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Danger at the Border
Terri Reed


UNSAFE TERRITORYWhen a mysterious toxin threatens lives and livelihoods near the border between the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Tessa Cleary is called to trace the source. But when the no-nonsense doctor is forced to work with border patrol agent Jeff Steele, she finds the lone wolf's dedication to his job-and country-chipping away at the walls around her heart. Just as Tessa and Jeff are about to uncover the toxin's deadly source, armed thugs kidnap them in the forest. Now they must trust each other to survive before time runs out for everyone.Northern Border Patrol: Keeping the U.S.-Canadian border safe.







UNSAFE TERRITORY

When a mysterious toxin threatens lives and livelihoods near the border between the U.S. and Canada, Dr. Tessa Cleary is called to trace the source. But when the no-nonsense doctor is forced to work with border patrol agent Jeff Steele, she finds the lone wolf’s dedication to his job—and country—chipping away at the walls around her heart. Just as Tessa and Jeff are about to uncover the toxin’s deadly source, armed thugs kidnap them in the forest. Now they must trust each other to survive before time runs out for everyone.

Northern Border Patrol: Keeping the U.S.–Canadian border safe


They had guns!

Both men in the speedboat pulled bandannas over the lower half of their faces, and one of the men hefted a rifle to his shoulder, aiming the weapon at Tessa.

Jeff grabbed his sidearm. “Tessa! Get down!”

A startling bang followed by an even louder pop jolted through Tessa. One side of the Zodiac deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle. She was being shot at!

Jeff jumped over the still-inflated side of the Zodiac and dropped down beside her on his back, his gun in front of him, aimed toward the lake. “You okay?”

“Yes. You?” He fired off two rounds. The deafening noise reverberated inside her head.

The speedboat roared away. They were leaving. Relief made her melt into the floor.

Jeff jumped to his feet and tugged on her arm. “They’re circling back. Get up. We have to run for the trees.”

Galvanized by fear and adrenaline, she scrambled out of the boat and followed Jeff.


TERRI REED

At an early age Terri Reed discovered the wonderful world of fiction and declared she would one day write a book. Now she is fulfilling that dream and enjoys writing for Love Inspired Books. Her second book, A Sheltering Love, was a 2006 RITA® Award finalist and a 2005 National Readers’ Choice Award finalist. Her book Strictly Confidential, book five in the Faith at the Crossroads continuity series, took third place in the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award, and Her Christmas Protector took third place in 2008. She is an active member of both Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her college-sweetheart husband, two wonderful children and an array of critters. When not writing, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, gardening and playing with her dogs.

You can write to Terri at P.O. Box 19555, Portland, OR 97280. Visit her on the web at www.loveinspiredauthors.com (http://www.loveinspiredauthors.com), leave comments on her blog, www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com (http://www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com), or email her at terrireed@sterling.net.


Danger at the Border

Terri Reed




www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


Our soul waits for the Lord:

He is our help and our shield.

—Psalms 33:20


To Teal and Kim,

I couldn’t have asked for better sisters.


Contents

Cover (#udeab2fa7-c5eb-560e-a6a9-007752b1163d)

Back Cover Text (#ua76be8fa-c6a2-57fb-b3a4-cd2648b0f811)

Introduction (#ue1e20b8c-a127-52ed-983f-c1a9fcf25800)

About the Author (#u0d961541-d3af-5970-b657-f7e9d2f3efc3)

Title Page (#u2e406beb-a8b0-5a31-b7fc-e65df9a64ecc)

Bible Verse (#ue736750a-9dd4-54ad-8e4a-bf03d0f7ea65)

Dedication (#udad34261-b12a-577b-840f-03e88feb67cd)

ONE (#uc8fe9178-8efd-5de8-9809-b4e13d267c9e)

TWO (#ub5f0e210-470e-5078-80c0-888840a562f9)

THREE (#u9d60ac92-182c-56f9-b6ad-c2de7ffe0a07)

FOUR (#litres_trial_promo)

FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)

SIX (#litres_trial_promo)

SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)

NINE (#litres_trial_promo)

TEN (#litres_trial_promo)

ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)

TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)


ONE (#u046898fc-e3cf-54ec-bd2f-3d29351c0ee1)

“Thank you, Randy.” Biologist Dr. Tessa Cleary smiled at the young ranger sitting in the driver’s seat of the Forest Service truck.

“Sure thing, Doc.” He saluted her with a grin crinkling his tanned face.

Randy had picked her up from the airport in Bellingham, Washington, and driven her on the long, windy road to the ranger station at Glen Lake in the North Cascades National Forest. At least five years younger than her twenty-eight years, Randy had kept up a running dialogue on the lake and the human inhabitants who made the forest their home. He obviously knew the area well.

Tessa had been content to listen but was glad to reach her destination and escape the confines of the truck cab. The smell of tobacco coming off the young ranger had been overpowering, even with the window down. A little queasy, she climbed from the vehicle and stretched. However, the agitated churning of her tummy wasn’t due to motion sickness, but from the recent reports of fish kills and the outburst of breathing problems swimmers in Glen Lake had been experiencing.

Shielding her eyes against the late-summer sun, she surveyed her surroundings and filled her lungs with the sweet scent of fresh mountain air. Tall conifers dominated the forest, but she detected many deciduous trees surrounding the sparkling shores of the reservoir lake, as well.

A hidden paradise. One to be enjoyed by those willing to venture to the middle of the Pacific Northwest.

The lake should be filled with boats and swimmers, laughing children, fishing poles and water skis.

But all was still.

Silent.

The seemingly benign water was filled with something toxic harming both the wildlife and humans.

Her office had received a distressing call yesterday that dead trout had washed ashore on the lake, and recreational swimmers were presenting with respiratory distress after swimming in the lake.

As a field biologist for the USDA Forest Service’s Fish and Aquatic Ecology Unit, her job was to determine what exactly that something was as quickly as possible and stop it.

She’d convinced her boss she couldn’t wait for a team to be assembled. She needed to get to Glen Lake ASAP. The team would follow but not for another forty-eight hours. She’d hopped on the next available flight from Logan, Utah, to the state of Washington to assess the reports of contamination in the water.

A wet, hot tongue licked her hand. Startled, she jerked back. A large Rottweiler stared up at her.

“Ooh, aren’t you a beauty?” she cooed and scratched the dog behind the ear.

“Here she is!” A booming voice full of anticipation rang out. The dog trotted away, apparently losing interest in her as she turned her attention to the ranger station.

The building, like many she’d visited around the country, had a peaked roofline to keep winter elements from accumulating, and natural wood and material painted in earthy tones to help the structure blend in with the environment.

A mixed group of civilians and uniformed personnel gathered on the wide wooden porch.

She recognized the park ranger by his tan uniform. She figured the man in the dark brown uniform with the gold-star badge was the Okanagan County sheriff.

All eyes were trained on her. All except one man’s.

Tall with dark hair, he stood in profile talking to the sheriff. Too many people blocked him from full view for her to see an agency logo on his forest-green uniform. Probably from EPA. She’d worked with agents from the Environmental Protection Agency on other cases, though she thought their uniforms were dark colored. Either way, she hoped this didn’t turn into a power struggle.

The ranger, a lanky man in his sixties, and a woman of the same age dressed in jeans and a plaid shirt broke away from the crowd to hurry down the stairs toward her.

