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Tom shook his head. “We’re sorry all of this happened to you, but I’ve got to tell you, Wiz loves this stuff. She’s diving into all kinds of databases, buying specialty gear, and doing a bunch of probably technically illegal things. But she’s grinning and giggling when she’s not concentrating madly. You’ve given her the opportunity to make a difference and she loves doing that. Plus taking down horrible, evil people is our favorite thing to do.” He laughed. “She’s really happy right now. Come on, we’ll get the last of this stuff, and I’ll get going. I’ve got cameras to set on my way down. They’re set to send movement warnings, then we’ll warn you.”
Michael followed him outside. Tom handed him a big, fancy ice chest. “You’ll probably get a couple more days here, then have to move. Wiz is looking for the right place, and we’re all working on the bigger problem.” He grimaced. “Eventually, Deb will need to return. Wiz has an idea for a trap, but Deb will need to play bait.”
“No way.” He glared at Tom.
“Yes way.” Deb’s voice overrode his. “It’s my business and my problem. Besides, Wiz isn’t going to put me in a fatal position.”
Michael spun. “You can’t know that.”
She raised both brows at him. “No one is safe one-hundred percent of the time. That’s not how life works.”
“We’ll run the plan by you when it’s ready. We’re hoping the FBI will step in, but so far, they’ve said ‘thanks for the info, but stay out of our business.’ The idiots don’t seem to understand what they’re turning down.” Tom put his helmet on. “Got to go. Don’t call unless you have to, like you need something or you have to move. Text if you can instead of calling. Be careful.” He climbed into the ATV and started it, turning around and zipping down the mountain.
Michael carried the cooler into the cabin and closed the door behind Deb, then put the heavy plastic box down. “We’ll have to organize all this. We’re running out of room.”
“Nice problem to have.” Deb stacked the rest of the non-perishable food on the counter and in the plastic bins below. “We can use this box as a storage bin, or a table.”
Michael opened the larger box Tom brought. As he said, there were bullet-resistant vests for both of them; his was rigged with a harness, a retractable attachment for the rifle and double holsters for the pistols. Deb’s held a taser and a container of bear spray; wise choices for someone who wasn’t comfortable with guns. Underneath the vests, a bandolier containing ammo for the AR-15 and the nine-mils. The AR was a high-end model, with a red dot targeting laser, a flip-up scope, and a suppressor. He whistled. “She’s not skimping on anything, that’s for sure.”
Deb laughed. “No kidding. She’s sent expensive meal kits, high-end canned meat, fish and veggies, and only the best spice mixes, oil and vinegar. I don’t think she understands baking isn’t the same as cooking.” She pulled out a smaller box. “Or maybe she does. This is a camping oven and there’s baking pans, too. Wiz thought of everything.”
Michael pulled two heavy daypacks out of the box. Outdoor clothes were in the main bag, along with rain gear, and water bladders were already filled and in the proper slots. Water filters, first aid, fire starters, and emergency shelters were in the lids, along with maps of the local area. He pulled the maps and spread them on the table; two of the area around the cabin, one showing the southern end of the valley. Wiz had drawn pins for the cabin and the trailer, plus highlighted two alternate routes down to the trailer; the code for the lock was on the back. He’d check the routes on foot later. He folded the maps and put one local and the wide area view in Deb’s, and put the other local area map in his. If he wasn’t here, and she had to go, she’d need the bigger map more than he did.
Deb put a hand on his back. “Did she send clothes?”
“Yes.” Michael turned back to the box, forcing Deb’s hand to fall away, and pulled out a huge pink tote bag. “This looks like yours, and there’s some clothing in the backpacks, too. Make sure you leave some extra socks in the backpack in case we have to run.”
Deb took the tote and opened it. “Oh, bless her.” She sniffed. “Actually, bless Sam. She must have packed for me. I doubt Wiz would have thought to add my moisturizer, shampoo and conditioner.”
