“Yes, ma’am.”
“Care to tell me about it?”
“Well, I would …” He nudged her shoulder with his. “But then I’d have to kill you.”
Cassidy glanced over at Steve, and he gave her a told-you-so wink. “Very funny, Dr. Anderson.” She reached across his legs, and tapped Michelle on the knee. “Did you know Black Stripe is real?”
Michelle frowned and shook her head. “Nope.” She squirmed in her seat and lifted a shoulder. “They don’t let me out much.”
Cassidy chuckled and pointed a finger at the ecologist. “You don’t fool me, Michelle Allen. Behind that soft-spoken voice and innocent expression lies one of the most intuitive minds I’ve ever known. Don’t knock yourself down because of your limited field assignments.” An idea sparked. “Would you mind probing the computers for me and seeing what you can dig up on Black Stripe?”
Michelle frowned at her. “Have Steve do that.”
Cassidy glared across the chopper in Steve’s direction. “Already did. And he won’t help.”
“I don’t think I can help, either. I’m not even sure they exist.” Michelle responded.
“Oh, they exist, all right. But getting anyone to talk about them is like teaching your cat to sit.” Cassidy sat back, frustrated. Her senate contact hadn’t been able to provide any knowledge of Black Stripe. She’d exhausted all her leads. Asking for Michelle’s help was an act of desperation.
“What’s with the interest in Black Stripe, Sunshine?”
She glared at Jake. “Cassidy. My name is Cassidy. Or if you prefer, Dr. Lowell will work as well.”
The corner of his lip curled up in what Cassidy mentally labeled his snarky smirk. Dark lines smudged the space beneath his bottom lashes, lacing his face with a predatory glint. “But you’re such a ray of shining loveliness, especially this early in the morning.”
Cassidy narrowed her eyes and muttered a few obscenities at Jake. He quirked his brow and she followed his line of vision, noticing the moon’s movement across the sky. Checking her watch, she couldn’t believe how quickly time had passed.
“PITA,” she said.
He offered her a quizzical expression. “Peter?”
“P.I.T.A.” She spelled out the letters and smacked him hard in the arm. “Pain in the ass.”
Jake tossed his head back and laughed. She couldn’t help her answering smile. After their gruesome evening, it felt good to settle into normalcy. Lack of sleep, she decided, was making her giddy. Better to laugh than to cry.
Cassidy clung to the edge of her seat as the helicopter dipped then dropped down to land with a thud. The blades slowed and by the time they’d exited the chopper, they were completely silent.
“I brought the RV over to load up on additional lab equipment,” Steve called and jogged over to his camper contraption. He jumped behind the wheel, backing it up to the storage compartment beneath the helicopter. He leaned out the window and waved at Jake. “Come on, PITA. Help me get those wolves loaded.”
“Cute,” Jake answered.
They dragged the bags out of the helicopter and tossed them in a storage container beneath the main floor of the camper. Cassidy followed Jake into the interior of the vehicle, curious as to what she’d find. Steve hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said state-of-the-art.
The width of the center aisle was no wider than three feet. On the left side of the aisle pristine counters contained a variety of mounted lab equipment, while on the right side two computer workstations were set about four feet apart from one another.
Steve brushed past Cassidy and pointed to the upper walls. “These overhead compartments extend five feet out like airplane wings and can be used as sleeping bunks.”
“Cool.” Cassidy liked this little vehicle.
“This”—Steve motioned to what looked like two oversized closets that extended a few feet beyond the back of the camper—“is your necropsy lab.”
“I always considered myself as having a pretty decent imagination, but explain to me how two closets become one lab.”
Steve grinned, enjoying this little show and tell. “These closets extend eight feet out and are supported by hydraulic legs. Once unfolded, everything is pretty much drop down, plug, and play. The center floor slides out from beneath the bed of the truck. Your operating table rises up from its flattened position, and these two areas against the wall have all the equipment and storage containers you require.”