Tessa forced a composed smile, though inside she was anxious to get going. The longer they waited, the more damage to the lake and its inhabitants there would be, but she knew in situations like this it was best to appear confident and calm. Showing any sign of concern would create panic.

She didn’t want anyone to freak out. At least, not until she knew what they were dealing with. There could be any number of reasons for the fish kills—the most common causes were oxygen depletion, algae, disease or pollution.

Only the last two could explain the swimmers’ breathing issues.

The ranger approached with his hand out. “You must be Dr. Cleary. I’m Ranger George Harris, and this is my wife, Ellen. Thank you for coming so quickly.”

“I got here as soon as I could,” she said, shaking each of their outstretched hands.

“I did as you asked,” George said. “All boating activity and swimming in the lake has ceased. The sheriff has officers stationed at the docks to make sure no one takes any watercrafts out.”

“Good,” she said. “It would be best for everyone to stay out of the lake until we know what’s going on.”

“You’re going to find the cause?” An older man stalked forward, the Rottweiler at his heels. His bushy eyebrows lowered over dark eyes. “You’re just a scrawny lady. What can you possibly do?” He threw his hands in the air. “We’re doomed.”

Not letting his words affect her took effort. This wasn’t the first time she’d been dismissed before being given a chance. She’d hoped her career would be the one place where she’d be accepted for who she was. Unfortunately, that was a fight she constantly found herself battling.

But at least she had knowledge and expertise to back her up. “Sir, I assure you I know what I’m doing. I will get to the bottom of what’s going on.”

The old man harrumphed.

Ellen stepped forward and placed a hand on the old man’s arm. “Henry, enough with the dramatics.” She turned to Tessa. “As you can probably understand, folks around here are pretty upset. The resort at the southern tip of the lake has people bailing on their reservations right and left. The other small communities along the shoreline are suffering, as well.”

“Without the tourist trade, my business will die. I’ll have to sell.” Henry’s fists tightened at his sides. “Where am I going to go? Huh?”

Ellen patted his arm. “It won’t come to that.”

Tessa turned her attention to Ranger Harris. “Do you have any idea where the contamination is originating?”

He shook his head. “We haven’t come across the source. At least not on our side of the lake. I’m not sure what’s happening across the border.” George ran a hand through his graying hair as his gaze strayed to the lake. “Whatever this is, it isn’t coming from our side.”

“Let’s not go casting aspersions on our friends to the north until we know more. Okay, George?”

The deep baritone voice came from Tessa’s right. She turned to find herself confronted by a set of midnight-blue eyes filled with curiosity.

She blinked at the attractive man towering over her. Answering curiosity rose within her. Who was he? And why was he here? She couldn’t drag her gaze away from his face to check his uniform.

His gaze slid the length of her, burning a trail over her plaid shirt, jeans and work boots, and back to her eyes. She drew herself up to her full height, though she only managed to reach his shoulders, refusing to squirm beneath his perusal.

However, she was glad she’d corralled her wild curls with a clip and had applied some lip gloss when her plane landed.

She mentally scoffed. Not that she cared a whit what this man thought of her. Doing her job wasn’t dependent on meeting his approval.

His well-formed lips curved upward slightly, sending a shiver gallivanting across her flesh. But she held his gaze, unwilling to let him think he could intimidate or embarrass her, despite the heat creeping up her neck.

George cleared his throat. “Dr. Cleary, this is Agent Steele with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection service.”

Ah. That explained his presence. Finally able to tear her gaze from his, she noted his gold badge with the unmistakable bald eagle perched at the top with its wings spread as if in flight. Considering the lake crossed the international border separating the U.S. and Canada, she wasn’t surprised that a Border Patrol agent had been called.

Since 9/11, the U.S. and Canadian governments had upped the amount of personnel and security measures along its shared boundary. The forestland on both sides of the line, though rugged terrain, had seen its share of attempted illegal crossings.

“Jeff,” Agent Steele said, holding out his hand.

She hesitated a fraction before slipping her hand into his. “Tessa.”

His big, warm palm pressed against hers like a shock pad, sending waves of sensation up her arm.

She extracted her hand quickly and curled her fingers to disperse the disturbing reaction. Basic biology at work here. Nothing more. Just because the guy looked as if he belonged on a billboard ad rather than out in the middle of a forest didn’t mean she had to get all goofy about him. She wasn’t in the market for a romance. The last time she’d allowed the rush of attraction to rule, she’d ended up busted to pieces when the relationship took a nosedive like the pH level in an aquarium when exposed to too much CO2.

The gleam in his eyes made her think he’d noticed her reaction to him. She resisted the urge to put her hand to her warm cheeks. No sense in confirming her initial attraction.

“I look forward to working with you.”

His smooth-as-silk voice wrapped around her. It took a moment for his words to process. “Working with me?”

She couldn’t imagine what he could do to help her or the work she did. He’d only be a nuisance. A distraction she didn’t want.

Instead of answering, he gestured to the man beside him. “This is Sheriff Larkin.”

Tessa jerked her gaze from the too-handsome Agent Steele to acknowledge the sheriff with a handshake. “Sheriff.”

“We’re counting on you to deal with this,” the sheriff said.

“Have there been any fires in the area recently? The contamination could be chemicals used in firefighting that seeped into the soil or into the water.”

Sheriff Larkin shook his head. “No. Not for a couple of years.”

So much for that theory. “I’ll need to test samples of the water and the soil along the lakeshore on both sides.”

“I’ll have a boat ready to take you wherever you need to go,” Ranger Harris promised.

“You have the fish samples?” She’d asked that they collect as many different samples as possible from various points along the lakeshore. That way she would have a better chance of figuring out if the contamination was widespread or localized to a specific section.

“Yes. I have at least two dozen waiting for you.”

Anxiety spurted through her. She was careful to keep her voice even. “Two dozen dead fish?”

“Yes, ma’am,” George stated. “From up and down both sides of the lake all the way to the borderline. Each is labeled where on the lake it came from, like you’d asked.”

Her stomach sank. So much for hoping the contaminant was limited and hadn’t had a chance to cover too large a portion of the lake or to settle in the sediment. With that many dead trout turning up, the toxin had spread.

She looked at Agent Steele—Jeff. “You’ll need to alert the Canadian authorities that the lake is contaminated.”

Agent Steele exchanged a glance with the sheriff. “We’ve communicated to the Canadians that there is an issue with the lake water. They are taking appropriate precautions.”

“Could an oil or gasoline spill cause the fish to die?” Ellen asked.

“And swimmers to get sick?” George added.

Tessa shifted her gaze to the older couple. “Has anyone reported a spill?”

George shook his head.

“I doubt a tourist would report an accident like that. Too eager to save their own bacon than protect the water,” Henry shot out.

“What happens if it is a spill?” Ellen asked.

“We’d skim the spill from the surface by using a boom or skimmer device that sucks up the contaminant.” Cleaning up even a small portion of the lake wouldn’t be an easy task, but it would be doable.

Jeff’s intense gaze held hers. “And if it’s not oil or gas? How do we clean it up?”

“If the pollutant has settled into the sediment, then dredging will be necessary.”

“How long will that take?” George asked.

Looking at the lake, she said, “I don’t have a definitive answer.”

“Your best guess?” the sheriff interjected.

“I don’t make guesses,” she said.

“Try,” Jeff prodded.

The weight of his stare pried the words from her. “Considering the size and depth of the lake, maybe a week or two. Maybe more.”

George groaned.

