Chapter 6

six

LIAM

Pushing my hands deep into my pockets, I scanned the trees behind the ranger's house, searching for anything that didn't belong.

The National Park Service owned the safe house that Bryant Security had chosen. Given Alex's preference for living in the middle of nowhere, it was the best option anyone could have found.

I'd already been inside the house, checking the emergency supplies and security system. Bryant Security hadn't had a lot of time to make the property secure, but I was impressed with what they'd done.

I trudged through the snow, searching the next outbuilding for anything that could threaten Alex's safety. It was so quiet that, when my satellite phone rang, it sounded like an orchestra was standing beside me, pounding out music.

"Special Agent Nelson speaking."

"It's Jeremy. You'd better come back to the ranger's house. Dylan and Alex aren't answering their phones."

"I'll be there soon. "

A few seconds later, the sharp crack of gunfire sent me running toward the barn. I threw myself against the wooden walls, waiting for more shots.

An eerie silence fell across the land.

As the seconds ticked by, I knew staying here wasn't an option. Instead of running headfirst into trouble, I called Jeremy. "I heard gunfire. What's happening?"

"Alex has been shot. He's at the ranger's house with Dylan and me. I've called for a rescue helicopter."

"Where's the shooter?"

"Dylan last saw him when he was about five hundred yards north of the house."

My heart pounded. That was too close for anyone's comfort. "The rest of my team aren't far away. I'll let them know what's happened, then meet you at the ranger's house."

After I'd made the call, I searched the area around me, looking for a safe path to the house. There was no way I'd make it there under cover, so I ran as fast as I could, taking shelter behind anything that looked as though it would stop a bullet.

When I threw open the back door, Alex was lying on the kitchen floor, covered in blood. "What can I do?"

Dylan looked over his shoulder. "Nothing for Alex. I used XStat on his wound, so he shouldn't lose any more blood. But we need to find the shooter. If we can't secure the clearing, the helicopter won't land."

Dylan Holmes worked for Bryant Security. As well as managing the technical development team, he was a former military intelligence officer. I'd worked with him on a lot of cases. When he looked worried, you needed to act. Fast.

I checked my watch. "My team's five minutes away."

Jeremy stepped forward. "If we split up and circle the clearing, we might be able to find the shooter. But if he was on a snowmobile, he could be long gone."

I nodded. "Give me thirty seconds. I need to make another call." Alex wasn't the only person whose life could be in danger. If the terrorists were intent on killing someone, Paul and Amy would be easy targets.

After I'd spoken to an agent in Milwaukee, I checked my gun and left the house with Jeremy. With any luck, we'd find the shooter and stop him from hurting anyone else. The only thing we didn't know was how many people were with him.

If the shooter wasn't alone, we could all be in trouble.