*


“We’ve got trouble,” Hooker said when Russo returned his urgent call.

“What is it now?”

“Graves just contacted me—they have a situation, and they want the money now.”

“What situation?”

“He wouldn’t say exactly, so I hit up my contact at the sheriff’s. The details are sketchy, but it seems there’s some snafu with a missing federal agent.”

Russo stiffened. “They couldn’t be that stupid. Here? They wouldn’t try something like this on their own land?”

“If they’ve killed a federal agent, they’re going to bring the ATF, FBI, and Homeland down on us like a fucking monsoon. It’s going to be raining feds.”

“We need to distance ourselves, and we need to end this quickly.” Russo thought furiously. If Graves and his people were in danger of being arrested, they would eventually give up Hooker, and that was too close to him to be tolerated. The only way he could be sure no one implicated him was to silence anyone in danger of arrest before they could talk. “What would happen if the Renegades were to discover that Graves was setting them up? That the whole gun deal was a ruse to entrap the Renegades, and that Graves was in bed with the ATF?”

“The Renegades would be out for blood—they’d go after Graves and burn his place to the ground.” Hooker paused. “That would get us clear.”

“Can we provide the Renegades with the incentive to do our work for us?”

“I might be able to get my guy in the sheriff’s department to drop around to their bar and mention a rumor of a big bust in the making. Something to do with guns. That ought to get their attention.”

“Good. Tell Graves you have his money.”


*


As soon as Blair finished talking to Lucinda, she called the number Valerie had given her. “Lucinda’s had contact with an agent who might know where Cam is located.”

“You understand that I have no jurisdiction.”

“I don’t care about jurisdiction. You have power, and that’s what matters. I don’t care about breaking rules. If someone has to be responsible, then I will be.”

“That’s not necessary,” Valerie said. “Give me whatever information you have.”

Blair relayed the few solid facts she had, but even doing that much made her feel as if she were closer to Cam. Until this moment, Cam could have been anywhere, somewhere beyond her reach, and the disorienting sensation of being disconnected from her was as debilitating as if her life’s blood were draining away. Now, just knowing that there was something they could do, someplace they could begin to look, returned some of the strength to her wooden limbs. She felt warm for the first time in hours.

“That’s a pretty big area to—”

“Bullshit. You can find a terrorist in a cave in the mountains in Afghanistan. There must be a way to find her in a forest in Idaho.”

“There are things we can do in Afghanistan we can’t do here.”

“Listen to me. I don’t care what you have to do. They’re terrorists, and they haven’t given us any choice. We can’t negotiate with them, but we can’t let them control us, either. Call it anything you want, but you find her. Do you hear me, Valerie? You find her.”

“If anyone ever asks you, you knew nothing about what was happening.”

“Do you think I care about that?”

“No, I don’t,” Valerie said softly. “But I can guarantee that Cameron would want you protected. And I’m doing this for her as much as for you.”

“I know. That’s why I called you.”


*


Loren pulled a Buster Brown Ale out of the small refrigerator she kept in her shop, popped the cap off against the edge of the counter, and took a long swallow. She hadn’t had anything to eat all day and had no appetite. She hadn’t smoked in a decade, but she longed for a cigarette. Something to do with her hands. Sky was out there, possibly hurt, definitely in danger, and she didn’t know where to begin looking. She hated to be dependent upon others when something crucial was at stake. And something very crucial was at stake.

When she’d been in the service, she’d been tight with her platoon, but she’d never made significant attachments. Not because she feared losing them, but because she knew she could be most effective if she kept apart, if she moved in the shadows, if she adapted to circumstances like the chameleon she so easily became. After a while, keeping her distance not only came naturally, it was essential to survival.

All that had vanished when she met Sky. She hadn’t managed to keep a single barrier between her and Sky. She’d been naked with her, on every level. Sky had touched her—heart, body, and soul. She needed her back to keep the structure of her world from collapsing. She had to find her.

Her cell rang and she checked the readout, hope a palpable weight in her chest. Just as quickly, her heart plummeted when she saw Ramsey’s number. Not Sky.

