Page 27 of Raider Unleashed

She cocked her head and thought about what her retirement could look like. Maybe she could create a brand new life for herself. Leave San Diego. Maybe even leave the ATF. Fielding would love it is she handed in her resignation. That would allow them to sweep the insubordination thing under the rug and keep intact the ATF’s sterling reputation. Never mind that John had been struggling to get resources before Fielding arrived. The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that leaving the ATF was the right move. She could try for some other law enforcement agency. Most governmental agencies looked for investigative and field experience like hers. Maybe she’d move to Hawaii. It was beautiful here, well, minus the lava. She could certainly get used to it all.

An unsmiling Raider stepped out of the bath, and she rose. The two of them strolled out to the kitchen. Wells, Baker, and Denlo were watching TV in the great room. Raider poured themboth coffee from the pot on the counter and they joined the rest of the group in front of the television, getting the latest update on the volcano.

“The lava flow is still strong. Looks like it might hit the highway sooner rather than later,” Wells said catching them up.

Piper didn’t look at Raider. Lava on the highway would make a fast retreat an impossibility. Not to mention that being cut off would make it harder to get help when and if they needed it. She hoped John would be on it.

Denlo shifted his weight in his chair and swore. He looked uncomfortable. “The cops and fire department have moved on. They aren’t using the strip mall for staging anymore. We’re going tonight. Be ready to leave here at ten.” With that, he stood up and half walked, half staggered down the long hallway, slamming the door to the primary bedroom.

“What’s up with him?” Piper asked.

Baker half-smiled. “The food didn’t agree with him is all he said. I think he’s not feeling great.”

The rest of the day passed slowly. As the minutes trudged by, Piper found herself getting increasingly antsy. It was, in a way, torture to spend the day with Raider and not really be with him but she was determined to enjoy it. Once this was over, then she would never see him again. It was too painful. Too difficult. She would treat herself better and one of her gifts to herself was forgiveness. She would forgive herself but she knew he wouldn’t ever forgive her so there was no point in ever seeing him again.

“Raider,” she said as they sat in the bedroom, “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” And she did. Her stomach was doing flips. Her senses were jangling.

He studied her for a moment and then nodded. “My gut tells me something is going on that we don’t know about. Some piece of the puzzle that we just aren’t aware of. Does anything stand out to you?”

She shook her head. “I’ve been wracking my brain all day but I just can’t put my finger on it. It’s like it’s on the edge of my consciousness but I just can’t bring it in.”

There was a loud bang on the door. “It’s time,” Denlo bellowed.

Raider was on his feet in an instant and pulled Piper off the bed. She started to move away but he held her tight and then bent down to whisper in her ear. “Piper, if things start to go south I need you to listen to me okay, and do exactly as I say.” She opened her mouth to argue that she could take care of herself, but he waved her off. “This isn’t about ego or our relationship. This is me, the Navy SEAL, telling you, the ATF agent, that if I tell you to do something just do it. I have more experience in volatile situations than you do.”

She pulled back and looked up at her, searching his face. The truth of his words was written in his steely expression. He really was just watching out for her.

She gave a single nod because she was smart enough to know that if Raider told her to do something, his instructions were because he’d thought ten steps ahead and it was the right thing to do.

He held her gaze a second longer almost like he was going to say more but instead, he leaned in and lightly kissed her forehead. Then he let her go and went out the door. She followed slowly and met everyone in the kitchen.

Together, they climbed into the van, and twenty minutes later Piper parked behind the deserted strip mall.

Denlo turned to her. “You’re coming in with us.”

Piper froze. That hadn’t been part of the original plan. “Er, but I thought I was supposed to be the lookout.”

“We don’t need a lookout,” Denlo snapped. “This entire end of the island is empty. We’re gonna need more hands on deck inside. You’re coming.”

She nodded but swore violently in her head. The point of this was for her to be on the outside. They were going to have agents in the van so when everyone came out and opened the door they’d be surrounded. She glanced at Raider. He gave a slight nod. Yeah, he knew this was bullshit and the change in plans was going to screw everything up, but they didn’t have a choice. The tingling sensation on her back was closer to pins and needles as she climbed from behind the wheel. They’d been here not even five minutes and already things were falling apart.

This op was doomed. She was doomed. She felt it in her soul. Her only goal now was for her and Raider to make it out alive, but a sixth sense told her they were going to need a miracle.

12

As Wells and Baker started hauling the equipment out of the van. Raider pitched in to carry some of the tools, specifically, anything to do with explosives he didn’t let anyone else touch. It wasn’t that the inert material could go boom with the slightest mishandling. His caution was in the interest of getting an exact inventory of what he had to work with. Within minutes, they’d hauled everything into the empty space next to the bank. Picking up a satchel of tools, Baker led the way down the stairs and into the storage area in the basement. Wells went next, followed by Raider and Piper. Denlo brought up the rear, grunting softly with each step down. The dude was in serious distress but fighting to mask the discomfort.

Raider was preoccupied with developing an alternative exit strategy since the plan they’d made with Chambers was already off the table. The change in plans had left him and his ex-wife vulnerable.

With the original plan, it was hard for Denlo to start shooting. Piper would be outside and if he shot the guys inside then she’d take off or that’s what they wanted him to think. With Piper inside with them, there was nothing to stop Denlo from shooting them as soon as he got what he came for.

Baker was preparing the extra lighting they’d need to see what they were doing. Wells was helping him. Raider climbed a ladder and studied the ceiling. He was surprised to find it was made with cement. If it was not reinforced concrete, as he’d been told, then it wasn’t hard to blow it. He used the laser tape measure to mark his spots on the ceiling. He double-checked the blueprints for the office and then measured and remeasured. They only had one chance at this.

“Are you ready?” Denlo growled. He’d been standing in the corner watching all the activity. Piper was leaning on the wall of the staircase, ready to go in either direction.

Raider snorted. “You really don’t want to rush me when we’re dealing with explosives.”

Denlo shot him a glare.

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