COMPROMISED SECURITY

Electronics engineer Drina Gallagher has created a powerful weapon that will protect soldiers’ lives—and it’s put her own at risk. Kidnapped and locked in a desert shack, she’s desperate to stop her plans from getting into enemy hands, but whom can she trust? Especially when even the security expert who rescues her isn’t who he seems. Forced to blow his cover after spending two years infiltrating a black-market ring, CIA agent Cal Norwood blames Drina’s recklessness, though he admires her courage. And while his mountain cabin offers temporary refuge, protecting Drina means outwitting—and defeating—a relentless foe determined to seize the weapon plans at any cost.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

The quad spun around next to her, kicking dust in the air. Norwood extended his hand.

The half smile floating over those oh-so-perfect lips gave her the reassuring charge of energy she needed. She gripped his hand. He pulled her up and she climbed onto the back.

“Hang on tight. It’s going to get bumpy.”

Norwood gave the quad gas. Dirt and gravel spun out behind the big wheels as he headed toward the road. Drina had to loosen her hold slightly, but not too much, as they hit bumps. Even though she and Norwood were almost strangers and he might be a traitor to their country, his strong, sturdy body seemed the only solid, stable thing in an exploding world. She clung to him with all her might.

The ATV reached the dirt road leading back to town. They dipped down into the culvert and started to climb the other side. Drina glanced back at the shed and the pile of equipment behind it. Still no sign of Carter. They were safe, really safe.

But for how long?

TANYA STOWE is a Christian fiction author with an unexpected edge. She is married to the love of her life, her high school sweetheart. They have four children and twenty-one grandchildren, a true adventure. She fills her books with the unusual—mysteries and exotic travel, even a murder or two. No matter where Tanya takes you—on a trip to foreign lands or a suspenseful journey packed with danger—be prepared for the extraordinary.

Mojave Rescue

Tanya Stowe

www.millsandboon.co.uk

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Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

—Proverbs 3:5–6

For Delia Latham because this and many other books would not be possible without you. Thank you, my friend.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

About the Author

Title Page

Bible Verse

Dedication

One

Two

Three

Four

Five

Six

Seven

Eight

Nine

Ten

Eleven

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

One

“Bill, I did it!” Drina Gallagher almost dropped her cell phone in her excitement.

“Did what?” Bill Carlisle’s sleepy voice rolled across her senses, setting off a faint thread of regret for waking her boss in the middle of the night. Excitement quickly overrode the flash of remorse.

“I did it, Bill. I fixed the problem.”

“Drina? Do you have any idea what time it is?”

She didn’t. Secluded in a small office at the desert test facility, her focus had been completely fixed on the data that had turned up in today’s field test. Not only had she lost track of time, but Drina was at Edwards Air Force Base on the West Coast for the test. Bill was at the company headquarters on the East Coast...where it was three in the morning.

“I’m sorry. I forgot the time again. But I knew you’d want to hear this now.”

“Wait...did you say problem? Is there a problem with the program?”

“No...well, yes, there was. I set up today’s work based on the parameters you and I discussed yesterday and everything went haywire. The numbers didn’t make sense.”

Drina’s company had been awarded a military contract to develop a nonlethal energy-directed weapon that would protect soldiers against supersonic missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles. Their energy-directed weapon needed to impact machines only, destroying the electronics of missiles and UAVs, rendering them useless against ground troops. But the weapon needed to be rechargeable to full power in a short time and, above all, small enough for transport on a ground vehicle. So far, Drina and her company had failed to meet those parameters.

Until today. Today faulty tests led Drina to an epiphany. The answer came to her in an amazing eye-opening moment, followed by hours of furious number crunching that proved her theory possible.

“The numbers from the test were off so I created an equation using new figures and...it worked. I solved the problem.” Drina repeated the news for the third time, just to hear the words out loud again.

Succeeding meant everything to her. Creating a nonlethal energy-directed weapon would secure her company’s position and create jobs. It would solidify Drina’s place in her parents’ exclusive scientific community, but most important, it would fulfill her deepest desire to protect American soldiers. Riddled by guilt, Drina was determined to create a weapon that would help protect America’s military personnel.

No one knew the secret that pushed Drina to work long hours, to forget to eat and sometimes even to sleep. Not even Bill, the mentor who had hired her straight out of MIT four years ago, knew what drove her. It was her secret alone to nurse, obsess about and feel guilt over.

Sometimes Drina wondered if even God knew.

“Bill, I reworked the equation five different ways and it worked every time. We’ll be able to recharge the weapon to full power in less than three minutes.”

“Full power?” For the first time, Bill’s voice sounded awake and alert.

“Full. Power. And I think we’ll be able to reduce the weight. We might even be able to go small enough for it to be carried on a soldier’s back. We just need—”

“Stop, Drina! Don’t say another word. This is my home phone. It’s not a secure line.”

Drina’s breath caught in her throat. As an electronic warfare engineer, she thought in numbers, not words. Most of the constant security hype sounded like Hollywood fiction to her and she paid little heed. No matter how hard Bill tried, his emphasis on protocol and top secret measures usually went right over her head.

But not tonight. Tonight his words sent a wave of cold washing through her.

Perhaps the recent briefing by the base’s head of security had impacted her more than she’d realized. He’d definitely made an impression, but it was more along the lines of his all-American good looks.

Tall, dark hair, more handsome than he had a right to be. Blue-gray eyes. Even a cute little dimple when he smiled. He had those strong, masculine, next-door-neighbor looks that most women Drina’s age called cheesy but secretly adored. The kind of look that said, “Let me take care of you. I can carry the weight of the world.”

Drina might have fallen for that look years ago. In fact, she did fall for it. John had that same aura about him. Now he was dead and Drina was saddled with guilt. She wouldn’t forget that lesson.

No one was that capable, and movies were just moving pictures with pretty people. Cal Norwood could have walked straight out of one of those Hollywood plots Drina abhorred. That was probably why she hadn’t paid much attention to his talk about eyes and ears everywhere. Now she wished she’d listened.

Even as her breath caught in her throat, a click echoed over her connection with Bill. Someone else was listening on their line.

Yep. Definitely should have paid attention.