“Maybe, maybe not. She’s smart. But she’s also smart enough to know that Sam entering your business is a whole lot less suspicious than anyone else going in. I’m sure the organization has people watching the building.”
Deb wrapped her arms around her waist. “I suppose that’s true.” She turned back to the kitchen counter. “I’m so grateful she sent my e-reader. And we’ve got real maple syrup to go with our pancakes, plus local bacon and luxury coffee.” She held up a coffee press. “She really thought of everything.”
They ate a delicious meal, but Deb said little and shifted uneasily in her chair. She was probably sore and dreading another day of hiking, but he had a fix for that. “Let’s split up the chores. If you can organize all this stuff, I’ll go check more trails, and mark them. Wiz sent special pens for nighttime, too. If anyone is chasing us at night, they might be able to see the marks, but I’ll make coded marks.” Deb scrunched up her nose. “Simple stuff. Trail by number and if it leads to the ATV, it will have a V; if it leads to my truck, an A for Acer. And some additional codes as decoys.”
“Okay.” She sighed.
“Hey, this is temporary. We’ll spend a couple of days hiding, and by then, Wiz and Sam will have figured something out.” Unbidden, he reached out, putting two fingers under her chin. “It will be okay.”
She smiled, but it looked forced. “Sure.” She stood and returned to the counter, stacking dishes.
He’d give anything to hug her, but that would only bring heartache for both of them. He pulled two pouches of ammo off the bandolier—one for each weapon—and put those in his pockets, then took the extra clothing out. Deb handed him a big plastic bag with a sandwich, fruit, and snacks. “Thanks.”
She nodded. “You’ll need the energy. If you don’t stay out until lunch, you can bring it back and eat with me.” She gave him a closed mouth smile and a sharp nod, and turned to the counter again, putting away the sandwich makings.
She was such a catch. The single men in the area were idiots for not pursuing her. But he hadn’t met anyone worthy of her. She was too good, too smart, and too beautiful for the knuckle-draggers around the valley. Including him. He shouldered his backpack, adjusted it, then placed his weapons. He needed to sight in the new pistol and AR-15, but couldn’t risk drawing attention by firing a weapon. Maybe he’d find a secluded hollow where the blast wouldn’t echo down to the road below. The suppressor on the AR would help, but firing it would still be obvious to anyone familiar with the sound. Although, he’d seen plenty of these around, so perhaps most people would assume it was target practice.
He checked the windows, and opened the door, then turned to Deb. “Be careful. Lock the door behind me. If you hear anyone coming, grab that bear spray and taser. If they get the door open, use the bear spray, then retreat to the bathroom and use the taser if they keep coming. I’ll leave the sat phone with you. If Wiz warns you, grab your backpack and head downhill to the trailer. Okay?”
She nodded, lips clamped and wrapped her arms around her waist again. She wasn’t okay. But he was doing all he could. He nodded in return and left the cabin, determined to keep Deb safe, no matter what. She brought so much joy to others and deserved the sweetest life possible.
He hiked to the trail behind the cabin, marking the way with the low-light paint, then followed the game trail down the hill. He stopped when he barely spotted the silver trailer’s roof a few hundred feet below. Just in case the bad guys found the trailer, there was no sense in making the trail to the cabin obvious.
Which meant he didn’t want to return on the same path. Stepping carefully across the loose, flat shale, he found another faint animal trail, and plodded up. Gradually, the trail became more defined; almost a real trail. A faint glimmer stopped him, and he crouched. A trip wire. He surveyed the slope above; no sign of a log holding rocks, but it could be a different kind of trap, or perhaps a warning. He stepped over the wire, and surveyed each step before moving ahead. The trail entered a group of large pines, and he stopped. The wires could be at any level or even be fishing line, which would be harder to spot.
“Who are you?” The voice was rough, like the man didn’t talk much.
“Michael Acer. You are?” The sound was probably coming from above, but it was hard to tell.
