Desert Dark

by Sonja Stone

  “Hey, honey. I’ve been meaning to ask you about something.”

  “Go ahead.”

  “The other day when we,” Libby’s voice dropped to a whisper, “you know, were talking? You said something about setting you up. I don’t get what you meant.”

  So she did catch that. “I just meant like, you were putting one over on me. I’m so sorry—I jumped to a ridiculous conclusion. I know you would never betray me, or our country.” Nadia watched for a reaction.

  Libby smiled. “If you can forgive me lying to you, I can certainly forgive your moment of doubt.” She stood and brushed off.

  As Jack spoke to their driver, Damon pulled Nadia aside. “You okay?” he asked.

  Nadia nodded. She debated faking a smile, saying, Of course I’m okay, why wouldn’t I be? But it was Damon. He’d see right through her. “Just an idiot. But thanks for asking.”

  “You let me know if you need anything. My offer still stands.” Damon mimed his stealth kill, twisting an imaginary head, dropping the corpse. “But you gotta help dig the grave, all right?”

  “Deal.” Her smile was genuine. “I’ll keep you posted.”

  The team loaded into the van: Jack and Damon in the back, Alan in the middle, Nadia and Libby up front. Nadia leaned back in the seat, carefully adjusting her tranquilizer gun in the shoulder harness she’d requested.

  “Hey, Nadia,” Damon called. “You think we’ll need to carry you out this time?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that never gets old.” The van pulled onto the highway.

  Alan leaned forward. “Don’t worry, Nadia. I am prepared to carry you if I have to.”

  Nadia turned in her seat. “No one will have to carry me, okay? I can take care of myself.” She felt immediate remorse as his smile disappeared. He looked like the last little kid to be picked for a dodgeball game.

  “Honestly, boys,” Libby piped in. “It’s enough already.”

  “I’m sorry, Alan,” Nadia said. “I’m a little tired.” He nodded and looked out the window.

  “You two worry about your own performance,” Jack said. “Now listen up. As you know, each trip becomes increasingly difficult. We’re going about twenty-five miles farther out, which means we have to move a lot faster.”

  “What’s the plan?” Damon asked.

  “Same deal as before. Our teams will be dropped on either side of the canyon. We’ll hike into the gorge, retrieve the package and hike back to school. It will take about half a day to get down there and half a day to get out. We’ll sleep in the canyon. Any questions?” Jack asked.

  “Can we look at the package this time?” Alan asked.

  “How many times do we have to go over this? No,” said Jack.

  “You’re such a boy scout,” Damon said.

  Nadia’s heart jumped at the phrase. She turned toward the back of the van.

  “No kidding,” Alan said. “You really are.”

  Damon flashed his beautiful smile. Closed-lipped, Nadia smiled back.

  “What’s wrong?” Libby asked her quietly.

  She shook her head. “Nothing.”

  After another hour, the van pulled over. “Everybody out,” called the driver.

  “That way.” Jack pointed toward a steep, rocky hill. Beyond a sparse row of ponderosa pines plunged a deep canyon of smooth red rock. “You guys go ahead. Nadia, I need you for a second.”

  Alan and Libby started through the thin line of evergreens. Damon hesitated, watching Nadia. She nodded to him, and he followed the others toward the hill.

  Jack narrowed his eyes, first at Damon, then Nadia. “What was that about?”

  “What?” she asked innocently.

  His jaw tightened. “You two seem awfully tight. I thought Damon was with Niyuri.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Fine.” Jack squared his shoulders. “Regardless of your feelings for me, I’m your team leader and I need to know I can count on you to follow my instructions.”

  She silently studied the landscape.

  “Nadia!” Jack said sharply. “I trust we’re not going to have a problem?”

  She bit the inside of her lip. “No more than usual.”

  “I’m not kidding.”

  “Yeah, I got it.” She turned away, annoyed with herself for being unprofessional and petty. Regardless of whatever had happened between them, he was her team leader. He’d earned that honor before she ever arrived at Desert Mountain.