“Drina...” Bill’s voice was low and taut. “Where are you? No. Don’t answer. Don’t give that info out over the line.”

Her stomach flip-flopped.

“Where is your work?” Bill’s tone was as tense as Drina felt.

“Most of it’s on my computer.”

“All right. You know the protocols. Email it to me using our secure server then contact Norwood. He’ll know what to do.”

“Okay.”

Bill hung up. Drina heard the distinct double click of another line disconnecting from his landline. Someone had been listening.

Everything around her was dark except for the single light spilling onto her desk. All the other workers had left hours ago. She was alone, miles away from the main base in a secluded section of the rocket site.

Drina’s heart threatened to pound out of her chest. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t lower the phone from her ear.

Protocols. Bill said follow the protocols. She dropped her cell phone. Scratch sheets of equations covered the top of her desk. She scooped them into her arms and fed them twenty at a time into the shredder. The teeth jammed on the thick pile. Drina had to pull it loose and start again, running only ten at a time through the machine.

All the while, a small part of Norwood’s two-hour lecture on security flashed through her mind. She didn’t know why she remembered that particular portion word for word, but the memory of his firm, modulated voice kept her on task and calm.

Be mindful of those around you. Janitors. Cooks in the lunch cafeteria. Your coworker in the next cubicle. Eyes and ears are all around us. You never know who might be listening, gathering information.

The last of the scratch paper disappeared into the shredder. Drina sighed with relief. Grabbing her laptop, she saved the file with her own personal code, then linked with her company’s secure internet connection.

Linking took precious seconds. Drina’s fingers drummed on the desk with increasing rapidity. Finally, the site came up. She keyed in her password, attached the file and was about to hit Send when more of Norwood’s words came back to her.

We believe the project has been compromised. We’re certain someone in the network has been leaking information, so we’re cautioning all of you to be extra careful.

Extra careful. A leak in the network.

Someone within her company could be giving away information. Drina shuddered. If her equations were correct and they slipped into the wrong hands, a weapon of phenomenal force could be developed. A pulse of that magnitude used on men instead of machines could destroy hearing and vision, not to mention what it might do to a human heart. Finger poised over the send button, Drina held her breath.

She would not—could not—let her work fall into the wrong hands. Thousands of lives would be lost and Drina had made it her life’s goal to save lives. It was the least she could do to atone for the death for which she felt responsible.

But could she trust her own network? Was the breach here, with someone on the base or within her own company?

Drina didn’t know. Couldn’t know. But someone did. Grabbing her cell phone, she looked up the number Norwood had given her in the briefing and dialed. The phone rang and rang. Finally, Norwood’s clear, strong voice came over the line.

“You’ve reached Cal Norwood. Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.”

Drina squeezed her eyes shut. Of course. It was past midnight. Like all normal human beings, the man was in bed...asleep. She didn’t want to repeat the mistake she made with Bill by revealing info over the phone so she left a message for Norwood to call her, then hung up.

She looked around at the shadows just beyond the feeble desk lamp. They felt almost alive, lurking, watching.

No way was she waiting for Norwood to call back. Deleting the email to Bill, she saved the attached file with a pass code and shut down her laptop. After grabbing her jacket off the back of the chair, she slid the laptop into her backpack, pulled out her keys and headed for the door of the small office.

The desk light stayed on. She couldn’t face the dark right now. Outside the small office, a long, empty corridor led to the front. That stretch of blackness would be more than enough to cross.

She opened the door and stood in the portal, light pouring into the black hall, and stared down the long, inky stretch of about forty feet. The main doors were just around the corner. Still, the corridor seemed endless.

She fumbled in her jacket pocket for her cell phone, grateful it had a flashlight app. Just as she swiped her phone menu up, the desk lamp behind her switched off. Sudden darkness blanketed the room, and she heard the slow whirring of machines shutting down.

The power had been cut off.

Fingers trembling, she fumbled with her cell phone. She needed light. Now.

The main door clicked open. The soft tread of someone walking down the hall echoed in the Stygian darkness.

The light on her cell phone flashed on, illuminating the corridor like a spotlight. Drina pressed the off button, stuffed the phone in her pocket, turned and ran in the opposite direction.

Even with her heart pounding in her ears she could hear her tennis shoes squeaking on the linoleum floor. Whoever was behind her surely heard her clamoring down the hall. An emergency exit waited just around the corner. If she could get out the door and around the building, she might reach her car ahead of whoever was behind her. She’d lock the doors and speed straight to the closest military police station.

The red exit sign above the door was a welcoming beacon. She raced to it, slammed into the security bar and skidded out onto the raised entrance.

A blast of cold Mojave Desert wind slapped at her face, nearly robbing her of breath. Drina had only been to this test facility a few times but she’d already developed an intense dislike of the wind. Its cold touch made her shiver even more. Thankfully, she’d cut her dark hair into a short bob just before coming here. No long strands blocked her view as she gripped the handrail with both hands and slid under. She landed on her feet and took off at a run even before she had her balance.

She stumbled and almost fell, only stopping herself by pushing against the side of the building. Arms pumping, she ran toward the front, fearful she might trip again without moonlight to guide her. But she dared not slow down.

Reaching the corner of the building, she came to a skidding halt. A man in dark clothing stood near her car, the lone vehicle in the parking lot. Was that a gun in his hand? Drina caught her breath and held it, not daring to make a sound. Her gaze darted to the side.

Joshua trees with their unique thick branches and straggly coatings marked the edge of the hill and were silhouetted against the night sky. The road back to the main portion of the rocket site looped around this building on the hilltop. The paved road was just below the trees. If she could get down the hill without tumbling and hurting herself, she could follow the road back to the cluster of buildings and find help.

Drina spun back around and banged hard against the bulky form of another man dressed in all dark clothing. She would have fallen to the ground if he hadn’t grasped her, clutching her to his chest with one arm. He loomed over her, a faceless silhouette, and held on tight as she silently struggled to break free. The stars overhead outlined his raised fist...just before it crashed against the side of her jaw and everything went black.

