Chapter 6 #2
Taylor stood so that she was right in front of him. "We can't let this guy get away with this. Millions of people could die if those files make it into the wrong hands."
"I know. We won't let that happen."
Taylor tapped the phone on her palm. "I'm going to make a call. We won't have much time to make it to Anchorage and get in place." She blew out a breath.
"Hey, we'll get this guy. I'm not going to let you take a fall for this."
Taylor left the room, and he felt the weight of his words settle on him. He couldn't fail her. He wouldn't.
"Max, I need you to get a message to Monica."
"We need to find the durak responsible for taking the file." Max handed him a USB drive. "Here are the secret plans for the weapons stockpile in Alaska that no one knows about except you and me."
The corner of Kam's lips twitched. Leave it to Max to bring brevity to tense times. "Thanks, Max. You have my number. Text me when Monica gets a hit."
"You're sure she will bend this rule?"
"If it furthers her career or covers up her mistakes, she'll do it." Kam stuck the drive in his zippered pocket.
Kam stopped at the door. "Max, do you have another tracker?"
Max reached into a desk drawer and handed him a bag of small discs. "What are you planning?"
"Call it insurance. We can't have anyone slip through our fingers this time."
Kam walked back up to the small cabin where Taylor had gone to use the phone. Her voice carried to him from the top of the stairs.
"I don't care what the logs say. I didn't do this, and you know it." She blew out a breath and listened to whoever was on the other end of the line. "I'm going to Anchorage whether you're there to catch the guy responsible or not."
She ended the call and tossed the phone on the couch.
"They won't help you arrest this guy?"
Taylor jerked around. "They were given a tip that I left a trail on my work computer at the Senator's office, which they then confiscated. Whoever is doing this made it look like I was the one talking to the FSB. Me." She pointed to herself. "Not Tina Miller, but FBI Special Agent Taylor Ertz."
Her voice cracked on her name. Kam’s fists clenched at his sides, and his jaw tightened as heat crept up his neck. They wouldn't get away with this.
"Schulz tried to stop them, but SAC Hollands has put out a warrant for my arrest. They want to bring me in or lock me up until they can sort it out." Taylor slumped onto the couch.
"Schulz and VanKirk are going to turn you in?" Kam wouldn't have pegged them as ones to turn on a fellow agent, but they would be putting their careers on the line if they didn't.
"I don't know," Taylor whispered.
Kam's heart broke at how lost Taylor sounded. His anger bled into the floor, and he went to her as he knelt on one knee in front of her. "We will figure this out. I won't let them take you from me. Not again."
He brushed a tear from her cheek. She gave him a sharp nod.
"We need to get to Anchorage if we're going to stop this." She got up and went out the door before he could grab his bag.
By the time he got to the car, she was already in the driver's seat. Fine by him. This gave him time to come up with a plan on how to procure a plane to get them there faster. He knew of a guy in Copper Mountain who might let him borrow his craft.
When Taylor got to Route 1, she turned south toward Seward, not north toward Anchorage. Kam turned to ask her where she was going, but one look at her kept his mouth shut.
A few minutes later, they were pulling into the Seward Airport.
"Know where we can get a plane? My license is still good even if I am a dead guy."
"No need." She pulled next to a small building with a deck off the front.
There were Adirondack chairs gathered around a small table, and a husky dog lying in the shade next to a man who sat in the last chair.
The dog lifted his head when they opened their doors, but made no move toward them.
The man rose, though, and moved toward them with thunder in his expression.
Paul VanKirk showed no signs of his injuries that Kam had given him while they were both undercover. Kam braced for whatever wrath he had coming from Paul. He deserved nothing but the man's distrust and hatred. Paul said nothing as he fell in stride with Taylor.
The bell above the door chimed as they entered. A woman in her mid-thirties came out from the back. "I'm sorry, but all flights up to the glacier are cancelled today due to weather on the mountain."
"We're not here for a tour. Is your pilot, Luca, here?" Paul flashed her a warm smile.
The woman smiled back. "He is. Is there something I can do to help you?"
A solid-looking man with aviators stepped up beside the woman. "Is that you, Agent VanKirk? It's good to see you up and moving."
Luca stuck his hand out and shook Paul's. "Thank you doesn't seem like enough," Paul responded. Taylor cleared her throat, and Paul dipped his head before asking. "I was wondering if you could take us to Anchorage?"
"I was getting ready to head that way. One of the dogs needs some medicine that's being held up in Anchorage."
"Great. We need to get there as soon as possible." Paul offered no reason.
Kam wasn't sure why Paul was here, except he seemed to know this pilot, which solved a huge problem for them.
Luca looked at each of them in turn, then picked up the clipboard lying on the counter in front of him. "We'll be lifting off in five."
The woman followed Luca out to the tarmac, whispering as she went. She helped him fuel up and prep the helicopter.
Paul turned to face Kam. "Thanks for getting us a ride to Anchorage."
"I'm going to be very clear. I did this for Ertz. Not you. I'm still not sure we should be taking you, but Schulz seems to trust you."
"I'm sorry for what…"
Paul put up his hand. "That's between you and God. For now, we've got a traitor to capture and military secrets to get back."
Paul pushed out the door to the tarmac, and Taylor followed him. Paul was right. Kam needed to keep his head in the game; the woman he loved's freedom was being threatened. He and VanKirk didn't have to be friends; they just needed to work together to keep Taylor safe.