“Hey, boss.”

“How fast can you get those guns up here?”

“Here?” Loren’s mind started scrambling. What the hell was going on—what was the rush? The militia must have pushed for an earlier exchange. It must have something to do with Sky.

“McElroy?”

“Sorry—just figuring. I can make some calls—if we rode out soon, six of us and a truck, we could make it round-trip in six hours. But a crew that big on the road would be obvious.”

“You won’t need that big a crew. You’re not picking them all up. Just a quarter of the shipment.”

“Okay. Then wha—”

“You, Quincy, and Armeo will go. Jetter in the truck. You’ll take the guns to the original rendezvous point for the exchange.”

Loren’s breath slowed. “Up in the Bitterroots?”

“That’s right,” Ramsey said. “And we’re going to tag along and convince our militia friends to take us home with them.”

“How many of us?”

“All of us,” Ramsey said. “Now get your ass over here and pick up the boys.”

“Yes, sir. I’m on my way.”

Loren didn’t have time to wait for Washburn’s return call. Her blood rushed with the thrill of the hunt. Now she had the quarry in her sights. The militia would lead her right to Sky and Roberts. Then all she had to do was keep them all alive and find a way out. She grabbed her leather jacket and punched in the number for the White House.

Chapter Thirty-five


Blair grabbed her cell on the first ring. “Hello?”

“An operation is under way to locate the compound and execute an aggressive rescue,” Valerie said.

“You know where to look?” Blair held her breath, everything disappearing except the sound of Valerie’s voice.

“We have a general area, and we have the kind of surveillance we need to locate individuals on the ground. The aircraft are being launched now from a secure location in Nevada. They ought to be in position within the hour.”

“How will you get Cam out?”

“If the terrorists refuse to release her and the other hostage under threat of retaliation, there will be a coordinated strike from the air to enable a Delta Team to drop in.”

“How did you—”

“I can’t tell you anything further.”

Blair didn’t push for details, knowing the kind of operation Valerie had set in motion was not altogether sanctioned, at least not in the territorial U.S. “If you’re in debt to someone, I’ll pay the tab.”

“That’s not necessary. But thank you.”

“Can you get me to Idaho?”

Valerie laughed softly. “I’m surprised you’ve waited this long to ask.”

“I didn’t want to be too far away in case Lucinda needed me or something changed. Now I want to be there when Cam comes out.”

“I’ll have transport for you within the hour at Andrews. Do you need a ride out there?”

“No. Stark can get me there.”

“Don’t plan on going up the mountain, Blair.”

“I won’t make any promises.”

“No, I didn’t think you would. Be careful.”

“I will, and Valerie—thank you. More than I can say.”

“Just don’t get hurt. Cameron would not be happy.”


*


This time, when Loren called the White House, she was put through to Lucinda Washburn within seconds. “Something’s come up. FALA wants guns in a hurry, and the bikers I ride with are set to deliver.”

“How much firepower are we talking about?”

“I can’t be sure. We’re picking up fifty to a hundred automatic weapons, maybe more. You’ve got to figure they’ve got others stockpiled at their camp.”

“When do you expect to make delivery?”

“If the current timetable holds,” Loren said, “right about dawn.”

“And you think this is the group holding Director Roberts and Special Agent Dunbar?” Lucinda asked.

“It’s the only thing that makes sense. I don’t know why the militia would target Roberts, but I assume you do. Sky is likely collateral damage, and if that’s the case, her life isn’t worth much. If we don’t get them out of there soon, both are probably going to be casualties.”

“Where’s the gun exchange happening?”

“Somewhere up in the Bitterroots. The plan is to show up in numbers and force the militia to take us back to the compound. The Renegades seem to think FALA is working with the law. I don’t know why, but I think someone is playing the two groups off each other.”

Lucinda went silent, and Loren could practically hear the gears turning. Finally, the chief of staff said, “Who’s bankrolling the gun buy?”

“That’s what I’m here to find out.”

“Best guess?”

“Someone on the far right with connections. Someone with solid supporters. My guess is the money is coming from powerful donors for promises of legislation they favor in the future.”