Why did they keep Boone alive? I’d seen them fighting with him. Why not just shoot him? It had been bothering me since I fled but now I saw it: they wanted me. They could track me down using the drone but I could still take cover somewhere, like we had in the caves. They might waste days actually getting hold of me. They wanted a way to lure me out, once they got close. They’d put a gun to his head, or torture him. If that happened, I knew I’d crack. I’d come out of hiding. And once they had both of us, they’d kill us.
So stick with the plan, said my FBI-mind. Go to the town. I took a step towards it.
Except...I stopped again. Even if by some chance I made it, they’d still kill Boone. They knew how far away the town was. Once there was a reasonable chance I’d got there—tomorrow morning, at the latest—they’d give up, put a bullet in Boone’s head and flee.
Either way, Boone was dead. I couldn’t let that happen. But there was no third way.
Unless….
No. That was just stupid. That was beyond stubborn, beyond dumb. Just thinking about it made a sick, cold fear creep through me.
The third option was to get Boone back. To go up against a criminal, two corrupt marshals and three trained mercenaries, all of them armed.
It was near suicidal. I was hungry and exhausted, I had no equipment or military training. I was just one FBI agent. I sat at a desk most of the time!
I looked at the town again. That way was the system: the one Boone feared so much. Cops and jails and military police and the FBI. The reassuring network that I surrounded myself back in New York, that I’d missed so much when I arrived. The system I’d always believed in. The same one that had let Boone down so badly.
That same system was about to fail again. By the time I reached the town, Boone would be dead. If I wanted to save him, I couldn’t rely on the system anymore. I had to do this. Me.
This is insane.
And yet every other option felt wrong. This felt right.
I turned around to face the forest. I knew where they must be: they’d be to the south, as close to the forest as they could get in their 4x4s. I figured I had just one advantage: surprise. They were looking for me but they’d never expect me to do something as monumentally stupid as come after them.
Bending, I plucked a stalk of the knee high grass, scooped my hair back into a ponytail and bound it tight with the grass.
I’m going to get my man back.
I set out through the forest towards the south side. I knew they’d be looking for me but hopefully they’d sent the drone towards the town, expecting me to head there.
By noon, my hunger cramps had settled into a dull, permanent ache that was impossible to ignore. It had been almost two days since I’d eaten and I was fantasizing about crispy French fries, loaded with salt and ketchup, or ice cream drizzled with caramel syrup. I tried to work out how much money I’d give for just a juicy, fresh apple.
In the middle of the afternoon, I found a stream. I knew I should boil the water but I didn’t have anything to boil water in. It looked clear enough and I’d die without water so eventually I just crouched down beside it, cupped my hands and drank. It was icy cold and the best thing I’d ever tasted.
Just as the sun was setting, I emerged from the trees, light-headed from hunger and exhausted from the walk. I saw their camp immediately: the 4x4s and tents, in the middle of all this vast emptiness, stood out a mile. Unlike us, they didn’t have any need to hide.
I wished I had binoculars. I crept closer, closer than felt safe, and peeked out from behind a tree. My heart lifted as I saw Boone sitting on a log, his hands cuffed behind his back. He was still alive! I could see one of the mercenaries and the two marshals but no one else. And there were only two 4x4s: where was the other one? As I watched, the mercenary listened to his radio and then shook his head at Marshal Phillips, who cursed.
It took me a moment to figure out what was going on: Weiss and the other two mercenaries must be off searching for me, probably in that valley that led to the town...but they couldn’t find me because I was here. They’d left the mercenary and Phillips there to guard Boone and—I frowned. Why was the older marshal, Hennessey, sitting beside Boone as if he was a prisoner, too?
I’d figure it out later. Right now, I had an opportunity to get Boone out. The others could come back from their search at any time. They might already be on the way back. I had to plan my attack….
I caught myself. What the hell am I doing? I had absolutely zero training for anything like this. I wasn’t some military badass like Boone! And I was completely cut off from the agency, from everything I knew. I’d never felt so utterly alone.
