Page 29 of Thin Ice

Relief shot through her and she ended the call before it connected.

“Joe, we need you and Nick with us in case there’s a problem.”

The two FBI agents climbed out along with Abby and Zeke.

“You the people who need fuel?” A man in a flannel cap and a heavy jacket came toward them.

“That’s right,” Zeke told him. Something about the man didn’t sit well with Abby.

“I’ll get the pump ready. This thing sure is a beauty. How much fuel does it hold?”

While Zeke readied the chopper for refueling, Abby motioned Joe and Nick out of earshot. “Are you picking up a bad vibe off this guy?” Maybe she was being paranoid, but there was something odd about the man. He seemed a little too curious. James’s contact would know everything he needed to know already.

Joe glanced back to where Zeke and the man spoke to each other. “Yes, I’m with you. Call your friend now. See if he can give you a description of the man he knows.”

Abby texted the question to James. The answer came quickly along with the realization that the man speaking with Zeke wasn’t James’s friend. “This isn’t our guy. He’s a good ten years younger than James’s friend, and his hair’s the wrong color. Something’s not right. If this is Legion, they’ll have others here. We need to find a way to warn Zeke.”

Snake got out of the chopper and came over. “What’s going on?” He asked when he glanced between them.

Abby had noticed earlier Snake was armed. “This isn’t the man who is supposed to be waiting for us. There may be others with him.” Like it or not, they’d need Snake’s help. “We have to get word to the pilot about what’s happening. Snake, can you get Zeke’s attention? Make up some excuse.” Her frantic thoughts struggled with a plausible excuse. “Tell him there’s something wrong with the instrument gauges. When he goes to check, give him the heads-up.”

Snake glanced back at Zeke and the stranger. “Where are you going?”

“To the office to find out what really happened to James’s friend.”

Snake looked her in the eye before agreeing. “Go. I’ve got this.”

She circled the back of the chopper with Joe and Nick close.

Joe voiced his concerns about Snake. “You sure we can trust this kid? I don’t have to tell you he’s got drug dealer written all over him.”

Abby wasn’t anywhere close to being convinced they could trust Snake, but right now, they were running out of options. “He is without a doubt a drug dealer, but he’s all we’ve got, and he’s in the same position as the rest of us. So, let’s hope he’s trustworthy.”

As they reached the office, Abby glanced inside the grimy window. At first glance, it appeared empty. Then she caught movement at the edge of her line of sight. She stopped suddenly and pointed to the person inside. Nick nodded.

Easing to the door, she waited until Nick and Joe were in position before she jerked the handle open and charged inside.

A man jumped to his feet with his weapon pointed at her. “What’s the meaning of this?”

There was no doubt in Abby’s mind that she was in the presence of one of Legion’s men. “Lower your weapon. Now. You’re outnumbered.” In the corner of the single-room office, another man was tied up. He watched them with eyes wide and fearful. His focus fell on something behind Abby. She whirled around and found two more men standing in the doorway.

They faced-off man for man. It was only a matter of time before more of Legion’s troops arrived. Disabling these men quickly was key, if they stood a chance of escaping.

“Drop your weapons,” the guy manning the office said.

“Not going to happen. If you want to live, you will all lower yours.” Abby did her best not to show any fear. She’d been in combat situations before, but mostly as a triage nurse. Brookes was the true soldier, and she missed his leadership.

Behind them, a flurry of gunshots came from near the chopper.

The men near the door whirled toward the sound. “Go see what’s happening,” the person who appeared to be in charge ordered.

The two men started out the door when Abby stopped them. “No one moves.”

There was no way around it. If they wanted to get away before Legion closed in, they’d have to shoot their way out.

???

Something tapped the window. The man closest to it swung in that direction, temporarily distracted. The second man was on edge. His finger twitched on the trigger. Now or never. She grabbed for the gun and wrestled for control. A weapon went off and she ducked. Around her, things happened quickly. The window shattered as a bullet flew through the office and struck the leader in the forehead. He dropped to the floor.

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