“Summer’s not over yet. We still have several weeks of good weather. We can’t afford to lose the tourism,” Ellen said, distress ringing in her tone.

“See, I told you, we’re doomed!” Henry interjected in a loud roar.

Tessa held up a hand. “I won’t know what to do or what we’re dealing with until I locate the toxin and assess the damage.”

“What do we do first?” Jeff asked, his intense gaze drilling into her.

“We don’t do anything.” Tessa hoped he understood where the boundary line lay. She didn’t need him getting in her way. She turned to Ranger Harris. “I need to examine the fish.”

* * *

Jeff tapped his foot against the linoleum floor of the Glen Lake ranger station as he talked on his cell phone. He stood in the hallway outside the room where the “fish doctor” was doing her thing. Overhead, the fluorescent lights hummed, loud enough to make it difficult to hear the man speaking on the other end of the phone. Jeff’s blood pressure ratcheted skyward. The summer heat invaded the rangers’ break room, making him sweat. He tugged at the collar of his uniform shirt.

“We can’t let this turn into an international disaster.” Deputy Director Darrin Moore’s deep voice held an intense tone that never failed to make Jeff think of his father in lecture mode. But for some reason, Jeff accepted his boss’s instruction better than his father’s. “Contain the situation, Agent Steele. Determine if this is an accident or an attack.”

Jeff detected the note of concern underlying Moore’s words. “Are you suggesting this could be an act of terrorism?”

“I’m erring on the side of caution.” The deputy director was as buttoned-down as they came. All of the men and women Jeff had met from Homeland Security headquarters were the epitome of professional.

Protecting the great nation of the United States was serious business.

And tough. For all Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents.

The nation’s security was more than a job. At least to Jeff.

Stationed at the port of entry in Blaine, Washington, Jeff worked to keep the northern border between the U.S. and Canada safe from threats against the American and Canadian people. He’d been honored when his boss tagged him to be a part of the IBETS—Integrated Border Enforcement Teams, a binational task force working to enhance border integrity and security along the shared U.S./Canada line.

The deputy director had told him yesterday to hustle to Glen Lake. Jeff had complied without hesitation. When he’d arrived at the Glen Lake ranger station a few hours ago, he’d found frightened people wanting answers.

He prayed the woman in the next room would provide them.

“Dr. Cleary’s dissecting the dead fish as we speak,” Jeff explained to Deputy Director Moore. “We’ll have answers shortly.”

At least Jeff hoped so. Tessa seemed like the type of person who worked methodically and efficiently. She’d certainly turned out to be a surprise.

He wasn’t sure what he’d expected. Someone older, earthier, less curvy.

Instead, Tessa Cleary, with her striking auburn hair, liquid-amber-colored eyes and smattering of freckles crossing the bridge of her pert nose, was trouble with a capital T. He knew her type. He’d dated his fair share of them.

Smart—the woman was a Ph.D.—bossy and demanding. High maintenance.

He could almost hear the sputtering that would happen when Tessa saw the accommodations. The cabins on the edge of the lake used for the Forest Service were barely a step up from a tent.

He’d hazard a guess the doctor’s idea of roughing it was not having reservations.

Hmm. Okay, they could have that in common. He didn’t particularly like sleeping on the ground or a saggy cot but certainly would if needed.

He’d noticed there was no gold band or tan line suggesting a ring recently had graced her slender hand. Not that her marital status was any of his business. He didn’t do commitment because commitment equaled heartache, a state of being he’d rather not experience again.

“Call once you have the doctor’s findings,” Moore said before hanging up.

Jeff walked into the makeshift autopsy room.

The aroma of vanilla from lit candles underscored the decaying-fish stink.

Stopping in the doorway, he watched Tessa. Her hands were steady, quick and efficient as she sliced and diced. She’d already worked her way through one tray and had started on another.

She placed a sample on the slide for the microscope and moved forward to peer into the eyepiece. Her red hair stuck out the back of the hairnet, the tarnished strands vibrant against her green tartan-patterned shirt. With appreciation, his gaze lingered over her trim waist, nice curves and long, lean legs.

She straightened and made some notes on the pad of paper at her side. She froze and then whipped around to stare at him.

“How long have you been standing there?” Her voice vibrated with indignation.

“A few seconds.” He stepped fully into the room. “Did you figure out what killed the fish?” Anticipation knotted his gut.

“Yes and no.” She stripped off her rubber gloves and tossed them in a wastebasket. “It wasn’t a spill of oil or gasoline.”

Dread tightened the muscles in his shoulders. “So then, what? Natural causes?” He could only hope.

She slanted him a sharp glance. “Hardly. The damage done to these poor fish is indicative of a chemical agent.”

Jeff’s stomach dropped. “What sort of chemical?”

“I won’t know until I send tissue, water and soil samples out for analysis.”

“How long will that take?”

“If the lab can rush, I should have the findings by the end of the week.”

Running his palm over his jaw, Jeff said, “Any chance a chemical could have accidentally polluted the water?”

She undid her hairnet, letting her auburn tresses fall around her shoulders. His gaze was drawn to the burnished curls.

“I need to find the source, then I’ll know,” she said,

He dragged his gaze from her pretty hair and met her gaze. “George has a boat ready for us.”

Her copper-colored eyebrows rose. “You are not accompanying me.”

“But I am.” He didn’t wait for her to argue. He cupped her elbow to propel her toward the door. “My job is to protect this country. I need your help to do it.”

“Wait! My bag!” She jerked out of his grasp and hurriedly packed up her equipment.

“I’ll get it.” He reached for the strap. She sidestepped him and marched out the door.

Shaking his head at her stubbornness, he sent up a silent prayer that God would help them work together, as well. Because if the chemical that had invaded Glen Lake was an act of terror, then they would have more to deal with than pride. Both countries would be at risk and lives at stake.

* * *

By the time Tessa reached the dock, her shoulder ached from the weight of her duffel bag. She hadn’t realized how heavy the thing was. Regret for not allowing Jeff to take the bag when he’d offered intensified her tension. She didn’t like needing help.

She’d decided long ago that relying on others for anything only led to disappointment, because no matter what she did or how hard she worked to please people, she never measured up. Therefore, if she didn’t care what others thought and relied only on herself, her heart was safe. She was safe.

Resolute in that thought, she dropped the duffel holding her supplies on the wooden planks at her feet with a thunk and rolled her shoulders. She caught Jeff’s gaze from the boat. Speculation lurked in the cobalt depths of his eyes.

She jerked her gaze away and stared into the water, focusing on what was at stake. The forest, the lake and the fish. Human lives.

“She’s a beauty.”

Jeff’s words jerked Tessa’s attention to the motorboat bobbing gently against the side of the dock. George stood inside the boat, showing Jeff around the helm.

She spied a Zodiac, an inflatable boat with an aluminum floor, lying upside down on the shore. Two black oars stuck straight up out of the sand beside it. She pointed. “That’s what we’re taking.”

Jeff followed the trajectory of her finger. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Don’t think you can handle it?” She picked up her bag. Maybe he’d relent and not insist on going with her. She preferred working alone.

His lips thinned. “I can handle it.” He climbed out of the motorboat and stalked down the dock.

She turned to George. “Do you have another set of oars?”

Amusement twinkled in his brown eyes. “Yes, ma’am.” George handed her a map of the lake. Then he unclipped a walkie-talkie from his belt and held it out. “There’s no cell service on the north end. Use this if you run into any trouble.”

“Thanks.” She slipped the walkie-talkie into the outside pocket of her bag.

