It was over an hour later that she heard Monty bark.
Relief surged through her. “Thank God.”
“He’s found something?” Logan asked.
“I think so. I taught him not to bark until he caught the scent. If he comes back to get me, we’ll know that he’s—”
Monty bounded toward her, barking up a storm, tail wagging with excitement.
“He’s got it.” She took the leash out of her backpack and fastened it to his collar. “Come on.”
“Can you stop him from barking? We don’t want to alert—”
“He barks only to signal me when he’s on a search. If I’m with him, there’s no need for him to bark.” She broke into a fast trot to keep pace with Monty. “Keep up, Logan. We can’t wait for you.”
Christ, she was tough, Logan thought.
Sarah was moving at almost a run ahead of him, weaving, pushing through the brush, pausing occasionally to let Monty sniff the air before taking off again. She must be as tired as he was, but she had kept going at this speed for over an hour. During the last ten minutes the pace had picked up and Monty’s eagerness had intensified.
Logan’s own breath was coming in gasps, and he could see Sarah’s shoulders rise and fall as she struggled to force the hot, muggy air into her lungs. She was covering the ground with the same speed and concentration as her dog.
Then she skidded to a halt.
Logan froze in place as she motioned him to stop. Monty was silent but pulled eagerly, frantically, at the leash. Sarah put her hand on his head, and he instantly quieted. Then she turned and strode back to Logan. “There’s something up ahead. I think he’s found the source.”
“How do you know?”
“I just know, dammit.” She glared at him. “And I’m not going to take Monty any farther and chance having some guard shoot him.”
“No one’s asking you to.” He took off his backpack and set it on the ground. “I’ll go ahead and make sure before I radio Galen.”
“And probably get shot yourself.” She scowled. “You don’t have to check for yourself just because I don’t have any proof that the camp’s up ahead. I tell you, Monty knows.”
“And you know what Monty knows.” He opened his backpack. “I believe you. I have a great respect for instinct. Just stay here.”
“Of course we’ll stay here. Why should I—” She stopped as she saw the assault weapon he pulled out of his backpack. “Shit. No wonder you had room for only a couple bottles of water.” She moistened her lips. “Do you even know how to use that thing?”
He smiled. “Oh, yes, I know how to use it. I took lessons at the country club.”
Thirty minutes passed.
Then fifteen minutes.
Why the hell wasn’t he back? Sarah wondered. He’d probably been caught or killed. Just because she hadn’t heard anything didn’t mean anything. Not all weapons were as loud as that gun Logan had handled with suspicious familiarity. It was clear his time with Galen had been spent in more deadly pursuits than recovering from grief over his wife’s death.
Monty whimpered, his gaze on the dense foliage where Logan had disappeared. He wanted to go too. His search had been cut short and he didn’t understand why he couldn’t bring it to a satisfactory end.
Find?
“No, it will be okay. We don’t have to go after him. Logan will do it.”
But where was Logan?
Why was she so worried? She and Monty could find their way out of this jungle. She didn’t care about Logan. He had caused her nothing but trouble.
But he didn’t deserve to die when he was trying to save a life. He might be totally relentless, but he wasn’t a murderer like those men in the camp.
No sound but the shrill sound of birds.
Then Monty’s tail started to wag and he rose to his feet.
Relief surged through her. He was coming. She couldn’t hear him or smell him, but Monty could.
It was another five minutes before Logan appeared through the leaves. “The camp’s there.” He moved toward his backpack as Monty ran to him, whimpering in an ecstasy of greeting. “About a mile ahead.”
“I told you. What took so long?”
He knelt down and gave Monty an affectionate pat, then reached into his backpack for his radio. “I don’t flatter myself that you were worried about me.”
“No,” she said coolly. “Monty was worried. I was just curious. Could you tell if Bassett was there?”
He gave Monty a hug and then pushed him away. “There’s a tent with a guard posted out in front. I’m assuming Bassett’s inside. The camp’s small. Six tents and the numbers Sanchez gave us seem accurate.”
