WAR: Disruption (25 page)

Max grimaced. “Yeah.”

“Someone took it a step further. The governments of Volta and the UAR are on the lookout for you as a suspect in Emily’s kidnapping.”

“What?” He glanced over at Emily. “But she’s fine. Didn’t you contact her family?”

“We passed the word through a trusted source. I’ll follow up to see if her parents actually received the message.” Kris paused. “You’re listed as armed and dangerous. Possibly an accomplice to Ziegler and the rebels in the deaths of the other Americans.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. You know Dietrich has to be behind this. He doesn’t want you escaping this time.”

Max sighed and ran his hand over his hair. The last thing they needed was a trigger-happy soldier who spotted him and fired without noticing Emily in the Jeep. Like hell he was going to risk her being shot because of this bullshit. “So, what do you suggest? The border is closed to the east. Even if we entered illegally, the U.S. embassy there shut down weeks ago. The rebels are to the west, south and northwest of here. I was hoping she’d be safe in the UAR if we snuck over the border.”

“Do what I assigned you to do in the first place. Find the briefcase with the weapon prototype. Then you and Emily sit tight. I’m working on clearing your name so you can cross safely over the border.”

Max cursed. Yeah, they were close to the suspected crash area, but he was in no shape to go tromping around the jungle. And with armed villagers on the prowl, the idea of letting Emily go out on her own made him want to pound his fist into the nearest tree. “Kris—” he started. Then he stopped himself. What could he say? The whole freaking region was one giant danger zone. Emily wouldn’t be safe until she stepped onto a plane. Complaining that it was too dangerous for her to help him look for the plane wouldn’t change the facts. Remaining in this area near her homestay village might be risky, but right now it was their best option.

He blew out a breath. “Dammit. Fine. We’re on it.” He hung up and tossed the phone on the console.

“What’s going on?” Emily asked.

Max clenched and unclenched his fists, but that small action didn’t calm the warring frustration and fear inside him. “We’re going after the damn prototype.”

“I thought that was the plan all along.”

“No, the plan was to get you safely over the border and for me to return alone. But there’s been a complication.”

Emily narrowed her eyes. “What?”

“I’m wanted in connection with your kidnapping.”

“My
kidnapping
?” She gaped at him.

“Yeah. Apparently I’m armed and dangerous and I’m also working with Ziegler and/or the rebels.”

She raised her brow. “Max, you
are
armed and dangerous. But you’re not a public threat… Oh.” She cleared her throat. “Er…maybe…”

“Will you get over it already? I’m trained to protect. I shot that guy last night because he hurt you and would have killed you if I hadn’t.” For Christ’s sake, he was a soldier. What did she expect from him?

“Your reason doesn’t matter to the locals. To them you
are
a threat. You killed those rebels back in your friend’s deserted village and you killed Ebo. So the locals will likely believe anything negative they hear about you.”

“Right. Which means we need to stay out of sight. Get you to safety. Not wander the countryside looking for the damn plane.”

Emily shook her head. “You said that the prototype will be used in an attack that could kill hundreds. I’m sorry, but a little more risk on our part seems a small price to pay to save innocent lives.”

MAX STARED AT her like she was crazy. “You almost died last night!”

Her stomach gave a slow, twisty turn. “Yes, I know. I’m not an idiot. That terrified me.” She’d come so close to being killed by someone she’d thought meant her no harm. “But Max, we’re far enough away from my homestay village that it’s unlikely we’ll run into any of them. As long as we drive through the jungle, we can get close to the festival village without being spotted. Then I can sneak over to the village, find the path I used that day when I headed out to take pictures, and hopefully locate the piece of the plane you spotted in that photo.”

“I’m not staying—”

She leaned forward, cutting him off. “Max, you’re in pain. Do you think I can’t recognize the signs? Your ribs and back hurt. The wound in your thigh hurts. I bet you even have a headache.”

