Page 11 of Lucky Charm

“I guessed, ma’am.” He grinned at her, and she relaxed a tad. Darkness outside left no scenery to watch, and she had no update on the boy. With little else to do except dwell in her hyper-awareness of Hunt, she stared out at the darkness searching for the things that went bump in the night.

Chapter Two

Hunt absorbed the bounce and sway of the truck and wrestled with the uncontrollable sensation of his own fate rising to sucker punch him. The clouds of northeastern Afghanistan permeated the November day, obscuring the sky and hanging close to the ground. The height of the mountains stayed obscured by the cloud cover and daylight was minimal, the harbinger of a hard winter. For a SEAL team that usually operated after dark, the conditions were a decent cross between normal and clandestine.

“Homeplate. Confirm turnoff.” Hunt spoke quietly into his mic, scanning the terrain in search of the landmark that designated the turn to Ali Haquiri’s compound.

“On right. One klick. Overwatch confirms no other movement until village.” The disembodied voice of Commander Scott confirmed what their briefing had shown.

Hunt stifled the doomsday intuition that plagued him. “Slow, Carter. Turn one klick.”

“Copy that, boss.” Carter slowed the momentum of the vehicle more.

Hunt shifted to check the rear. The second SUV motored closely behind them. “Alpha Two. One klick. On the right.”

“Copy, Alpha One.” Doogie’s whisper voice boomed through his earpiece.

Because he was hyper aware of Cait, he turned to check Baxter instead. The man remained pale. He sat erect next to Doc, doing his usual yammering.

“Welcome to the lovely lower mountains of the Hindu Kush. They have more goat trails, rocks, and sparse vegetation than dirt roads, significant landmarks, and tourist shops. Combined with the always dangerous Pakistan-Afghanistan border, we’re pleased to say this is terrorist central. Please ignore your tour guidebook from the Afghan government. They are not one happy family. Keep your powder dry and stay close at all times.”

“It’s also cold and dreary,” Cait answered.

“Believe me,” Baxter offered. “It ain’t better in sunlight and heat. Drugs and gun running are the go-to back-up plan for locals trying to make a life from small farming and animal husbandry. Corruption? Yep, embedded as a social custom. Any person could be friend or foe, and any U.N. and U.S. presence in the area stirs their fight or flight instincts. I’m betting the village is as empty as a ghost town in the old west.”

Dr. Michaels laughed. “You’re a primo tour guide, Baxter. Where’s the best goat burgers?”

Hunt snorted. Carter outright laughed.

Baxter slapped his leg. “Two more klicks down by the campfire.”

“Ambience. What a treat.” The sarcasm dripped thick from her comment.

“We aim to please.” Baxter grinned like a lovestruck schoolboy, and Hunt had to stifle aninstinct to stop their flirting. Except that wasn’t what it was.

“Hey, Bax?” Doc’s voice softened.

“Yeah, Doc?”

“You keep swallowing those Pepto’s, you’re going to need a doctor. You should quit now. Stomach virus?”

“Guessing. Let’s hope it wasn’t the goat burgers.”

“Those pink things making it better?”

“Marginally.” Baxter’s grin died replaced by a blush over pale skin.

“Let me know if I can help.” She lifted a finger to sweep the golden strands of her blonde hair back off her face. “Not that I’m taking over your job, Carter.”

“No problem, Doc.”

Hunt faced forward in his seat and purposefully cut off the conversation. “We’re close. Stay aware.” He appreciated Doc’s concern, but Baxter was a tough son of a bitch, and he wouldn’t have come if he didn’t think he could handle it.

He turned to Carter. “See anything?”

“Rocks and more rocks.” Carter stopped as they came over a small rise. “That tree was in the satellite pictures. That’s our marker.”

“Homeplate, at the turn off.”