Rebecca used the binoculars the way Kurt had taught her to sweep the area from behind the safety of the windows. It afforded her a close-up view of an osprey spreading its magnificent wings to almost six feet as it dove until its beak touched the water and then swooped back up into the sky. The bird was likely catching fish, but she tried to block that thought out of her mind since she was still starving. Seafood sounded good. She’d even settle for sushi, not a favorite.
Kurt paced across the floor as he spoke on the satellite phone. It’d been his pattern for over an hour as he’d talked to numerous agencies. From the bits and pieces she’d overheard, FBI, SWAT and deputy marshals from Spokane were en route to meet Delaney at the sheriff boat.
Everything had changed since finding out Cabell was on the top ten list. Whereas Kurt didn’t want anyone to notice or to follow the police boat before, now he wanted it to be easy for her attacker and his mercenaries to follow. The task force had decided to draw the mercenaries to the cove, away from the population. If they expected gunfire and a fight to get these guys, then she wondered how they expected to keep her safe.
Kurt hung up the phone and faced her. “Your grandfather insists on coming here to be with you.” He shook his head. “I’m going to make sure the rail system still works before he gets here. We should have a visual of each other the whole time. Knock on the window, hard, if you see anything.”
He had her grandfather’s comfort in mind—there would’ve been no way to get the judge up all those stairs and across the bridge—so Kurt had to have her safety in mind, as well. The only fear she should have was the fear of the Lord, and He loved her and was on her side. She exhaled and let it sink in again.
She’d never thought of herself as a fearful person, but she’d never been in danger like the past week. Her father had to take precautions, but even he had never looked a gunman in the eye. She shivered, remembering the guard’s cold eyes. Pain zipped across her head like a warning sign of an impending headache, a true indication of her exhaustion. She was too tired to think anymore.
She stepped to the far edge of the window so she could watch Kurt climb down the steep hill. He grabbed hold of branches from nearby trees to stay steady and removed a knife from a pocket on the back of his belt that she hadn’t noticed before. He sliced down the branches from the bush that blocked the bench seating for the rail system. He did it with such flourish she couldn’t help but smile. God had made that man strong, fast and determined. A protector.
Something in her periphery caught her eye. Two boats approached fast. She banged on the window and zoomed the binoculars. Two of the boats had big letters on the side. It was hard to tell what it said as the boats crashed through the waves, but she saw the first three letters of Sheriff so she flashed a thumbs-up at Kurt.
If his plan had worked, then the men who wanted her dead would follow shortly after them. Kurt opened the back door of the cabin and strode inside. He picked up a second set of binoculars and looked for himself. “They’ll be up here in minutes.”
“What if you misjudged how bad these private military guys want me gone, and they don’t come?”
He put an arm around her shoulder, gave a small squeeze and stepped back as if he hadn’t meant to do that. “It’s driving me crazy that anyone would ever want to hurt you, so I’d be relieved. But, I also want to be prepared. The truth is that you’ve seen the flash drive numbers so your testimony could link the guard…and likely Mr. Cabell to murder. You can also identify Cabell as Mijovic. They don’t know you still have a photograph, so…”
“So it’s unlikely they’ll let it go,” she finished for him. She shrugged. “A girl can dream. It only looks like one person is driving each boat. What happened to your task force?”
He smiled. “Well, I don’t envy any of them, particularly your grandfather, but they’re hiding on the boat. I wanted to draw attention, but I also wanted to make it look like it would be an easy fight with only a few men. They probably think you and I are on one of those boats.” He held up the binoculars. “I can see Delaney, and she’s wearing plain clothes. If I didn’t know better, she could pass as you from afar. She’s put her hair in a loose braid—something I’ve never seen her do—because you do that.”
She self-consciously fingered her braid. In the humidity, her hair got curlier. Delaney’s had body and wave but her hair would braid so much easier than Rebecca’s.
“Hopefully our plan works,” he said. “We wouldn’t want them to think they need to come here with guns blazing to overtake us. This will be all over fast enough.” It might’ve been her imagination, but his eyes looked sad. He cleared his throat. “Okay, well they’re pulling into dock. It’s time to get you situated.”
He turned to one of the many cabinets and unlocked it to reveal vests that looked more substantial than the one she had worn in the boat. He approached and held it for her to slip on like a coat. “This one has impact-resistance plate. I imagine they already have one on your grandfather.”