Cassidy still felt dubious; however, she’d be able to see it actually fit together in a few hours. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” She glanced at the bag Jake carried and grabbed his arm. “What’s with the yellow tape on this one?”
“That’s the bullet-sporting wolf. I figure we’ll need to get that over to Chief Connor ASAP.”
“I guess that makes you a smart PITA?” Cassidy laughed and slapped him on the butt. His arm snaked out, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her tightly against his chest.
“Don’t touch the goods unless you mean to explore them.” Blue eyes challenged, a mixture of emotion swirling within their depths.
She gasped, finding it difficult to balance between soaring hormones and outrage. She shoved against his chest. His eyes darkened, and she felt her face flush beneath his scrutiny. “I won’t touch again. Thanks for the warning.” Cassidy squirmed from his arms and walked to the end of the camper, muttering a mixture of sailor language and animal parts she’d like to see attached to Jake Anderson.
“What’s with you and Jake, Cass?” Steve stepped from behind the black-and-white-striped vehicle.
“Not a thing.”
“Looks like a thing.”
She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “Well, it’s not.”
“Gonna stomp your foot next?”
Cassidy stuck her tongue out at him instead. “Get these bodies loaded, and head back to the hotel. You’re going to show me how this cool necropsy lab magically appears and then sprinkle fairy dust on your computer and find me some answers to this blood anomaly.” She paused when Steve turned to say something to her. “Don’t you even call me a bitch,” she warned.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. Can we maybe get a little sleep first?” Steve accepted the last bag from Jake and slammed the storage compartment shut.
“Put the coffee on. This can’t wait.”
He grabbed Michelle’s arm and steered her toward the truck, helping her with the last of the gear. “See you back at the hotel.”
Cassidy watched the vehicle pull off the airport runway. A sudden blast of air snagged her curls. She instinctively ducked as the helicopter rose from the tarmac and banked in the direction of Yellowstone.
“Sunshine?”
She spun around to find Jake standing less than five feet away, moonlight bathing him in a soft glow. Her pulse did an irritating two-step. “Yeah?”
“We have a minor problem.”
Annoyance at his ability to provoke irrational feelings made her words sharp and clipped. “What’s that?”
“It appears you just let our ride drive off.”
Cassidy twisted around, gazing at the now empty landing strip on the northern side of Jackson Hole Airport. The ZEBRA plane filled one section, but there were no vehicles in sight. Their Jeep was at the base of Post 26.
She blew an exasperated lungful of air out. “Well, heck.” She frowned and chewed on her bottom lip. “Let’s go see what other little toys lie within the belly of that airplane.” The silence surrounding them itched Cassidy’s nerves. She didn’t want to be alone with Jake.
Swearing softly, she tugged at the end of her braid. Actually, she did want to be alone with him. That was the problem. “What about our phones?”
“Mine’s in there.” Jake pointed toward the red taillights of the camper that were being swallowed up by the night. “Yours?”
Cassidy felt her pockets and came up empty. “I think I left mine on the chopper.” Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
Jake began walking toward the ZEBRA jet, and she followed at what she considered a safe distance. “Don’t suppose you have the keys?” he called over his shoulder.
“I have the access code.”
“Access code?”
Cassidy realized walking behind him and watching the way his jeans clung tightly to his butt wasn’t helping her pulse settle. “Your memory isn’t one of your better qualities, is it, Popeye?” She increased her pace and caught up with him, frowning at the startled expression that crossed his face. “You know? The access code. Whenever we take one of these babies and keep it on site, we’re given the cipher code to retrieve all the equipment stored within.”
“Oh, the cipher code, of course.” Jake answered. “If you’d said that in the first place, I’d have understood.”
That was close. Cassidy tossed him a strange glance but seemed to ignore his foot and mouth disease. In truth, he’d never required the use of a ZEBRA jet. But he understood they were standard issue for the majority of assignments. If he was who he claimed to be, a simple biologist, he should have known this.
Cassidy walked beneath the airplane. A soft breeze rippled across the tarmac, ruffling the strands of loose hair around her face. He closed his eyes for a second. Counting backwards from ten, Jake shut out the image and locked away the sudden flash of desire her movements ignited.
