Mojave Rescue

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.