They reached the threshold and Audrey sighed. “We’re this close to being done with the mission. I don’t suppose it’s wise to turn back now.” She opened the door and gasped.
Lee lunged to move her out of danger but quickly realized it was a noise of delight. Cold air hit them in the face. A gleaming wooden floor enticed them to step inside. To the right, a living room filled with a leather couch, a futon, two easy chairs and a coffee table. Straight ahead a kitchen with a marble countertop held a cellophane-covered gift basket next to a stainless-steel fridge. A hallway most likely led to the bedrooms and maybe, given the promise of plumbing the kitchen indicated, a real bathroom. To the right, a portable air-conditioner hummed, which meant a giant generator must be behind the yurt. The ceiling was made of lattice resembling sunrays as they extended from the apex.
Audrey spun around, her arms wide. “It’s gorgeous. Wait. Is this what you meant when you said you liked camping? Because I can handle this type, especially if there’s decent plumbing, which I’m going to check out right now.” She walked in the direction of the hallway as the sun began to filter through the two rectangular windows. The light reflected off Audrey’s hair and the shine on the wooden floor and the—
“Freeze!” Lee reached out and grabbed the back of Audrey’s shirt as her shin reached the thin fishing line he’d spotted stretched across the opening of the hallway.
She sucked in a sharp breath and held her arms out. “What? What is it?”
“I think it’s a trip line. Don’t move. Your ankle looks like it’s pressed against it. Carefully step away and we should be okay.”
“Not if it’s a trip wire. If I move, it’s possible the slightest vibration will be all it takes to set it off if I’ve already partly triggered something.”
“How can we know for sure, then?”
“Follow the wire and tell me what you see. Soft steps. The mechanism will likely only be one side.” She took shallow breaths. “Please hurry. I’m scared I’ll move a little.”
Lee slipped off his shoes so he could glide across the floor without any bounce. To the left side there was nothing but the wall, which Lee could tell held an eyehole screw that likely should’ve never been there. The screw held the trip wire but didn’t seem connected to anything else, so Lee investigated the right side.
He flipped on the light from his cell phone and followed the clear line’s path to behind a couch where a very crude pipe bomb rested. The trip wire itself led to a mechanism made of clothespins, thumbtacks, duct tape and cardboard. The cardboard had slipped halfway out, and the metal contacts were only a millimeter apart from touching. A battery with wires leading both to the contacts and to the bomb was attached to the clothespin.
He relayed to Audrey what he was seeing.
“If the metal contacts touch each other the bomb goes off. Cut the line closest to the cardboard while sliding it back in its place or cut every wire you see leading from the power to the bomb.”
“No green wire, red wire?”
“Don’t cut anything that’s part of the bomb. Just cut the power source to the bomb.” While she kept her voice monotone, there was urgency in her tone. “Please hurry. I’m scared I’m going to sneeze, and I’m sure that will make me move. I’m scared to even take a full breath.”
“When I tell you to step back, do it.” He pulled on the trip wire from her direction. “Step back.” Sure enough the little bit of bounce her movement gave the line would’ve resulted in the cardboard finishing its trajectory of dropping, but Lee held it in place. He slid it fully back in between the contacts and breathed a sigh of relief.
Two loud sneezes erupted from her direction. “Oh, I feel so much better.”
“Can you grab a knife from the kitchen? Watch your step.” Lee didn’t trust himself to look away from the clothespin.
“Uh, Lee?”
“What? No knife?”
“I’ve found another trip wire on the other side of the kitchen.” The floor creaked and her tennis shoes squeaked as she tiptoed to his side. “We need to get out of here.” She bent over, and Lee saw she held scissors, but before he could take them from her, she snipped the fishing line. Lee breathed a sigh of relief and leaned back onto his heels.
She also snipped the wires leading from the battery. “For good measure.”
That was fine by him. “You’re sure you saw another trip wire?”
“Unfortunately. I’m afraid this whole place might be filled with them to make sure he gets us.”
