Tasha steered the boat into a tiny stream and under some trees. They had to go to ground for a couple of hours to give the men looking for them a chance to spread out. She killed the engine as Dan and Ed pulled the boat further under the tree using its limbs. When they were as far under the tree as they could get, the four of them settled into the bottom of the boat. He and Tasha kept their weapons close.

“Tell us what happened,” Dan said as they rested in the thick shade. It was the first chance they’d had to talk since they’d rescued the hostages.

Ed grimaced. “Nothing much to tell. Five men with guns broke into our house one night, stuffed us into a van, and hauled us to John Wayne airport. They met some other men who had obviously broken into our lab and stolen our computers, and put us on an airplane along with all our equipment. We made several stops, but they wouldn’t let us off the plane, then we ended up here.”

“Was the lab already set up when you got there?” Tasha asked.

Kelli nodded. “Yes. We had to set up the actual lab, but the buildings and everything else were already in place.”

“What did Kangka want you to do?”

“Who?” Ed asked. “Is that who kidnapped us?”

“His men, yeah. He is a big sponsor of terrorism.”

Ed nodded. “That makes sense. We were told to make the virus airborne.”

“Did you?”

Ed spluttered. “Of course not. That would take years. We wouldn’t have done it anyway. We made the virus fragile and easy to kill for a reason. It’s a safety mechanism.”

“So, you made no progress?” Tasha asked.

Kelli grinned. “Child, we never started. We were dithering around, looking busy, but we weren’t doing anything. We’d die before we allowed our work to become weaponized.”

“Did you give a copy of the data to anyone?” Dan asked.

“A man did take a copy, but,” Ed said loudly when Dan opened his mouth to speak, “we gave him the bogus data we kept for security purposes. The data is useless. Even we wouldn’t be able to work backwards from that because it’s all false. We made the data up. They’ll spend years trying to replicate the results and won’t be able too.” He grinned. “The real data was kept on a hidden and encrypted partition on one of the computers. Only Kelli and I knew where it was kept and the password. We didn’t want to risk having our work stolen.”

“That’s what you gave me?”

Ed became serious. “Yes. That’s the only copy of the original data. Please, don’t destroy it.”

“You don’t have backups?”

“Yes, hidden on another hard drive, but it was in the lab and they took it along with everything else. Now, it’s all gone.”

“So Kangka got nothing?” Tasha asked.

“Less than nothing,” Kelli smiled. “He got information they’ll waste years on.”

Dan looked at Tasha and smiled. “Now we only have to get out of here alive.” He looked at the Griffins. “I won’t let your data fall into Kangka’s hands.” He turned to Tasha. “If something happens to me, destroy the flash drive in my left front pocket.” He didn’t say what else she had to do if it came to it, but he could tell from her eyes she understood.

“Got it.”

“We can’t thank you enough for saving us,” Kelli said softly, tears creeping down her cheek. “I thought we were going to die.”

Dan reached across the boat and patted her leg. “We’re not going to let anything happen to you.”

They settled down to wait. The boat was surprisingly comfortable, more comfortable than he’d been since he left the Queen. He smiled as Kelli and Ed went to sleep as they lay against the side of the boat, Kelli tucked in close under Ed’s arm. They clearly loved each other very much. If they could just get them away, the mission would be a total success.

Tasha snuggled into his side with a sigh. “You okay?” he whispered.

“My head hurts from where the asshole pulled my hair.”

“What?” he asked, confused.

“The man at the boat? He pulled my hair while we were fighting.”

“You fought with him? Is that why you’re so dirty?”

“Yeah. I snuck up on him and beat him to death with the gun. I intended to choke him then drown him, but that didn’t work. He was too strong and got away. Then it was really on.”

“Jesus. Why didn’t you just shoot him?”

“I didn’t want the three guys chasing you to hear and come back.”

“But you’re okay?” he asked, now concerned about more than merely her mental state.

“Yeah. You?”

“Sore as shit.”

“What happened?”

“I shot two, and—”

“I heard. I was worried when I heard the AK go off.”

“Death squeeze. Never got close.”

“What about the other guy?”

“I caved his head in on a tree, but not before he tried to kick my ass. You should have left like I told you.”

“I wasn’t leaving you.”

“You risked the entire mission.”

“Fuck the goddamned mission. I wasn’t leaving you. Not until I was sure you were dead.”

He looked at her and brushed a thumb over her dirty, lovely face. He took her lips in a slow kiss. They tasted of mud and stale water, but never had she tasted better.

“We okay?”

“I don’t know. Can you forgive me for—”

“I told you, I already have.”

“I don’t know if I believe you.”

“I’ve never lied to you, Natasha. I’m not lying now. I understand you were following orders.”

“I was wrong.”