* * *

Cal Norwood pushed the visor of his car up as he reached the shadows of the mountains. Edwards Air Force Base was located on the far eastern edge of a three-sided valley that spilled into the vast Mojave Desert. He’d been driving west, straight into the setting sun for forty minutes. From the moment he’d locked his office door on the base and headed to the meeting place, his senses had snapped like broken electric wires.

He eased off the asphalt to the dirt service road and slowed to a halt. Gripping the steering wheel, he scanned the countryside for a car then the air for a helicopter...anything that would give him a hint of what waited for him just over the hill.

Nothing. Not a sign, nor a sound. Not even tire tracks of the car he knew was there.

Please, Lord. Don’t let it be true. Don’t let her be in that shack. I won’t give up...not now when I’m so close. Buddy deserves justice.

Earlier this morning he’d listened to Drina Gallagher’s message and was filled with dread. He’d dressed and rushed to the complex, only to find her empty rented car in the parking lot, signs of a struggle in the dirt and her car keys on the ground. He believed her disappearance had something to do with the text he’d received the evening before from his secret contact.

You got your wish. Be at the shack at 5 p.m. tomorrow. You’re meeting the boss.

Two years ago Cal’s best friend died at the hands of a black market gang. Andrew Sterling, Buddy to his friends, had been Cal’s friend most of their lives. They grew up in a quaint older housing tract perched on the hills of San Diego, overlooking the bay. Together they’d watched the big navy ships sail in and out and promised each other that one day, they’d do their part. Buddy had joined the NCIS. Cal had joined the CIA.

After Buddy was killed, the Department of Defense and the CIA created a joint task force to infiltrate and uncover the gang stealing weapon plans from all the military forces. Cal called in a few favors and wrangled an undercover position on the force. His assignment had turned into two long years of leaks, dead ends and betrayals. Driven, he was determined one way or another to stop these men from killing more people. He ate, slept and lived for the moment when he could finally bring the gang down and serve up justice for Buddy and countless others.

Then last night the text had come through. He was finally going to meet the devious leader of a group who had infiltrated the highest echelons of government security and still managed to escape detection. The end was so close Cal could taste it...until he’d heard Drina’s message. The taste of victory turned sour in his mouth.

An already-dangerous situation had been made even more complicated by the disappearance of one dark-haired scientist.

Drina Gallagher was brilliant—and prettier than he’d anticipated. He’d heard so much praise about her work, he’d expected an older, more staid woman to walk into his briefing room, not a perky, petite beauty who created an immediate internal reaction he didn’t want or expect.

Drina hid behind some overlarge black-rimmed spectacles, but that was where the scientist stereotype ended. Behind those glasses was a pert nose, a pair of hazel-colored eyes that seemed to change color with her mood and a tiny, fragile-looking body. Capped by a head of short, shiny black hair that wanted to curl, she looked more like a hyperbubbly nerd than a world-renowned scientist...a nerd that had somehow ignited feelings Cal had buried deep with his true identity.

She sparked sweet thoughts of laughter and fun, which was ridiculous because her out-of-sync look hid a snarky attitude. Some of the men on his team in Washington believed she might be the spy. But Cal had recognized her I’m-checking-out look as soon as he began his briefing on security. Drina Gallagher wasn’t the leak. She was just as driven as he. Focused on her work and nothing else. He doubted she’d heard a word of his briefing or even cared about being cautious.

Maybe if she’d paid attention she wouldn’t be missing right now, and two long, desperate years of Cal’s work wouldn’t be on the line.

As he’d alerted her superiors and his, he wondered if the man behind the text was “the boss.” Was his contact the mastermind who had eluded detection for so long? Was Cal being played...and lured into a trap?

He didn’t know the answers and until he did, until he met and could identify the traitor, he couldn’t take any chances or trust anyone—not the military, not Drina’s company, not even the security detail he worked with on the base. What was more, he couldn’t shake the feeling that there was a direct link between his scheduled meeting with the boss and Drina Gallagher’s disappearance.

During the long day his on-base security team had contacted Drina’s coworkers and family, searching for a reason she might have chosen to disappear. They dusted for fingerprints—even tried to match shoe patterns in the dirt beside the place where Drina’s keys were found. They found no evidence, no clues as to who might have snatched her. That fact alone convinced Cal that the boss and his gang were involved. They never made mistakes and Cal’s team had no idea what had happened to the petite engineer.

But Cal had a sinking feeling in his gut. The text about his meeting with the boss had come too close to Drina’s kidnapping to be a coincidence. It felt more like a step-by-step process...like they were leading Cal to something.

All day long his mind went over scenarios and possibilities—some path, any avenue he could take to salvage his undercover identity and still save the girl because there was no doubt in his mind she was in that shack. Once he drove over that hill, both their lives would be in deadly danger.

* * *

Whir. Whir. Whir.

The soft spinning sound matched the throbbing in Drina’s cheek. She opened her eyes bit by bit, hoping to pinpoint the source of the noise. Instead, everything began to spin so badly, she thought she might throw up. She gagged and, for the first time, felt the tape across her mouth.

Panic surged through her. She tried to reach for the tape but her hands were tied at her back. The sharp plastic edge of a zip tie cut into her wrists.

Panic swept over her and her gag reflex kicked in again.

Calm down, Drina! Close your eyes. Breathe slow and deep.

Inhaling through her nose eased the roiling in her stomach. Slowly but surely, she calmed her breathing. Awareness returned. She lay on the ground, on her side. Dirty grit bit into her cheek. The soft whirring remained in the background—steady, consistent, like the beat of a drum or...a wind turbine.

Giant wind turbines dotted the hills surrounding the mountain passes into the valley. Those turbines turned the ever-present gusts coming through the passes into energy. Drina had taken a tour of one of the wind farms on her first trip out west. Now she recognized the sound of the massive blades swooping through the air.

She braced herself, then opened her eyes bit by bit. Vertigo didn’t overwhelm her this time but it took a moment to focus. She lay facing a door. Sunlight streamed in beneath it. She wasn’t on the ground after all, but on a rough-textured slab of cement. Wind gusted and the metal walls and roof rattled. Shovels and picks hanging along the wall began a precarious shimmy that threatened to send them tumbling to the floor.