  They began their descent into the canyon. There weren’t many places to get in—or out. The sinuous walls were like weathered beach glass; too smooth for an inexperienced climber to scale without a rope. But every so often a dusty slope, like the one they were on, broke through the endless wall of rock.

  The treacherous entry point forced them to move slowly, to check the ground before each step and inspect each handhold before committing. One misstep would mean sliding down the hill, dragging loose rock and cacti with them.

  After several hours of picking their way down the mountain, they reached the canyon floor. Smooth stones lined the dry riverbed, a few feet deep in some places. They gave under Nadia’s weight, each step like quicksand.

  “Hit the head if you have to,” Jack ordered, “and let’s keep moving. We’ve got a long way to go.”

  63

  JACK

  SATURDAY, DECEMBER 10

  Jack sat across from Nadia and watched the shadows of the campfire dance over her skin. Her eyes glistened like stars. Her dark hair framed her face in copper and brown. She looked beautiful in the firelight.

  They had just finished day one of the survival course. Although they were ahead of schedule, Jack wasn’t willing to slow down. When a group slacked off, the team leader looked incompetent. And regardless of his growing conviction that Nadia was not the double, he was still eager to impress Dean Wolfe—especially if it meant outperforming Noah.

  Jack threw another piece of wood on the fire; the sparks swam up into the night sky, disappearing like fireflies. “We should get some sleep,” he said.

  Nadia made a point of wedging herself between Libby and Damon. Jack clenched his jaw. How long is she going to keep this up? She would have done the same thing to me if she’d been in my position.

  Jack turned away. Nadia didn’t deserve his misdirected anger; he was mad at himself, not her. He’d do anything to make this right, to win her back. But opening his heart right now, exploring his feelings like some lovesick puppy, was an unacceptable distraction. The traitor hiding among his schoolmates demanded his full attention. He needed to put the mission before the team, and the team before himself. If that meant shutting down and compartmentalizing, so be it.

  But he didn’t have to like it.

  Midmorning they reached their destination. A small package waited in the middle of the riverbed, wrapped in brown paper and tied with kitchen string.

  Jack put his fist in the air, signaling the team to stop and be quiet. He waved them to a sheltered area behind a jutting wall of stone. He scanned the canyon for movement. “Who wants to get it?”

  “I’m on it,” Damon said. Jack grabbed the back of his shirt before he stepped into the clearing.

  “No, not you. If Noah’s team is around, they’ll tranq us in a second. It needs to be someone we can carry out. One of you.” He pointed to Nadia and Libby. “Or maybe Alan.”

  Alan narrowed his eyes.

  “Sorry.” Jack shrugged. He hadn’t meant it as an insult.

  “Well, Nadia. You got shot last time, so I guess I’m drawing the short stick.” Libby didn’t move forward as she spoke.

  “She did not exactly get shot—” Alan began.

  “We know,” Nadia said. “I’ll do it, since I’ve cleverly researched my tolerance for sedatives. You never know with a tranq dart. The last thing we need is for you to have a bad reaction out here.”

  “She’s right,” Jack agreed. “It makes a lot of people sick, and if you start puking you
’ll dehydrate in a heartbeat. Good thinking, Nadia.” He thought a flash of pride crossed Nadia’s face as he complimented her, but he couldn’t be sure.

  “Oh, thank goodness,” Libby said. “I’d be black and blue if I hit the dirt. I bruise like a peach.”

  “You’re good,” Damon said to Nadia. “I’ll cover you.”

  “We’ll all cover you,” Jack said. He needs to back off.

  His team drew their weapons and scattered, searching for shelter behind boulders and bends in the walls. Satisfied with their positions, Jack signaled his go-ahead. Nadia raced to the clearing, grabbed the package and sprinted back.

  She almost smiled as she handed the item to Jack. “That was easier than I expected.”

  “Great job,” Jack said, and Nadia quickly looked away. He waited as the others reassembled. “We’re only supposed to use our weapons at the site of the pick-up, so theoretically, we should be out of the woods. But knowing my roommate, he’ll have his team shoot us anywhere, just for fun.”

  “You’re kidding.” Libby grinned, like Noah was the cleverest boy in the world.

