Page 15 of Thin Ice

“It could be just someone heading into the city,” she said without believing it.

“Possible,” Brookes said shaking his head. “Everyone, stay out of sight.”

Abby ducked down. The vehicle slowly passed by them.

“A couple of men. They appeared curious, which could mean nothing.” Brookes glanced in the side mirror. “They aren’t slowing down.” He huffed out a breath. “I think it’s safe. Let’s keep going.”

Kinsley slowly eased to a sitting position while holding her stomach. “I’m okay,” she said. The small amount of effort seemed to take all her strength.

“We’re almost to the shipyard.” Brookes glanced her way. “We need to do this as quickly as possible.”

Abby explained where they’d left the chopper. “Hopefully, no one’s been snooping around the place.”

Brookes slowed as the first of many rusting ship parts peeked out from above the wood fence. Instead of pulling up to the gate they used before, Brookes drove past.

“What’s wrong?” Abby immediately sensed trouble.

“The gate’s open slightly. It wasn’t like that when we left. Someone’s been here.”

???

The open gate was enough to scare the life out of Brookes.

“What do we do now?” Abby asked as he kept his speed steady so as not to draw attention to them.

“We find a place to get out of sight. If there are people waiting for us at the shipyard, they probably heard us passing by and saw the van.” He studied the countryside before shaking his head. “I’ll see if I can find an abandoned house or something.”

Abby brought out her phone. “I’m going to try James again.”

Brookes nodded. “Let’s hope he has service. I have a feeling we’ll need his connections to escape with our lives.”

“Most everything in this area was associated once with the shipping industry,” Victor told them. “But since the government moved the Naval shipping yards to a different location, the place has fallen into disrepair. There should be plenty of abandoned buildings, but—”

“If they found our location before, then what’s to keep them from locating us wherever we hide?” Brookes finished for him.

“Exactly.”

He checked the gas gauge. “I say let’s keep going. Put as much distance between us and the chopper as possible.”

“Agreed.”

Abby ended the call. “James and the team have reached their location. He has a friend who is working with Strike Force in Pennsylvania and is reaching out to him. He’ll be in touch as soon as he has news.”

Brookes glanced her way. “All we have to do is stay alive long enough for our extraction team to reach us.”

They both knew the odds were against them.

“If you go left at this next road up ahead, it will eventually lead you to some farms. I used to live here as a child.” Victor said in answer to Brookes’s surprise. “Though it’s been many years since I was back here.”

Brookes spotted a county road sign for the turnoff ahead and took it. He squinted. “That place up there looks empty.”

Abby grabbed her backpack and scanned the place with her binoculars. “There’s no sign of anyone.”

Brookes turned onto the gravel drive that was dusted with snow. It was just a few days after Christmas. Would this be their last one? As always, his memories of recent times were centered around Abby.

One Christmas in particular stood out in his mind. It was before he’d joined Strike Force, back when he and Abby were just good friends. He’d gone to see her when she’d landed after returning stateside. Just checking up on an old friend, he told himself. Not the truth. He’d been crazy about her for a long time. Wouldn’t let himself say he loved her because he knew where Abby stood on them having a relationship. Especially now. But that Christmas. . . he’d come close to telling her how he felt. He’d been foolish enough to kiss her and was thrilled when she’d kissed him back for a second. Then she’d pushed him away and abruptly ended their quiet holiday together.

Since then, he’d been tiptoeing around showing any type of emotion toward her. Waiting for the right moment. Hoping she’d change her mind. And then the world had gone crazy.

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