She had to be in one of the small service shacks beneath the turbine fields. She wasn’t sure where, but she knew the base had no tall turbines that would interfere with air traffic. The base and any kind of military police or help was far, far away.

What time was it? How long had she been unconscious? Where were the men who’d kidnapped her?

My backpack. Where’s my backpack?

She rolled over, her gaze scouring the shed. Her backpack and computer were nowhere to be seen. She sagged against the floor. Those men, whoever they were, had all her information. Had they fled and left her here? How long would it be before someone found her stranded in this little-used shed? Or, worse yet, would her captors return?

A thousand questions marched through Drina’s mind...all soundless...all unanswered. She lay for what seemed like hours until the steady pounding in the side of her head faded and she drifted back to sleep.

She woke to the sound of a car. Instantly, Drina tensed. Could it be the service people...or had her captors returned?

Her gaze darted to the door. The sunlight beneath was dimmer; it was later in the day.

The car stopped. Doors opened. Gravel crunched as someone stepped out.

“He’s late.”

Drina didn’t recognize the voice, but it sent a shiver up her spine. Deep, hard...and cold as arctic ice.

“What do you expect?” Another voice. “With the girl missing, the base is on high alert. They’ve had him on the spot all day.”

The man they were waiting for was someone who worked at the base? Could he be the leak Norwood had talked about?

“All I can say is, it’s about time he earned his pay.” The first man spoke again, his voice tinged with disgust. “Frankly, I don’t think he’s worth the money the boss pays him.”

“Not our business, Whitson. Besides, the inside info he’s passed on has helped.”

Drina caught her breath. The man they waited for was the informant.

“It better help. I’m getting itchy and when I’m itchy, trouble’s on the way. I want to get out of here before it hits.”

“Relax. The boss knows what he’s doing.”

“I’m not so sure. Not this time. I’m telling you, Carter, kidnapping that girl was a mistake.”

“You won’t say that after the boss sells that weapon of hers. It’s gonna give you a nice tidy fortune.”

These men were black market munitions sellers. They’d offer her plans to the highest bidder. Sagging against the gritty floor, she trembled. Everything she feared was coming to pass and she could do nothing to stop it.

“There’s his car.”

Drina listened, every muscle in her body tense. Another car engine came closer and stopped. A door opened, setting off a loud beep, clearly audible inside the shed. Given its persistence, the driver must have left the door open and the keys in the ignition.

“About time you got here. The helicopter is on its way.” Whitson spoke first. Drina barely heard his growled words over the insistent chirp of the alarm.

“It can’t land here with all these wind turbines.” The annoying alarm made it hard to hear, but she knew that voice from somewhere...

“Our rendezvous point is just over the hill in an open space.” Carter sounded calm.

“Yeah, and you almost missed it.” Whitson butted in. He seemed determined to take his frustration out on the newcomer.

“What did you expect? You left me with a mess. I had eyes and ears all around me.”

Eyes and ears. The words and the voice coalesced. Drina knew where she’d heard both, and her blood turned cold.

Cal Norwood, head of program security. The man she was supposed to trust had betrayed her.

Panic assaulted her senses. Her breath came in rapid gulps. Nausea rose again. But Norwood’s next words stopped the rising fear like a brick wall.

“What happened to the girl?”

“She’s in the shed.”

“Here? You brought her here? What were you thinking?”

Even Drina could hear the threat in his tone.

“Relax, Norwood. The boss ordered it. Did you bring the money?”

“Yeah, but I don’t like it. Twenty thousand dollars is a lot of money just to be carrying around.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll get it back. And then some. Hand it over.”

Their actions came to Drina like muddled rustlings. She had no idea what was going on. Until Norwood spoke again.

“That’s the girl’s backpack.”

“Yep. We’re going to put the money in her bag and leave it behind.”

A long pause followed. “You want to make it look like she sold us the plans.”

“Finally, the bright boy catches on.” Drina was beginning to hate Whitson’s nasty attitude.

“We need suspicion thrown off you.” Carter’s tone acted like a balm on the tension between Norwood and Whitson. “We’ll leave your car here, door open, keys in. Eventually the gas will run out and it’ll look like you stumbled onto our exchange, caught us in the act and the girl got hurt in the resulting conflict.”

“You mean killed.”

Norwood’s words made Drina’s blood drain.

“What’s the matter? Squeamish now that the real work’s starting?”

Whitson seemed determined to start a fight with Norwood. But the traitor kept his cool, not responding to the other man’s insulting baits.

“Shut up, Whitson.” Carter took the lead. Drina heard a thud of something tossed. “Plant the money and finish this. I’ll check with the guys in the helicopter to see how far out they are.”

Finish this. He means finish me.

Desperate, Drina rolled to her back again. Her gaze swept the shed for an escape or a weapon...something. Maybe if she could get to that shovel...

The door opened before she could move. Norwood filled the portal. He looked taller. Still handsome in his black leather jacket and jeans. Like a dark messenger bringing death.

He held her backpack in his hands. Crossing the room, he knelt and laid it beside her. He was close enough for her to see the gray tint of his blue eyes and the taut tension lines along the side of his mouth. Suddenly, he winked.

Drina’s eyes widened. What in the world...?

“Open the backpack and pull some of the money out on the floor.” Whitson had followed Norwood in. “Make it look like we had a fight.”

The man looked the way he sounded. Short. Shaved head. Solid...like a bodybuilder. And he had a gun clamped in one meaty fist.

“Here’s the deal, Norwood. We can’t make it look like she’s the guilty party unless we shed just a little of your blood, too. So I’m gonna have to break your nose. You can imagine how unhappy that makes me.” The man’s grin radiated pure evil.

Drina’s gaze darted back to Norwood’s. He raised his eyebrows as if to say, “Ready?”

Ready for what?

Barely moving, his hand shifted ever so slightly beneath his jacket. Drina followed the movement and saw a gun tucked into his waistband. His finger flicked a lock.

Drina looked up, startled. He was going to shoot Whitson while she lay trussed up, helpless and in the direct line of fire.

Drina started to protest, to shake her head. Norwood raised his eyebrows again and nodded a signaled countdown. Once... Twice...

No, I’m not ready!

Her screamed protest was muffled by the tape and didn’t stop Norwood’s countdown. When he reached three, he rolled to his side, pulled the gun loose and fired.