“Did you run into anyone patrolling the area?”
“One man. I managed to avoid him.”
“Obviously, or you wouldn’t be here.”
“Not so obviously. Another pinprick at my ego. But if I’d taken him out, it might have triggered an alert.”
“So now you call Galen and get him here? Won’t the people in the camp hear the helicopter?”
“The pilot will drop Galen and his men off at the clearing we passed about a mile north. We’ll rendezvous with them there. Then the pilot will pick us up at Rudzak’s camp when it’s clear.”
Her mouth tightened. “You mean when everyone’s killed.”
“I mean when we’ve gotten Bassett out.” He looked directly into her eyes. “Whatever that takes.” He bent over the radio. “You can lecture me later. We’ll have plenty of time. I figure at least an hour before Galen gets here. Now I’ve got to talk to him and tell him to attack the decoy camp.”
“Six dead. One wounded,” Carl Duggan told Rudzak. “But we managed to repel the attack and save the helicopter. And I think we got one of their men. Shall we go after the rest?”
Rudzak gazed around the camp. Two tents were in flames and Duggan was wrong. Rudzak could see seven dead. It had been a savage attack and brilliantly executed. “I didn’t see Logan. Did you?”
Duggan shook his head. “But Galen was there and he’s Logan’s hired man.”
Rudzak gave him a scathing glance. “I know that.”
“Shall we go after them?” Duggan repeated. “It doesn’t have to end here. Give me a chance and we’ll still capture them.”
“Shut up, I’m thinking.” Galen and not Logan. The attack had been brutal, but had Galen been repelled too easily? Seven deaths but no push to completion of the mission.
“I have the men waiting,” Duggan said. “We don’t want to lose them.”
Duggan didn’t realize they had probably already lost them. They had not heard a helicopter, but no doubt Galen had one if he intended to get his men out alive.
And transport them quickly to another location.
Ah, Logan, you think you’ve fooled me.
“We won’t lose them.” Rudzak turned away. “I know where they’re going.”
It was almost nightfall when Galen and his men were dropped off at the glade where Logan and Sarah waited. They streamed out of the helicopter like a Delta Force. Galen’s expression was grim as he waved the helicopter to leave before turning to Logan. “Let’s go.”
Logan turned to Sarah. “Stay here until you hear the helicopter come back. Then come to the camp. We won’t radio the pilot until it’s safe for him to land.”
“How long do you estimate that taking?” Sarah asked.
“At least forty-five minutes.” He shrugged. “Maybe longer. Just don’t come until you hear the helicopter.”
“I’ve no intention of getting close,” Sarah said. “My involvement in this is over. We’ve done our job.”
“Come on, Logan.” Galen was moving down the path into the forest, closely followed by his men. “I lost a man to Rudzak. Let’s get this bullshit over.” The words were curt and his attitude was different from when she had first met him. This was Galen the mercenary, and it was an intimidating change.
The entire situation was intimidating, Sarah thou
ght as she watched the men disappear from view. What was she doing in the middle of a jungle with a bunch of mercenaries and Logan, who carried that damn assault weapon as casually as if it were a briefcase?
Monty pressed closer to her, his gaze on the path.
“No, we wait here, Monty.” So many others could die to save a man who might already be dead. Galen had said one of his men had already been killed.
Logan could die.
Don’t think about it. Just sit here and listen for the helicopter.
Ten minutes.
Twenty.
Thirty.
Thirty-five minutes passed before she heard the helicopter.
Faint.
Far away.
But coming closer every second.
She snapped the leash on Monty. “Come on, boy.”
He eagerly bounded down the path in front of her, dragging her forward through the brush. He knew exactly where he was going even if she didn’t.
Gunshots.
Explosions.