Once they had the inflatable boat flipped and half in, half out of the water, Tessa tossed her duffel inside. It landed with a dull thud.

“What’s in that bag?” Jeff asked as he climbed inside the boat and settled on the back transom.

“My testing kit and ten essentials. Everything needed to survive for a short time in the wilderness.”

“We won’t be getting out of the boat,” Jeff muttered as he took an oar in each hand.

“You never know what you’ll need.” She threw one leg over the side, then the other, careful to keep the boat balanced by planting her feet wide. Then she sat on the middle bench seat facing Jeff. Tucking the second set of oars George handed her beneath the bench along with her bag, she shrugged. “I like to be ready for anything. You never know when disaster will strike.”

One side of Jeff’s mouth lifted. “You sound like an ad for FEMA.”

She arched an eyebrow. “I attended the Center for Domestic Preparedness training.”

His mouth quirked. “Me, too. Though it must have been at a different time. I’d have remembered you.”

She rolled her eyes, not believing she would have garnered his attention at all then or now if it wasn’t for this situation.

He cocked his head. “Hmm, maybe I should grab a few things.”

The teasing tone in his voice grated on her nerves. “You should. I’ll wait.”

He blinked. “That’s okay. We’ll be back here by dinnertime. I ate a big lunch.”

She shrugged. So had she. George had brought her a sandwich piled high with ham and cheese, a side of fruit and a soda. But she liked to snack throughout the day. “Suit yourself.”

She pulled on a pair of silicone gloves and grabbed two test tubes and a plastic baggie from her bag, then leaned over the side of the boat to fill two tubes with water. The boat height was perfect. She then removed two foil packets from the baggie, popped out two tabs, broke them into fourths and dropped a piece into each tube. She shook the water to dissolve the tablet pieces.

The water in one tube turned blue, indicating bacteria, not uncommon, and the other turned red, indicating a chemical component.

Keeping her expression neutral to not alarm either of the men, she used a permanent marker and wrote the ranger station dock on the label along the side of each tube before slipping the tubes into another plastic bag.

Jeff slid on a pair of sunglasses, then picked up the oars. “Ready?”

“Just a sec.” Tessa withdrew sunglasses and a hat from her bag and shoved them both on. “Now I am.”

George pushed the boat off the sand. Soon they were floating. Jeff used the oars to turn the boat so they headed away from the dock. His well-defined biceps drew her attention. The guy obviously worked out. She appreciated when a man took care of himself.

She forced herself to look away. That he was fit aided in what they were doing. That was the only reason she’d even noted his athleticism.

They rowed from location to location along the lake’s surface while she collected and tested samples. The dead fish floating around the boat saddened her.

“Can you row that way?” She pointed to a sandy stretch of the shore. “There’s something weird with the sand over there.”

Jeff dug the oars into the water, propelling the boat in the direction she’d indicated. When the Zodiac slid firmly onto the sandy shore, Tessa scrambled out of the boat to inspect what at first appeared to be a dark stain in the sand.

But on closer inspection, the dark line was some kind of moisture slowly flowing into the lake from the trees. The putrid stench of decay coming from the liquid assaulted her senses.

Heart racing, she ran back to the boat to grab her testing supplies. Jeff walked toward the trees while she returned to the mystery fluid and tested it.

As the results presented themselves, her stomach twisted in dread and triumph.

With a blue and a red vial in hand, she called to Jeff, “This is the source of the contamination.”

* * *

With Tessa’s words echoing in his head, Jeff stopped at the tree line and stared into the thick ancient forest, where the nasty runoff seemed to originate.

This area was unpopulated and rugged with dense underbrush, towering evergreens, maples and alders, making the woods dark and forbidding.

What was causing the lethal runoff? Had someone been using the forest for chemical waste? Was the noxious substance caused by an accident, or had someone purposely released it? To what end?

The questions spun in his head, making his temples pound.

His first inclination was to charge into the woods to find the cause and put a stop to the polluted flow. They were on American soil. His jurisdiction. His hand rested on the butt of his holstered gun. But he couldn’t do that part of his job, not while he was responsible for Tessa.

He spun around to look at the woman heading back to the boat. She may know her business around fish, but her domain was the lab, not the wilderness. Despite her bag of essentials, she wouldn’t last more than a few hours in this terrain.

He blew out a breath. He couldn’t leave her here by herself. Besides, there was no way she’d agree to being left behind, anyway.

The best course of action was to report what they’d found and let the sheriff and the professionals who knew how to deal with toxic waste handle this situation. He slipped his cell phone out of his pocket. No signal. Great.

The roar of an outboard motor revved through the air. A speedboat, carrying two men dressed in camouflage, zipped along the water’s surface heading in their direction.

Jeff clenched his jaw. Probably hunters. Ranger Harris and Sheriff Larkin had shut down the lake. These two jokers were going to be in big trouble. He’d report the boat’s bow number to the sheriff when he returned to the ranger station.

Shaking his head with frustration, Jeff stalked back toward Tessa. She sat in the boat fiddling with a walkie-talkie. Resourceful woman.

She glanced up and yelled, “I can’t get this thing to work!”

The engine on the speedboat cut to an idle and diverted Jeff’s attention away from Tessa. Both men pulled bandannas over the lower half of their faces, and one of the men hefted a rifle to his shoulder, aiming the weapon at Tessa.

Horror flooded Jeff’s system. He grabbed his sidearm. “Tessa! Get down!”


TWO (#u046898fc-e3cf-54ec-bd2f-3d29351c0ee1)

A startling bang followed by an even louder pop jolted through Tessa. One side of the Zodiac deflated like a balloon pricked by a needle. She was being shot at!

She dived to the floor of the boat. More gunfire erupted. The shocking sound vibrated through her, making her heart pound so hard she thought it would explode out of her chest.

Jeff jumped over the still-inflated side of the Zodiac, landing with a thump beside her. He log-rolled onto his back, his gun in front of him, aimed toward the lake. “You okay?”

“Yes. You?”

He fired off two rounds. The deafening noise reverberated inside her head. She reached beneath the bench seat for the Zodiac’s emergency kit, grabbed the flare gun and clutched it to her chest.

“Please, God...help.” The whispered prayer slipped out, dredged up from a suppressed place deep within her soul.

She flipped onto her back and aimed toward the boat, preparing to fire.

Jeff shook his head. “No. We may need that.”

The speedboat roared away. They were leaving. Relief made her melt into the floor.

Jeff jumped to his feet and tugged on her arm. “They’re circling back. Get up. We have to run for the trees.”

Galvanized by fear and adrenaline, she scrambled out of the boat. Her ears rang, and her temples throbbed. Jeff grabbed her duffel bag and tugged her along.

“Wait! The walkie-talkie!” She’d dropped it on the bottom of the boat. It was the only way of reaching help. She turned to run back.

The speedboat raced toward the shore.

Bullets slammed into the ground, spitting up pieces of sand that bit her flesh through her pant leg. She let out a yelp as she skidded in the loose soil, her arms windmilling as she fought to keep her balance. Her mind screamed, Run for your life! while her practical side yelled, Get the walkie-talkie! It could be the only way they survived.

“Leave it!” Jeff’s shouted command overrode her inner conflict. He captured her by the waist, hauling her off her feet, and ran with her in one arm and her duffel gripped in the other hand.

