Chapter 21

twenty-one

ALEX

I found Dylan in the office, working on the program. “Can I interrupt you for a few minutes?”

He took off his glasses. “Sure. There’s something I need to tell you, too.”

I pulled a chair across to his desk and sat down. “Why did you say I need another gun?”

“While you were in the kitchen, my boss called. He was speaking to some friends in Washington, D.C. The Haqani Army are causing some issues and they could be looking for you.”

That wasn’t news to me. “They have been for a while.”

Dylan shook his head. “I don’t think you understand. Ryan sent me some background information on the terrorist group. They use technology in ways that most terrorist cells don’t. Not only do they have access to state-of-the-art computer systems, but they also have access to a range of weapons. Last week they claimed responsibility for a series of bombings in the Middle East.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“Ryan made some inquiries about the engineer on your team who was receiving death threats. He had an accident two days ago and he’s still in intensive care. It looks as though someone sabotaged his vehicle.”

“Was it the Haqani Army?”

“They haven’t said they were responsible, but Ryan and the Department of Defense think they’re involved. The chairperson of the EMP Project has called the FBI. Someone will contact you soon.”

I rubbed my forehead. “This is getting worse.”

“While you’re working on this project, the terrorist group won’t leave you alone.” Dylan sat straighter in the chair. “There’s something else you need to think about. I know you don’t want to move to a safe house, but it could be your best chance of staying alive. If they find you?—”

“I could be dead,” I said quietly.

Dylan nodded. “I have a solution that doesn’t involve leaving here permanently. At least, not yet.”

“I’m listening.”

“Bryant Security has been searching for a property you can use in an emergency. There’s an empty house about fifteen minutes from here. It’s perfect.”

“I can’t stay in an abandoned house. What if the owners come back?”

“The National Park Service owns the property. The Park Ranger used to live there, but when budgets were cut ten years ago, this area lost a lot of staff. With fewer park rangers, the house wasn’t needed.”

I frowned. “I’ve never heard about an abandoned ranger’s house.”

“That’s one of the reasons it’s the right property. Most people have forgotten about it. I can take you there now.”

I tried to think logically, to block out everything apart from the cold, hard facts. One of the engineers on my team had already been hurt. I knew the Haqani Army was a dangerous terrorist group. If they found me, I would have nowhere to go. It made sense to visit the house, then reassess what I’d do after that.

“Okay,” I sighed. “I’ll look at the house. But I’m not promising I’ll stay there.” Dylan’s relieved smile did nothing to lower my stress levels. Working on the program was beginning to feel like the biggest mistake I’d ever made.

“That’s great.” Dylan stood and picked up his jacket. “We can take the four-wheelers. Once winter arrives, you’ll be able to use the snowmobile. That’s if you’re not already living there.”

“One step at a time,” I warned.

“I wouldn’t recommend staying there unless it would make a difference.”

I knew that, which was why I was willing to go with him. I followed Dylan into the garage and stared at the boxes of survival equipment. I hoped I never had to use any of it. But burying my head in the sand wasn’t going to make the terrorists go away.