But if I didn’t pull this off, Boone was going to die.
I studied the camp, trying to contain the rising panic in my chest. What did I know? I’d raided houses a few times with the FBI. Our tactic was always to go through the front and back doors simultaneously, to put the bad guys off balance and give them two things to worry about. Except there was only one of me.
I needed a distraction.
The two 4x4s were parked at one end of the camp, together with what looked like fuel cans. The tents and the log where Boone sat were at the other end.
Very slowly, I picked my way through the trees. I got as close to the 4x4s as I could but actually reaching them would mean crossing a hundred yards of open ground with nothing but long grass to hide me. One of the mercenaries and Marshal Phillips were standing guard not far away, rifles in hand. The sun was going down but there was still just about enough light to see by. If they so much as glimpsed me....
At least I’m small. I got down on my belly and started to crawl, as slowly and quietly as I could. The grass was barely long enough to hide me. I didn’t even dare stick my head up to check my position so I had to just hope I was following a straight line. My heart was slamming against my ribs so hard I was sure they’d be able to hear it. I expected to hear a shot to ring out at any second and feel the bullet rip into me. How does Boone do this stuff?
My hands bumped against something hard. I had to choke back a scream. I was sure I’d crawled right into one of their legs.
I looked up. My fingers were scraping the tire of one of the 4x4s. I let out a long sigh of relief and huddled behind it, out of sight. But then I heard boots tramping through the grass. Shit!
Not knowing what else to do, I ducked down and crawled under the 4x4, then lay flat, grass scratching at my face and neck. I watched two sets of boots come closer, closer...can they see me?
The boots stopped, so close to my face that I could smell the leather.
Marshal Phillips’ voice came first. “I don’t get where she is. She can’t have made it to the town already. Maybe she’s dead. Maybe she slipped and fell in a gully and her body’s already cold—that’s why they can’t find her on thermal.”
Then the mercenary, his English rough and fractured. “They will be back soon. You must get Weiss to leave the woman and go. We can’t stay any longer. This was not deal we made.”
This time I recognized the heavy accent. Russian. Weiss had brought Russians over to help him escape?!
Phillips snorted. “That psycho doesn’t listen to me. He was ready to leave me on the fucking plane. He’d have killed me and Hennessey by now if he didn’t need us. He’s only keeping us in case we run into the police in Nome and need to talk our way out of it.”
I heard the mercenary’s clothes rustle as he shrugged. “Then we will make him listen. We leave. Tonight.”
They walked off and I was left lying there, debating. I was going spacey from hunger and fatigue and it sounded so tempting. They were ready to give up and go to Nome! All I had to do was crawl back into the grass and wait. In another hour, they’d be gone. I’d be safe and I could take my time getting to the town.
But as soon as the mercenaries convinced Weiss to leave, Boone would no longer be needed. They’d shoot him. My mind hardened, pushing the tiredness away. No. No way.
I slid out
from under the 4x4 and crept around to the fuel cans. It was fully dark, now, and I could barely see to unscrew one of the lids. The stink of gasoline rose up to meet me. Now I needed something to use as a fuse. The waterproof jacket Boone had given me had a drawstring to tighten the waist and I pulled that out and soaked it in gasoline, then left one end dangling in the can and ran the other down the side.
Lighting it was an exercise in terror: I only had the flint and steel, which threw out sparks in all directions. If one of them flew into the can, I’d be in the center of a ball of burning gas.
After a few heart-stopping moments, the end of my makeshift fuse caught light. But I had no idea how long it would take for the flame to reach the gas. Crawling back through the grass to the trees seemed to take forever. Then I had to skirt the camp again to get back to where Boone was. The whole way, my shoulder blades were hunched up, braced for the explosion. I should have used a longer fuse!