More bullets whizzed past, hitting the earth, the trees. Tessa gripped Jeff’s arm with a fresh wave of panic. What if he was hit trying to protect her? She hated the thought of someone being hurt on her account.

Once they reached the shelter of the forest, he set her on her feet. “Go!” he urged, giving her a slight push.

She ran, charging through the underbrush, not caring that branches snagged at her clothes and twigs snapped beneath her heels. They were running for their lives. But at least they were alive to run.

Finally, Jeff tugged her behind the huge trunk of a Douglas fir. Dropping the bag on the ground, he pressed close to her, his six-foot frame crowding her personal bubble. Normally, she didn’t like when anyone invaded her space, but she found comfort in the protection he so easily and willingly extended. That it was part of his job didn’t matter. She’d take it.

Her breathing came in ragged gasps. She willed her heart rate to slow. Blinking up at him, she asked, “What do we do now?”

He leaned sideways to peer around the tree toward the lake, then straightened to meet her gaze. “Pray. And thank God for the forest.”

Was he being glib?

Looking into the depths of his blue eyes, she saw sincerity. “Praying’s good.”

Holding her gaze, he said, “Lord, we ask for Your protection. We ask that You would guide us out of these woods safely. In Your Son’s name, amen.”

Quick and painless. But would the words be effective? She’d had so many unanswered prayers in her life, she wasn’t sure God really listened. At least not to her. “Amen.”

Jeff stepped back and surveyed their surroundings. “We can’t go back the way we came. Obviously, someone isn’t happy we’re investigating the contamination.”

Tessa dropped to her knees and dug through her bag. “Ranger Harris gave me a map of the area.” She tugged the folded map out of the pocket she’d stuffed it in.

Jeff knelt down beside her to help unfold the map. He pointed to a spot along the lakeshore. “This is where our boat is.” He moved his finger in a straight line through the forest section and stopped. “We’re probably about here.”

They’d gone approximately three hundred feet. She studied the map. “Look. There’s a fire road here.”

“That’s about twenty miles west.”

She glanced to her right to where the nasty substance marred the forest floor. “The same direction the toxin’s flowing from.”

He nodded. “We’ll either come across the source of the pollutant first or the fire road.”

She had an awful suspicion that finding the source would be detrimental to their well-being. “And when we get to the road, then what?”

“We follow it back to civilization.”

“And help.” She was glad she’d worn her older, broken-in boots, though she hadn’t counted on a trek in the woods. Remembering she had a compass in her duffel, she dug the small device out to verify the direction they needed to travel.

He stood, his body tense as he looked from her to their surroundings. “We have to pay attention to signs of life, human and animal. We don’t want to go tramping into a cougar habitat or come upon a pack of gray wolves unawares.”

“This isn’t my first foray into the woods, you know.” She’d been trained in wilderness survival techniques. Not that she’d ever had to use them.

He cocked an eyebrow. “I’m sure those situations weren’t like this.”

She folded the map and stowed it away in the pocket of her duffel. “No, they weren’t. Most of the fieldwork I do is with teams responsible for the protection and restoration of fish habitat management. I rarely venture far from the water’s edge. And I’ve never been shot at.” She quaked, recalling how close those bullets had come. After tucking the flare gun inside the bag, she zipped it up and stood.

“Here, let me take that.” He reached for her bag.

She hesitated. Part of her wanted to let him carry her load. But that wouldn’t be fair. She’d brought the duffel; she should be responsible to carry her bag. “I’ve got it.”

His expression hardened. “We need to move quickly. It’s only going to slow you down.”

Accepting his rationale was easier than accepting his help. She relinquished her hold on the duffel. “You’re right. Thank you.”

He settled the strap across his body. “Why didn’t you bring a team with you to the lake?”

She shrugged, trying to downplay the truth. “I felt a strong urging that I needed to get to Glen Lake quickly.”

For expedience’s sake, she’d advocated traveling to Glen Lake alone to assess the damage and then decide if a full team would be required to make the trek to Washington State. She’d hoped the fish kill was something simple, something that could be easily contained.

Unfortunately, that clearly wasn’t the case. Once they returned to the ranger station, she’d report in. By then the team would have been assembled and ready to move.

“You listened to your gut feeling.” He sounded approving. “In my line of work, that could make the difference between life and death.”

If what happened earlier was any indication of the type of situations he alluded to, she was glad she worked with fish, not criminals. She admired and respected men and women who put their lives at risk for others. It took courage and commitment. And apparently faith.

“Has it?” she asked. “I mean, has your gut feeling saved your life?”

He held her gaze. “Yes. Though I prefer to think that God was prompting me rather than it having anything to do with me.”

“Interesting.” She wasn’t sure what she thought about his statement. Had God ever prompted her? Until today it had be a long time since she’d thought about faith. She couldn’t honestly say where she stood with God.

Needing to put them back on track, she said, “We should go.”

After a heartbeat, he looked away, releasing his hold on her. She filled her lungs with deep breaths as if she’d been deprived of oxygen. Shaking off his effect, she put one foot in front of the other and moved forward.

Jeff gestured to the trees. “See the patterns of the woods? The areas of light that seep through the canopy of tree branches? The dark places are where an animal would be most likely to hide. If we pay attention, the forest can tell us a lot about the creatures that live here.”

Apparently, he’d had some wilderness training, too. She glanced around. Though she still saw the ecological environment that could be broken down into fascinating individual pieces, she also saw the complex system of living organisms and an ecosystem that held dangers as well as secrets. “So in addition to running for our lives and keeping an eye out for more bad guys, what should we be looking for?”

“The obvious is footprints. The ground closer to the runoff will be softer and will show more, but we can’t rely on just the obvious.”

A cold knot formed in Tessa’s stomach. “If an animal drank from this liquid...”

“We might come across a sick or dead animal.”

She shuddered at the images that rose in her mind. A sick animal could be more dangerous than a frightened one. The beast wouldn’t have the good sense to avoid them. Most wild animals preferred to steer clear of humans unless provoked. An injured or sick creature might feel threatened and attack. Danger lurked in every direction. She moved closer to Jeff. “What other signs?”

“Feeding signs, like clipped vegetation or buried carcasses. Sleeping places. Some animals, like the fox, sleep curled beneath a bush, which would flatten the ground cover.”

They moved deeper into the forest. Keeping her gaze alert, Tessa had to double her steps to keep up with his longer stride.

He brushed back the branches of a bush for her to pass through a thicket. “Rub spots, hair or feathers. Scat. Travel routes, places where the vegetation is packed down and bruised, or spots where the leaves have been disturbed or berries of a bush have been stripped or twigs broken or grass bent.”

On the plane over from Utah, she’d read up on the national park. There’d been numerous sightings of cougars this past spring. As well as black bears and wolves. One report sighted a grizzly bear roaming the forest.

These woods covered thousands and thousands of acres across two countries. The likelihood that they’d run into a wild beast was slim. But not impossible.

Tension tightened the muscles between her shoulders. “How do you know so much about this stuff?”

“Through the U.S. Search and Rescue Task Force training.”

“Is that normal for a border agent?”

He shrugged. “Not mandatory. But essential when covering acres of forestland. My job requires I know how to track humans through the woods.”

She’d heard stories of people trying to enter the country illegally through the forests that separated the U.S. from Canada. Jeff’s obvious commitment to his job, to his country, was admirable.

He held out a hand, stopping her. Pointing to the ground, he said, “See this?”

She stooped down to look closer and could make out a faint impression. “What is it?”

