Page 27 of Deadly Strain

“How will our guys even know we survived if we’re not at the helicopter? Couldn’t we find a closer place to wait? So we’ll hear them coming?”

“In my opinion, closer isn’t safe. There are extremists all over these hills and they’re now waiting for a rescue helicopter, too, so they can try to shoot it down. If we jump up and wave our arms in the air, they’re going to shoot us first.”

“Point to you. How will our people know we survived?”

Sharp’s reply took a moment or two. “There aren’t enough bodies.”

“What do you mean? At the crash site? There are plenty of bodies. More than there should be.” She was responsible for some of those bodies.

“Not American soldiers. They’ll look and they’ll count. The bastards who shot us down are now looking for whoever killed their men. They know there’s a survivor out here, hunkered down somewhere, waiting for help. They’ll be watching for a chance to kill that survivor before they can be safely extracted.”

“What are we going to do, then?”

“Our guys can’t leave the wreckage to be picked over. There are a lot of useable supplies and gear on board. Plus, they’re going to want to recover the bodies. We’ll have to wait until a full retrieval team gets here. Then we can make a fast, quiet run for it.”

“How long until that happens?”

He shrugged. “Maybe six to twelve hours. If we stay hidden and quiet, we have a good chance of making it.” He scuttled farther into the cave. “In the meantime, why don’t we figure out where you’re wounded?”

She paused, confused. “What are you talking about? I wasn’t hurt.”

“Doc, you’re bleeding from somewhere. I found a blood trail one of us left, and since you bandaged me up already, it sure isn’t me.”

Yes, she had a few sore spots. Her left arm ached, as did her left calf, but those were just bumps and bruises. “I’m fine.”

“I know that, but it isn’t relevant to this conversation.”

Wait,what did he say?“Are you trying toflirtwith me?”

“I don’t know. Is it working?” He gave her a once-over that wassonot appropriate.

“It’s pissing me off.” She wanted to smack him, yell at him, beat her fists against his chest.

He shrugged. “I’ll take pissed off over nothing at all.”

“Stop talking. You’re not making any sense.” She glared at him, daring him to say something more.

He smiled grimly at her. “Doc, get your butt over here.”

She stared at him. He wasn’t kidding.

Pffft.She wasn’t bleeding, and she’d prove it. Grace pushed to her feet, crouching a little so she didn’t hit her head on the ceiling of the cave, and looked down.

There was a wet spot on the dirt where she’d been sitting. She palpated it with two fingers and brought the bit of sand closer to her face so she could smell it. The bitterness of iron coated the back of her throat.

Blood.Shit.

Sharp wasn’t going to let her live this down.

“Doc?”

“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” She moved farther in. “Let’s check my left side. It hurts more than anywhere else.”

“Where exactly?”

“Bicep and calf.”

He reached for her leg, then wrapped his hand around the muscle. She was surprised by the sting of pain that went with it. “Ow.”

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