The faint tightening of the muscles around his eyes let her know her guess was correct. “Tromping through the jungle is only going to tap your dwindling energy. If we’re going to find the briefcase with the prototype weapon and the plans, you need to be rested and thinking clearly. Don’t be an idiot and insist on coming with me just because you think it’s your job to protect me. I’m the healthy one. Let me carry my weight by doing reconnaissance.”

He glared at her, but she was unimpressed. “Max, give it up. Ten to one you won’t even make it fifteen minutes without keeling over. And then where will I be? How am I supposed to drag your deadweight back through the jungle to the Jeep?”

He glanced away. Crossed his arms over his chest. Scowled. “I hate being injured.”

She reached out and touched his face. “I know.” Understanding that she’d won, she started the Jeep.

“You’ll be careful. Stay out of sight. Be quiet.”

She nodded. “Of course. I have no desire to end up a prisoner of the rebels or the lunch of a jungle predator.”

Max kept his silence until they’d reached a spot not far from the festival village, but not so close that their engine would be heard. Then he launched into a detailed explanation of how to conduct a search and what type of debris she might discover. When he was satisfied that she understood what she needed to do, he reminded her about stealth tactics.

“Yes, Max. I know. I do have some stealth training. And over the past few days I’ve learned how to adapt it for the jungle. I’ll be fine.”

He didn’t look like he believed her, which hurt, but then he nodded. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just want you safe.”

“I know.” She squeezed his hand. “But it will be okay. You’ll see.” She reached for her backpack. “I’d better get going, so I don’t lose the light.”

“Take my phone with you,” Max said as she collected her things, “so you can call Kristoff for help. And my watch, too. That way you can log your coordinates. Like this.” He pulled his watch out and showed her how to use the GPS and compass to track her progress and save the final location. “See? I’ve logged in the location of the Jeep. So when you do find the area we’re searching for, you’ll know how to get back to me.”

“Thank you.” She leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. “Here, hold my watch until I get back.” She slipped it off and handed it over. “Now, let me camouflage the Jeep.”

With Max giving pointers, Emily used windfall branches, leaves, and the dark green mosquito nets to disguise the Jeep. Anyone walking close by would see the shape of the vehicle, but from a distance, or from the sky, the Jeep would be hidden.

As she was getting ready to leave, Max held out his gun.

“I’m not taking your gun! What if you need to defend yourself?” She took a step back.

“Don’t you know how to shoot? I thought your dad was big into preparedness.”

“Yes, I can shoot. That’s not the point. The point is that you’re injured. If the bad guys show up you can’t run and hide. You need the gun more than I do.”

“This isn’t negotiable, Emily. Take the damn weapon or I’m coming with you. I need to know that you can protect yourself if you run into a rebel or a hostile local.”

She sighed. “What about you? What if a bad guy shows up? How will you defend yourself?”

“I have a knife.” He told her where to find it among his things.

When she found it, she had to admit that the matte black knife with its finely honed edge definitely had been made for combat. “I don’t think this is going to do you much good against a rifle. Or a shotgun.”

He shrugged. “You’d be surprised. Besides, if someone does shoot me, they’ll probably come over to check if I’m alive. That gives me a chance to stab them and get away.”

Her heart lurched. “Max, do you honestly think you’re going to be in any condition to use the knife if you’re shot? Your body will probably just shut down.”

He shook his head. “Adrenaline will see me through. I’ll be fine. I’m more worried about you. Promise you’ll come back quickly.”

“I’ll do my best.” She met his eyes. Saw worry and frustration and other things there she wasn’t ready to address, so she turned her head. “Okay, fine. I’ll take the gun.” She checked it over, then slipped it into the holster Max attached to her belt.

“I’d better get going.” She slid her arms into her rucksack’s straps. Max had insisted that she carry some food and basic survival supplies, including the night vision goggles, in case the worst happened and she couldn’t make it back before nightfall. She also had her camera. That way, if she found pieces of the plane, she could photograph them at a closer angle.

“Be careful.”

“I will.” Throwing Max a jaunty salute that in no way reflected the nervous butterflies dancing in her stomach, she headed off.