“Not sure. Could be the pad print of a mammal, like a fox, cat or raccoon. Or even a porcupine.” His voice hardened. “Or the heel of a boot.”

A shiver of apprehension shimmied down her back. She bent to inspect the liquid and the surrounding earth. “Either this fluid has been flowing for a long time or someone has made a shallow trench.”

She hated that someone had deliberately funneled toxins into the lake. She couldn’t imagine for what purpose other than to poison the water. Someone who would have such little regard for the environment and human life wouldn’t think twice about killing them. A ribbon of fear snaked through her, raising the fine hairs at her nape.

In a low crouch, Jeff searched the ground in a wide radius. “That’s the only impression I see.”

“Is that good or bad?”

Shrugging, he straightened. “Both. Other than right next to the moist dirt, the ground is dry and solid. The dead leaves and fallen branches create a barrier, so the soil isn’t exposed enough for more prints. But that doesn’t mean we can’t tell if an animal or a person passed through the forest duff.”

He pointed out a broken twig. “Something came this way.”

Tessa’s anxiety kicked up, making her tightly strung nerves even more taut. The forest grew thicker, more oppressive the farther they ventured in. She pointed to their left, where the leaves of the forest floor had been disturbed. “And went that way.”

They pressed on. Jeff halted abruptly, putting a hand out to gently touch her arm.

Apprehension crawled up her neck. Her mouth went dry. “What?”

He glanced around, behind them to the sides. “I don’t know. I thought I heard something.”

They stood still and silent for a long moment, letting the sounds of the forest settle. Tessa clenched her hands tight to keep from reaching for Jeff.

A bird chirped high in a tree off to the right.

A chipmunk scurried out of the bushes and darted past them.

Some of the tension visibly drained from Jeff. Tessa reached for her water bottle and drank a few sips to relieve the dryness in her throat. But the lukewarm water did nothing to ease the strain wreaking havoc on her system. They pressed on. Fatigue pulled at the muscles in her legs, making the journey more labored.

Jeff broke the silence. “Where’d you grow up?”

She slanted him a quick look. “Chicago. You?”

“Seattle. Do you have a boyfriend?”

Her steps faltered. “That’s a little personal, don’t you think?”

“Is it? Seems like a reasonable question to ask someone you’re running for your life with.”

“Does it matter?”

“Not to me,” he said. “Just a question.”

For some reason his answer annoyed her. “Why wouldn’t you ask if I was married?”

He reached out to help her over a branch that lay across their path. “You don’t wear a ring.”

Placing her hand in his, Tessa stared, fascinated with the way his bigger, stronger hand engulfed her smaller one and by the contrast in their skin tone. Her white skin, dotted with freckles, was a trait handed down by her Irish heritage.

His suntanned, olive skin was earned protecting the border, but she wondered what he did on his days off. What were his hobbies, his passions? Did he have a family? She gave herself a mental shake. What was she doing? His personal life was none of her business. She yanked her gaze to his face and stepped over the branch. “Neither do you.”

Releasing his hold on her, he moved away. “Which means I’m not married.”

She hurried to stay in step with him. “Some guys don’t wear rings.”

“Neither do some women. But I would if I was. But I’m not.” He arched an eyebrow. “So?”

She clenched her hand around her water bottle. “Not that it’s any of your business, but no, I don’t have a boyfriend. Do you have a girlfriend?”

“No time for one. What’s your excuse?”

She let out a wry laugh. “The same, I suppose.” Seemed they both had reasons for not being in a relationship, reasons that, apparently, neither cared to share.

“What do your parents do?”

She frowned. She didn’t like discussing her family. Jeff glanced at her, clearly waiting for her answer. When she didn’t respond, he stopped and glanced around. “This would be a good time for a break.”

He led the way to a fallen maple and sat. He accepted the snack bar she offered and continued to stare at her as he ate. She wondered if he used the silent stare as an interrogation tactic.

She sighed and sat on the ground with her back against a tree. “Dad’s a lawyer. Mom owns a floral-design shop. Yours?”

“Doctors.”

The clipped way he answered sounded almost derisive. Interesting. Two could indulge in a little interrogation. She knew how to cross-examine. She’d certainly been on the receiving end of her father’s inquiries enough. She leaned forward and placed her elbows on her knees. “What type?”

He crossed his arms over his chest. “Dad’s a cardiologist and a professor at the University of Washington’s medical school. Mom’s a neurosurgeon.”

“Impressive. Those are specialized practices. How come you didn’t go into medicine?”

He scoffed, “Not my forte. Why did you become a fish biologist?”

That was an easy question. One she was often asked. “I grew up in the city but longed to be outdoors. I knew early I wanted to work for the Forest Service. After receiving my B.S. in environmental studies, I went on to get my master’s in water science, then my Ph.D. in ecology.”

“Your parents must be proud of you,” he said.

She shrugged, wincing inwardly at the shaft of hurt tearing through her. “I suppose.”

She was loath to admit she didn’t have much of a relationship with either one of her parents so had no idea if they were proud or not. Neither had ever said the words to her.

He leaned forward, studying her as if she were a bacterium in a petri dish. “You don’t know?”

“Mom thinks I should get married and have babies. Dad’s glad I have a job.” That was about as close to an affirmation from him as she’d get. Dad was a perfectionist who expected everyone else to live up to the same standards that he had set for himself regardless how impossible. Few people could keep up verbally with her father. A great trait in a lawyer, but not so much in a father or, apparently, a husband.

“That’s pretty typical, isn’t it?”

She tucked in her chin. “Why? Because I’m female? Aren’t you getting pressure from your mom to settle down and give her grandchildren?”

He gave a resigned shake of his head. “No. My mom didn’t have time for her own kid. She certainly wouldn’t have time for grandchildren. I doubt she’s given it any thought.”

“What do you mean, she didn’t have time for you?” What kind of father would Jeff be? Involved and committed or one who showed up late or not at all, like her dad?

“Doctors, remember?” He rose and placed the strap of her duffel across his body. “Their patients came first. Always.”

Though his tone was even, she detected a hint of pain underlying his words. Her heart cramped with empathy. She scrambled to her feet. “Are your parents still together?”

“Yep. Nearly forty years. They still live in the same house.”

“Wow, good for them.”

He gave her a quick glance, then set off again.

She caught up to him. “Not many married couples stay together that long anymore. Marriage commitment doesn’t seem to matter.”

He appeared to be rolling her words around in his mind. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. I’ve never thought about it that way. What about yours?”

Sadness invaded her chest. “Dad lives in a high-rise in Chicago and Mom moved to the Florida coast years ago.”

He glanced at her. “When did they divorce?”

“When I was five. Each has been married a couple times more since then.” New family units built. A new set of stepparents, and sometimes stepsiblings, to reject her, making her feel so very alone and unacceptable.

“That’s rough.”

“Yeah, it was. But I made it to adulthood in one piece.” But not without scars.

The terrain climbed. Tessa’s lungs grew tight from the change in altitude and the labor of their hike. She consulted the compass. They were on track, though the woods grew denser and more overgrown. The tangled tree branches overhead kept the forest shrouded in shadows and made the air cooler as the afternoon turned to dusk. Autumn temperatures in the Cascades could dip into the teens after dark. She hoped they found their way out before then. She didn’t relish the idea of spending the night in the forest.

“Hey, hold up a sec,” Tessa said. “I need something from my bag.”