She caught sight of the camp and it looked like a war zone. Acrid smoke. Bodies. Blood. Fighting. She stopped on the path, staring in astonishment. What was going on here? When the helicopter came back, the battle was supposed to be over. It wasn’t over.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Logan was beside her. “Never mind. Just don’t come any closer.” He said over his shoulder, “Bassett, stay with her.”
The tall, lanky man behind him nodded. “I’m not moving a muscle until you come back for me. That’s a promise.”
Logan turned and ran back toward the camp.
5
“This is no time for introductions, but I’m Tom Bassett,” the man standing beside Sarah said. “And you are?”
“Sarah Patrick.” Her tone was abstracted, her gaze on Logan.
What the hell are you doing here? Logan had said.
“I’ve no idea why you’re here, but I’m very glad to see you. Hell, I’m glad to see anyone but those stooges of Rudzak’s.” Bassett shook his head. “I thought my goose was well and truly cooked. When I saw Logan burst into my tent, I wanted to kiss him.”
“I believe that would have upset him.”
If Logan had not expected her, then they had not radioed for the helicopter?
But the helicopter was coming. She had heard it.
Dear God.
“Stay here.” She ran toward the camp. She could still see Logan making his way through the smoke toward where Galen was standing. She and Monty dodged across the campsite to stand next to them.
Logan was not pleased to see her. “I told you to—”
“Shut up. Do you think I came here just because I wanted to see you kill and maim someone? Did you radio for the helicopter?”
“Not yet.”
“Well, I heard a helicopter, dammit. And if it wasn’t Galen’s pilot, who do you think it was?”
He stiffened. “Shit. Rudzak. You’re sure?”
“I’ve ridden in enough helicopters to know that sound in my sleep. Your red herring didn’t work.”
“How close?”
“Not close then, but they could be almost on top of us by now.”
Galen turned away. “I’ll radio for pickup.” He waved his arm and shouted to his men. “We’re pulling out.”
“Tell the pilot to go to the clearing,” Logan said. “We have to make a run for it back there.”
“Take Bassett and get out of here. We’ll be right behind you. It’s not—”
Rotors. Loud. Close.
Sarah’s heart jumped. She couldn’t see the helicopter through the palms, but it must have been near and getting nearer every minute.
Logan took her arm. “Run for it. I’ll get Bassett.”
She didn’t have to be told twice. “Monty!”
Branches hit her in the face as she tore through the jungle with Monty beside her.
The helicopter flew over her, almost on top of the camp.
Bullets.
The helicopter was spraying firepower on the camp below.
Logan and Bassett were next to her now.
More shots from the helicopter.
Galen and his men were behind them, then passing them as they raced toward the clearing.
It was scarcely a mile. It seemed a thousand.
Her lungs ached as she tried to force air into them. God, she was afraid. Stop it. Fear was always the enemy. She had been afraid before and survived. She’d survive now.
The clearing was up ahead. Would the helicopter be there?
It was landing as they burst out of the jungle. Galen’s men weren’t even waiting until it hit the ground to jerk open the door and tumble into the aircraft. Galen was standing by the door waving his men inside before he jumped in himself.
Bassett reached the helicopter and Galen pulled him inside. “Logan,” Galen called. “Hurry. Get the hell inside. They must have spotted us. I hear them coming.”
“So do I.” Logan was looking up at the sky. “Get Sarah and the dog inside.”
She glanced over her shoulder and saw Rudzak’s helicopter flying low and fast toward them.
“Hurry.” Galen reached for Sarah’s hand.
“Monty,” she called, and the retriever jumped inside the helicopter with her.
Bullets. Spraying the clearing from Rudzak’s helicopter.
Logan moved away from the helicopter, lifted his weapon, and released a hail of bullets at the approaching helicopter.
Another spray of bullets.
“Logan!” Galen shouted.
Logan was down, blood streaming from his thigh. “Get out of here, Galen.”
“The hell I will.” Galen jumped out of the helicopter.
But Monty was ahead of him, already running toward Logan.