Half an hour later, the compass indicated that she was almost to the village. She allowed herself a brief, congratulatory smile. If anyone had told her a month ago that she’d become adept at walking through the jungle, she’d have laughed at them. But it wasn’t too scary once you got to know it. Max had shown her what plants not to touch and described the poisonous snakes and insects she needed to avoid. She now navigated the undergrowth with more confidence than she’d expected.

Unfortunately, the blisters on her feet had reopened. The hours of driving had allowed them to harden, but between digging her heels in the mud to pull Max out of the crater and this trek through the jungle, she knew that if she removed her shoes she’d find her socks once again stained with blood. The more tired she became, the harder it was to ignore the pain. On the other hand, focusing on the pain kept her attention sharp whenever she started to lose focus and her thoughts drifted.

By the time the jungle opened up to reveal a small garden and a mud hut, Emily was exhausted. Keeping an eye out for jungle threats took a lot of mental energy. Needing a few minutes to recharge, she found a root she could use as a stool and helped herself to a long drink of water and a small snack. Then, somewhat reenergized, she walked back to the outskirts of the village.

Chickens pecked at the dirt in front of a sapling fence that enclosed a tiny garden. She didn’t spot anyone nearby, but outside a hut closer to the center of the village, a woman hung washing on a line.

Emily stayed well back in the trees, hoping the shadows would hide her. She needed to figure out where she was in relationship to the spot where she’d exited on the festival day. The road and entrance to the village were to her right. So she faced left and closed her eyes. Brought up the memory of following Prudence and the other women into the village. They’d left the road and walked along a dirt alley that led between several huts before ending at a large, circular space in the middle of the village.

The morning of the festival there’d been dancing and singing in the center of the village. At midday, Emily had eaten lunch sitting on a bench, surrounded by children who’d peppered her with questions regarding America. Not many of them had spoken English, so one of the teenagers who’d attended the regional boarding school had served as translator. Then, while the village sat down for a worship service—a mix of Christian and animist beliefs—Emily had decided to take her camera into the jungle and explore.

Following directions from one of the village’s women, she’d walked between some huts and exited past a small garden.

Emily opened her eyes and turned her head. Was this the same garden?

After some study, she decided that this spot was too close to the entrance to the village. She walked away from the road until she spotted a second garden. That one looked familiar. And yes, a few feet beyond it she came across the footpath that led from the village into the jungle.

She checked the time on Max’s watch. On the festival day, she’d set her watch’s alarm for fifteen minutes and had turned back only once the alarm sounded. Since she’d been afraid of getting lost, and too nervous about encountering bugs and snakes to venture into the undergrowth, she hadn’t veered off the footpath.

After several minutes of walking and checking her photos for reference, she reached a dead tree that showed up in her photographs. She remembered being fascinated by the brilliantly colored fungi on its bark. Unfortunately, the tree marked a split in the path. Which way had she gone? She’d been so busy scouring the trees, hoping to catch sight of some exotic birds or animals, that she couldn’t remember which path she’d taken.

She tried left. A few minutes of walking led her to a partially weeded field. Nope. She hadn’t seen this spot on her previous trip. She’d just taken a few steps back the way she’d come when she heard voices. Treading carefully, she slipped between two trees, then took shelter behind a wide palm. She slipped off her rucksack and lay down on her belly. Through the leaves she could just barely see the path she’d been on.

The sound of several people talking in the local dialect grew closer.

Her heart pounded fiercely in her chest. Was this a group of rebels? What if—

A group of three women and two men came into view. The men wore stained, khaki trousers and loose, faded t-shirts. The women had tied brightly colored cloths around their waists to form skirts and also wore faded t-shirts. The men held hoes and other farming tools. The women carried shallow baskets on their heads.

All of them looked vaguely familiar, so they must have come from the festival village.

When they reached the field, the women set the empty baskets down not far from Emily. Oh, God. They were so close. If they looked up, they’d surely see her. And then what? Were they friendly? Or, like her homestay villagers, would they turn on her?

She dug her fingers into the earth as she felt the first flutterings of panic.
No.
She had to stay calm. Max wouldn’t be able to save her if this situation turned dangerous. She had to think of a plan on her own.