Page 57 of Deadly Strain

Across the aisle, Cutter put a headset on. He spoke into the mic, his lips moving to form the words in a precise manner that told Sharp he was addressing a senior officer.

No, sir.

No, sir.

A long pause, then very distinctly Cutter’s lips formed the words:I can’t do that, sir.

Shit had hit the fan.

Cutter reached around and smacked Smoke on the shoulder and gave theget us out of here nowhand signal.

The helicopter began to rise off the ground.

Movement on the tarmac caught Sharp’s attention. Soldiers were racing toward them with weapons raised. No one was firing yet, but that was probably going to change.

Cutter took his hands off his weapon and raised them in the air. Sharp and the other guys followed suit. So did Grace.

That seemed to give everyone pointing guns at them pause.

Their helicopter continued to rise, more rapidly every second.

Marshall appeared out of the growing crowd of soldiers watching them leave. He made a chopping gesture toward their helicopter, yelling something.

For a moment, no one seemed to respond.

The next second, bullets pinged all around them.

Chapter Thirteen

Grace ducked, havingalready heard more bullets coming at her than she ever wanted to hear. Fear, disbelief and horror made her normal nausea while flying seem like the calm before the storm.

Their own people were shooting at them.

Next to her, Sharp threw himself over her, covering her body with his. The damn hero. She tried to shove him, to get him to move, but he just pressed down harder.

More bullets echoed around them, then it all stopped suddenly. Everything was calm, the helicopter engine the only noise.

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