But I arrived back at the other end of the camp, panting and drained, without seeing a fireball. Phillips and the mercenary were standing right by the log where Boone and Hennessey sat. I crouched in the shadows, every muscle tensed, ready to run. As soon as the explosion went off and the guards left, I’d go in, grab Boone’s arm and lead him into the trees. Then we could disappear into the night.
I waited, holding my breath...but nothing happened. Did the fuse go out?
And then it got worse. I heard the roar of an approaching engine. Headlights lit up the camp.
Weiss and the others were back.
50
Kate
I felt the last reserves of energy drain out of me as despair set in. No! I was so close!
A 4x4 pulled up. Doors slammed. I heard Weiss snapping out orders in that sullen, sneering tone of his. Then the three mercenaries were rounding on him—they’d obviously all agreed it was time to make a stand.
“Fuck that!” I heard Weiss yell. “We leave when all the loose ends are tied up. I’m paying you enough!”
“No use for money if we’re all in American jail,” said one of the mercenaries, who seemed to be their leader. “They find plane, soon. We go. Now. You come with us… or make own way back to Nome.”
I saw Weiss take a step towards him but the other two mercenaries subtly raised their rifles in warning. Clearly, even they were getting tired of Weiss’s attitude.
“Fine,” Weiss grated. He pulled out a gun. “Get the camp packed up. I’ll deal with Boone.”
They split up. Weiss started walking towards Boone. No. No!
At that second, the gas can exploded. A fireball boiled up into the sky, lighting up the night like an early sunrise. Flaming gas rained down, starting a hundred little fires in the dry grass. Weiss was close enough for some to hit him on the back and he cursed and tore off his jacket, stamping on it. The mercenaries scrambled to move the 4x4s so that they wouldn’t catch fire. Both marshals ran over and started trying to put out the blaze.
I was so shocked, it took me a few seconds to remember to move. Then I was sprinting, hunched low, over to the log where Boone sat. He heard me when I was just a step away and twisted around to meet me. “Kate?!”
I knew we needed to move fast. I had it all ready in my head: grab his shoulder and pull him towards the trees. But as soon as I was close, all the fear, the two days and a night on my own, the thinking I’d never see him again...it all welled up inside me and I slammed into his chest, arms hooking around him to pull me in tight. The solid warmth of him was the best thing I’d ever felt, like coming home. I just clung there for a few seconds, panting in relief, and then tilted my head up just in time to meet his lips as they came down.
He allowed himself one quick, hard kiss and then drew back. “How did—”
I shook my head. “Later. Let’s go.” I grabbed his shoulder and pulled—
But he resisted. I could see the battle going on in his eyes as he debated something.
“What?!” I begged. What could there possibly be to think about? We had to go!
Boone gave me a long, sorrowful look. “We can’t leave.”
51
Boone
I’ve never felt anything like it. Everything was pulling me towards Kate, towards the safety of the darkened forest. We could disappear in seconds. By the time they were done with the fire, we’d have slipped away. And I’d heard the argument Weiss had had with the mercenaries: they wouldn’t tolerate any more delays. They’d go and we’d be free.
I drew in a long, shuddering breath. All I wanted was to be with her. Christ, she was gorgeous. Even now, even exhausted and bedraggled, she looked perfect to me. Her hair was back up in a ponytail, all tight and efficient. Her jaw was stubbornly set in that way that just made me want to kiss her. Just go!
But I couldn’t.
“There’s a kid,” I told her. And I explained about Marshal Hennessey and Megan. Kate’s eyes grew wide. I could see her putting it all together: why Hennessey had been so reluctant to let her on the flight; why he’d told her it’s not like that when she’d accused him of taking a bribe; why Phillips, his subordinate, was able to order him around.
“As soon as they get on their boat to Russia, the kid’s useless to them,” I told Kate. “Hennessey, too.” Both of us looked towards the fire. Hennessey was helping put it out—I guess he thought that it might spread to the tents and put Megan at risk. There was no way I could get him away from the others...but we could try to save Megan.
