and drifted back to sleep. Lauren gently rocked her back and forth. From the moment Donovan had confided his secret, they’d both been resolute about one thing—that at all costs, Abigail would be protected.
    Lauren felt an overwhelming sadness, not for herself, or even her daughter, she’d always promised herself that she would do whatever it took for her and Abigail to survive. At this moment she was far more worried about her husband. She couldn’t in all honesty convince herself that Donovan would be okay if in the next few hours everything he’d built over the last twenty years dissolved.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    In the short cab ride from the police station to the hospital, Donovan saw dozens of trees uprooted, branches strewn everywhere, grim testament to the severity of the storms that had ripped through the area the night before. The Boca Raton Community Hospital was tucked off the main road amongst mature trees and well-manicured grounds. As they wheeled up to the entrance, his cell phone rang. Donovan saw that the call was from Eco-Watch’s headquarters in Virginia.
    â€œHello, Peggy,” he answered as he peeled off some bills for the driver and stepped out of the cab.
    â€œWhat in the hell happened down there last night? Are you okay? I just heard from our liaison at NASA that you cancelled the mission and that Michael is in the hospital?”
    â€œPeggy, slow down. I was going to call you shortly.” Donovan backpedaled, he knew he should have called her earlier. Peggy had been with Eco-Watch from the beginning and thought of all the pilots as her children who needed looking after. She was his administrative assistant as well as aircraft dispatcher. Ruthlessly efficient, Donovan couldn’t imagine what he’d do without her. He started at the beginning and brought her up to date.
    â€œWhat can I do?” Peggy asked, satisfied she had the facts.
    â€œI need you to talk to the people at Gulfstream, I want them to send a maintenance team to Boca Raton and inspect the
da Vinci
. I want it airworthy as soon as possible.”
    â€œWhat about a pilot? Randy and Nicolas are still in Alaska with the
Galileo
, you want me to send Kyle down to take Michael’s place?”
    â€œYeah, why don’t you. I’ll need him at some point. Tell him I’d like him to work with Gulfstream and oversee the maintenance. We’ll also need to coordinate with NASA to ensure that the imaging equipment is repaired.”
    â€œAnything else?”
    â€œCan you also get us three rooms down here for tonight? Book a room for Lauren and me, we’ll need a crib. Then get a suite for William and a suite for Susan and the boys. Maybe a couple of rental cars could be delivered to the hotel.”
    â€œI’m on it,” Peggy replied. “I’ll text you the details when I have them. Tell everyone my thoughts and prayers are with them.”
    â€œI will, and thanks.” Donovan hung up and walked toward the main entrance, intensely aware that Montero was probably somewhere in the building. He had no idea what the next move was, but he knew without a doubt that it was Montero’s, and all he could do was wait and react. Donovan pushed into the air-conditioned lobby and went straight toward the information desk.
    â€œExcuse me. Where can I find Michael Ross?”
    She typed into her computer. “He’s just been moved from the recovery room to the Secondary Care Unit. Third floor, east wing.”
    Donovan avoided