by Debra
As apologies went, it wasn’t good enough. “Putting me on edge isn’t healthy for any of us out here.” He muttered a better apology, but she wasn’t buying it. The bruise on her arm told more truth than any of Lancaster’s words. She mentally tossed around defense plans, unable to relax until she saw Clint wave as he and the other man came over the rise. “It might be best if we turn back and you find yourself another guide.”
She should’ve suggested it the moment he’d grabbed her arm. To hell with the money; the business was flush and they were only out groceries and a little gas.
“That’s extreme.” His smile gave her the willies, made her think of a snake planning to strike. “And it can’t really be necessary. My mind is already on our next project and I know our timetable out here isn’t adjustable.”
“That’s easy enough. I’ll radio a friend, have them meet us at the campsite tonight and take over from there.”
“No. I want your guidance, Ms. Binali.” He tipped his head toward his team. “We’ve all been enjoying your lessons today.” Behind him six heads bobbed in silent accord. “We’re all looking forward to the views from the summit.”
Uh-huh. They were looking for something more than a good camera angle and she nearly said so when Clint gave her a hand signal to drop it. Fine. If he was comfortable, she would figure out a way to come to terms with the nerve-racking Mr. Lancaster.
“Considering our progress, I know just the spot to stop for lunch.” She held up a hand when he started to protest. “We are stopping for thirty minutes to rest and refuel if you want to reach tonight’s campsite safely.”
She could tell by his sour expression he didn’t agree. A small voice in her head begged him to protest, to push her, so she could leave him out here to manage on his own. That was the threshold, she promised herself. One more argument, one more improper exchange and she and Clint would leave them to find their own way. She’d have to answer for it, and as she trudged on, she imagined the fallout.
Lancaster would, at the very least, post a scathing review online. That kind of thing could be hard to overcome, but one negative review among literally thousands of positives? She refused to worry about that.
No, the fallout from her peers and park rangers concerned her more. While anyone who dealt with tourists understood the occasional desire to throttle someone, abandoning them to the elements was never acceptable. She didn’t have anything other than a gut instinct that the men were up to something. While her instincts were respected, the authorities would need more than her hunch and general irritation to justify her leaving a client in the wilderness.
“Hey,” Clint said, sidling up to her.
“Hey.”
“You’re thinking of tossing him into the gulley?”
“Rock slides can be a bitch,” she confessed.
“So can gunfire,” he whispered, putting an arm around her.
“I wouldn’t—” She lost her voice, realizing what he meant. “They’re armed.”
“I’m betting on rifles instead of tents in the bedrolls. I smelled the gun oil and noticed one ankle holster.”
“Damn.”
“I agree. And that Max guy?”
“Yeah?” She resisted the urge to look back at the man Clint mentioned.
“He’s got a major geek-factor electronic compass disguised as some bogus camera accessory. He’s sly about it, but I know what I saw.”
Great. Based on Lancaster’s insistence to head north, she assumed whatever they wanted was near the summit. Too bad that didn’t narrow the possible destination. “What do you want to do?”
“We could ditch them at lunch.”
“No.” Too risky in broad daylight. “We’ll do it tonight.” They’d have a better chance of gaining a head start after dark. “We’ll split up when they’re asleep and you can head down and notify the authorities.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll circle back and tail them. Find out what they’re up to.”
“It’s a date,” Clint said, giving her shoulder a squeeze. Easing away from her, he raised his voice and announced that lunch would be coming up in about a half hour.
Hearing the enthusiastic replies, she wondered if Lancaster was issuing demerits for dissent among the ranks.
She racked her brain for the reason Lancaster and his armed escort wanted to reach the summit. Drugs? Weapons? It could be anything out here, away from prying eyes of civilization.
If Lancaster had come all this way for an illegal meeting or exchange, she didn’t hold out much hope he’d leave her and Clint alive to talk about it. With Max’s electronic compass and her advice on the best place to make the ascent, Lancaster wouldn’t need a guide to get back down the mountain.
It would’ve been tempting to panic, but Charly wasn’t built that way. She’d given him enough of an advantage admitting he made her nervous. That was water under the bridge. She’d use it, let him underestimate her again. It was her best play, because her revolver and a flare gun wouldn’t make much of a dent against the arsenal Clint suspected their clients were packing.
Chapter Six
Will had slipped out of his apartment in the middle of the night, geared up for tailing the hikers who were meeting at sunrise. In layers of muted black, the pockets of his cargo pants loaded with the few things he considered essential on an op, he was ready for anything.
The knife in his boot was an upgrade from standard-issue after his original had been used in self-defense during a hostage recovery operation. The modest nine-millimeter semiautomatic handgun in the holster at the small of his back was almost as comforting as having a buddy with him, and it gave give him ample defense—against wildlife or Lancaster.
He had food and ammunition in various pockets, along with gloves, a knit cap, a smaller knife, a flashlight, his cell phone, camouflage paint for his face and, with a nod to Charly’s safety concerns, a roll of medical gauze and tape.