  “I’m not. All right, listen up. We were dropped off on the west side of the canyon, and they’re coming in from the east. What I don’t know is if we’re all traveling south. If we are, then obviously they’re behind us. If we aren’t, they’re up there,” Jack pointed up the canyon, “headed straight for us.”

  “Lay out your plan,” said Damon.

  “I’ll climb up to that low ledge and travel in front of you. That way, I’ll see them before they see any of us.” He wasn’t happy about leaving Nadia and Damon together, but an assault from Noah would cost him the mission. “You guys fine on your own?”

  “Please,” said Damon. “Don’t worry about us; we’re professionals.”

  “Don’t leave tracks,” Jack instructed.

  Alone, he traveled quickly. By midafternoon, satisfied Noah was behind them, he doubled back to find his team.

  That’s a relief. The last thing we need is an ambush.

  64

  NADIA

  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

  Yesterday the canyon looked majestic; today Nadia was over it. The uneven path demanded constant attention and the scenery grew monotonous. Every few miles, small caves pocked the layered rock walls. She longed to be home, standing under a steamy shower.

  Ahead of her, Libby slowed. The boys continued a few paces, Alan trailing behind Damon, before Libby turned and asked, “What is going on with you? And don’t tell me nothing, because I can see something’s not right.”

  Nadia sighed, desperately wanting to confide in Libby. But she couldn’t say anything; she had to lie. Before she answered with a benign I’m fine, a loud crack echoed through the canyon.

  Noah must have found us.

  Another shot right behind. Shards of rock sprayed past her head as a chunk of limestone wall exploded. She and Libby scattered for cover.

  Alan hadn’t quite reached the canyon wall when a third shot cracked down. He screamed as his legs gave out.

  Nadia raced across the riverbed to pull Alan to safety. “Help me with him!” she called. Damon rushed toward her. They dragged Alan behind a cluster of rocks. His cries were raw, like a wounded dog’s.

  Nadia pulled her gun. “Alan, stop crying! It’s a tranquilizer dart. It doesn’t hurt that much,” she shouted over him. What a baby. You didn’t hear me screaming when I got shot.

  “No—look!” Alan’s hands moved from his thigh. His fingers were bloody.

  There shouldn’t be any blood.

  “It was not a dart!” he yelled.

  Of course it wasn’t a dart. Tranq guns are silent. “Damon, on point.” She holstered her gun and pressed hard on Alan’s thigh. His blood felt warm against her suddenly cold fingers. Her heart pounded.

  “Is it bad?” Alan grabbed her shirt. “Answer me!” His fear was palpable.

  “I need you to calm down. You’re fine.” She faked a confident tone. “It’s just a scratch.” From behind the rocks, she searched the high walls, half draped in shadow. No movement. “Check your weapons. Do we have live rounds?” Nadia didn’t believe for a second that Sensei would make such a deadly mistake.

  “Tranqs,” Libby confirmed.

  “Mine too,” Damon said.

  “Check Alan’s.”

  “Where is Jack? I need Jack!” Alan yelled.

  “I’m right here.” Jack climbed down from an overhanging ledge. “Those shots weren’t from Noah’s team. That concussion sounded like a twelve-gauge.” He examined Alan’s leg. “It’s grazed, not deep at all. Wrap it up. We need to move.” Nadia did as she was told.

  “It really hurts,” Alan said through tears, his lip quivering.

  “I’ve got you, okay?” Nadia said quietly. Alan nodded and squeezed her hand.

  “I saw a cave about a half-mile up,” Jack said. “I’m on point. Libby, Nadia, help Alan. Damon, you’re the best shot. Bring up the rear.”

  “I think we should split up,” Damon said. “I’ll head south while you guys—”

  “Out of the question,” Jack interrupted. “Let’s go.”

  They picked their way toward the cave, moving as quickly as possible. Nadia kept her gun out, barely breathing, as they stole through the canyon. They reached the cave and climbed into the shelter of the mountain wall.

  “What happened back there?” Jack asked, as Nadia and Libby helped Alan onto the floor.

