Algorithm - Book 1 - The Medallion

Chapter 12

Herman cried out, "Get off! Get off me you stupid woman!"

When Hedda reached the gun, the backdoor at the opposite end of the office opened a crack revealing a set of grimy fingers curled around the edge of the door. She lifted the Luger, aimed and shouted out, "Whoever you are … I have a gun and I'll use it."

            The door creaked open to reveal Adam's face covered in black, with Ben staring over his shoulder and adjusting his spectacles.

Adam spoke up first.  "It's just us … who's that under the table? Linda, what are you doing?  Hedda, what happened here?"

            Linda, lying spread-eagled on the table, looked up at Adam. "What happened to you?  You look like hell."

Herman managed to gasp, "Help me! Get this crazy woman off me!"

            Adam responded, "I look like hell? Who do you have under there?"           

"Herman Borman. This SOB tried holding us here at gunpoint!"

            Hedda lifted the Luger in her hand to show Adam.

            AS the two men entered, Ben surveyed Herman's prostrate form. "Linda. I think you can let him up." He pointed to Hedda. "Since you have the gun now."

            Herman, still pineed to the floor, pleaded, "Dr. Wuicjak! You know me. This is all a great misunderstanding!"           

Adam and Linda lifted the table off Herman. Once they seated him into a chair, Ben asked, "What exactly do you want from us?  Why the big chase?"

            Herman looked up at Ben first, and then slowly took in the faces of the other three. He wiped off his mouth, and replied, "I only wanted to talk to you about the artifact."

            Adam brushed himself off and took a step toward Herman. "That's right. It's about the artifact. How do you know about this artifact?"

            "I have my ways."

            Adam thought for a moment about the uniform back at Schill and then asked, "You knew about the lab work didn't you?  Maybe, you had something to do with the explosion?"

            Herman stared at the floor, avoiding Adam's eyes. "I know nothing about the explosion."

            "And, the morning after, it was your man going through the lab?"

            Herman shrugged.

Adam continued, "You had no right to chase after us like this. We've called the police. You're going to have a lot of explaining to do."