Will had done an assessment of the hotel, but Lancaster had booked rooms at a high-end chain and there hadn’t been enough time or an easy way to search the rooms. Instead, he’d stationed himself near the park entrance Charly had mentioned and waited.
The cold didn’t bother him; he’d learned to ignore natural circumstances during his SEAL training days. Push-ups and sit-ups in the surf created a new definition for unpleasant. Training was a mind game, teaching the brain and body which details to ignore. Accepting that as fact was the first step to success. Some of the strangest things stuck with him, despite his best effort, and as he’d waited in the dark for Charly and her clients, the soundtrack from The Little Mermaid drifted through his head on a repeating loop.
No one seemed to have any good intel why Lancaster had left his California facility. Everyone with an opinion felt it was tied to the Blackout Key, but Casey reported that a search of Lancaster’s Los Angeles office and residence hadn’t revealed anything new.
There was plenty of proof Lancaster remained obsessed with taking out his industry enemies, but those enemies weren’t in the San Juan National Forest. Will hoped being here early would give him a chance to overhear something helpful before Charly led these guys into an area where making an arrest—if necessary—would be next to impossible.
Lancaster had arrived well before Charly, right in line with the personality assessment Casey had provided. The software genius had a compulsive need to be first in all things. Will wondered if it had always been that way, or if that had stemmed from the man’s fixation on revenge.
Observing both Lancaster and his team, Will hadn’t felt any better about Charly guiding them into the wilderness with only Clint as backup.
This crew clearly had military training. The hair might be longer than regulation, and the clothing civilian, but the six men were hard-core efficient. No wasted motion, no mistakes, no visible distinguishing marks. While he didn’t get eyes on any weapons, Will knew they were there. They used such common first names he nearly laughed as he noted them on his a
rm.
The only clue about their real purpose had been Lancaster’s quiet question about the status of a beacon. The reply, from the one they called Max, had been an affirmative nod.
There were all kinds of things that could be attached to a beacon. Anything from software to equipment, even people. Not much to go on, but Will would pass it up the line before he followed them up the trail.
Charly and Clint had pulled into the parking area five minutes ahead of schedule. Smart, considering her client. She had moved with an efficient grace as she helped Clint unload and distribute supplies for the hikers. While she didn’t address it, Will knew she caught the general apathy regarding her safety briefing. From his hiding place he grinned, thinking about the snakebite kit. The woman knew her business, even if she didn’t know her clients as well as she should this time around.
Between her skill, Clint’s assistance and Will trailing the party, he was confident they could manage the situation and prevent Lancaster from crippling national security.
As Charly led them out, Will lagged behind to search the cars. Peering through the window, he saw car rental paperwork tucked in the visors. No shock they were rentals, but this time Lancaster had used an alias. Will used his cell phone to take pictures of the rental agreement and the bar codes on the car windows and emailed the information to Casey’s office. Completing all he could here, he hurried to catch up with the hikers.
* * *
NOT EVEN THE expertise of the men with Lancaster gave Will much of a challenge as he followed. Too complacent, they clearly didn’t sense any threat, which gave him an advantage. He kept them in sight, waiting for some clue about their intentions out here.
Charly’s smooth voice carried through the air periodically as she pointed out plants and bird calls, and the occasional track of an animal who’d crossed the trail. Will was sure her typical clients would love it, but Lancaster and his men weren’t impressed.
Charly wasn’t an idiot; she had to be picking up some vibe that these men weren’t here for the scenery and team building. With every exchange—or lack thereof—he grew more concerned that she’d turn the party back before he could figure out what Lancaster wanted.
The pace was quick, but the brisk air felt good in his lungs and his muscles were warm from the exertion. He was starting to understand what Charly found so appealing up here.
Overhearing the disagreement about the route, Will waited until the group moved out of earshot before he called Director Casey. The cell service was sketchy, but he offered the few details he’d gained so far.
“A beacon?”
“That’s what he said,” Will confirmed. “But no mention of what kind or who or what they were tracking. They were too careful.”
“I’ll see what I can find out. We’re deconstructing the alias.”
“Any success?”
“A passport with that name was used four months ago traveling from LAX to France and back.”
Will didn’t know if that connected with this at all. “The men with him don’t have any particular accents.”
“He has men with him?”
“Yes. Six.” He rattled off the names. “Flawless English, all of them.”
“Accents could have been trained out of them.”
“True.” Will’s instincts leaned more toward American mercenaries, carefully researched and quietly recruited to Lancaster’s cause. He kept the opinion to himself. Either way, they were armed and dangerous. He was eager to catch up with Charly and keep her safe. “Any ties to Colorado?”
“Not that we’ve found. We’re still looking.”
Will understood how manpower and urgency shifted on a daily basis. Based on the file, someone had been dialed into Lancaster’s public rhetoric and movements for years. “Any action in his offices?” Everything he’d learned about the reverse-engineering key in the past twenty-four hours made typical hackers look like social butterflies. The data on this sort of software development suggested the potential for abuse was astronomical.
“None. What about the guide?” There was static, and Casey had to try three more times to make the question clear to Will.