Back in control, he waited. She flipped on a small flashlight, locating the keypad, and pushed in the appropriate numbers. The tail of the plane split in half, as the bottom portion lowered to the ground.
Jake jogged up the ramp to scan the interior. There wasn’t much. The RV had taken up most of the room. Standard issue parachutes and miscellaneous tools that might be required on a field assignment were secured along the outside walls. Several large boxes containing additional lab equipment and computer systems sat against the far wall. He followed a length of straps that were secured to the ceiling and floor. A ripple of excitement exploded in his chest. “Come to Daddy, you beautiful hunk of metal.” Jake grinned and sauntered toward a large black motorcycle, running his fingers along the smooth metal. He felt rather than heard Cassidy approach behind him. “Your chariot, mi’lady.”
“Wow, look at that thing. I wonder who Sharpe paid to build us that?” She walked around the jet-black crotch rocket. “Harley?”
He unbuckled the straps. “It appears so.” Jake swung his leg over the seat and revved the engine. This was his kind of toy. “Nice of them to leave the keys,” he called over the roar of the muffler.
Cassidy jogged down the open ramp and waited for him to ride the motorcycle out. He stopped a few feet from the plane as she raised the ramp and verified everything was locked. She moved with the grace of a lioness, all muscle and mane. Walking from beneath the plane, she grinned at him. His heart skipped several beats, making him swear silently. He tossed a helmet at her and patted the seat behind him.
Her leg swung over and Cassidy settled against his back. “This has Steve written all over it.”
Jake twisted around and grinned. “This has fun written all over it.” And heat. Too much damn heat. This was going to be a long ride back to Yellowstone. She wrapped her arms around his waist, then patted his chest to let him know she was ready. The awareness transferring between their bodies lit trails of desire along every nerve ending.
“Why is it that the guys always get to drive?” Her voice was soft and husky, filtering through the small microphone in her helmet.
He rolled his eyes and thought of anything but her. “You don’t drive a Harley, Sunshine. You ride.” With that, he snapped it into gear and they sped across the tarmac. Speed, and lots of it, was the cold shower he needed right now. It seemed to work beautifully until her laughter rippled across the distance.
CHAPTER 22
BACK AT THE INN, CASSIDY JUMPED OFF THE BIKE THE SECOND Jake flipped the ignition switch. She’d loved the breakneck speed and exhilaration of racing through the night holding onto nothing but the wind and Jake. Pulling the helmet off her head, she shook her hair out and grinned at him. “That was just what the doctor ordered.”
An owl hooted, and she could hear the gentle slapping of water against rock from the lake to their left. Dawn pushed at the horizon, the stars strained to shine through the last of the night sky. Pine and water mixed together, creating a fresh crisp scent. She tilted her head and gazed at Jake. He hadn’t dismounted from the bike.
His eyes glittered beneath the yellow glow of the hotel lights. Jake gazed at her face, reached for her, and pulled her against his chest. Before she had a second to clear her thoughts, his lips found hers and the world went black, then white, then black again.
Oh Lord, she was on fire. Her stomach flipped then twisted into a huge ball of sizzling heat. Her toes curled, and she reached up to grip his shoulders before her knees gave out. He tasted like heaven and hell, sweet and dangerous. Everything about this endless moment in time was a contradiction. His arms crushed her against his chest in anger and frustration, but his lips caressed her with fire and passion.
Jake released her. She stumbled backwards, trying to find balance.
Cassidy trembled, but the anger at his quick dismissal flashed white hot. She watched him swing his leg off the motorcycle then point an accusing finger in her direction. “You need to keep your distance.” He’d raised his voice, and it echoed loudly within the near empty parking lot.
He swore and twisted on his heel, striding toward the hotel and leaving her standing alone with only her confused emotions and hyperactive hormones.
“I need to keep my distance?” Cassidy charged after him, smacking him on the back. “You have a lot of nerve.”
