Fight Fire With Fire. Amy J. Fetzer
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for the spade. He felt a measure of relief when his hand closed around the handle. It was short and folding, but heavy. His gaze darted to the undergrowth, then the tops of the wildly twisting trees. No animals in sight. Not even a bird.
Then what was out there?
Paranoid, he touched the waterproof walkie-talkie Riley insisted he take along. He hooked it on his waistband, then shifted back on his haunches, his gaze flicking over the darkness. This was the only clearing on the island they’d found. The rest was dense and too thick to even move through without chopping away half the jungle.
He heard something dart to his left, barely a whisper of sound and he flinched. Yet nothing moved. Not a single leaf. But he’d heard it. Creeped out, he felt like he was in a slasher movie and blindly he shoved his belongings into his waterproof bag, taking the fossil rock. He glimpsed at Derek. His student was moving forward on his hands and knees.
“Derek no,” Jim whispered hotly.
“There’s an animal in there, Dr. Clatt. I saw something.”
Jim frowned and eased toward him, the shovel primed. He watched the forest, then whispered Derek’s name and shoved the machete across the rocks and sand. Derek tilted to reach it, then held it like a baseball bat. He inched forward, and with the curiosity of youth and lacking all caution, he stood. He took a step.
Jim rose slowly. “What did you see?”
“Just movement, might be a lizard.” He swiped the machete, clearing away nearly five feet of brush.
Jim stepped slightly away from Derek and advanced, pushing fronds aside. He drew the flashlight and flicked it on, focusing the beam into the darkest area. Derek’s steps crunched on the dry, dead fronds and they stilled.
“I think we need to leave.”
“Why?” Derek asked.
“If there is anything alive in here, it’s never been in contact with humans.”
“But what could be here? Dr. Bridget said the islands didn’t even have monkeys or iguanas.”
“Regardless, we’re here and the good doctor is not.”
Movement shot to the far left, this time stirring leaves. For an instant, Jim thought someone fired an arrow, the beam of movement was so fast and straight. He met Derek’s gaze, but damn if the kid wasn’t beaming.
“New species?”
“I doubt it and get that look off your face, we’re not investigating.” Jim reached for the walkie-talkie. “Back away.”
Derek obeyed, thank God. Jim grabbed the waterproof sack and slung the strap over his head, the small shovel still primed to strike.
Derek inhaled. “It’s close.”
“I know.” Jim felt the presence, indistinguishable but definitely there. “Keep moving, but go slow.” He couldn’t take his gaze off the jungle.
Then between the fronds and branches, nearly blending into the foliage, he saw it.
One golden-brown eye stared back at him.
Riley watched his sister approach, smiling. In her forties, she had the beam of a good life radiating from her, and he wished he knew her secret. Her passion about her work eluded Riley. He was a little jaded now, he got that, but while one mission nearly killed him, another nasty mess had the CIA kissing ass any way they could. It left Dragon One not only debt free, but at their disposal. Riley wasn’t keen on that. He trusted very few and the Company wasn’t even in the running. From his experience, they lacked a decent moral center.
As she neared, Bridget pulled her frayed slouch hat low. It was one of his old desert booney covers from his tour in the Marines. She was never without it considering she had the hair and skin of a true Irish lass. Fair and freckled. Even a tube of sunscreen hung from a belt loop on her shorts.
“Thanks for humoring them,” she said, inclining her head toward the island.
“It gives me a break from that heavy metal noise Derek is so fond of.”
She rolled her eyes. “Try living with that every day.”
She was referring to his nephews who enjoyed head banging music. It just gave Riley a headache. “You really don’t need me here, Bri.” After two weeks, he was little more than an extra pair of hands.
She glanced, blue eyes soft with concern. “Getting antsy?”
“Not really, but security on a research ship?”
“I wanted you near me, Riley. I missed you.” She leaned her head on his shoulder and he swept his arm around her waist. With four sisters, she’d practically raised him, letting him tag along as a kid. He’d probably be dead on the streets of Belfast if it wasn’t for her, but he knew this went deeper. It had taken him two years to recover from a mission that put him in a coma along with several broken bones and a gunshot to the chest that barely missed his heart and lungs. According to his buddies, he’d drowned, but he barely remembered any of it.
“Your job attracts the wrong sort of people. Why do you insist on chasing such danger—” She stopped herself, let out a breath, then said, “I worry…we all do. I thought this might be a nice break.”
And show him a different life, he thought. He was wise to his sister. “You’re hoping I won’t go back to Dragon One? It’s my job. I can’t freeload off you forever.”
She cocked her head, a hand on her hip. “Do you know what an electrician makes in the states?”
“Yes I do, but installing lights isn’t as rewarding. Besides, I’ve been on a couple missions since then.”
“I know,” she snapped, then softened. “I know. But I keep seeing you in the hospital in traction, machines helping you breathe, tubes running everywhere. You’re lucky to be alive and I thank Logan for that. A doctor on sight saved you.”
He knew he owed Sam and Logan more than he could repay. “But I’ve got better equipment now.” He bent his knee, the surgical scars still plump against his tanned skin, but beneath the stitches were hydrogel kneecaps and titanium rods that replaced shattered bones. “Want to arm wrestle?” He flexed one bicep like Arnold.
She elbowed him. “Don’t tease. It was hard on us all.”
He squeezed her, pressing his lips to her temple. It was the first time she’d really spoken about it. “I’m sorry.” His family was close knit, and yet he was only just learning the effect his injuries had taken on the Donovan clan. His teammates were just as coddling. He put up with it because he wasn’t in any hurry to return to work and focused his attention on more leisurely activities these days.
“I’ll say this once—”
“Once? Since when?”
She crossed her eyes and made a face, then sobered, facing him. “Don’t take so many risks with your life…and I never thought I’d say this, but shoot first.”
He chuckled to himself. “Now there’s me Belfast girl.” She laughed, then her assistant called to her, and she moved away.
Riley checked his watch, waiting for signs of Jim and Derek. Then he heard his name and turned.
“You have a call.” Bridget clutched his satellite phone.
Riley tensed. No one but the team knew he was here.
“I was hoping there were no SATs in range for that to be of any use.” It wasn’t like this part of the world was a threat to humanity. There wasn’t anyone else around for nearly a thousand miles.
“Kate said it’s rung four times in the last hour.”
That can’t be good. Frowning, he took the phone, holding it to his chest. “Is it a female?”
“No, me handsome