She moved to stand in front of him and couldn’t help noticing the stubble on his firm, square jaw, or the width of his shoulders. They looked like they were made to carry heavy burdens. Her attraction to him was growing with every step they took. Why? She wasn’t sure.

Maybe deep down in places she hated to examine, she was lonely.

But crushing after only a few hours with him was absurd. She didn’t want to be attracted to Agent Steele. She wanted to be professional, to earn his respect. But being shot at and forced to hide in the woods weren’t exactly circumstances that led to professionalism.

Frustrated with herself, she used more force than necessary to unzip the duffel and retrieve her lightweight hoodie. She yanked it over her head, thankful for the extra layer of warmth.

A rustling in the bushes off to the right drew her focus. The leaves of the shrubs danced. Something moved through the brush. Something bigger than a chipmunk. A lot bigger. A knot of dread tightened her chest. “Something’s in there.”

Jeff touched her arm and whispered, “Behind the trees.”

He motioned to their left, where a grouping of alder grew together, their trunks nearly touching, their branches interwoven in an embrace. They hurried behind the shelter of the tree trunks.

Tessa held her breath. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Was it a cougar? Were they being stalked? Or was the predator in the bushes something even more dangerous than an animal protecting its territory?


THREE (#u046898fc-e3cf-54ec-bd2f-3d29351c0ee1)

A loud guttural noise emanated from the rustling bushes. Alarm zipped through Jeff and raised the hair on his arms. He tucked Tessa safely at his back as they took refuge behind a stand of alder trees. He searched for a weapon other than his sidearm. Shooting an animal would be his last resort.

The large brown head of a bear poked over the top of the bushes.

“It’s a grizzly.” Jeff’s stomach sank like a rock in the lake. “What’s he doing here?”

The creature stomped through the brush, snapping limbs and branches like toothpicks. Dark eyes stared in their direction. Jeff moved farther behind the tree, trying to keep as little of himself visible as possible.

The bear rose onto its back legs, making the beast well over eight feet tall. He lifted his nose in the air.

“My bag,” Tessa whispered. “I have a can of bear spray.”

Of course she did. Part of her essentials. Bless her preparedness.

He slipped the strap of her duffel off and laid it on the ground at her feet.

She dug around in the bag and then handed him a long, slender canister. “Here.”

The spray consisted of hot red pepper and could shoot up to twenty feet. An effective deterrent in the case of an attack. Jeff hoped it wouldn’t come to that. He held the can nozzle out, his finger hovering over the button. He kept his gaze to the left of the bear so the animal was in his peripheral vision.

Making eye contact could be perceived as a challenge. He didn’t want to give the creature any reason to charge.

Tessa clutched the back of his shirt. “Should we climb the tree?”

“Bears can climb, too,” he said softly in a neutral tone. If the bear heard them talking, he didn’t want the beast to sense any panic.

“Not grizzlies.”

“I wouldn’t want to risk my life on that myth,” he said. “I saw a YouTube video of a young grizzly that climbed fifty feet up a fir tree.”

Her hand tightened on his shirt, pulling the fabric taut against his chest, much like the band of anxiety squeezing his lungs. “Then what?”

“We wait and hope he goes away?” he quipped, not sure what their move should be. He rested his free hand on his holstered gun. Taking down a bear with his Heckler & Koch P2000 service weapon wasn’t impossible, just improbable. Not the best scenario.

“Please, Lord, make the bear go away,” Tessa prayed aloud.

“Amen to that,” he said.

The bear dropped back to all fours, his nose going to the ground. No doubt sniffing their trail, looking for his next meal.

Tension balled in Jeff’s gut. “Do you have any snack bars left?”

“A few of them,” Tessa said. “What are you thinking?”

“A distraction.”

“You shouldn’t feed the bear. He could get sick from human food.”

“Would you rather he got sick off this human food?” He bumped his fist against his chest. She shook her head vehemently, her eyes wide with fear. “Do you have a better idea?”

She grabbed four bars from her pack. “Here.”

“Trade places with me.” Jeff stepped back to allow Tessa to slip in front of him. “Hold the spray. If he moves any closer, use it.”

She nodded, her red curls bobbing softly. She’d lost her hat somewhere along the way. The elastic band holding back her hair had slipped almost all the way off. Hugging the tree, she gripped the can with one hand.

Quietly, he slit open the top of the bars, then chucked them to the right behind the bear. The food crashed through the bushes. The bear swung around with a growl. He pawed the ground. Waited a moment, then cantered off in the direction of Tessa’s snacks.

Jeff snatched up Tessa’s bag, grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the tree. They hustled in the opposite direction of the grizzly, moving quickly yet trying hard not to make much noise.

Every broken twig, every crunch of dried leaves beneath their feet rang out like the discordant notes of a gong calling the grizzly to his dinner feast. They continued onward, keeping parallel to the toxic runoff, but staying where the trees and bushes provided some cover.

Twenty minutes later, Tessa tugged her hand free from Jeff’s. “I don’t think he followed us.”

Jeff drew to a halt and listened. The noises of the forest whispered over him. A bird flapping its wings in the trees. The rustle of branches in the early-evening breeze. And an out-of-place humming sound.

“Do you hear that?” Jeff asked Tessa.

“The buzzing? What is it? Bees?”

“I don’t think so.” He strained to listen. “It’s more electrical-sounding.”

“Like a generator,” Tessa stated. “Does the Customs and Border Patrol use generators for the equipment you have out here?”

“Some are powered by generators and some use solar energy.”

“Then one of the video cameras could be close by.” Excitement lit her eyes. “We could find it and signal for help.”

“Brilliant idea.”

She gazed at him with an eager, expectant look in her gold-flecked eyes. “So, where are they?”

He laughed. “Like I have every location memorized?”

She made a face and brushed her hair back. “One could hope.”

Jeff flexed his fingers to keep from reaching over to wrap a corkscrew curl around his finger. He’d always found ringlets appealing.

He gave himself a mental slap on the back of the head. They were here to do a job, not to explore the attraction arcing between them. Oh, yeah, he’d noticed the appreciative flicker in her eyes when she’d been sizing him up when they met. And she’d blushed so prettily when he’d acknowledged what she was doing. He’d like to see her blush again.

His gaze dropped to her lush lips. He wondered what she’d do if he kissed her.

Whoa! Back up. That wasn’t going to happen. They were in the middle of the woods, running from gunmen and a bear. This was no place to be thinking about kisses.

“Let’s keep moving,” he said as much to himself as to her. “Hopefully, we’re far enough away from the grizzly to avoid drawing his attention back to us. But we need to make some noise to keep from startling any other predators that might be in the area.”

“I can’t hold a tune, so singing’s out,” Tessa said as she fell into step with him.

Liking her pluck, he chuckled. “Good to know. Talking will suffice. Did you grow up in Chicago?”

She flashed him a rueful look. “I did. A few blocks off the lake on the north side of town.”

“I’ve never been to Chicago. Is it worth visiting?”

“It’s a lovely city.” She went on to tell him all the many reasons he should take a trip to the Windy City. He liked listening to her voice. The melodic tone was soothing. He detected a hint of an accent in the way she dropped her th sound in the and replaced it with a d. So the lake became d’lake. The accent became more pronounced the longer they traveled. A clear sign of her fatigue.

The forest deepened, the trees growing more dense, shutting out the setting sun. Time seemed suspended. Sweat broke out on Jeff’s back despite the dropping temperature. The electrical humming sound remained a background noise like an annoying mosquito, underscoring the chirp of birds, the ticking of insects. The vibrating noise wasn’t necessarily growing louder, but not quieter, either.