He nodded. He wasn’t going to sugarcoat it. “We were both wrong. But we’re together on the same page again.” He kissed her and smiled teasingly at her. “I’m glad you didn’t shoot me, but there’s nothing sexier than a beautiful woman who knows how to handle a gun.”

“That’s not funny.”

“I didn’t intend for it to be.” He leaned in and brought his lips close to her ear. “If they weren’t here, I’d make love to you right now,” he murmured, loud enough for only her to hear.

She looked into his eyes. He held her gaze, allowing her to see the truth in his words. Her face crumpled. “I swear, I’ll never do something like that again.”

He brushed his lips over hers again. “I know.”

Several boats had roared by as they sat hidden deep in the shadows. He dozed, waking with a start when a sound, imagined or not, dragged him from sleep. Tasha also dozed, lying in the bottom of the boat, her head in her lap. He stroked her hair. She’d been through so much. They both had. When this was all over, they would have to take some time for themselves. He wanted to find out what they meant to each other without all the stresses. He had to know if what he felt for her was real or the result of their being in the shit together, and find out if she felt the same way.

She stirred awake. She blinked as she looked around. “How long?” she mumbled, still blinking away sleep.

“A few hours.”

“How much longer?”

“Now’s probably a good time. But first.” He bent and took her lips in a long, slow kiss, liking how her hand went gently behind his head.

She sighed out of the kiss. “I needed that.”

“Me too.”

She sat up with a groan, and the Griffins jerking awake as they began to move.

“Time?” Ed asked.

“Yeah,” he said as he moved to the front of the skiff. “Stay with Tasha and do exactly what she says.”

The Griffins nodded. He pushed the boat out into the river. Once clear of the tree, she started the motor and they made their way quickly to the tributary that would take them to their destination.

“Slow and easy,” Dan said. “We want to be as quiet as possible.”

With Dan low at the front of the boat, his weapon at the ready, they burbled up the small, narrow, river until he saw a large villa coming into view. He waved his hand frantically at the bank, and Tasha steered the boat into the trees and killed the motor.

“Stay with them,” he whispered. “I’m going to do a quick scout and see if there’s anything we can use.”

“Be careful!”

He gave her a smooch. “Count on it. Watch for my signal and be ready to move.”

“What’s the signal?”

He grinned. “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go, but I’ll make sure you know it when you see it.”

He gave her another quick kiss, then climbed out of the boat and worked his way through the trees until he reached the large, well-maintained clearing around the house. He paused, his eyes roving. There were a few guards with automatic weapons casually roaming the grounds. The house was a large two-story affair, painted a vibrant yellow, typical of the brilliant colors the Orkutians favored for their houses and businesses. Beyond the house was another smaller building. He would start there, and if he didn’t find something, he’d check out the main house.

Staying low, he moved across the lawn in a low sprint, sliding to a stop behind the building. He waited but heard no shouts or gunshots. When he sprinted across the yard, he could see the neatly tended gravel drive leading to the building. It was obviously some kind of garage, and that was exactly what he needed.

Using the building as cover, he snuck along the back and around the side. There were no doors or windows on the side or back of the building, so he couldn’t see what was inside. On the opposite side, he found the entrance door. He waited until the guards were looking elsewhere, and then slipped quickly inside.

The light coming through the window in the door provided enough light for him to see. In the garage was a black, mid-sixties Lincoln, a brilliant red, classic Ferrari, a Jaguar XKE in British Racing Green, and on the far side, an original, early-sixties Land Rover. All the cars were beautifully restored and were in pristine condition.

The Ferrari and Jag were out because they didn’t have enough room for them all. The Land Rover might be a good choice, but it would be slow as shit. That left the Lincoln. He opened the door and slid in, smiling at the keys hanging in the ignition. He closed the thick, super-heavy door and took a deep breath, praying to Henry Ford the old girl would start before someone noticed.

He turned the key and the car rumbled immediately to life. He yanked the transmission into gear and floored the throttle. The car roared as it crashed through the garage door like it was made of aluminum foil. He spun the wheel frantically as the car slewed sideways, fishtailing as its tires spun, scrabbling for traction on the grass as he roared across the yard. Those old cars were built like tanks, and if he could get on the road, it would be almost impossible to stop him.

As he slid to a stop, Tasha, Ed, and Kelli appeared from the trees, running hard for the car. A bullet popped against the glass, and he ducked as more bullets began pinging and popping off the vehicle. He realized there was no glass in the car and he sat up as men ran across the yard, more bullets pinging off the metal.

“Hurry!” he roared as the Griffins piled into the back seat.

Tasha let loose a volley of automatic fire over the top the car, one man falling in a shower of blood and the others dropping and hugging the earth.

“Get in!”