Lee groaned and dropped his head. “I should’ve checked the driver of that Jeep closely to see if it was Joseph. He probably set this up while he waited to take the guide back.”
“Where are we going to sleep? We can try to disable all the ones we see but what if he’s hidden one underneath a couch or a bed?” Her eyes widened as she likely was thinking of a lot more creative ideas of where to hide a trip wire.
So much for that hot shower and air-conditioning. He closed his eyes so he could think over options without being taunted by the glint of the reflection from the fishing line in the kitchen. “I’ve only got one idea, and I’m afraid you aren’t going to like it.”
* * *
Audrey stomped her way to the area near the fire with a blanket and a throw pillow under one arm. She shined her phone light in every possible direction to make sure she didn’t step on a rattlesnake.
Lee followed from behind, carrying more blankets and throw pillows that were in an open woven basket near the front door. “Keep going,” he called out.
Not only was she not allowed to partake of plumbing and air-conditioning, Lee also insisted they set up a sleeping area past the meadow so they wouldn’t be sitting ducks if something else, like a critter, triggered the remaining trip wires. He wanted them behind some trees and bushes with more than one exit route near the closest foothills. In other words, they were going to be sleeping on rocky ground.
She rested her bedding—if it could be called that—on the nearest boulder. As soon as the sun no longer provided them any hint of daylight, the bugs would come out. She didn’t want them to get a head start on lodging for the night so she chose to keep the blanket and pillow on high ground. “Can I spray a perimeter of bear spray around us before sleeping?” While she’d yet to see a rattlesnake or a mountain lion, she’d heard a rattle on one of the top hills. She hoped they stayed up there.
He followed her example and placed his bedding on another boulder. “Only if you want to use it up before you need it. Those aerosol cans spray long distances but only last a few seconds. Besides, it’s concentrated pepper spray. One wrong gust, and we’d be sorry.”
Lee waved her back to the campfire, but the smell of burning wood just made her stomach growl, most likely because she associated it with food. As soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, yawns racked both Audrey and Lee. Lee did his best to kick sand and dirt on the fire circle before they made their way back to the sleeping area. She shook the blanket out and wrapped herself in it before lying down, so she could be sure she was starting out without insects joining her. At least the throw pillow kept her neck comfortable. She couldn’t say the same for the thin blanket.
Lee groaned, no doubt trying to do his best to get comfortable, as well.
The sounds of crickets and coyotes in the distance—she hoped both stayed far away—made an unusual harmony. The stars twinkled but the clouds covered the moon. Despite exhaustion, the stillness awakened her mind. “Why do they call him the CEO? It’s not as if the Masked Network is a normal business submitting tax forms or publishing profits for quarterly meetings.”
“Good point.” He chuckled, his laugh low and tired. “Maybe whoever this person is wanted to differentiate themselves from the mafia.”
“You mean as opposed to ‘the boss’?”
“Exactly.”
She nodded, despite the darkness h
aving grown too thick to be able to see each other. “Tomorrow. Assuming everything goes right—”
“For once.”
“Yes. Assuming you’re able to take down the Network, what’s next? I mean you said the death of Diego was the reason you joined the FBI. If you succeed in your goal, what will you do then?”
“I’m not sure. I don’t like to count my chickens—”
“Say we fail and they go underground and you lose your chance. Either way, after tomorrow, you’re likely at the end of a path. What will be next?”
“I...I haven’t given it much thought. I guess I’ll keep focusing on saving the world.”
His voice had a funny lilt to it as if he was teasing, but she wondered if deep down he thought it was all up to him.
“You know, the salvation of the world isn’t dependent on you. In fact, I’m pretty sure someone already took care of that.” Being in the outdoors always, despite the discomfort, reminded her. Underneath the beauty of the twinkling canopy, she felt so small and thankful that, despite all her efforts, the Creator of the universe was ultimately in control of it all. “You could take time to relax,” she offered softly. Deep down she knew her reasoning was selfish.
