Page 2 of Firestorm

Nuclear fallout could be carried by the wind for miles. Should she try and put distance between herself and the explosion? Stay where she was? Sarah had no idea. She tried the truck’s radio to see if there were any emergency announcements.

“Thank you, God,” she murmured when the radio was still working.

The local news station mentioned the peace talks taking place in Germany. All the news anchors were touting the event as world-changing, but Sarah knew differently. Blake had spoken to James and other members of Strike Force about the disturbing events. He’d been warned about Walton Kirkpatrick and Daniel Pamphili, the man James believed was making a power move to take control of Kirkpatrick’s operation.

She scrubbed a hand across her eyes. If she kept going, would she run into more military vehicles? The fact that she was out here would draw attention. They’d question her. Given the contents of her truck, Sarah had no doubt she would be detained, and she couldn’t risk that happening. Blake was depending on her to save him.

Sarah searched one of the backpack’s compartments and found maps of each state. Blake hadn’t known what information would be necessary, but he’d been prepared.

She found her location on the map of Idaho. Across the mountains, there were several small towns. Blake had spoken to James a few days before his arrest. He’d planned for them to come to Idaho and join the others where they’d be safe. Only he was too late.

She remembered James mentioning an old mining operation in the mountains beyond their camp. The team had planned to evacuate everyone to the mines.

Was there another way into the mines from the opposite side of the mountains? She had no idea how to even get there. But she couldn’t sit here and wait for whatever was coming next. Nuclear fallout. Radiation. Death.

Desperate, Sarah tried the CB again. On one of the channels, she picked up a couple of men discussing an explosion.

“Are you talking about the one near the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness?” Sarah interrupted.

The only response was the static on the radio.

“Please, I may know someone who was in that location.”

She was just about to try a different channel when one of the men answered.

“Nothing there but an old hunting camp near the mountains. Who would you know there?”

Sarah shoved her fist against her mouth. She had no idea who these men were, and she certainly didn’t trust them.

“My friends may have been near the camp. Is there another way to reach it from the opposite side of the mountains?”

“Are you crazy? Jeb and I were discussing what we witnessed from our places. That’s a nuclear attack, lady. You can’t go near there and live.”

She didn’t have a choice. “If you know of a way in, please tell me.”

More silence followed before the second man—Jeb—answered. “I know a way. It won’t be easy, though, and like Kirk said, you are walking into all sorts of problems.”

Sarah understood the risk, but her brother’s life was at stake. “I understand, but I have to help my brother.” Immediately she regretted mentioning Blake. She didn’t know these men. They could be working for Pamphili.

“This channel is usually not used much, so we should be safe. Here’s what you’re gonna need to do. You got a map?” Jeb asked.

“I do.” Relief washed over in waves, uncertainty on its heels. Was it a trick?

Sarah listened to Jeb tell her about a forest service road only accessible by forest service personnel.

“If they catch you on it, you’ll be in a world of trouble. . .but then I’m guessing you have bigger problems.”

“I do. Thank you, Jeb.”

“Don’t thank me. I could be sending you to your death.” Jeb’s answer struck like a blow.

She liked the man and his friend even though all she knew about them were two voices on a CB radio. “I’ll be okay.”

“You wouldn’t be part of that Strike Force’s people who my army buddy, Holden, told me about?”

Sarah froze, uncertain how to respond. Was this kindly man on the radio part of the people who were trying to silence Strike Force members and kill her brother?

“Let me call Holden. He’ll want to help. He and his people have been following Strike Force’s website until it was taken down. Me and Kirk, too, for that matter. If I wasn’t so old, I’d have joined up before now.”

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