  Alan and Libby hadn’t seen anything, and for once Damon had no insight to offer. The shots had come out of nowhere. They’d echoed off the canyon walls—Nadia couldn’t even tell Jack the general direction of the gunman.

  For the first time, Nadia realized she was in serious danger. Her eyes met Jack’s. She knew what he was thinking, because she was thinking the same thing.

  Someone messed up. That bullet was meant for me.

  RIGHT NOW

  65

  NADIA

  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

  6:27 PM

  Nadia sits near the mouth of the cave, her gun drawn, Jack beside her. Damon and Libby huddle around Alan, try to keep him warm. They can’t risk a fire; it would signal their position, and they don’t know the location of the gunman.

  “That bullet was meant for me, wasn’t it?” Nadia whispers.

  Jack shakes his head. “I really don’t know. What I do know is you guys are my responsibility and I let you down. I’m sorry.”

  “Nadia,” Damon calls from inside the cave. “Trade spots with me. You rest and I’ll watch the door.”

  “I’m good,” she calls back, as she stares out at the impending darkness. Quietly, to Jack, she says, “It’s not your fault. You couldn’t have predicted something like this.”

  “Thanks for saying that.”

  She realizes this is the nicest she’s been to him in days. She averts her eyes. “So much for the Dean’s promise of safety.”

  “Wait here.” Jack steps out of the cave.

  Nadia scrambles to her feet and grabs his arm. “Are you insane? You have no idea who’s out there. You don’t seriously intend to wander around in the dark.”

  “I don’t expect you to understand, but it’s my job to ensure the safety of this group. The school won’t realize we’re missing for at least another three, maybe four hours. I’m not gonna sit here and hope for the best.” Jack pulls his arm away.

  “I’ll come with you.”

  “Absolutely not.” His expression tells her the discussion is over.

  He slips from the cave and disappears into the moonless night. That’s when she notices he’s forgotten his gun.

  “Jack!” Nadia whispers as loud as she dares. She picks up his weapon. It occurs to her: Jack appeared after Alan was shot.

  Maybe it was Jack.

  She releases the magazine. Tranquilizer darts. She exhales, relieved. The tiniest breeze brushes against her face. Before her, silent as smoke, stands Jack.

  “Just making sure you were all se
t,” she whispers, barely able to speak. Nadia reengages the mag and racks the slide, then offers Jack his gun.

  “Right.” He grabs her wrist and pulls her close. She feels his breath hot on her face. “If it had been me, don’t you think I would’ve swapped out the bullets by now?” He presses his mouth against her ear and whispers, “I’m not incompetent, Nadia. I wouldn’t have missed.” He pushes her away and recedes into the night.

  He has no right to be offended. He’s given me no reason to trust him.

  So why do I feel bad?

  Nadia waits at the mouth of the cave for hours. She doesn’t intend to fall asleep, but at some point, Damon wakes her to cover a shift. Grateful for the rest, she crawls deeper into the cave with Libby and Alan.

  She knows she’ll be safe with Damon standing guard.

  66

  DAMON

  SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11

  6:29 PM

  Damon knows exactly what happened in the canyon. He’s been double-crossed.

  Nobody was shooting at Nadia—they tried to hit him instead. The bullet they told him would end her life got redirected. And he knows exactly who pulled the trigger, because only one agent could be that incompetent.

  Professor Hayden. And the first chance he gets, Damon will end him.

  Nadia was nowhere near the guys when they were attacked. They must’ve been ten feet apart. Not even that idiot could’ve missed her by that much. But he and Alan were within a foot of each other.

  A competent sniper would’ve killed Damon with one shot.

  He’s underestimated the severity of his handlers’ response. Damon needs to get the hell out of this canyon. And he needs to do it alone. But right now, he and Libby are wedged against Alan inside the cave. It’s a tight fit—barely enough room for the three of them to lie down, and they’re forced to curl up like a pile of kittens. Nadia’s at the door, and she won’t leave.

  Damon has no choice but to wait. He wraps his arms around his roommate, tries to stop Alan’s shivering.