“Thanks for the life coaching.”
She didn’t need to see his face to note the sarcasm. “Okay. I’m sorry. But the trip wire incident got me thinking—”
“I did notice you didn’t freeze that time. I mean you did, but only because you needed to.”
A laugh bubbled up from her chest. “I get it.” Her brain hadn’t refused to think, which was a relief in the circumstance. In fact, that was what triggered her new thoughts. “I understand that you and Felicity don’t want this life for me. I can’t say I really want this life, either. But the thing is, whether you decide to keep me as an asset or not, I’m going to want to be in Kendra’s life. I’m choosing to be a part, no matter what struggles that brings. And, if Felicity wants to still be my friend, I’m choosing that, as well. And if that means you might—” She stopped herself from saying more. “Well, my point is I appreciate the concern.”
Her courage and self-confidence may have reached an all-time high, but it wasn’t enough to lay open all her feelings for Lee. The stillness and darkness made it easier to talk openly. Lee rested about five feet away, but she could hear his soft breathing. Maybe he’d gone to sleep—
“Thanks for telling me,” he said. “You should get some sleep while we can. I’ll keep watch.”
She exhaled. Conversation over. “Okay, but only if you wake me up in a few hours so I can take a shift. Good night, Lee.”
“Good night, Audrey.”
The way he said her name made her smile, despite the knowledge that tomorrow might be the last she ever saw of him. She forced herself to close her eyes and take deep breaths in the rhythm of the crickets but her skin crawled with thoughts of insects. She wrapped the blanket tighter around her neck and forced herself to stay still while praying for sleep.
A twig snapped. Audrey’s eyes flashed open. The clouds no longer covered the moon and her nose felt like an ice cube had been resting on top. Her whole body shivered. Obviously, she must’ve fallen asleep. She turned her head to find Lee’s blanket empty, the moonlight illuminating the discarded throw pillow, as well. Where was he? Coyotes howled in the distance.
Please don’t let us be food tonight.
Perhaps Lee just needed to make a visit behind the bushes, but if he decided to risk the trip wires and sleep in the comfortable beds waiting for them in the yurt—
Shifting sand perked her ears. Gripping the corners of the blanket, Audrey rolled over very slowly to her stomach and lifted her head. A shadow, hunched over, made its way from the fire pit toward the yurt. The slender build didn’t match Lee’s at all. The moonlight reflected off something in his hand. A gun. Now that they were out of the resort area, she supposed there was easier access. It had to be Joseph Harrington, checking to see if his trip wires had worked. If he’d brought a gun with him here, he’d already surmised the bombs hadn’t worked. He was getting desperate. Desperate to kill her.
Audrey tucked her chin so she could breathe heavily into the blanket. Her heart decided it should match the pace of a sprinter. The logical thing to do was hide but it wasn’t as if she was wearing an invisibility suit. If he decided to walk in the direction of the foothills, he’d find her easily.
She tried to make herself flatter, turning her head to the side, when she spotted another crouching figure. For the briefest of moments, the curved back and broad shoulders made her think a small bear had come to watch, until he lifted his torso and took a step. Lee.
Her mouth opened in horror as Lee took another step in the intruder’s direction. He was going to try to take him off guard and overpower him. Had he seen the gun? If only the shadow was a bear then maybe it’d charge Joseph and remove the threat for them. She’d like to think she’d be less scared of a bear than a gunman. At least a bear gave her the option of playing possum. Wait. Bear...
Lee crept along the high grasses, gaining in speed as the gunman was mere feet from the yurt.
Snap.
Another twig. The gunman swung around as Lee dropped to the ground, but Audrey knew in her heart it was too late. He’d been spotted. She grabbed the bear spray at her side and launched herself on her knees. “No!” she screamed loudly.
The gunman turned, and Audrey pressed the top lever down with both thumbs, holding the spray with straight arms, keeping the bottle as far away from her face as possible. The moonlight made the flecks of spray sparkle in the darkness as the thirty-foot stream arced in the air and landed at the shooter’s feet. She pointed the nozzle up higher, and the man hollered.
