Sweet Fortune

Hatch knew she was recalling all the similar promises her father had given her over the years. Casual, meaningless promises that nine times out of ten wound up being broken.
    “I guess I could make you a peanut-butter sandwich or something,” she said, tossing aside her book. She got to her feet and headed for the kitchen.
    Hatch heaved a silent sigh of relief and followed. He knew he had come very close to disaster that time. And all because he had been a little late for dinner.
    “Jessie, one more time for the record. I am not a carbon copy of your father. I don't break my promises.”
    She glanced up, her eyes meeting his over the refrigerator door. “I know.”
    Hatch realized they had just passed a major milestone. He was grinning like an idiot. “Say that again.”
    “Say what again? I know?” She opened the peanut-butter jar and reached for a knife.
    “The whole thing. Say you know I am not a carbon copy of your father and that you know I don't break my promises.”
    She swirled the knife inside the jar of peanut butter. “I know you are not a carbon copy of my father and I know you don't break your promises.”
    “Damn right,” Hatch said. “I'm glad we got that much straightened out. You got any bread for that peanut butter or do I have to eat it off the knife?”

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

    T he phone rang that evening just as Jessie was reaching for her nightgown.
    “Hello?”
    “Jessie, it's me, Alex.” Robin's voice was bubbling with excitement. “Listen, you're never going to believe this, but I think I've found Susan Attwood.”
    “You what ?” Jessie sat down abruptly on the edge of the bed, clutching the nightgown. Hatch came out of the bathroom and eyed her questioningly.
    “It's true, Jessie,” Alex said quickly. “I've been watching to see what kind of passwords and access codes are being used to enter the different files. One of the codes is matched with the name Attwood. She's updating the climate program right now. Plugging in some new temperature numbers. And that reminds me, I've got something else to tell you. My friend at the university got back to me a half-hour ago.”
    “And?”
    “First, he knew something about Edwin Bright. Said the guy is one of those characters in the scientific community who always operate way out in left field. He hadn't heard much about him in recent years. Bright's theories and calculations are not accepted by any reputable people.”
    “Ah hah.”
    “Second, he said that it was clear that some of the important numbers in this climate-projection program are phony. Says Bright must be making them up. He also implied it wouldn't be the first time.”
    “Do you think Susan is helping him produce misleading data?”
    “No.” Alex sounded defensive suddenly. “I think it's more likely she's just inputting numbers that he's given her.”
    Hatch came over to the bed, his expression intent. “Is that Robin?”
    “Just a second, Alex.” Jessie looked up at Hatch. “He thinks he's found Susan. She's on the computer right now, running a climate program.”
    “Ask him if he can communicate with her through the computer.”
    “I heard what Hatch just asked,” Alex said. “Tell him I can do that. Want me to get her attention now?”
    Jessie gripped the phone. “He says he can do it. Hatch, this is so exciting. I'm going to have him try to contact her right now.”
    Hatch shook his head. “No. Tell him to wait until you and I can get over to the office. I want to think this through for a few minutes.”
    Alex spoke in Jessie's ear. “I heard him. See you two in a bit.”
    Jessie heard the phone go dead on the other end of the line. “I can't believe this.” She leapt off the bed, hurling the nightgown into a corner. She grabbed her jeans. “What a break. We can talk to her in person. Come on, Hatch, let's go.”
    “I hope Robin laid in his usual supply of junk food. That peanut-butter sandwich didn't go far.”
    Twenty minutes later Jessie and the two men were crowded around the computer screen. Somehow Hatch seemed to have taken command of the situation, much to her annoyance. Jessie was not quite certain how it had happened. She suspected it had to do with his natural leadership talents and with the fact that Alex, being a man, was automatically inclined to take orders from another male. It was extremely irritating, but there did not seem to be much she could do about it at the moment. The important thing was to make contact with Susan