by Mary Alford
He was inconsolable. To keep from going crazy, Kyle dissected every word of Liz’s story. Even if he bought the Fox’s men had overlooked the phone, he didn’t understand why they’d risk being caught by transporting two missing CIA agents into the United States. Unless he needed something from them.
Hadir had said Alhasan was grooming a woman for a mission that would shock the world. What if Hadir’s intel had been wrong? What if Liz was the true Fox and Alhasan and the American were working for her?
“Kyle...”
His hands tightened on the wheel. A single muscle worked in his jaw. “I can’t do this now, Lena. I can’t talk about this with you and not lose it. Let’s just concentrate on what we have to do. Because right now, I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to forgive you for what you’ve done.”
* * *
His phone rang. Lena couldn’t help but take every second of his silence as a rejection.
“Okay, thanks” she heard him say before he disconnected the call.
He spared her a glance. “That was Jase. We have a location for the phone. Liz was right. It’s a lumber mill outside Cedar Creek, Pennsylvania.” He sounded so distant. Her biggest fear was that her own foolishness had sealed their future.
“We can be there in two hours. We’ll sit on the place until Jase and the team arrive.”
“Okay,” she said and hated that they sounded like strangers talking to each other.
She noticed him glancing in the rearview mirror.
“What is it?” She turned and saw a car’s headlights still some distance away. Someone was behind them. “Is it them?”
The uneasiness in his eyes did little to reassure her. “I don’t know, but we can’t take the chance. We need to get off this road until they’ve passed.” He killed the lights and squinted through the windshield. “There’s a hill up ahead to the right. If we can make it over, we can use it as cover.”
He gripped the wheel tight and floored the gas. Lena hung on to the door with all her might as they topped the hill. What looked like someone’s pasture spread out before them. Off to the right, there was a clump of small trees. Kyle pulled the car behind them and stopped.
He pointed back the way they’d come. A line of brush separated the hill from the road. “If we can slip over there, we should have enough camouflage to keep them from seeing us. We’ll have the element of surprise if they attack.”
He didn’t look at her as he asked, “Are you ready?”
Her heart was breaking. She felt as if the chance they’d had at a future was slipping away with every moment he refused to talk to her. If they survived those men behind them, if they were able to capture the Fox and end this thing once and for all, what then?
She cleared her throat. It was next to impossible to answer, but she did. “Yes, I’m ready.”
When they reached the brush, Lena could make out the road below in the moonlight. The car was almost right on top of them now.
The men inside had the windows down and a spotlight searching the area where Kyle and Lena knelt. They both ducked.
“I told you there was no one here,” one of the men said.
“And I’m telling you I saw car lights ahead of us.” A second man’s voice, clearly agitated that his partner doubted him.
The spotlight homed in on the area where they were hiding, and Lena held her breath. “See? Nothing. You’re being paranoid and we’re out of time. We have work to do. Let’s go.”
The partner didn’t answer, but the spotlight disappeared and the car’s speed picked up.
“Let’s follow them. They could lead us to where the hostages are being held,” Kyle said.
They raced back to the car and Kyle put it in Drive, still without any lights.
“We can’t afford to have them spot us. We’ll have to hang back a little ways. At least there’s some moonlight, otherwise it would be near impossible to manage this winding road.”
Kyle kept a safe distance while the car ahead seemed oblivious to their tail. After they’d followed the car for more than an hour, it slowed down and turned off.
“This isn’t right. We’re heading the wrong way,” he said in concern. “The lumber mill is still some distance from here.”
She stared at the fading taillights. “Where do you think they’re going?”
Kyle shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe they’ve moved the hostages already.”
The car made another right-hand turn and Kyle braked just short of the exit.
Lena peered through the opening. “It looks like a private drive.”
“We’ll have to follow on foot. We can’t risk them seeing us.” He tucked the car out of sight and got out as quietly as possible. She did the same.
The drive was barely wide enough for a small vehicle, and it wound around in snakelike fashion.
When it suddenly ended, Kyle tapped her arm and they slipped behind some trees.
The two men they’d followed were standing outside their car talking to a couple of others.
Lena could just make out what they were saying.
“You’re late. We should have left half an hour ago. The schedule’s been moved forward.”
“We were delayed because of them. We’re here now.” Lena recognized the man’s voice from earlier.
“We need to get the last of the weapons on the truck and en route right away, otherwise...” The man didn’t finish, but the implication was deadly. The men headed for what looked like a military transport truck.
“We have to stop them from moving those weapons,” Kyle told her.
“There could be other men here. What do you want to do?” she asked.
“We need something to act as a diversion. Can you cover me? I’m going to drive their car straight into that truck.”
Lena shoved her fear for Kyle’s safety down deep. She had to stay focused. “Yes, I’ve got you.”
Something softened in his expression just for a second before the hard edge returned.
“You won’t have much time after I start the car before they open fire.”
