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Johannsen’s cabin was a holocaust of fla black smoke Bryn could feel the unnatural heat on her back, even at this distance

"You were saying?" Joe asked Riley It was alood-natured voice, but the ht, and his eyes were narrow and cold "About how you don’t work for the Federal Bureau of Corruption? I’iant fucking explosion that just killed an innocent woman"

She didn’t answer She didn’t ht, than response Her world had just been rockedor shattered

"Coet the hell out of here If they’ve got a drone, they’ll be co to outrun it," Joe said, but he eased his weight off of Riley and yanked her up to her feet While he held her, Patrick gave her a quick, competent pat down for weapons, then shoved her to the SUV Joe took the backseat next to her, with his own recovered sidearm pointed at her for security Bryn took the driver’s seat, brushing the broken glass away, and started up the engine It took a few tries, but it finally caught just as Patrick slammed his door closed and clicked his seat belt in place

"Any suggestions on how to do this?" she asked hi we’re on flat, e clue," he said "Small-arms fire won’t help us, either Justdrive At least we’ll reat plan, but Bryn had to agree, it was all they really had And, soht, if the drone dropped another rades like her and Riley would be incinerated in a blast of that nitude The skies had been clear before, but over the past hour they’d darkened as weather ray cloudsthreats The ruins of the Johannsen cabin s sullen belches of sed more speed out of the SUV on the slick, uneven road Her neck began to hurt fro to look at the skies, and the bone-shaking bounce of the SUV on the rutted track

She realized, about the sa about a threat froround level As the SUV slithered over the top of a rise, and she caught a view of the town of Barrow in the distance, she also saw a glittering row of vehicles spread out in a se And in front of the SUVs were men, a lot of them, all armed hat looked like military assault rifles

"Have I said we’re boned already?" Joe asked

"Twice," Patrick said "Still true, though Riley?"

"I wasn’t told there would be backup," she said "It was supposed to be siet back to Barrow"

"I’uess and say they intended all of the rest of us to go up with Dr Johannsen," Bryn said "Then you’d run into this welcome party They’d kill you, take the formula, and be out of here within the hour Nice and clean"

"Not government," Joe said "The drone was a tiuys? No way they’re reed flatly

Bryn stopped the SUV There was nowhere to go, really--heading out over the tundra wasn’t much of an option There would likely be dips and ruts that would bury the truck fast, or break an axleand a drone still circled overhead, most likely

"They’re hers," Patrick said He soundedeht Drained of emotion She understood that; too many shocks, too little adrenaline left Her body simply couldn’t be bothered to power up any on the running board of one of the SUVs Her parka’s hood was thrown back, and even at this distance, Bryn recognized her easily It was so confidence that made Bryn want to kick her ass, personally, never mind all the firepower

"Well, shit," Joe said "Riley? You want to tell us again about the pure, holy intentions of the federal govern ears"

Thethem into a killbox Even if the SUV had been hardened with bulletproof glass and reinforced steel, this would have been dark days, but it was a commercial lass, anyway Freezing winds whipped blown snow through the openings and lashed at Bryn’s face She couldn’t feel her ears, or her fingers Frostbite could take hold fast, up here

So could death

"Options?" Joe asked

"Don’t see ot the cavalry on standby"

"Forgot to ship in the horses My bad Guess we’re--"

"Giving up?" Patrick asked, and grinned It was a uts twisted with sudden worry "You really think I’ up to that bitch? I’d rather die in a hail of bullets, wouldn’t you?"

"Some of us don’t have that option," Riley said quietly "I’m sorry This is--"

"Your fault? Yeah It is Fuck your apology," Joe said "Okay Plans?"