“I’m sure he loves that.”
He chuckled at her sarcasm. “They’re not the most comfortable things on the planet.” He tugged the straps, tightening it around her torso.
“I’m thinking of quitting.” She blinked, surprised at herself, but it was true.
He straightened. “What do you mean?”
“My job. I think… I think I’m falling in love with the town.” Her chest seized. What had just come out of her mouth?
“Really?” He took the smallest step closer to her and she didn’t move away.
The air seemed to have left the cabin. No one breathed and only the sound of a bird in the distance could be heard. “Really,” she whispered.
His eyes lit up. “It seems to me the town is already in love with you.”
Her heart stopped for half a second. Did he really mean the town? Was he saying what she thought—
The back door slammed open. Delaney stood on the threshold with Rebecca’s grandfather right behind her. “Believe it or not, the rails still work.”
Her grandfather said nothing. His disapproving glare at the small space between Rebecca and Kurt said it all.
Kurt took an exaggerated step backward. “The team is bringing up our tactical gear?”
“Yes. They’re setting up a perimeter before they enter, just in case we have visitors before dark.” Delaney held out a bag. “And I picked up enough food from the office to take care of dinner.” Poking out of the bag were dozens of the same emergency food packets that lined the cupboard. Rebecca’s stomach didn’t even dignify the dried food with a growl. Kurt fought a smile and offered an apologetic shrug.
Now that she had a better look, her grandfather appeared to have aged years since she’d seen him a few days ago. She crossed the wooden boards with her arms outstretched.
Grandpa pulled her close. Their vests bumping into each other made for an uncomfortable hug. “Are you okay?” She didn’t miss the scathing look he sent Kurt.
“I’m fine, Grandpa. I’m more worried about you. How are you holding up?”
“Too much drama for my taste but otherwise I’m fine.”
“You should’ve stayed in town.”
“It’s my fault you’re in danger. They need to protect us both anyway so they can do it while we’re together.”
“It’s going to be dark soon,” Kurt said. “I think it’s time to give you and Justice Linn the tour.”
She reared back. “There’s more to see?”
Kurt winked. Grandpa harrumphed.
“That’s exactly why this is the safest choice,” Kurt said. “Come on.” He entered one of the side rooms that housed a couple of cots and a metallic bunk bed. He approached the closet, stepped inside and pressed the right side of it as he slid his hand sideways. It gave way and proved to be a pocket door that revealed a few stairs.
He flipped on the light, and she let him take care of a few spiderwebs before descending behind. Grandpa and Delaney lined up behind her. After the steps, the room opened up. It was essentially a giant basement, except it looked more like a modern house than the upstairs. She gaped. “Upstairs is a decoy?”
The walls were drywall, painted a light beige. There was a small kitchenette, complete with stove top and real kitchen cabinets that didn’t look like they’d been there since the dawn of time. The coffee-colored couch and recliner needed a good dusting, but they would be comfortable down here. It was well lit, with additional lamps on the end tables. Delaney held up a handheld vacuum and took care of a couch cushion before offering it to Grandpa.
On the far end, a side room had two actual twin beds, not cots or metallic bedframes like the ones upstairs.
Kurt guided her to the far corner and pointed to a door with a dead bolt. “There’s a second emergency exit here. No doorknob outside.” He gestured to what looked like a closet door. “Bathroom here, but if for some reason we’re still here tomorrow morning, I don’t recommend using the shower until it’s warmer. Solar-powered. And the water isn’t drinkable.”
Delaney approached the minifridge and plugged it in. “Speaking of water, I don’t know about you, but I prefer cold water.” She opened it to prove it was stocked with water bottles.
“So we wait down here while you catch these men?” Grandpa’s voice came across as more of a bark.
“Yes, sir. Patton will be your guard down here. We’ll be in constant contact. SWAT will cover the perimeter of the property.” He glanced at the watch on his wrist. “Sunset should be happening right now. We’re expecting the contracted mercenaries will attempt something tonight. We are equipped with infrared goggles. We’ll see them coming. There’s nothing to worry about.” He gestured toward Delaney’s bag. “When I give her the signal, we will go completely dark.”
“Why? We don’t have windows down here,” Grandpa said.
“To prevent any chance they can discover this area down here, but she has infrared goggles for you to use, as well, if that would ease your mind.” Kurt looked directly at Rebecca. “Hopefully the next time you see me the threat will be gone and you can move on with your lives.”