“I’ve got you, Kyle,” she assured him.
And she did. She wouldn’t waver. She’d be there for him even if it cost her life. She loved him that much.
They eased to the car and Kyle hopped into the driver’s seat and tucked down low. The second he started the car, the men jerked around and Lena opened fire.
Kyle put the vehicle in Drive and headed for the truck. The men realized what they were doing and opened fire on Lena full force.
With her walking beside the moving car, using it as cover, the men jumped behind the truck and continued taking shots. When the vehicle was a couple of feet away, Kyle floored the gas and rammed the side of it hard.
Someone screamed. They’d injured one of the men. Lena charged the truck.
“Drop it,” she said and three men whirled to face her with their weapons drawn. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Kyle round the back of the truck.
One of the men fired at her. She hit the ground, aimed for the weapon and returned fire. The gun flew from his hands.
The two remaining men slowly lowered their guns and tossed them in front of them. The fourth man, who had taken the brunt of the hit, was unconscious.
Lena grabbed the men’s weapons while Kyle knelt beside the unconscious man and felt for a pulse.
“He’s alive. I’ll call the local law enforcement and have them pick these guys up. From the looks of the smoke coming out of the car’s engine, they’re not going anywhere. Let’s make sure the same can be said for the truck.” He shot out all four tires and then did the same to the engine.
“I’ll get their phones. We don’t want them calling for help before the police arrive.” Lena searched the men and retrieved their ce
ll phones while Kyle covered her.
“I’m going to check that shed over there. You got them?” She nodded and he hurried off. There weren’t any other buildings around other than the storage shed. Within minutes, Kyle reappeared.
“There’re enough US military weapons in there to wage a small war,” he told her in disbelief. “If that’s what’s left to move, I hate to see what’s passed through here already.”
Lena shook her head in disbelief. “Where are the hostages?” she demanded of the men.
The man closest to her shook his head. “They’re not here. We can’t help you. He’ll kill us if we do.”
Instantly, one of his partners rebuked him. “Shut up, you fool.”
“Who are you talking about?” Lena moved closer to the first man. “Tell us and we’ll help you.”
The man shook his head, regretting his outburst.
“I’ll ask you again, where are the hostages being held?” she repeated in a deadly serious tone. “If you want to live, you need to cooperate.”
“Keep your mouth shut,” the partner snarled. “I’m not dying because of you.”
The man was clearly not as loyal. His gaze ping-ponged from Kyle to Lena before giving in. “Some are dead. The rest are at the lumber mill. But you’re too late. They’re leaving tonight. If we don’t show soon, they’ll know something went wrong and they’ll leave without the rest of the weapons.”
Lena’s heart pounded a traumatic beat. Her worry was all for Joseph. “What about the boy? Is the boy okay?”
The man stared at her for the longest time. “Yes, I think so,” he admitted at last.
Relief had her bending over, her hands touching her knees. Alhasan had lied. Joseph was alive.
Just a little longer, Joseph. Hang on, we’re almost there.
“Let’s get out of here,” Kyle told her with the same gruff edge to his voice as before. They were back to square one.
“You can’t leave us here. They’ll think we’re deserters. He’ll send people here. We’ll be branded as traitors,” the man continued pleading. “Please, he’ll kill us.”
Lena didn’t recognize any of the men, which led her to believe they were US recruits. “Not if you do what you’re told and stay put. Someone will be here soon to pick you up. If you try anything foolish, you will be dead.”
Once they reached the car, Kyle did a U-turn and headed back to the main road.
“Do you think we’ll make it in time?” she asked, because she couldn’t bear the thought of being so close to saving Joseph and having him perish before they could reach him.
Kyle glanced her way briefly. “I sure hope so.”
She closed her eyes. “Father, please don’t let us be too late,” she prayed under her breath, and Kyle shot her a puzzled look. She understood. When she’d spoken about God in the past, he thought he was dealing with Ella Weiss, a missionary. Now that he knew she was Lena, he probably remembered her lack of faith before, and she could certainly understand his confusion. She hadn’t believed in God before she left on the mission. A lot had changed in her life and his. They had a whole lot of obstacles to overcome still, and she wasn’t sure where to start.
The silence that permeated the car was discouraging. She clutched her hands together. Maybe it was best this way. She wasn’t the woman she’d been before. And Kyle deserved so much more than this shell of a person she’d become.
THIRTEEN
He knew she had questions; he could feel her eyes on him in the darkness. She needed his forgiveness, but he couldn’t give it to her just yet.
He couldn’t get Liz’s conversation out of his head. Something about it bugged him. She’d said Sam was there once but he and his men had been taken away. It wasn’t so much what she said but the way she said it. He didn’t believe Liz was responsible for betraying the team or Hadir.