She dropped into the front seat and he floored the throttle again as she closed the door. The engine roared, the tires howling as the wheels spun. He first thought they were stuck, but the car slowly began to pick up speed. This bitch, since it was armored, probably weighed four or five tons, so it had a hard time getting moving on the slick grass. He locked the doors as the men began running at the car again, firing their weapons as the vehicle began to gather speed.

Everyone ducked as the bullets spattered against the car’s steel flanks, and though he twitched and dodged with every bullet, he kept his head up so he could see where they were going. A man reached them and grabbed the handle, but he couldn’t open the door and soon fell away as the car continued to accelerate.

“Bulletproof?” Tasha asked as she sat up. “Good choice.”

“Lucky guess.”

The car slid around the edge of the house. It was hard to control on the grass, like he was driving in snow or ice, but he wrestled the vehicle to the drive. Once on the pavement, it was much easier to control, though it was still slow to gather speed because of its weight.

He turned onto the road, the tires howling in protest. He glanced in the rearview. The Griffins were holding onto each other, their eyes wide in terror, but of more concern was the late model Range Rover closing rapidly. The SUV pulled up beside them and the passenger let loose a sustained burst of gunfire at the window. Dan put an end to that with a quick jerk of the wheel, smashing into the side of the Range Rover and sending it into the ditch where it rolled and flipped.

Another Range Rover approached on the other side. A man in the back seat aimed at the tires. Dan weaved then slammed on the brakes. The Range Rover crashed into the back of the Lincoln with a thud before he returned to the throttle. The Range Rover began to close again as steam began to pour from the hood. The car kept coming and Dan weaved to prevent the driver from getting alongside. Suddenly, their pursuers began to fall back, the Range Rover succumbing to the damage caused in the collision.

“Get us a ride!” Dan ordered.

She turned her phone on and dialed quickly. “Lancaster. I need Director Whittlefield right now!”

He fumed as she waited.

“Tasha? Sit-rep,” Whittlefield demanded, asking for a situation report.

“We’re about ten clicks outside Talish, heading for the airport. There’d better be a ride there. We’ve got bandits all over us.”

“We’ll have an Israeli C-130 inbound to you in less than an hour. It is being loaded with relief supplies now as cover.”

“Got it. What’s the ETA?”

“Estimated time of arrival is 11:00 p.m., local.”

“Eleven p.m.?” she shouted. “Are you fucking kidding me? That’s nine hours from now. We don’t have nine hours. We don’t have nine minutes.”

“That’s the best I can arrange. The plane will be wheels up in about thirty minutes, then it’s an eight-hour flight.”

“That’s not going to work, goddammit. We need help now.”

“That’s the best we can do.”

She stared at the phone a moment. “I fucking quit. Call me when the fucking plane is thirty minutes out,” she snarled then ended the call.

“We’re in deep shit,” Dan said.

“No shit.”

They reached the edge of town. A blue BMW trundled along in front of them. Dan floored the Lincoln as he approached, intending to pass, but the car pulled over and blocked them. He dropped back, then crept up behind the car. When the nose of the Lincoln was close, he floored the car. It slammed into the back of the BMW. The German car’s brake lamps came on, and though the Lincoln slowed way down, the much smaller and lighter BMW couldn’t stop them.

The driver of the other car, realizing it was fruitless trying to stop the charging Lincoln, roared away, then turned his car sideways in the road.

“Hold on!” Dan cried, keeping his foot down as bullets splattered off the windshield like bugs.

He plowed into the rear of the BMW, the Lincoln lurching hard as it sent the German car spinning into the ditch.

“They’ll keep coming,” Dan said as they roared away. The Lincoln wasn’t impervious to damage, the front buckled and crushed from the impact and the car pulling hard to the left. “Eventually, they’ll stop us. You and the Griffins have to make a run for it. I’ll lead them away, then join you later at the Vispin, okay?”

“I’m not leaving you.”

“I’ll join you. This is the only way.”

They were within a couple of miles of the Vispin hotel, where it had all started, when another car picked them up. It didn’t try to stop them, but it was clearly following. Dan turned away from their destination. He would have to lose them, and quickly, before anyone else arrived and they were overwhelmed with numbers.

“Hold on!” he called as he tromped on the brakes. The Mitsubishi had much better brakes and easily stopped before rear-ending them, but they weren’t prepared for Dan to shove the Lincoln into reverse. The Lincoln roared back, smashing into the much smaller car. Dan kept the throttle against the floor, the Lincoln howling as it shoved the smaller car backward until it hit a building. The Lincoln lurched to a stop, the small green car pinned between the building and the massive American Lincoln. He put the car in drive, pulled forward ten feet, then roared backwards again, hitting the Japanese car with a metal rending crash.

They roared away, the front of the smaller car destroyed.