Two

Whitson’s face slacked in shock before he doubled over. His fingers clinched on the trigger and bullets ripped across the shed. Norwood dived for Drina, covering her body with his.

The gunfire stopped. Leaping to his feet, Norwood kicked the gun away from Whitson’s body. Then he pulled a knife out of his pocket and knelt beside Drina.

“We only have seconds.” He cut the zip tie at her feet. “We need to get to my car.”

He cut the tie at her hands and pulled the tape loose from her mouth. Drina took a much-needed breath and tried to speak but the fire burning through her hands and feet cut her words short. All she could do was cry out.

“I know. The circulation hurts like crazy, but you’ve got to stand up.”

Norwood pulled her to her feet and held her upright as her legs and ankles screamed and refused to work. He hooked his arm around her waist and dragged her across the shed to peek out.

“It looks clear. Let’s go.”

Pulling her behind him, Norwood stepped outside. Drina followed. A bullet hit the doorway near her head, piercing the metal edge with a jagged hole. This time her scream echoed loud and clear. Norwood fired back, pointing in the direction of the black SUV parked in front.

With one swift move, Norwood pulled her away from the door and around the corner of the shed. Drina barely had time to see Carter’s head popping up on the other side of the vehicle. Right in front of the shooter, on the SUV’s hood, was her computer. Norwood pushed her down and she sprawled to the ground while he knelt and fired back.

More bullets pierced the metal shed, going straight through to where they crouched. Norwood ducked lower.

“We can’t stay here. Can you run yet?”

She nodded, hoping she could. Crawling to the back of the shed, Drina cringed as jagged rocks pierced her palms. Her rescuer pointed to an outcropping of rocks about thirty feet away.

“When I say go, run for those rocks. Don’t stop and don’t look back. Got it?”

She nodded.

“Go!”

Drina leaped to her feet and almost fell. Norwood grasped her arm and steadied her as they half ran, half stumbled across the open space. She expected to feel a bullet pierce her back any minute.

They spilled over the rocks. Norwood rolled. Drina fell flat, gasping, her lungs burning almost as much as her hands and feet. She lay face up, her eyes closed.

“I don’t believe this. It can’t be happening.”

Norwood crawled back to the rock wall and peeked over. “Believe it. My worst nightmare and what you thought would never happen just happened.” He took aim and fired back at the shack. “We can’t stay here. Carter can keep us pinned down indefinitely...at least long enough for the helicopter to show up. Then we’ll be outnumbered.” His gaze shot to the culvert below. “Look down there.”

Drina rose to her elbows and peered down at a small metal shed—right next to an all-terrain vehicle.

“If I can get down there, I think I can get that quad started.” Norwood cast a worried glance her way. “You’ll never make it down this hill, but I can come back for you.”

Drina stared at him, eyes wide, nodding, punctuating each of his words with a dip of her head.

“You...will...come back for me, won’t you?”

He paused, grasped her arm and squeezed. That little touch was the most reassuring thing she’d felt in twenty-four hours.

He pulled Whitson’s gun out of his waistband. “Take this.”

She stared at the black weapon and shook her head. “I...I can’t kill anyone.”

“You wouldn’t hit him even if you tried. Every time you see Carter pop his head out, point and fire. He’ll think it’s me. That will give me time to get down there without him shooting me.”

He flipped the lock and handed it to her. She grasped it with numb, tingling fingers.

“Remember, just point and click.”

She nodded again, then rose enough to peek over the rock, just in time to see Carter at the corner of the shed. Norwood took the gun out of her hand, aimed and fired. Carter lunged back out of sight. Cal gripped her hand and placed the weapon back in her palm.

“Fire again every minute or so. That’ll make him keep his head down. Watch the other side of the shed. He’ll try to come at you from there next.”

With that, he crawled to the edge of the rocks and slid down. She watched him kick dirt high in the air as he loped down the hillside three...four steps at a time, dodging around two fallen Joshua trees, straggly coated arms still reaching to the sky. Carter fired another shot, which startled Drina. Turning, she fired the gun...just to make noise. She had no idea where the bullet went, but she had to protect Cal. Maybe he was the leak, a traitor to their country. But he’d just saved her life and was helping her to escape. He deserved her help in return.

She fired again then turned back to watch Cal sprint across the clearing to the shed below. Grasping the ATV, he shook it, probably rattling the gas tank. Then he used the handle of his gun to break the lock on the plastic compartment and lifted the lid.

Carter fired another shot. It pinged off a nearby rock and forced Drina to turn around. Closing her eyes, she counted.

Numbers, she could do. Numbers were normal. They gave her courage. At sixty, she popped her head up, closed her eyes and pulled the trigger.

Dirt splayed up in the air ten feet in front of the shed.

If she kept aiming like that, Carter would know it wasn’t Norwood firing. She counted again, closed one eye and tried to aim for the shed.

Carter popped his head out. She fired but lost the bullet again. No telltale spray of dirt or ping of metal indicated that she’d even come close. She absolutely had to do better or Carter would know it was her shooting. Then he’d do something crazy like charge the rocks.

She fired again and again. Carter popped his head out here and there, like he was playing cat and mouse with her, growing braver each time.

He must have realized Norwood was gone.

Somewhere in the culvert below she heard the ATV engine start up. Carter heard it, too. He stuck his head out farther than usual.

Drina took aim and actually hit the shed. Carter ducked back, but slowly...as if he knew he wasn’t in any real danger of being hit.

A long time passed. Had the man moved to the other side of the shed, as Norwood had suggested?

Sure enough, Carter peeked out from the opposite side. He looked to the left, about ten feet away at a stacked-high pile of sheet metal and damaged windmill blades. The equipment was only a few feet from the side of the hill. If he reached the shelter of that pile, it was a short distance to the edge of the cliff and a clear shot at Norwood.

Suppressing a whimper, Drina took aim and fired. All she heard was an empty click. She was out of bullets.

Carter took that moment to dash across the space to the safety of the discarded equipment.

Drina dropped the gun. Now what? How could she stop him? She heard the revving of the ATV engine again. In minutes, Norwood would be climbing up the hill...straight into Carter’s line of fire.

