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“There are nights when the wolves are silent and only the moon howls.” — George Carlin

Gwen

Deep in the mine tunnel, lit only by Dolly’s dim flashlight, my thoughts buzz. What happens when we’re caught trying to break into Lewis’ office? I slip my right hand into my hoodie’s pocket, then finger the cold metal of my RF lipstick weapon.

Shuddering, I climb the next ladder until my neighbor stops abruptly.

“Shit.” My chin lifts so I can squint into the distance.

Light flickers around the corner as the echoes of men’s voices bounce off the walls. “Our leader says not to touch them. He’ll raffle them off once he’s interrogated them.”

Another guy coughs before rasping out, “Fuck that. I’m taking one now.”

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Carl.” As their volume increases, my companion pushes me into the wall.

Wulf, where are you? Heart thumping in my ear, I hold my breath until the footsteps disappear.

“Stay put, I’ll be right back.” Dollyturns on her flashlight, shines it on the knife in her other hand, and sneaks back the way we came.

A scuffle ensues, and a man grunts. In the nothingness, I pull out my only means of self-defense. What will I do if she doesn’t return? A few minutes later, the tunnel's far end brightens, and I bite down on my lower lip.

C’mon, c’mon.

Thank God, it’sDollywho steps out of the darkness. Lowering my shaking arm, I use my fingers and toes to reach her in the dim light.

I don’t ask what happened. The blood on her clothes says it all. In silence, we make our way forward. Soon, the air becomes fresher, the pathway less dark, and we exit into a forest. We must be on the other side of the hill from the compound.

The break of day dispels some of my exhaustion. Holy crap, what I wouldn’t give for a cup of coffee. When the Eveready Bunny, AKACat Lady, AKACIA agent, climbs higher, I have no choice but to follow.

“Head down.” She crawls on all fours to a rock outcropping with a bird’s eye view of the whole facility.

I count over a hundred mini-houses dotted all over the hillside. At the summit sits the mine’s steel entrance—

Holy shit. Wulf, Suds, and Slate stand at the front gate, arguing against three militiamen. I need to get down there fast, but how? Camo-clad people mill about everywhere.

Dolly points to a two-story, pre-fab building behind the cafeteria. “That’s our destination.”

“We’re never going to get past all those guards.” The task appears insurmountable to me.

Nevertheless, she laughs while digging through the leaves. “Here we go.”

She pulls out a canvas bag, unzips it, and removes survivalists’ uniforms. Once I’m fully dressed, she smothers my face with black goo.

“Rub it in. Use this hat to hide your hair.”

When I hesitate, she pushes me toward the pathway leading down from the summit. “If we act like we belong, no one will question us. Let’s go.”

Pulling the cap's brim over my eyes, I stare at my feet as I pray no one recognizes us. About halfway to our destination, the spy shoves me off the narrow trail to allow some huge guys to pass.

Back on the muddy rocks, I glance over my shoulder, then gasp. “That’s my husband!”

Before I can race after him, Dolly grabs my bicep, tugging me into the trees. “Don’t make a scene. He’s here to rescue your friends. Isn’t that what you wanted? Use your head, Gwen.”

She’s right. Overnight, the day spa has turned into a military base. Despite the overwhelming urge to join Wulf, it’s safer for him if I follow the operative. Soon, we arrive at the bottom, where a middle-aged pear-shaped man approaches us. Two older teenagers trot behind him. No doubt related, they all wear matching camouflage t-shirts, the fabric straining to contain their beer bellies.

“Stop right there. No one’s allowed past this point.” Round face red, the oldest guy struggles to unholster his Glock and points it at me.

“We’re going to grab a bite to eat. Relax, dude.” Dolly waves me forward, but having no desire to get shot, I pause.

“For chrissake.” She karate chops his wrist using a move worthy of a black belt.

In slow motion, he drops the damn thing, the gun rotates in the air. It discharges as ithitsa rock.

“Fuck.” As my neighbor staggers back and grabs her shoulder, one of the crazy-eyed kids fires his automatic weapon. Thank God the bullethitsthe dirt.

“Dammit, Joshua, give me that.” The scolder snatches the rifle before aiming it at my wounded companion.

With my fingers around the RF pistol, I pull it from my pocket, point, and squeeze.

“My heart!” The roly-poly drops to his knees, clutching his chest. When he calls out, his two boys fall to his side, forgetting about us.

“Move it, Gwen.” Hand to her bloody upper arm, Dolly races into the office building, and seeing no other choice, I follow.

We run into the room at the end of the stairs. While I watch the window, the agent reveals a combination safe by moving a painting to the floor.

She circles the black knob around, pulls the handle, then peers inside. “Shit. It’s not here.”

Curious, I step behind her. The safe includes a stack of hundred-dollar bills, a shiny velvet bag, stock certificates, keys, a map, and a magnifying glass.

Downstairs, windows break, and footsteps sound on the stairway. My heart pumps so fast, I almost lose my vision. Is this all there is? Do I die now, not knowing why?

When Axel enters the doorway, tears form, and my throat closes. Once our gazes meet, I rush into his arms. His Kevlar vest digs into my chest, but I don’t care. He’s here, and I’m no longer alone.

As I wipe my wet face, he sets me aside, then stares at the dark red rivulets on the floor. “Is this blood yours, babe?”

Shaking my head, I point atDolly, who stands on a chair with her head inside the safe.

“Goddammit. It’s not in there.” For the first time since she whispered under my jail cell, I suspect a human being resides behind the unflappable surface.

Too soon, she steps into view, and my husband raises his weapon. “Who, exactly, are you, lady?”

Dolly, or whatever her name is, glares back. “Agency.”

“Then, you’re not authorized to operate in the US.” His tone, reserved for criminals and traitors, does not affect her. Neither does his pistol.

Looking more like the catladynext door, she shoos him away. “We don’t have time for this, young man. A war is starting. By the by, your FBI knows all about it. You and your pals have landed in a minefield. You need to leave. Now.”

Bitch, are you kidding me? Talk about no good deed goes unpunished. “I thought you were dead. I called all the local hospitals and morgues from here to DC. You left me with your cats.”

She rolls her eyes. “I got them at the shelter. You’re welcome to them.”

Say Whaaaaat? My inner Beyoncé is interrupted by angry men shouting outside the building. Our time has run out.

Gun pointed at my head, Dolly backs out the door. “I’m sorry, but I need to go. The mission is everything. Believe me when I say the future of the US depends on me finding that intel.”