Page 34 of Thin Ice

Abby didn’t trust anyone but Brookes at this point. “He had our backs at the airfield. But he seems a little too eager to help, so I don’t know.”

“I agree. I have people near the Canadian border, and I trust them completely. I’m dispatching them to your location. I’ll track your phone. In the meantime, keep your eyes open and take care of your boy.”

“I will. Tell your people to hurry, James. I’m worried.” Abby ended the call and watched Zeke as he headed into the chopper. Abby grabbed Nick’s arm. He and Joe stopped.

“What’s wrong?” Nick asked.

“I’m not so sure I trust Zeke completely. Just a gut feeling, but I think he may be setting us up.”

Nick’s brows shot up. “What do you want to do about it?”

“I’m not sure. For now, we watch him and the two medics, but be ready.” She told them both about James sending men. “They can be here soon. I trust James. I don’t trust Zeke.”

“You got it.” Nick went inside while Joe and Abby followed.

Zeke appeared to be taking charge of the situation, which rankled Abby.

“We need to get everyone out of here now. We don’t have a lot of time,” she said.

Brookes’s eyes met hers and she went over to him. “What’s going on?” he whispered.

“I’m not sure, but there’s something off about Zeke. He may be setting us up.”

Brookes slowly managed a sitting position. “What’s the plan?”

Abby told him about James’s people. “For now, we’re going to try and reach one of the rental cabins away from here to get everyone out of sight. Can you walk?”

He nodded. “I’ll be okay. You go on ahead of me.” She had her doubts.

“I’m not leaving your side.” She motioned Hannah over. “Stay close to Brookes in case he needs your attention.”

Zeke and the two medics went on ahead with Bowman. Joe assisted his sister while Nick and Snake helped the president.

Zeke glanced over his shoulder. “Do you need help with him?” He gestured toward Brookes.

Abby shook her head. “No, we’ve got it. Go on ahead.”

As they walked, Abby kept a close eye on Zeke. He moved a little out in front of the others, then pulled something from his pocket. A phone. “He’s calling in our location.” She turned to Brookes. “I need to let Joe and Nick know. Do you have your gun?”

“Yes. I’ll get Victor, Snake, and Bowman to help me with the two medics if they’re in on it.”

Abby slipped up beside Joe and his sister. She pointed to Zeke who was trying to disguise the fact that he was using the phone.

Joe nodded and together they moved up to Nick. Abby grabbed his shoulder and pointed to Zeke.

Brookes reached Victor at the same time as Abby. She handed Victor one of the weapons they’d taken in the attack at the airport. “If the two medics try something, shoot them.”

With Nick and Joe at her side, Abby eased up to Zeke. He must have heard their approach because he whirled.

“Geez, you guys scared me.” He held his phone in his hand. “What’s going on?” His smile slowly disappeared.

Abby kept her gun aimed at his chest.

“Whoa. What do you think you’re doing? I’m here for you.”

“Who’d you call?” Abby grabbed the phone from him and scrolled to the number he’d just called. The area code was for the D.C. metroplex. “Someone from Washington, D.C.” Abby looked to the two medics. “Are you in on this with him?”

Both seemed shocked. “No, we had no idea,” Chris told her and glanced at Oliver who confirmed. “We were told we were helping the president. We had no idea Zeke was working for the enemy.”

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