Page 26 of Burning Secrets

The explosion played in Viper’s dark eyes. “I’m listening.”

“Let me take her back to her camp. Hang around with her people until they get another callout. I’ll come back with the coordinates, you—we—can take them out while they’re focused on a fire.”

A deep breath, as if Viper might be considering his words. “She tell you where they found her?”

Crew shook his head.

“What was she doing out here?” He walked to the window, stared out. It overlooked the guest cabin.

“She was fighting a fire. Went looking for a den of pups she’s been trying to locate. She’s working on her master’s thesis on the local wolf population.”

Lying rule number one—stick to the truth as much as possible.

He said nothing.

“I told you about the wolf, right? The dead one? It was one she was tracking. That’s how we met. I helped her dispose of the body. We hit it off.”

“That’s why you got back late?” Viper turned, wore a hint of a smile. “I thought you’d left some things out.”

Crew shrugged, added a grin. “I realized she was with the smokejumpers. Thought maybe I’d use that to find them.” He lifted a shoulder. “Didn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it.”

Viper laughed.

Crew’s gut tightened. “I think she just got lost, boss. She’s not a threat.”

More silence.

“Okay. Twenty-four hours. You’re not back then with an update, I send Jer to find you.” He motioned with his head. “Get out of here.”

Crew pointed to the pack. “Can I take that?”

Viper nodded. “Nothing but food and equipment in it. But we’re keeping the radio.” He gestured to the small handheld on the desk, on top of all the maps.

“Yes, sir.” He grabbed the pack, then backed out of the room, keeping it easy, trying not to sprint back to the cabin. He even picked up a plate of eggs and bacon on his way through.

Not worried.

But his chest loosened a little when he reached the still-locked door.

However, inside, JoJo was up, pacing. “You locked me in here?” She’d changed back into her canvas pants, probably because the pair he’d given her had nearly fallen from her hips, dragged on the floor.

He set down the eggs, the pack over his shoulder. “I locked the guysout.”

“Oh.” She looked at the eggs. “Thanks.”

“Eat. We’re leaving.”

She sat down and dug into breakfast. He couldn’t eat, not with the clench inside. Instead, he stood at the window.

“You’re really jumpy.”

He glanced over his shoulder at her. “There’s this guy named Jer who is…dangerous. He was watching you last night, and I didn’t see him this morning, and that gives me the willies. He’s connected somehow to something bigger. He disappeared for a year and then just waltzed back into camp, no big deal.” He turned. “Ready?”

She had finished most of the plate. “Yeah. That my pack?”

He swung it onto the floor. “They kept your radio.”

“I still have my phone.”

---