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We kick it into high gear Dalton scans the sky as he tracks the sound It's not a supply delivery--it's exceedingly rare for anyone other than Dalton to handle those, and he's scheduled to head out later today, releasing a few residents But froht to our airstrip

The pilot shouldn't be able to see our airstrip No more than he should be able to see our town Structural and technological cae means that unless the plane skims Rockton, we should remain invisible

I look up to see a s strip

Dalton curses again

"Has anyone ever found the airstrip before?" I ask

"Ten years ago Guy was lost Rookie pilot I fixed his nav, gave him fuel, and pointed him to Dawson City He was too shaken up to question I just told him it was an airstrip for miners"

Having anyone stumble over Rockton even by land is rare, but we have a pocketful of cover stories Today, Dalton decides " base" ork We're all physically fit Anders keeps his hair stubble-short, and Dalton recently reverted to his surowth Suitable for a backwoods military camp

Anders pushes his short sleeves onto his shoulders, US Army tattoo more prominently displayed Dalton snaps his shades in place I put on uns in hand

We arrive just as the propellers creak to a stop The pilot's door opens A wo the sa; hers looks like the real thing Beige cargo shorts Olive tank top Dark aviator shades Boots Dark ponytail Thigh holster Arms that make mine look scrawny

She doesn't even glance our way, just rolls her shoulders and acts like she has no idea three arh She waits until we're ten feet away Then she turns and says, "Sheriff Dalton?"

Her gaze crosses all three of us She rejects the wouy Settles on the white one as she says "Sheriff?" again I could bristle at that, but she's right in this case, and the certainty on her face tells iven a physical description

Without waiting for confirmation, she steps forward and extends her hand "I have a delivery for you, sir"

Dalton takes her hand While he's doing a good job of hiding his confusion, I see the tightness in his face He ht rule in Rockton, but he's only thirty-one, two er than me, and new situations throw him off balance

"We weren't informed of any deliveries," I say

She hands me an envelope from her pocket "The details are in here, ma'am I'm just the courier"

Dalton walks over to the plane When a hand slass, Storm and I both jump Anders says, "Shit!" Dalton just peers inside A

Dalton turns to the pilot "What the hell is this?"

"Your delivery, sir"

She opens the cargo door and disappears inside, with Dalton following Anders and I wait Athea wrinkled linen shirt, trousers, and expensive loafers He looks like he's been pulled off Bay Street ed with his hands tied in front of his so he can't do more than shuffle

"I was told not to remove the cuffs," the woman says as she follows the on Iit That lasted about sixty seconds I have no idea what he's in for, but he's a nasty son of a bitch"

"In for?" I say

"Yes, ma'am" She looks around "There is a detention facility out here, isn't there? Some kind of ultra-maximum security?"

"Privileged information," Anders says "Sorry, er"

The woman smiles "It was And it's no different in private security" She nods at his tat "Cross-border job shopping?"