“Monty!” Sarah screamed.
Monty began tugging at Logan’s shirt, trying to move him.
Sarah dove out of the helicopter.
More bullets.
Monty. Still. Bleeding.
“No!” She sank to her knees beside Monty. He was still breathing. Thank God.
“Get back in the helicopter.” Galen was squatting beside her. “I’ll take care of Logan.”
“She’ll never leave Monty. Get the dog first, Galen,” Logan said. “Dammit, get the dog first.”
“He’s my dog. I’ll do—” Sarah broke off when Galen picked up Monty.
“Go take care of your dog,” Logan told her. “Galen will—”
“Shut up.” She picked up Logan in a fireman’s lift and struggled to her feet. Jesus, he was heavy. Three steps and she had him in the helicopter. “Lift off.”
More shots.
What if they hit the fuel tank?
“Cover fire,” Galen snapped.
Sarah was only dimly aware that Galen’s men were shooting as she cradled Monty in her arms. He opened his eyes and licked her arm. The helicopter lifted and headed north, barely skimming the trees.
Oh, God, Rudzak’s aircraft was right behind them.
Then, suddenly, it was gone.
“Got him.” Galen’s gaze was on Rudzak’s helicopter, which was slowly spiraling to the ground. “We must have hit something crucial. He’s trying to get back to the clearing to land. I hope he gets a palm tree up his ass. Too bad we used the last of our missiles back at the camp.” He turned to Logan. “You always did cause me trouble. Somebody pass me the first aid kit and I’ll try to stop the blood.”
“How’s the . . . dog?” Logan whispered.
“I’m tending to him.” Sarah was pressing a compress to Monty’s wound. “I think he’s going to be okay. The bullet only skimmed his shoulder and he’s not bleeding much.” She glanced at Galen. “Do you need help taking care of Logan? I’ve had training.”
Logan tried to smile. “Yeah, she went to vet school. She can take care of my fleas at the same time.”
She ignored him and spoke to Galen. “I’ve also had EMT training.”
“Galen can handle it,” L
ogan said. “Just make sure— the dog’s okay. I know I’ll be on your hit list if anything happens to him.”
“You’re right.” She felt angry and scared and, yes, guilty that Monty had been hurt. She had placed him in harm’s way. There was no doubt Logan was ultimately responsible, but he had ordered Galen to save Monty first even though his life had been in danger. “I’ll care for Monty. Worry about yourself.”
His eyes closed. “Too—much trouble. Galen, you— do it.”
He passed out.
Logan didn’t regain consciousness until they were transferring him to the jet at Santo Camaro.
“About time you came back to us,” Galen said. “You’ve caused me no end of trouble and made a mess of my copter. Of course, the pooch didn’t help.”
“He’s alive?”
“In better shape than you. Sarah’s bandaged him and is trying to keep him still.”
“Where is she?”
“Inside the plane with Monty and Bassett.” Galen paused. “You still have a bullet in your thigh. I didn’t think there’d be any additional damage if I let you go back to the States and have it taken out there. Sarah didn’t think so either. So we plugged you up and she’ll give you a shot of morphine once you take off. Where do you want to go? Monterey?”
He tried to think. His mind was so blurry, he already felt as if he had the morphine. “It depends on whether Rudzak’s alive. Go back and check and phone me. It would be nice if the bastard crashed and burned, but we’re probably not that lucky.”
Galen nodded. “I was going anyway. I thought you’d want to be certain one way or the other.”
“And don’t let her give me the morphine. Tell her you just remembered I’m allergic to it or something. I need to know about Rudzak as soon as possible.”
“Why not tell her the truth?”
“And let her find out this may be only the beginning? I promised her when we found Bassett, her part would be over, but the situation’s changed and I don’t know how it’s going to affect her. I’m not up to handling her right now. I have to stall.”
“And what do I tell the pilot?”
“Just tell him to get us out of South American airspace and I’ll give him his orders when I hear from you.”