Whatever was making the humming wasn’t a small generator attached to a video camera. He wouldn’t stake his life or Tessa’s on the belief that finding the source of the sound would bring them anything but trouble. Like the toxin, it was out of place, an intrusion that shouldn’t be there in the forest. A possible danger. One that may or may not prove to be deadly.

“Shouldn’t we have hit the fire road by now?” Tessa asked, the strain of the afternoon trembling in her voice. Or was that a shiver from the cold?

All around them the world turned from bright and vibrant colors to monochrome grays as the waning light of dusk slowly and surely disappeared.

“We have to have traveled twenty miles by now.”

He hated to disappoint her but he’d guess more like six miles. He kept that to himself. He checked the time on his phone. They’d been in the woods for nearly seven hours. And unfortunately still no cell service.

She stumbled on an exposed root.

He clamped his hand around her elbow. “You okay?”

She took a deep breath and straightened. “I’m good.”

The woman wouldn’t admit to any weakness. He let go and admired her willingness to endure. So much for his assumption that she was too high maintenance for the outdoors.

They trudged on as the oppressive darkness closed in around them. A wolf howled. Uncomfortably close. The glacial air invading the forest seeped through his shirt.

Hiking at night wasn’t wise, especially as the terrain climbed, making the going more arduous. They didn’t have a trail to follow through the dense foliage. Despite keeping up the constant dialogue, they could easily startle a wary animal in the dark or stumble over a fallen branch. “We need to stop and make camp until daylight.”

“Shouldn’t we keep going? The fire road can’t be that far. I have a flashlight and headlamp.”

Of course she did. “Not a good idea. It’s getting colder, a wind has picked up and even with light it’s dangerous out here at night.”

“Won’t stopping make us sitting ducks?” she asked, her voice rising slightly. “The bad guys aren’t going to stop, are they?”

“If they’re smart, they are. Though if they’d wanted us dead, they’d have killed us by now. They want us in these woods.”

“Maybe to give them time to clean up the toxic waste.”

“That could be it.” Or they were to be made into human targets. In which case, any light would be their enemy. “But injuring ourselves stumbling around in the dark isn’t the only thing we have to worry about. It’s what hunts in the dark. And if we’re moving, we’re prey.”

“And stopping, we’re not?”

“Hunkered down, we have a better shot of not being caught unawares.”

There was the briefest of pauses before she said, “We’ll need to build some sort of windbreak.”

He shifted her duffel bag. “You wouldn’t happen to have one in here, would you?” The thing weighed heavy across his shoulder.

“Unfortunately, no. But I do have a raincoat.”

That would help. “You were smart to bring this. I should have listened to you and packed a bag.”

“I wish I’d packed more food. We gave the bear the last of my bars,” she said, her voice quiet.

As if on cue his stomach grumbled. “I can skip a meal or two.”

“Let’s hope it’s only the one.”

To their left was the visible outline of a fallen tree stump. He ushered her over to the round chuck of wood and slipped the bag off his shoulder. “Can you check the stump roots to make sure they aren’t wet? I’ll gather some sticks.”

He walked away in search of some sturdy, full branches to use as a shield against the wind. When he had an armful gathered, he returned to the stump and laid them on the ground. “This should be enough.”

Working side by side, they quickly created a windbreak from the chilling wind. Soon they had the evergreen tree boughs in place with the raincoat hanging over them, blocking the gusts of frigid air whistling through the trees.

“There,” Tessa said, wiping her hands on her pants. “I haven’t made one of these since college.”

“Part of a class?”

“No, actually, the forestry club. We went nature camping at least twice a year.”

She was full of surprises. “You have a seat,” he said. “I’ll stand watch.”

“There’s room for both of us to sit,” she said. “You can keep watch from a seated position, can’t you?”

The tone in her voice held an edge of challenge. And no doubt if he refused to sit, she’d refuse, too. He sat. She followed suit and tucked her bag between them.

Armrest or boundary?

She had nothing to worry about from him. He had no intention of crossing the boundary.

He may like the fish doctor and, sure, found her attractive and quick-witted and resourceful and generally good company, but a budding romance that had nowhere to go and would only end in heartache wasn’t on his agenda.

Despite how self-reliant and independent Tessa was, she struck him as the type of woman who wanted a happily-ever-after. He didn’t believe such a thing existed.

Despite his parents’ long marriage, he couldn’t say they were happy. But then he’d never asked them if they were.

Frowning as he turned the thought over in his head, he settled into a semicomfortable position with his back propped against the stump, his hand on the butt of his holstered weapon.

Not ready to commit to approaching his parents with the question of their happiness, he tucked all thoughts of his family away.

Getting to safety and putting a stop to the water pollutant were his priorities. Until he knew this situation wasn’t going to turn into an international crisis, he had to bring on his A-game. That meant staying alert and ignoring his attraction to the woman beside him or thoughts of marriage or family or happily-ever-afters.

The sound of Tessa’s jacket scraping along the tree roots as she moved to a more comfortable position brought his attention to the moment. She was a trouper, that was for sure. Not one complaint about being cold or tired or uncomfortable. His respect for her continued to grow.

She shifted again. Her head came to rest against his biceps.

His blood pressure spiked. He gritted his teeth. Not for the life of him would he shake her off.

She jerked upright. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be. You’re welcome to use my shoulder as a pillow.”

“No, we should stay awake.”

“Don’t worry. I’m sure Ranger Harris and the sheriff have a search party out looking for us. We’ll make it back to civilization long before we starve or freeze to death.”

“I’ll hold you to that.” There was a smile in her voice.

Though her face was shadowed, there was enough ambient light for him to see the fatigue around her eyes and in the tightness of her shoulders.

“Tell me about Seattle,” she said, her voice low. “I hear it rains all the time.”

He laughed. “That’s just something we tell people so they don’t move there.”

“What? It’s not true?”

“No,” he admitted. “But neither is Seattle the wettest city in the U.S. The Southeast gets more rain than the Pacific Northwest.”

“Really? That seems odd.”

He explained about a study he’d recently read. They debated the finer points of living where it rained versus snowed like where she resided in Utah.

“We get some snow where I live in Blaine,” he commented. “Though it makes a mess of the traffic going in and out of the country when it happens.”

“I can imagine.” She yawned. He let the silence envelop them. He hoped she’d rest. Slowly, his senses adjusted to the nocturnal sounds, keenly in tune to the world around them, on the alert for any threat, both the two-legged kind and the four-legged kind.

* * *

“Tessa.” Jeff’s voice forced her eyes open.

She shook off sleep to listen to the high-pitched whistles of marmots, several of them if the racket they were making was any indication. Underscoring the squirrellike creatures’ calls was the drumming of a nearby grouse, a chickenlike bird that inhabited the subarctic regions of the northern hemisphere. The rapping of a woodpecker added to the cacophony.

The first fingers of dawn crept through the tree branches, stinging her retinas and stirring her guilt. She’d fallen asleep, left Jeff to keep watch. “I’m so sorry!”

“No worries,” his deep voice rumbled.

Slowly, her gaze shifted to where he stood, tall and intimidating with his hand outstretched. His uniform was dirty and disheveled, but nothing could take away from his rugged good looks. Her eyes met his stunning blue ones. Eyes she could get lost in. Her heart picked up speed, setting off an alarm bell inside her head.




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