Page 5 of The Engineer

Or at least it had until now.

Abe pushed up off the truck hood. He tweaked the baseball hat on his head, flashed his broad smile. “Successful appointment?”

Griff grunted and made his way round to the passenger side and climbed in.

Abe followed, settling his muscular weight behind the driver’s seat. He angled a brow. “That good?”

Griff swallowed, wanting instead to yell and pound the dash. A swallow would have to suffice. This was not his truck to trash. “Doc still doesn’t know if I’ll be able to climb.”

“What?” Abe sat back in his seat. “But you’ve been healing really well, doing all the physiotherapy. Almost got your full range of movement back.”

Griff stared out the window so hard his eyes stung. “Yep. I’m fine if I only lift a cup of coffee, but the joint might explode or some shit if I climb. Too much pressure.” He dragged his gaze away from the pale brick of the hospital and attempted to secure his seat belt, but the tremble in his hand made it impossible to get the damn thing clipped in. “Fuck!” The metal slid home with a click.

He sagged back in his seat, closed his eyes and exhaled a ragged breath. Could the day just be over right now? Please?

Abe blew out a breath. “That’s fucked up.”

Griff opened his eyes. “Yeah.”

His vision pulsed in time with his heartbeat. He couldn’t imagine a future where he didn’t climb.

“Do you think—”

Griff’s phone rang. Thank fuck. He swiped it open. “Leo?”

“You and Abe finished at the hospital?”

Griff glanced at Abe, but Abe’s face was neutral. “Sure. We’re just leaving.”

“I need you here first thing tomorrow.” There was an unmistakable edge to Leo’s voice.

“Something up?”

“New client.” Leo ended the call.

Abe turned the ignition, and the truck rumbled to life.

Griff tented his hand over his eyes as a shield against the sun, ignoring the twinge of stiffness in his shoulder as Abe navigated to the parking lot exit.

At least he could always count on work as a distraction.

3

Stripes of melty-hot sunlight flickered in stripes over Jo’s lap as she drove the loopy road up the steep side of Balsfjord. Ahead, blue sky met the emerald green of the forest and the inky blue-black of the water. It was known for visiting Orcas. Perhaps now they were down there in the depths of the icy water, playing, hunting, loving, living their lives.

Images of whales cruising past the Architect submarine where her brother lay entombed rose unwanted in her mind’s eye.

Jo rolled her hands around the steering wheel and blew air through tight lips. She needed her head on straight. Raptor wanted her silenced. A mistake could cost her everything. She jabbed the radio button on the hire car and was rewarded with a blast of Norwegian folk music. Turning the volume higher crowded all thought of Luke from her mind.

She turned off the main highway onto a narrower road that curved steeply upward. A vertiginous drop fell away sharply on her right. She kept her eyes fixed on the road, ignoring her white knuckles.

I can do this. I have to do this.

Paper slid on the passenger seat as she rounded a sharp corner. Hastily printed out information on Guardsmen Security at a library computer a few days ago. The team was composed of ex-special ops soldiers whose bio photographs looked like they could kill someone with a paper clip and an elastic band, but most importantly, they had dealt with Raptor. If anyone knew how slippery her prey was and what would be required to keep her safe, it was this team.

Whump!

The tiny hire car lurched and the steering wheel vibrated in her hands.

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