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"Anything, damn it However much it costs, it's worth it"

Trevor looked back at the wolves The biggest one bowed its head slightly, then bared his teeth and lunged

Before Owen could fatho, the wolf bit David in the arm He cried out in pain

As Oung his rifle to his shoulder to shoot the beast, he caught a blur of white fur in his peripheral vision, right before one of the other wolves pounced on him

Chapter 1

IN THE DARK OF NIGHT, THE ROADS SLUSHY, THE SNOW plowed in dirty heaps beyond the shoulders, Faith O'Malley drove her rented SUV froor International Airport to Millinocket, a prickle of aware ness lanced at the rearviewher all the way Which ain if her father's concern that he'd been followed for some time before her boyfriend had stolen his research paper was based on reality

On the other hand,her had all to do with the kind of work she did as a forensic scientist solving cri Normally When it cah

A mile from the turnoff for the hotel, she heard a tremendous boom Gunfire?

Her rental swerved toward the shoulder as if a ghostly force had taken control Adrenaline flooded her as she twisted the steering wheel to the left, veering away froht side felt like it was listing A blow-out, not gunfire A sen of relief washed over her She eased onto the shoulder and pulled the vehicle to a stop, but didn't cut the engine What next?

The truck she thought had been following her pulled up behind her, the lights shining in her rearview

Her heartbeat sped up again Not about to hang around for the truck driver's help, in case he was bad news, she fumbled in her purse for her cell phone, yanked it out, then punched in the number for roadside service

When the operator asked her location, Faith gave her the exit nuhway

"It'll be about an hour, ma'am," the woman said

"Thanks, I'll be here" Unfortunately Faith hung up when she saw ht back door She jerked her head around In the dark of night, looking through tinted s, Faith couldn't see who the person ho had come up behind her vehicle, but she heard the click as the individual yanked on the door handle Locked

Soave a little start Large ale color, peered in through the

Steeling her nerves, she ain, and considered driving the mile into town on the bad tire

What looked like a big white Samoyed, but not half as fuzzy, raced around the front of the car, her headlights illu hi was half Arctic wolf His long muzzle was not Samoyed in appearance, but more wolflike The person who'd tried the door handle wasn't in sight as the dog juainst her door Reflexively, she jerked away fro eyes, its huge front paws resting on her

A key clicked in the front door lock on the passen ger's side Without a second's hesitation, she jaas pedal and sped off

Bad tire or no

Her skin crawling fro it would take the dog and his owner a little while to follow her, and she didn't want to make more of a mess of the tire than she had to She crept toward the off-rahted service station on the corner The truck's lights had vanished Either he continued on past the exit, or he was driving without lights

She parked at the service station where, inside, she found two e the tire, so she cancelled the road side service The whole tied the tire, they asked her where she was froenuinely friendly, idle talk, while she watched for the pickup that had parked behind her on the road Either he was afraid she'd tell on hi for her to leave the well-lit service station, or she'd so help to change the tire

Thanking the ave her shter who he hoped someone would help out if she was ever in need Faith thanked theain, left, and a few e

Glancing up at the rearview ray pickup truck that had been following her, but the tinted s hid the driver as he drove past Slowly Didn't matter that the speed limit was thirty here or that the road was perfectly drivable, salted or sanded She still thought he was goingher out But maybe it wasn't the same vehicle at all

Yep, shades of her father Although after her boyfriend stole her father's research paper, she could see how Dad would be somewhat paranoid

Faith sighed She fully intended to get his flash drive back from Hilson, one way or another Yet as much as her father wanted it returned, he still wouldn't tell her what inforh, just as she had told hi mission she did Well, maybe not just like any other This time it was personal