Frantically, her gaze searched the surrounding area...and saw nothing. No weapon. No help. Nothing.

But she heard another engine.

Norwood’s car was still running. Could she reach it? Carter wasn’t looking her way. His attention was focused on the culvert.

Not giving herself time to think, she dashed across the open space back to the shed. Carter never even turned his head. He knew the real threat was down below with Norwood.

Gasping, her whole body tingling with adrenaline, she rounded the corner of the shed. Her gaze landed on her computer, still resting on the short hood of the SUV.

No way was she leaving that behind. She grabbed the laptop, tucked it under her arm. Halfway to the car she remembered the money. Money funded these men and their violent acts. She wouldn’t leave that behind, either.

Spinning, she ran back to the shed and halted at the door. Whitson’s body still lay slumped on the floor. Drina paused, trembling and shaking. She had to pass close by him to reach her backpack.

A shot rang out, galvanizing her into action. Leaping over Whitson, she stuffed the money into her backpack, slid the computer in on top, flung the straps over her shoulders and hurried back to the door.

As she crossed to Norwood’s small car, she heard another shot. She slid into the seat but could barely reach the pedals.

No time to move the seat closer. She grasped the wheel, shoved the gearshift into Reverse and shot backward.

Slipping all the way back against the seat, she almost ran the car into a ditch. The briefcase on the passenger seat flew through the air and landed on her lap. She shoved it aside and pulled herself forward, then slammed on the brakes, pushed the gearshift into Drive and spun the steering wheel in the direction of the equipment.

This time she was prepared when the car hit the slight ditch on the side of the road. The unlatched door flapped open...closed...open again. She gripped the wheel tighter and gunned the engine. The car jumped into the air. When it came down, her foot jammed onto the gas pedal and the engine revved.

Carter, who still faced the culvert, heard the noise and spun.

Drina cried out as he aimed the gun in her direction and fired. She ducked to the side, leaning out the open door. The bullet shattered the windshield. The car slowed almost to a stop. Drina saw Carter through the crack in the swaying door. He marched forward, taking aim again. Soon he’d be close enough to hit her. Drina pushed the gas again. The car was only a few feet from the edge. It would be over the side in seconds.

Reaching across, she tugged the briefcase down onto the floorboard, directly onto the gas pedal, and rolled out the door. She hit the dirt hard, but turned quickly to see the car shooting straight toward Carter. He lunged away and fell backward over the side of the hill. The sound of twisting metal and shattering glass echoed through the culvert before the motor stopped abruptly.

Drina sagged against the ground. Taking a deep breath, she sucked up dust and felt grit on her lips. Trying to catch her breath, she rolled onto her backpack and looked up to see the blue sky fading into twilight.

She needed to get up. Carter might come marching over the hill any moment, pointing his wicked gun right at her. But she couldn’t move. Couldn’t force her body into action, even when she heard another motor close by.

She opened her eyes as the quad spun around next to her, kicking dust in the air. Norwood extended his hand.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here.”

The half smile floating over those oh-so-perfect lips gave her the reassuring charge of energy she needed. She gripped his hand. He pulled her up and she climbed onto the back.

“Hang on tight. It’s going to get bumpy.”

Drina wrapped her arms around his waist. With her cheek pressed against his warm, strong back, only one thought went through her mind.

We’re safe. We’re safe. We’re safe.

Norwood gave the quad gas. Dirt and gravel spun out behind the big wheels as he headed toward the road. Drina had to loosen her hold slightly as they hit bumps, but not too much.

She wasn’t sure why he’d betrayed his partners in crime...especially since he’d probably leaked the information that led to her kidnapping in the first place. Was he hoping to sell her plan and pocket the money for himself? Or was he on her side? Was that why he had risked his life to save her? She wasn’t certain but right now his strong, sturdy body was the only solid, stable thing in an exploding world. She clung to him with all her might.

The ATV reached the dirt road leading back to town. They dipped down into the culvert and started to climb the other side. Drina glanced back at the shed and the pile of equipment behind it. Still no sign of Carter. They were safe, really safe.

With that thought, they crested the hill and a helicopter surged in the air directly in front of them.

The black machine hovered above, menacing, kicking up wind and gravel. Drina squinted and narrowed her gaze just as a man in dark clothing leaned out of the side, a long rifle poised in his hands.

“Hang on!” Norwood yelled and turned so fast, Drina almost slid off the side of the quad. A series of wind turbines were located along the ridge to their right. The turbines rose over two hundred feet in the air, and the blades were over a hundred feet wide. The helicopter couldn’t follow them into the clustered turbines of the wind farm. If Norwood could put enough distance between them and the helicopter, they might be out of the rifle’s range.

Drina clung to his back, trying to remember the range of a rifle. She worked with weapons. She was sure ranges were one of the useless details she’d picked up over the years, but for the life of her, she couldn’t put her finger on a number.

Figures were safe. She knew numbers like she knew her own name but even they deserted her as she hung on to a man she thought was a traitor and hurtled over a narrow ridge, expecting to feel a bullet pierce her back at any moment.

They reached the first turbine and Norwood jerked the ATV sharply to the left. A bullet pinged the side of the turbine’s tower and bounced away. Zigzagging erratically, Norwood made it to the next tower before another bullet hit, this time striking the ground where they’d been moments ago. Drina flinched and glanced back.

The helicopter wavered up and down in the darkening sky, then adjusted so the sniper could take aim.

Where was the ever-present desert wind? Why did the gusts fade now when they needed them most? Drina heard the crack of another shot and cringed. She ducked, hunching up against Norwood, her body pressed against his. The zing whistled by, too close for comfort, and struck the metal turbine ahead of them... A direct hit.

Norwood jerked to the side, sinking down into the narrow gully below them. There were tall turbines on the ridge across and behind them. The helicopter couldn’t follow or come up on the other side. Another bullet struck the side of the hill but it was off. The marksmen in the helicopter couldn’t site them this deep in the gully.

The gulch’s bottom was too narrow for the quad’s wheelbase so Norwood was forced to zigzag up and down the sides. Their wavering path slowed their escape. Still, the sound of the helicopter came from farther and farther above them. Drina couldn’t look up. All of her concentration was focused on hanging on to Norwood’s slender waist as their path dipped and rose along the bumpy gully bottom.

