Page 43 of Smoky Lake

She shook her head, refusing to laugh this off the way he was. “Where’s Lachlan now?”

“Nick took him to Fire Peak Lodge and Charlie set him up with a room. He’ll be safe up there. I made him promise to not do any fieldwork until I get back.”

“Oh, so you can be an open target?”

“Better me than him,” he said calmly. “He’s fine for the night, but I’m hoping to head back tomorrow, test results or no test results.”

“They haven’t called yet?”

“No, and something tells me they won’t until tomorrow. They want to keep us here where they can watch us. Maybe it’s for our protection, or maybe it’s something else. Victor said not to trust anyone. Maybe that includes the CDC.”

She ran her fingers through her damp hair, wishing she’d brought a comb. Yet another thing she’d forgotten to pack. Reaching a knot in her hair, she tried to tease it out with her fingers. “I wonder if Sergeant Thomson would tell us anything.”

“That’s no good,” Gil said curtly. “Let me.” In two strides, he was next to her, his hands replacing hers on that hard-to-reach tangle. “She won’t. She’s a good soldier. And she may not know anything.”

The gentle way he handled her hair made her insides hum. Even her mother had never been this sensitive with her hair. How could such big rough hands be capable of such a delicate touch?

“Okay, you’re right.” Ani couldn’t even remember what they were talking about. Something about Sergeant Thomson? Lachlan? Whatever it was, it drifted into the dreamland created by Gil’s combing of her hair.

“Ani.” She startled at the sound of her name in his deep voice. Had she heard him say her name before? Had she heard anyone say it with that particular tone of aching longing?

A sound from outside the suite door had them both swinging around. Once again, Gil thrust her behind him. She was getting used to the up-close sight of his broad back, she thought wryly.

“Sergeant Thomson?” he called through the door.

No answer.

“Stay here,” he told her firmly. “Or go into the bedroom and get ready to call for help.”

She got out her phone, but stayed right where she was. Maybe the old Ani would have cowered in the bedroom, but she didn’t want to do that. He gestured for her to step behind the edge of the open bedroom door.

After a quick check through the peephole of the suite’s door, he swung it open.

Peering around the edge of the door, Ani caught the barest glimpse of what Gil was staring at—Sergeant Thomson sprawled on the carpeted hallway floor, unconscious.

20

After a quick glance up and down the hallway, Gil felt the sergeant’s pulse. It was faint, but still beating. He couldn’t see any signs of a blow or any blood. In fact, he had no idea what had happened to her. Maybe she’d simply fainted?

Whatever the cause, she was out like a light.

“Give me a hand,” he called to Ani, who hurried to join him. Together, they managed to carry Sergeant Thomson inside and settle her onto the couch.

“I’m going to scope out the rest of the hotel, see if I notice anything off. Can you take care of her?”

“Yes, I’ve got this.” Ani was already in doctor mode, checking her temperature with the back of her hand. “But be careful out there. Maybe someone’s trying to draw you out.”

“Now you’re thinking like an agent.”

“I’m serious. You should take that gun with you.” She gestured at Sergeant Thomson’s firearm.

Good point. She really was thinking like an agent.

With silent apologies to the U.S. military, he eased Sergeant Thomson’s Glock from its holster. She would want him to be safe, after all. That was her entire purpose here—supposedly.

He speed-checked all the stairwells, all the elevators, and spoke to all the hotel staff members and guests he came across. No one had seen anything odd or unusual, such as someone running away or brandishing a weapon.

It wasn’t until he checked the dumpster behind the kitchen that something caught his eye. Resting among the black garbage bags and empty banana boxes was an empty syringe.

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