Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
“Are you sure this is the place?” Rowan stood at the edge of the small clearing, arms crossed as she studied the cabin tucked amidst a few Ponderosa pines.
Wispy smoke spiraled up from the chimney, some kind of coating on the windows giving them a mirror-like effect.
A narrow path wove toward the front door, the surrounding forest blanketing the area with an uneasy silence.
Deep shadows laced across the fern-rich ground, the sun already deep toward the horizon. Salty mist filled the air, scented with woodsmoke and pine.
Buck glanced at her over his shoulder. “I mentioned it was secluded.”
“You weren’t exaggerating.”
“Some of us need the isolation to breathe.”
Bodie moved in beside Rowan. “No one’s judging, Buck.”
Buck focused on the cabin, again, eyes narrowing as if he saw it differently. Which, he likely did. Rowan didn’t know Buck’s full story, but she’d heard some of the rumors. How he’d often parked his RV as far from civilization as possible. That a couple years ago, this would have been him.
Alone.
Untrusting.
“Just, stay here.” Buck took a few steps, then stopped. “Seriously. Don’t take so much as a step off this pathway.”
Rowan frowned, nudged Bodie, but he shrugged.
They waited as Buck followed the path, stopping frequently as he stared at the landscape, tilting his head, then crouching for a few moments.
Rowan looked, too. Wondered what he saw that she’d missed.
If a group of mercenaries were hiding behind the trees.
Maybe some kind of security system with laser sights strapped to a post. Something to explain the man’s odd behavior.
He got within ten feet of the covered porch when a rifle cocked off to his right, the distinctive sound echoing across the open space.
Buck froze as Rowan and the others drew their weapons, ready to pounce when he waved them off. “I know you can see me, Tier. Can we lose the dramatics?”
Buck’s voice carried through the woods. Not overly loud, but strangely crisp. The trees bounced it back, that eerie silence rolling in before a woman appeared at the far side of the cabin, carbine notched in her shoulder, her mass of caramel-colored hair pulled back into a messy bun.
She glanced their way, seemingly indifferent to all the weapons trained on her. “We had a deal, Landry. I don’t ask you specifics about an assignment, and you don’t bring feds to my door.”
Nick inhaled, face ashen, his weapon slipping from its mark. He opened his mouth, closed it, staring at the woman — Tier — as if he’d seen a ghost.
Buck cringed at her tone. “Rowan’s with the National Park Service. That’s different.”
Tier cocked her head. “I’m not talking about Rowan.” She scanned the group, zeroed in on Avery. “I’m talking about Special Agent Kaine.”
Avery stilled. “I’m sorry, have we met?”
“Only on paper.”
Avery frowned. “I’m not sure I know what that means.”
“It means, I’ve read your file. You’re with the Bureau, currently working counterterrorism. Do a lot of work through the DoJ. Which is exactly the kind of connection I’m trying to avoid.”
Some of the color drained from Avery’s face. Not as pale as Nick, but close. “How do you—”
“It doesn’t matter. What’s important is that our agreement stands.” Tier lowered her weapon, nodded at Buck. “You and your friends should go.”
“Tierney, wait.” Buck took a few quick steps, stopped when she glared at him, her weapon firm across her chest, ready but not aimed at him. “You know I wouldn’t be here — wouldn’t have brought them — if it wasn’t important.”
Tierney’s jaw clenched, the muscle in her temple jumping. “Whatever this is, I doubt it’s important enough to make me want to work with the CIA, again.”
Buck froze, breath held, mouth slightly opened. He gazed back at Nick, then over to Tierney.
She didn’t flinch, just looked past Buck at Colter. “Hey, Nick. You look like shit.”
Nick stumbled forward, eyes wide. He opened and closed his mouth a few times, finally clearing his throat. “Jesus, Tierney. Is that really…” He swallowed, sounded as if it didn’t quite go down right. “They told me your entire team got ambushed. That you were all killed. How…”
The corner of her mouth quirked, what Rowan could only describe as terror flashing through the other woman’s eyes before she drew herself up. “Dumb luck, I suppose. Though, it you ask me, they were the lucky ones.” Tier motioned to the path out. “You need to go.”
“No, Tierney, I…” Nick’s voice trailed off, as if he’d simply run out of air.
Buck closed the distance, holding his ground when she pointed the rifle at him. “How long have we known each other?”
Her lip quivered. “A while.”
“Nearly a year.” He inched closer, knocked the barrel aside. “You know I’d never hurt you. Never let anyone hurt you.”
