Page 96 of Twilight Tactics

“Let me see your face,” Elena said, suddenly suspicious. “If you’re a friend, show yourself.”

The figure hesitated, then pulled down the scarf. A woman with hard eyes stared back at her. Someone Elena didn’t recognize.

“Satisfied?” the woman asked.

“Who are you?”

“Someone who wants to help your family.” The woman reached into her pocket. “But we’ve stayed too long.”

Elena’s hand moved to her weapon again. “What are you doing?”

“Protecting us all.” The woman pulled out a small canister. “I’m sorry about this.”

Before Elena could react, the woman raised her arm and sprayed a fine mist directly into her face.

The effect was immediate. Her eyes burned. Her lungs seized. The world tilted sideways.

“What—” She stumbled backward. “Dad?”

His face blurred before her. “I’m sorry, Eleanor. It’s the only way. They said it was the only way you wouldn’t die. And I couldn’t let them kill you.”

Elena tried to reach for her weapon, but her arms felt weighted down. Her knees buckled. The ground rushed up to meet her. Arms caught her.

Then darkness.

The sun slipped behindthetrees as Sully and the others pressed deeper into the darkening forest. Jim led the way, his powerful high-beam flashlight scraping across the ground.

David and his two men, three ranch hands, two FBI agents, three sheriff’s deputies, and Sully followed behind, weapons ready. Sheriff Donovan and other backup, including SWAT, would follow in their vehicles and get as close as possible.

“She came this way for sure,” Jim said, pointing to disturbed leaves and a partial horseshoe print in a patch of mud.

Sully checked his phone again. One bar of service flickered in and out. He’d sent Elena three texts and called twice with no response. Dread rose and he shut it down with effort.

“How far to the meeting spot?” David asked.

“Quarter mile, maybe less.” He hoped. Honestly, it all kind of looked the same to him, and he hadn’t been paying a whole lot of attention as Elena led him up there. He ducked under a low-hanging branch. “It’s a clearing with a firepit. Elena and I watched the preppers and mob guys meeting there.”

The radio at his hip crackled. “Sullivan, come in.” Sheriff Donovan’s voice broke through the static.

Sully grabbed the radio. “Go ahead.”

“More backup just arrived. I’ve briefed them on the situation. They’re gearing up now, and we’ll join your position as soon as we can get there. You sure you don’t want air backup?”

“No, not yet. We don’t want to give them that kind of heads-up. It’s risky enough with all of us. I can’t believe we haven’t encountered anyone yet.” In fact, it was downright weird. That really felt off. “We’re continuing to the clearing where we believe Elena was headed. I’ll drop a location pin as soon as I get there. Assuming you can get it. The fact that the radios are working is a real plus.”

“Copy that. And be careful. Elena was right about one thing. These preppers don’t take kindly to law enforcement on their land.”

“Understood.” That was okay. It wasn’t like they would be the first people he ran across who didn’t like him or his profession.

The path narrowed as they approached a ridge. The trees thinned. Sully’s mind flipped through scenarios, none of them good. Elena had walked into a trap—he was certain of it. The note about her father and sister wanting out was too convenient, coming right after they’d learned about the connection between the preppers and Bellini’s people.

Yeah, he wasn’t buying it.

But she’d wanted it so bad, she’d let herself be convinced.

“Hold up.” Jim raised his hand, stopping the group. He pointed. “Horse tracks veer off here. She dismounted.”

“Found Harley.” David pointed through the trees to where a dark shape stood partially hidden behind a fallen log. “Looks like she tied him up over there.”