Grandpa put his arms over his chest and Kurt disappeared through the fake closet. Delaney rubbed her hands together. “I’ll make us some grub. I’ve never had these, but they have to be better than TV dinner, right?”
Rebecca shared a concerned glance with Grandpa. She imagined the packets could be worse, much worse.
“It’s my fault,” Grandpa muttered. “I’m an old man. I should’ve known.”
“Grandpa, it’s not your fault. Imagine if you hadn’t asked for an audit, you might’ve been swindled and ruined your reputation.”
“I’m not talking about that. I’m talking about the way you two look at each other. Forbidden love only fans the flame.”
She tried not to roll her eyes at him but couldn’t help it. “You think you can claim credit for me falling in love with him?”
Delaney dropped the pile of pots she’d been wrestling with a clank. Rebecca put a hand over her mouth and tried to avoid meeting Grandpa’s wide eyes. Her heart had betrayed her aloud twice in the last hour. There seemed to be no denying it. She loved that man.
* * *
Each minute seemed like an hour. The men were all in position. Everyone watching. He’d moved the counter away from the wall so the three men, including him, could get closer to the wall facing the lake. Everything in the cabin was made with tactical situations in mind, so the cabinets and the counter were all detachable. The windows were bullet resistant but also pushed outward so they could take a shot, if needed. The plan was to take down the men without force, if possible.
There were plenty of private military soldiers who went on to lead productive lives, but the FBI had brought dossiers on the mercenaries who’d been tracked to the area. The men who would come tonight likely wouldn’t lay down their weapons without a fight.
He shifted in the metal chair next to the window. The officers in the task force may have been from different branches, but they were all law enforcement and used to long waits. The marshal from Spokane sat next to the southern window and recounted the time he waited for a fugitive for eight hours in a closet just so he could get him without risk of injuring anyone else.
Similar stories came to mind and he could’ve participated in the camaraderie, but Kurt didn’t have the heart to share. He wanted this to be over, to ask Rebecca to tell him more about what she had in mind for the future. Was it possible she’d meant she was falling for him instead of the town?
He knew what his words had meant, and the hollow feeling in his chest seemed to taunt him that he was vulnerable, not knowing where she stood. Her grandfather’s demeanor had made it clear what he’d thought. Kurt’s neck tensed, imagining the lecture Rebecca was likely receiving, with Delaney as an audience for good measure.
“Another message from headquarters,” the FBI agent next to him muttered as he put away the satellite phone he’d brought. “Jorgenson keeps calling me. He’s very anxious. He wanted to make this arrest himself. I think he’s hoping no one shows up until tomorrow when he can be here.”
“I don’t think we have enough instant coffee for that scenario,” Kurt replied.
He chuckled. “You know if you bag this guy, you’re probably looking at a promotion, don’t you?”
Kurt smiled. “I like the way you think, but we’re after the guy Mijovic hired, not Mijovic himself.”
“Yeah, but he’ll lead you right to him.”
“I don’t like to count my chickens before—”
“Officially dark. IR goggles on,” Fowley, the SWAT officer on the west side, ordered. He had the most experience with tactical stakeouts such as this one, so Kurt had asked him to be his point man. Fowley and the rest of the SWAT team each had a helmet that was already attached to his radio communications.
Kurt swiveled down his night-vision goggles from his helmet and slipped on the headphones designed to muffle the sound of gunfire. They also served as his radio communications, complete with microphone. Another gift the SWAT team had brought for everyone on the team. He addressed Delaney. “Patton, we’re going dark.”
“Affirmative.”
A tense silence followed as everyone adjusted to the goggles. The trees in the distance came into focus. The greenish hue seemed fitting for the evergreens. He couldn’t make a visual on the perimeter officer at the dock, though. “Newton, report.”
Newton was the only one on the team with a high-powered thermal scope on his weapon. One of the SWAT officers on his left had a handheld thermal device, something they’d borrowed from the city’s fire station, but Newton would likely spot any approach first.
Diagonal streaks of light hampered Kurt’s distance vision.
The Spokane deputy marshal stomped his foot. “You’ve got to be kidding me! Since when was rain in the forecast?” Rain appeared as streaks with the infrared.