Eventually it opened into a wider culvert and they entered the sandy bottom of a small stream. Their path straightened. The sound of the helicopter faded away as darkness settled over them. Norwood traveled a long time before switching on the quad’s headlights.

The beams shot across the streambed, lighting bushes and rocks as they traveled deeper and deeper into the desert. Drina had no idea where they were headed. She only knew they were traveling far away from town and any kind of help. After a while, her grip loosened.

A mile. That was the average range of a rifle. Funny how the number jumped into her mind now.

I must be beginning to relax. This time we’re safe. Really safe... At least for the time being.

At the moment she didn’t care. Only two things mattered. Her back wasn’t shivering in reflexive fear of being shot, and the man in front of her was strong, confident and sure. He might still be a traitor to their country, but he’d risked his life to save her, covering her body with his and returning for her when he could have made his own escape. Right now nothing else mattered. She pressed her face into Norwood’s back and closed her eyes.

Odd thoughts came to her. The faint scent of lemony aftershave. She’d watched Norwood dive into dirt, run up and down a rocky ravine and scramble for his life, but still he managed to smell good. It seemed a silly thing to think about, especially since he’d betrayed everything Drina tried to accomplish. But somehow, the man made her feel safe. Protected.

Right now Cal Norwood was the man of steel, larger than life, invincible...but he smelled like lemon sunshine.

Another silly detail that lodged in her mind: she could wrap her arms around his entire waist and hold tight. How could such a slender torso manhandle this jostling, shimmying vehicle?

The question faded in her mind as they hit a bump. Drina grasped him tighter and snuggled close, burying her face in his leather jacket.

Shock. It must be shock bringing all these crazy, mixed-up thoughts to her mind. Joy at being alive must have heightened her senses because Drina was definitely not the type to romanticize. But right now it didn’t matter. They were safe and Norwood was wonderful. That was all that mattered for the moment.

Drina lost track of time. They drove for what seemed like hours. The stream widened again into a dry riverbed. Above them on the bank, the headlights flashed on a black strip that looked like a paved road. After a while, Norwood slowed the quad to a stop and turned the light toward the bank. The brown crest of a small hut appeared above them. Norwood eased the quad into the V of some boulders along the riverbed and shut down the engine.

Drina’s ears and body vibrated for a moment more, adjusting to the sudden stillness. The wind had picked up and carried a biting edge. She shivered. Norwood held out his hand again.

“We need to find shelter so we can rest for a bit.”

Rest? We need to find help.

Drina wanted to speak but her teeth started to chatter and her body trembled. Overwhelmed by the sudden shaking, she took his warm, secure hand, and he pulled her up the bank. Her legs were sore from being bound and weak from the long ride on the quad. She could hardly force them to move. By the time they reached the top, she was out of breath.

The small building was a brown tollbooth in the center of a divided road.

“Wh-what is this place?” She barely got the words out between shudders.

“It’s Red Rock Canyon, a state park for ATV riders. It’s been closed for several years. Cutbacks.”

He hurried across the asphalt road and pushed on the locked door. Gripping her arms tight against her, Drina watched him jam his shoulder into the flimsy door several times.

“Wh-why don’t you just break the w-window and unlock it?”

“It wouldn’t give us much shelter from the wind then, would it? Besides, I don’t want to leave too much damage behind. It will make for an easy trail to follow.”

With that, he gave the door a sturdy kick and it bounced open. He pulled Drina inside and tucked her into a corner.

“Have a seat and I’ll see if I can’t find a water faucet outside.”

Nodding, Drina bumped up against the wall and slid to the floor. Inside, out of the cold wind, felt so much better. Slipping her backpack off, she sighed with relief, but the sigh turned into a sob...and the trembling continued. She couldn’t control the shaking and suddenly, a thought jumped into her mind.

When she’d first met Norwood, she’d mentally made fun of his strict adherence to rules and the impression he gave off that he could save the world. Well...he’d just saved Drina and everything in her world. Hot tears of shame and relief rolled down her cheeks.

* * *

Norwood returned to the shed and slipped inside, out of the cold wind. He placed a large rock against the door to hold it shut. “There are faucets outside but all the water is turned off.”

His only answer was a sob-like sound. He turned. Tears sparkled on Drina’s cheeks.

“I—I can’t stop.” She seemed barely able to get the words out.

Cal dropped to the ground beside her. It was her fault she was here. Her own disregard for security had resulted in her kidnapping. Still, her statement sounded so pathetic, he couldn’t stop himself. Reaching across the space, he put an arm around her. His gesture seemed to release a flood of emotion. She spilled into his arms so suddenly, Cal was caught off guard and his arms spread wide as she wrapped hers around his waist.

He could almost feel Drina’s pent-up emotions washing out of her. It felt awkward, uncomfortable...as if he sat chest deep in a sea of feelings he didn’t need or understand.

Then she reached up, wrapped chilly fingers around his neck and buried her cold cheeks and nose in the curve of his neck. Skin to skin. Life to life.

This he understood. This need he knew well. Basic needs. Men and women. Even her sobs reminded them both that they were alive. He enfolded her in his arms and held her close while hot tears soaked his shirt.

He’d studied this woman, knew her schedule, her goals. He knew more about her than about any other woman. But he’d never been this close, never held her in his arms. Somehow she felt right. He’d also seen the terror in her eyes as she lay on the floor of the shack. That image flashed through his mind, and a wave of tenderness he couldn’t explain washed over him. He pressed his lips to the top of her head.

Her breakdown only lasted a minute or two. Then he felt boundaries going up, brick by brick, as she sealed her emotions inside once again. After another moment or so, her hand pulled away. She wiped the dampness from her cheeks.

Truth be told, Cal was disappointed. Her waiflike figure contained some pretty soft curves. It felt good to hold something real, something soft and gentle. Not just basic instincts but something more. For too long, his life had been all about emptiness and sharp edges. Drina was a sudden reminder that there was more to life. Thankfully, they were both still alive to enjoy it. Cal allowed himself a moment to appreciate the gift.