She’d made her mark. She released the lever while simultaneously shoving the bottle as far away as possible, lest some backsplash reach her. “I didn’t kill your brother,” she shouted. A likely pointless effort, but she had to try.
The gunman took off at a run in the direction she’d seen the Jeep go earlier.
Lee didn’t hesitate. His form sprinted after the man and grabbed his back. He pulled back his other arm and punched the man’s side. The guy spun, the trajectory of the gun going for the side of Lee’s head, but Lee held up an arm to block while his other punched his gut. The gun tumbled to the ground. Lee must not have seen it, though, because when the gun dropped the gunman took off running, with Lee right behind him.
Audrey didn’t wait for an all-clear. She bolted upright, shoved her feet in the shoes at her side and ran after them. She stumbled over rocks, picking up her knees higher and higher until she reached the sandy stretch in front of the yurt. The breeze blew her hair in front of her face. She flung it aside, but the moon had slipped behind the clouds again, and she couldn’t see a thing on the ground. Her phone’s light would’ve come in handy had she been awake enough to think of getting it from on top of the boulder where she’d left it.
Audrey heard grunts and scuffling from the two men in the distance. She fell to the ground and reached with her hands, grains of sand instantly getting stuck underneath her nails, and thorns pricking at her skin. She scooted forward, crawling, until her right hand brushed against cool, hard metal.
She grabbed it by the barrel and pulled it close. Someone out of breath was approaching. She situated the gun by feel and gripped the handle as the sound of shuffling feet grew closer. Audrey braced herself, one foot up and the other knee down for balance as she aimed the weapon at the shadow that rounded the corner.
FOURTEEN
The telltale long snap of a gun cocking sent chills up Lee’s spine. “Audrey?”
“Oh, it’s you!” Her shadow jumped to standing and ran toward him, one arm hanging at her side and holding—
“Where’d you get that gun?”
Her left arm reached for him, draping around his shoulder as she gave him a half hug. “He dro
pped it. That’s why I had to use the bear spray. I was so scared he was going to kill you.”
“I’m glad you did.” Lee reached down with both hands and took the gun from her, making sure to engage the safety. She pulled away from him. He slipped the gun in his back waistline before reaching out with both arms and pulling her to his chest to properly hug her. Her teeth vibrated at the same rhythm she trembled. “You’re cold?”
“How can you not be?”
He rested his head on the top of her head and twisted slightly so his back would take the brunt of the welcome breeze. “I just wrestled and sprinted after the suspect.”
“You didn’t get him?”
He exhaled. “No. I got in a few punches, but he ran faster—because he knew where he was going whereas I couldn’t see a thing—and he had a sedan parked around the corner. A dirt road that I assume eventually leads to the highway.”
“Did you get a good look at him?”
“He had a hat on and a full head of hair and same build as the driver who picked up the guide.”
“Do you think he’s coming back?”
“Not likely if we have his gun, but we should be prepared.” Her chills dissipated, and she sighed into his chest, her breath tickling his neck. He wanted to tell her hours ago that she’d stirred his heart and mind so much he could hardly think straight. She may be willing to deal with the extra hoops and sacrifices it’d take to maintain a relationship with Kendra and Felicity, but a dating relationship would be so much harder, at least a serious one. And he wasn’t interested in casual dating.
Sure, he didn’t have the best reasons for joining the FBI. Revenge served as an exhausting, relentless force of growing bitterness that entered into every waking hour when at its best. No wonder Joseph was getting reckless and desperate in his attempts to kill them.
But unlike Joseph, Lee had chosen to focus on the positives of each day. His grandmother made sure to instill that in him at a very young age, and whether he liked it or not, the habit seemed to have stuck. It took months but by the time he’d graduated Quantico, he’d wanted justice more than revenge. Each day after that, with his focus on justice and the job, the bitterness got a little bit smaller.
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