“Intermittent. Shouldn’t last long,” the SWAT officer answered. “Just remember that you’ll be able to tell if anything is coming despite the interference as long as you don’t see gaps in the background images.”
Many of the men grumbled, and Kurt held back a groan. Rain interfered with thermal imaging, as well, but it didn’t keep it from working. It just meant they had to look harder to really understand what they were seeing. He hoped Newton was up for the task, but he’d yet to report, maybe because he was fighting with his instruments in the sudden downpour. He clicked his earpiece. “Newton. Status.”
Silence.
His spine tingled. He should have at least answered.
“Dalton. Status.” Dalton was their second perimeter officer.
The crackling of static spiked his adrenaline. He couldn’t see anything but someone should have answered. “Weapons up,” Kurt said.
“Schmitt, here. Permission to leave post?”
“Permission granted.”
“I thought I saw…it’s what I didn’t see. Part of the tree missing,” the officer next to him said.
He should’ve known with an armored Hummer, these mercenaries didn’t have the budget restrictions his men did. There was a possibility they were wearing infrared-resistant camouflage. If part of the tree was missing that likely meant a man was standing there. “Prepare to engage. Form outer perimeter and inner perimeter within these walls.” Everything was going wrong. He could feel it in his gut. His plan had failed before it’d even started, and he wasn’t going to let Rebecca pay the price for his failure.
Everyone in the cabin seemed to hold their breath as they waited. “Schmitt reporting. Dalton is down,” the agent’s voice whispered on the radio. “Taser probes on his legs and arms, and a syringe sticking out of his neck. But he’s breathing.”
“Tranquilizer,” Fowley muttered. “It’s likely what they did to Newton.”
So they were taking his men out one by one, but at least they weren’t killing them. Not yet.
Kurt slipped past the quick-moving men and spoke to Fowley directly. “Take the lead. Patton and I will bring the packages to swim, then I’ll return alone.”
“Affirmative.” He nodded and then held up his weapon.
The men moved seamlessly, as if one unit, like they’d always been a team. The detective from the Sheriff’s Office readied his rifle at the door. “Of course some arrogant politician in the seventies just had to go and name this place Ambush Alcove. We’re supposed to be the ones who ambush—”
The front door exploded in a thousand pieces.
Kurt heard a foreign voice shout something he guessed meant “fire in the hole.” He didn’t wait for the fallout. He ran into the side room as he heard the boom. The mercenaries had likely thrown a flash bang diversionary device, highly effective for those not prepared for it. If he’d been without his ear protection, even without seeing the green flash while wearing his goggles, the bang would’ve made his insides feel like jelly, and he would’ve been too disoriented to move, let alone think.
He heard the men shouting orders at each other over the radio. Kurt shoved his microphone upward and remained silent. If Newton and Dalton had been compromised, it was possible someone would overhear any orders he made to Patton. He entered the closet, stepped inside the false door, closed it and shoved down the emergency lock bar behind him. No one else would be able to use that entrance now.
He heard the ammunition click in Patton’s firearm. The downside of avoiding radio usage meant Patton was ready to shoot to kill. “Delaney, it’s Brock.” He dropped his weapon so it hung from his neck and held up his hands.
She didn’t miss a beat. “What’s the plan?”
He turned his face so he could see the room, and since he still had his goggles on, saw her greenish form drop the rifle.
“Stay offline for the moment,” he said, “and don’t lower your weapon.”
The judge and Rebecca held hands on the couch. Both were wearing goggles and their impact-resistant ballistic vests.
“Things went south,” he said. “We need to get you out of here.” If there’d been any time, he’d reevaluate all the decisions that had led up to this moment. The bottom line was that he’d genuinely thought this would be the safest and most effective plan. Even if it wasn’t, he couldn’t waste any energy with second guesses.
“Delaney, you still wearing a braid?”
“No, but I’m on it now.”
He opened one of the cabinets. “Rebecca, I need you and your grandfather to wear tactical gear.”
“But I don’t know how—”
“I don’t want you to use it. Just look the part.”
Delaney slipped off her belt. “She can use mine. It’s already adjusted. It’s a good plan, sir.”
“Well, I don’t know the plan.” The judge’s voice rose.
“They’re tranquilizing our men. I imagine their orders have them only taking out—”
“Me,” Rebecca said. “No. These are contracted killers. Delaney can’t pretend to be me. I’m not taking your belt!”