But only a moment. The fact remained that they were in this mess thanks to Drina’s willful disregard for security protocols. His mission was destroyed and both their lives were in danger.

In spite of the fact that she was still trembling, he pushed her away.

She wiped at wet cheeks again and sniffled. “I’ve soaked your shirt.” Her voice sounded hoarse and rough.

“It’ll dry.” His tone was brusque. He needed to shake the unexpected effects of her nearness. He didn’t want to but he had to give her credit. “You were incredibly quick thinking back there. I owe you. You saved my life when you drove that car at Carter.”

Her motions suddenly stilled. “Did I k-kill him?”

“No. But he did have to jump away quickly and you gave me the pleasure of watching him tumble head over heels down the hill. I’ve wanted to do something like that for two years.”

She straightened and gazed into his face. Moonlight poured in from the large windows above them, lighting her pert nose and lips, puffy from crying...red lips that seemed very kissable.

“Norwood, are you a traitor?”

All thoughts of kissing disappeared and his ire rose. The snarky scientist was popping up again. Ms. Gallagher was nothing if not unpredictable. “You should call me by my first name if you’re going to accuse me of something so terrible.”

She didn’t miss a beat. “Cal, are you a traitor?”

His jaw tightened “Always quick thinking. I see why they call you the wonder kid.”

“That’s not an answer.”

Leaning back against the wall, he shook his head. “No. I’m not a traitor. In fact, the consensus with my team was that you were the traitor.”

“Me? Why in the world would they suspect me?”

“You made it easy with your disregard for protocol and careless attitude toward security. Information was leaking out and the biggest holes in the safety net were around you.”

She hung her head. “I never took it seriously until...”

“Until it almost got you killed.”

She looked away. “I never meant for that to happen.”

Regret was deep in her tone. It struck a chord with Cal. “You know, I believe you mean that. But it doesn’t change the fact that we’re here because of your carelessness.”

“My work... My project means everything to me.”

Irritation filtered through him. “It better. You almost lost your life over it.”

Her gaze darted to the backpack lying beside them, but she said nothing more. For the first time he realized she’d had the nerve to retrieve her computer...and the money. His respect for her rose a little, but it didn’t change their situation.

“Maybe someday you’ll tell me why your work means so much you’d willingly risk your life and the lives of others. But right now we need to concentrate on getting out of here alive.”

He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and plugged in the password. Bright light filled the small booth. He heard a small sigh of what sounded like relief...until he started to power the phone down.

“What are you doing? Why don’t you call for help?”

“Because I’m not sure who to call. We knew—”

“Hold on. Who is we? Your security team at the base?”

“No. I’m an undercover agent for the CIA.”

“CIA?” Her expression phased through several emotions in an instant—shock, confusion and then disgust. Cal couldn’t tell if the last was directed at him or his company.

She frowned. “That can’t be. You’re head of base security.”

“Security chief is my cover. I’m the field operator for a team in Washington. We’ve been following the activities of an arms dealer by the name of Alexi Gorkoff, trying to find his source. He’s been buying top secret weapons on the black market for several years. We finally narrowed his contacts down to someone on the inside. A person at your home lab or here on the support team of the base has been selling plans even before they’re completed.”

“Bill, my boss, mentioned something to me about a security problem a while back. But I thought it was in the aeronautics department, not mine.”

“It’s all departments and all projects, which indicates someone high up in the chain of command. The CIA planted me in the base’s security force to find the leak. We created a background for me, which included a substantial gambling debt. I let it be known that I was willing to do anything to pay it off. A man approached me and we started feeding him information. After two years of work, I was finally going to meet the boss.”

“Whitson and Carter were talking about their leader. They said he gave the order to kidnap me.”

“Whoever he is, he’s clever about covering his tracks. He throws suspicion onto unsuspecting people like you. We... I wasted months tracking down the wrong people. Every time I’d get close to the truth, he’d disappear again.”

“So when you walked in and saw me lying there, you had to make a choice between meeting the boss and saving my life.” Her voice was low and raspy.

His jaw tightened unit it was almost painful. “You didn’t leave me much choice, Drina. I thought they might have already finished you off and dropped your body down an abandoned mine shaft somewhere out here in the desert. It’s happened before.”

An image of the young man who disappeared flashed into his mind. He was a computer geek with glasses...much like Drina’s. He had serious social issues and hadn’t been very popular with his coworkers. The CIA had already pegged him as a potential spy before Cal came on the scene. But in Cal’s quest to convince the members of the black market ring that he was willing to do anything for money, he’d fed them erroneous information. The leaked info countered real intel from the young computer geek. He’d disappeared two days later, never to be found, his body probably dumped down one of the many abandoned mine shafts in the endless desert floor.

Cal had taken the kid’s disappearance personally. He would have felt the same about Drina if he’d found her dead. Still...

He shook his head in a sharp movement. “If you’d just followed the protocols, we wouldn’t be here now.”

His words seemed to make Drina aware of her disheveled state. She sifted fingers through her short hair—hair that, in spite of all she’d been through, was still shiny black, tousled but touchable. A twig or leaf had wedged itself into a lock near the top. He remembered its silky feel against his lips and itched to pull the leaf loose just to feel that shiny curl.

“You don’t know anything about me. You don’t know how important my work is.”

Her words squelched his soft feelings. “I know your work was important enough to try to protect it. Besides, I’ve made it my business to know about you. MIT graduate after only three years. Top honors. Recruited by Aero Electronics right out of school.”

Her lips parted in surprise. After a moment she looked away. “And that’s where the interesting part ends. Now my life is all work.”

“True, but you were a social butterfly in college. Served on the board of every club you joined. You even volunteered with Boston’s poorest, in soup kitchens and eventually in hospice, serving the aged and dying. That really intrigued me. To be honest, it filled me with admiration.”

He leaned his head back against the wall. “A young woman like you, taking on the most difficult situations life has to offer. But something happened. You changed. Dropped your volunteer work to focus on your studies, graduated earlier and went on to a career in electronic warfare. What happened, Drina?”

Maybe shock had loosened Drina’s previously tight-lipped attitude. To Cal’s surprise she answered him.

“I fell in love.”

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