He whirled around, and the fire in his eyes stopped her short. “Give me space …” He inhaled and exhaled, his breath ragged. “Cassidy.”
Her eyes widened, and she covered her mouth with her hand. “Damn you,” she whispered and pushed past him.
Entering the presidential suite, she noted Michelle and Steve already at work running tests. Steve glanced up and rose to his feet, sending his chair toppling backward. “What’s the matter, Cass?”
“Nothing. I’m fine.” She shook her head and cast him a warning glance that she prayed would shut him up. He narrowed his eyes when Jake entered the room, crossing the floor and slamming his bedroom door behind him. Cassidy held up her hand. “Don’t ask.”
Steve furrowed his brow but adhered to her wish for privacy. “The necropsy lab is prepped and ready for you. I’m combing the Web for anything similar to the consistency of the blood samples found on the ground, and Michelle’s dissecting the natural debris she bagged.”
Cassidy rubbed her forehead. “Fine. I’m going to grab a quick shower, and then I’ll get to work in the lab.” She headed toward her bedroom, then paused. “Check with Ethan to see whether or not any of the lab results have come in on that human body, please.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Steve mock saluted.
She smiled and sighed. “We have a lot of work to do before CDC arrives.”
“When’s their ETA?”
Glancing at her watch, she was shocked at the time. It was past five in the morning. “They’ll be here for lunch.”
Cassidy entered her bedroom. With shaking hands, she retrieved her toiletries and headed toward the shower. Jake Anderson was an enigma. She didn’t know what to think about their little indiscretion. However, she was certain it would never happen again. Nope. Too much feeling, too much emotion.
And way too much heat.
Cassidy flipped the shower to hot, waiting for the steam to thicken in the bathroom. She’d wash away his touch. You fight fire with fire, right? She’d burn him out of her memory.
By the time Cassidy exited the front of the inn, morning had chased the night away. The ground rustled with nocturnal animals seeking shelter. Birds chattered and gossiped, competing with one another for the loudest song. She nodded to several couples laden with backpacks and camping equipment, intent
on grabbing an early start.
She made her way around the edge of the inn and walked across the parking lot to the area Steve had indicated. Spotting him waving at her from inside the back of the mobile lab, she picked up her pace, careful not to spill the coffee she was carrying.
“Here.” Handing a coffee up to Steve, she felt rewarded by his grateful smile.
“Thanks. Come on in.”
Cassidy stepped up the metal stairs and into the back of the camper that now appeared to be twice its original size. The necropsy lab was just as promised: a simple metal gurney in the center with all the tools of the trade secured against the wall and ceiling. Steve had pulled the mobile lab to the camper section of the inn and attached it to power and water. Anxious to begin work, she waved him away.
“This button right here, Cass, is to be used when you’re done. It’ll cleanse the inside via ultraviolet rays.” Steve paused before jumping out the back of the mobile lab. “Do you want help with the wolves?”
Jake stepped into the confined space. “I’ll help her.” He moved toward the storage container and lifted the lid, retrieving the first bag.
Cassidy’s pulse raced, but she bit her bottom lip and refused to acknowledge the effect the biologist created.
“Do you think that’s appropriate?” Steve asked.
“I’m the biologist. I need these blood samples and body fluids. You need to be coordinating our data.”
Cassidy closed her eyes against the testosterone flinging around the room. “It’s fine, Steve. Jake’s right; we need to work this together.” She guided him out the door and kissed his cheek. “Thanks for being a good friend.”
“I’ve got your back, Sugar.”
She smiled and nodded. “I know you do.”
When Steve rounded the corner, she re-entered the lab. Jake tossed her a mask and helped her into protective clothing. She did the same for him, tying the back of the long gown. They worked in silence, neither wanting to rehash what had occurred earlier.
Jake placed the first animal on the table, and Cassidy went to work. Her knife slid across its underbelly, making a “Y” shape from the upper chest to the lower abdomen. She peeled the skin apart, cracked the rib cage, and began removing internal organs.
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