Kate nodded. “Okay.” She dashed around behind me and started untying my wrists. Thank God the marshals had gotten tired of searching for the handcuff key every time I needed to piss, and switched to rope. A few seconds and Kate’s quick fingers coaxed the knot loose.
I stood up, stretching out my shoulders, and we started towards Megan’s tent. But we were less than halfway there when a shout went up. I looked over my shoulder. One of the 4x4’s headlights was pointing right at the empty log where I’d been sitting. They knew I was gone.
I pushed Kate towards the tent. “Go! Get the kid! I’ll slow them down and meet you in the trees, there.” I pointed at a spot in the tree line. Kate opened her mouth to argue. “Go!” And I turned and ran the opposite way, leaving her no choice.
52
Kate
I stumbled a little as I ran, my chest tight with fear. We were so close!
I rushed through the door of the tent. A blanket-wrapped bundle in the corner squeaked in fear and shied away from me. But then, before I could explain, the kid perked up. “Agent Kate?!”
I blinked. How does she know my—“Yeah.”
She scurried across the room and dived at me, hugging me around the waist. “Are you rescuing me?”
I stroked her blond curls. “Yes.” I scooped her up into my arms, carried her to the door of the tent and peeked out. I was just in time to see Boone pick up a rock twice the size of my head and hurl it at one of the 4x4s, smashing one of its headlights. He ducked back into the darkness again as the mercenaries opened fire on him.
Seconds later, he emerged from the shadows again, grabbed one of the mercenaries and punched him to the ground. I held my breath, but he was gone again before they could shoot him. And it was working: everyone was looking in his direction. They had no idea I was even in the camp. “Be very quiet, okay?” I whispered to Megan.
But as soon as I got through the tent’s door, Megan pulled at my sleeve and pointed. “What about granddaddy?” she whispered.
My heart sank as I followed her finger. Marshal Hennessey was still fighting the fire, way too close to the Weiss to try to grab him and lead him away. “He’s going to get out later, honey,” I whispered. I felt crappy for lying to her but I had no choice.
Megan turned big eyes to me. “Will he be okay?”
The truth was, Weiss would likely kill him as soon as they got on the boat. “Yeah, honey. He’ll be just fine,” I said, feeling sick.
Megan nodded and clutched me tight. I hurried to the trees, staying low and moving as fas
t as I dared. I kept expecting a shout to go up but all I heard was gunfire. Then the rising roar of an engine as one of the 4x4s shot forward...and a crunch of metal as it slammed into something solid.
I spun around, nausea rising, thinking I was going to see Boone crushed between bumper and tree...but he was sprinting away. One of the 4x4s was lodged against a rock, its front wing bent out of shape, and the driver was cursing. They must have tried to run him down and he’d dodged out of the way. As I watched, Boone ducked into the forest.
I ran with Megan into the trees, both Boone and us now heading for the point. When he arrived, he’d have the mercenaries and Weiss hot on his tail. We had to be there waiting for him, ready to go. Luckily, I stumbled onto an animal trail. I hugged Megan close and went as fast as I could. I started to feel the first faint stirrings of hope. It was just possible that we could pull this off.
“Are we going to see Mr. Mason?” asked Megan.
I nodded. “Yes. Yes we are.”
“I like him,” said Megan quietly. “He’s nice.”
I checked over my shoulder but no one was following. “Yeah,” I said. “He really is.”
Megan leaned in so she could whisper in my ear. “He wants to marry you.”
A big, unexpected swell of emotion hit me. I blushed and went quiet, then ruffled her curls. “Let’s go see him,” I eventually managed in a choked voice.
I put my foot down and there was a metallic click I’ll remember for the rest of my life. A memory made me freeze, all of my weight on that foot.
“What is it?” whispered Megan.
I looked down, barely daring to breathe.
My foot was on a bear trap.
53
Kate
I willed it to be something, anything else. But there was no mistaking the semi-circle of gleaming metal teeth. It wasn’t even well covered with leaves. I’d have seen it no problem if I hadn’t been rushing.
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