She was trying to warn him of something. If Sam and his team hadn’t provided anything useful, why bring them all the way to the United States? How was Duncan connected? Was he the real Fox in spite of Tracy’s denial? Jase had been able to track Duncan’s travels over the last ten years. He’d made only a handful of trips to Afghanistan.
“How many times did you say you saw the American at the prison?” he asked on impulse.
Lena rousted herself from her own dark thoughts. “Maybe six or more times through the years. Why?”
He shook his head. It all seemed just a little too convenient. Lena told him the American had blond hair and blue eyes. Yet Tracy had confirmed Duncan wasn’t the man who contacted her and his eyes were brown. Whatever his connection, Kyle was convinced Duncan wasn’t the man calling the shots.
An uneasy thought slithered through his head. Sam had blond hair and blue eyes and fit the description Tracy gave him to a T. What if Sam had faked the kidnapping?
Kyle recalled how the chopper hadn’t shown any signs of taking fire. It had simply drifted to the ground.
But he knew Sam. The man had been part of the CIA for several years before he decided to go into the private sector. They’d worked missions together.
So who was the Fox? And more important, why was it so important that he gain access to their headquarters? He was after something. No doubt something they didn’t realize was important.
Through the information Eddie Peterson had smuggled out of Afghanistan, they’d been systematically tracking down the weapons storage sites until the Fox figured out they had the information and the weapons had been moved. Jase’s team had gone over every piece of information in those files. Whatever the Fox was after, it wasn’t part of them.
The only things that were kept at the Scorpion headquarters that weren’t part of the network system were the agents’ personnel files. Anonymity was crucial in their line of work, and they’d learned from past mistakes not to have those files where they could be hacked.
Why would the Fox need the Scorpions’ personnel files? He shook his head. The more immediate concern was rescuing the hostages while they were still close by.
They were about fifteen miles from the Pennsylvania border and he was constantly watching the rearview mirror. He couldn’t get it out of his head that they might be walking into a setup.
As they drew closer, Kyle’s uneasiness for Lena’s safety grew. “I don’t know what we’ll be facing when we get to the lumber mill. I think it’s best if I take you to the local police station, where you will be safe.”
He didn’t get the words out before he had her answer. “No, I’m not letting you do this alone. We both know this could be a trap. We have no idea how many men they have or even who we’re after.”
“Lena...” Her answer wasn’t unexpected, but still.
“I want to bring the Fox to justice just as much as you do. Alhasan has to pay for taking our child’s life and for Joseph’s mother. There’s no time for a detour. You heard those men. We may be too late already. We can’t risk them getting away.”
The anger in her eyes disturbed him. She’d always been a determined woman, but this went beyond that. He was worried about the past tearing them apart, but what if the anger and bitterness that she’d shoved deep inside her heart was the thing that destroyed her? He couldn’t let that happen. No matter where their future lay, whether together or apart, he wasn’t about to let the Fox destroy his wife.
In spite of everything, he still loved her. Did they have a chance together? Only God knew.
According to the map of the area Jase had sent, the mill was just up ahead. Kyle killed the lights and parked the car.
“We’ll have to go the rest of the way on foot. We don’t want to let them know we’re coming.”
She nodded and they got out of the car.
“It should be about a quarter of a mile that way.” He pointed to an area to the left and started walking. The idea that
they were so close to the man they’d been chasing for years made it hard to go slow. Still, the last thing they needed was to tip him off...if they hadn’t already.
It was like a snail’s pace maneuvering quietly through the thick brush and overgrown trees. Through it all Lena never missed a beat. Eventually the underbrush opened up into a clearing and Kyle held out his arm to block Lena from going any farther.
What looked like a large barn lay straight ahead of them. There were several smaller storage units scattered around.
“I don’t like it. This feels off to me,” he said, his voice tense. Kyle took out his binoculars and glanced around the area. Nothing moved. He switched the mode to thermal. There was no indication of body heat anywhere around the area. What happened to the hostages?
“Stay behind me. If anything jumps up, find cover fast.”
She slowly nodded and they eased from their cover and slowly headed for the largest storage building, with Kyle stopping periodically to listen.
When they reached the building, they eased along the side until they were at the front. The door was wide-open. The hair at the back of his neck stood up, alarming him—something was wrong.
Please protect us, he prayed, then eased through the entrance with Lena close behind. Both weapons drawn.
At first glance, the building appeared to be empty of life and weapons.
Where were Liz and the others? How long had they been moving the weapons from the area? Liz had said she’d overheard them discussing picking up a shipment earlier today. Had they moved them so quickly?
“Are we too late?” Lena asked as they glanced around the cavernous space.
He wasn’t so sure. He felt as if they were part of some macabre scene, playing out their parts. “I hope not. Let’s search the place. Maybe they left some clue behind.” He moved toward some stacked wood in the left corner while Lena went the opposite way.
He spotted the phone tucked on top of the wood as if it were meant to be located. “I found the cell phone.” He picked it up. It was still turned on. The battery charge was almost nonexistent.