“I can’t…” She glanced at them, shook her head. “I’m not that person, anymore.” She tapped her temple. “It’s not right up here.”
“There’s nothing wrong with who you are.” Buck reached out, tucked some hair behind her ear. “I hear the voices, too. See the same ghosts. And that’s okay. Just hear us out. Please.”
Tierney closed her eyes, mumbled something under her breath, then shoved the weapon into Buck’s hands. “The yard’s wired. Best if everyone sticks to the path.”
She turned, headed inside without looking back.
Buck waited until she’d disappeared before walking over to them. “She’s not joking. The entire area’s wired. Stay on the path and don’t make any sudden moves. She’s likely still armed, and she draws faster than anyone I’ve ever seen.”
Bodie snagged Nick’s arm before he could go. “First, Avery, now Tierney. Is there anyone you don’t know?”
Nick glanced at the door, hissed out a breath.
“It’s not often I’m caught this off-guard, but damn.
The last time I saw her, she was headed on a recon mission, then…
” He closed his eyes for a moment. “We searched for weeks before the compound got overrun. I thought…” He cleared his throat, again, though it still sounded as if he had a lump in it.
“I can’t imagine what she’s been though.
How she got here. Though, for the record, Buck’s right about her skill set.
The Tierney O’Rourke I knew would have ruled the Wild West. But, she’s exceptional, and someone I’d trust to have my back. ”
“You think she’s still that person?”
“I think her experience likely rivals Dalton’s, but I’d bet money her heart hasn’t changed. And she seems to have a connection with Buck, so…”
Bodie nodded, waved Rowan ahead of him, once again guarding her six.
She trailed after Nick, stepped inside Tierney’s cabin, smiled at the unexpected interior.
With soft colors and comfortable furniture, the neat, organized space looked more like a resort than the rundown shack she’d been expecting.
Only Buck seemed unfazed by the extreme contrast, and she couldn’t help but wonder how many times he’d been inside.
Tierney stood in the far corner, arms folded across her chest, looking as if she was one stress away from chewing on her thumbnail.
She didn’t speak, just silently assessed everything, as they fanned out.
Rowan leaned against the opposite wall, close but with enough space she hoped the other woman didn’t feel threatened.
Buck settled in next to Tierney. “You never told me you were former-CIA.”
Tierney snorted. “Do I look like I was ever with the Agency?” She shifted her weight on her feet, obviously deciding how much to say before she sighed.
“It’s a long story, but I was a field agent with Interpol, and I crossed paths with Nick a bunch of times on joint missions.
” She eyed him. “How old’s that bullet wound to your right shoulder, Colter? ”
Nick chuckled. “Never could fool you when it came to injuries. I swear you’re like a shark. Smell a drop a blood a mile away. And it’s old enough.”
“So, less than a week.”
“Something like that.”
“Sloane still threatening to kick your ass?”
Nick grinned. “Only when she’s not threatening to put a bullet in it.” He sobered. “We wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t life or death.”
Tierney scrubbed her hand across her face, edged closer to Buck as if the man grounded her. “Five minutes, but just because I’m listening doesn’t mean I’m agreeing to anything.”
“Understood.” Nick looked over at her. “Rowan.”
Rowan inhaled. This was it. Her one chance to convince Tierney they were worthy of her time, her skill, or they’d have to attempt the trek alone.
Bodie placed his hand on her back in a silent show of support as she outlined the entire situation — ended with how they needed her help to access the grounds, save her father and gather enough proof they could burn Veridian to the ground.
Tierney barely moved throughout the exchange, the occasional twitch of her eye her only reaction. She raked her hand through her hair once Rowan had finished, looking as if she wanted to pull some of it out. “If you knew what this trail was like, you’d find another way.”
Bodie took over. “According to Sloane, there isn’t one.”
“Then, I suggest you let it go. Or wait until you can launch a full assault because trying to scramble up the rock section in the winter’s suicide.”
Bodie held firm. “Sloane seems to think you’ve done it before.”
Tierney pursed her lips, rolling her shoulders a bit as if her skin didn’t quite fit. “Doesn’t mean I want to do it, again.”
“It’s extremely important.”
Tierney huffed. “Didn’t you smell the rain outside? Storm’s coming in.”
Rowan inched closer. “All the more reason to leave now. Before it hits.”
Tierney shook her head. “I don’t guide people up there.
I only go alone and only when…” She blew out a shuddering breath, a couple tremors shaking through her.
“I’m not an operative anymore. That person died with the rest of my team.
” She headed for the door. “I’ve listened. Now, I’d like you all the leave.”