“She’s solid,” Will replied, shifting a bit to find a stronger signal. “The best guide out here.”
“Could Lancaster turn her?”
“Into what?” The idea of Charly being influenced to do something illegal amused Will, though he knew everyone had a price. “She doesn’t compromise.” Especially not when it came to her beloved mountains.
“Good. Remember Lancaster’s the priority. She’s expendable.”
The words, uttered between crackles and dead air, landed like rocks in his stomach. Will rallied against the reaction. Collateral damage had been part of every mission he’d accepted for his country. This wouldn’t be any different.
Except he liked Charly and he wanted to know her better. Last night’s dinner had started as a means to an end, but their previous dates had been a result of mutual attraction and friendship. And that kiss? He’d enjoyed it and, like any of his red-blooded male peers, it had left him working out how to get more.
More kisses and more of whatever she was willing to share beyond kisses.
“Lancaster is ruthless and...learned some things...he’s out for blood,” Casey said.
“Yes, sir.” Will could fill in the missing words easily enough. “Let me know if you get anything on the beacon.”
“It must...for the key...”
Will checked the display and moved again, hoping to hear a complete sentence this time. “...don’t know how it got out there.”
“I’ll find it.” He gave Casey the radio channels Binali Backcountry used and ended the call. Full of urgency, he navigated a route parallel to the track Charly was on and quickly closed the gap, catching up with them.
Despite the natural dangers, so far this assignment was a breeze. The mountain offered plenty of cover and resources. When he paused to listen or look around, the views were stunning.
But when he was in earshot of Lancaster again it was clear the older man wasn’t as impressed with the environment. He became increasingly difficult for Charly as the day wore on, though she and Clint maintained their composure. Will watched the guides talk on two occasions, before and after lunch, and knew they were planning something. He didn’t want to reveal himself or his purpose, but he couldn’t let them jeopardize his mission, either. Casey and the authorities needed to know what had brought Lancaster out here, and Will couldn’t let the guides jeopardize the primary objective.
As dinner wound down and Charly proposed setting up camp for the night, Lancaster protested again.
“There’s plenty of light left,” he shouted at her, sending birds that had roosted for the night winging into the air.
Will wasn’t close enough to catch more than the sound of Charly’s calm, quiet voice in reply. Taking a head count, grateful for the bright caps she gave to her guests, he planned his route and silently crept closer to the campsite.
“If we want to keep moving, you need to accommodate us,” Lancaster said at a more reasonable volume. “Call the night hiking another team challenge,” he added.
Clint spoke up. “That kind of challenge isn’t worth the risk.” He angled closer to Charly. “I have plenty of fun in store for tomorrow. It’s better if we get some rest tonight.”
“We’re rested,” Lancaster insisted.
The menacing tone, along with the eye contact between the others, had Will reaching for the knife in his boot. Could he break cover without causing more harm to people and the op? He wasn’t sure he had the leverage to ensure Lancaster’s honest cooperation.
“There’s a meteor shower this week,” Charly said. “Tonight’s peak time is only a few hours away.”
“Not one of us gives a damn about the stars!”
“I know you want to reach the summit, and we’ll get there,” Charly was saying. Will admired her ability to stay calm despite the evidence that Lancaster wasn’t here
for the nature high. “Patience is important in these mountains. Especially at night. We’re farther along than I’d planned, which makes tomorrow a shorter day.”
“We go north.” Lancaster’s gaze roamed over each of his men in turn, and then he faced Charly once more. “Now.”
“No.” Charly, only two or three inches shorter than Lancaster, stared him down. “Night falls faster than you think and I won’t risk it.”
“We packed lights.”
“No.” She crossed her arms, feet planted.
“By your own rules—” Lancaster circled his finger, indicating his team. “We’re in agreement.”
“High risks or impromptu changes require a unanimous decision or a life-threatening circumstance.” She tapped her chest. “I’m not hiking any more tonight.”
“You misunderstand who is in charge here, Ms. Binali.”
Her thick braid rippled between her shoulders as she shook her head. “Nature is in charge here, Mr. Lancaster,” she shot back. “You can get mad or you can accept the facts. Darkness means predators and makes natural obstacles impossible to see. Flashlights aren’t enough. My responsibility is to show you the mountain without injury or worse. That’s why you hired me.”
“I hired you to get me to the summit.” He pulled out a heavy black handgun and leveled it on Charly. “The sooner the better.”
Will braced for panic, but in the waning twilight Charly didn’t flinch. “We stay here tonight.”
“Whatever you’re after, we’ll find it tomorrow,” Clint said.
Crap. Big mistake. Will wished he could do something, but he had to let Charly defuse this situation. Lancaster was too sure his target was north of here. Will would head that way, despite Charly’s warning, just as soon as the group decided to stay put for the night.
Lancaster slowly turned to Clint, giving a nod to one of his men. “What do you know about it?”
“About what?” Clint tugged the bill of his ball cap. “I saw Max tracking something, that’s all. I—”
The violent crack of gunfire ripped through the air and the forest seemed to shiver as wildlife reacted, scurrying through the shadows around Will.
