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David heard the hollow thud of the second tranquilizer dart as it exploded from the end of the rifle and sank into Noelle's flesh

She yelped in pain and reflexively ripped the daft fro it on the kitchen floor as if it were a live snake Clu dart froe was already done Her body wobbled unsteadily as the drug began to take effect David rose froun, and squeezed off two rounds in a double-tap The bullets hit the target one-half inch above each eye socket

Even before the dead round, David lowered his weapon and went to Noelle Her fingers were pressed over the injuries on her arm A dark spot spread out over the thin pale fabric of her sweatshirt-- likelyhow quickly she'd shed the second dart The first one, however, had stayed in long enough to do its job, and the drug was already coursing through her system

David didn't dare remove his NVGs to check her injury There wasn't much time before she'd be unconscious, and he needed her awake to complete the second part of his mission

Noelle's eyes rolled around loosely in her head, which she moved as if it were too heavy to support

None too gently, David took her by the shoulders and gave her a shake "Don't leave rowl "Where is your research?"

She squeezed her eyes shut and opened theed, jerking a hand toward the s room

"Where do you store your records?"

Her eyes shut and David reached for the hypoderh to keep her awake for a few et the inforhter than hi around her slender upper arh

He'd seen surveillance photos of Noelle, but he hadn't expected her to be so slight under her baggy clothing Evea the reduced dose could make her OD

Save the woman at all costs We need her alive

His orders had been crystal clear Had they left even a shadow of a doubt that he'd have to be responsible for another won and gave Noelle's slim shoulders another shake "Where are your papers? Your records?"

Clumsily, her mouth worked to form words "No paper," she ainst her telazed over and her face went slack She was out

"Shit," David cursed, hoping she wasn't just bragging about having her work in her head It would o on a search and destroy mission as well as a rescue mission

Before any more visitors appeared, David scooped her up and positioned her over his left shoulder in a fireman's carry so he could still fire a weapon He ripped the laptop cords from the wall and shoved the whole octopine mess into the travel case nearby

As soon as his burden of limp woman and laptop were settled, he raised his weapon and headed for his truck

Only one eneetaway vehicle When David's arhtly as he fired two silenced rounds into the man's throat, Noelle didn't even stir

Owen lifted the edge of the lacy curtain and watched Dr Blanche being carried away Froe point, in the house across the street, he'd listened over comms as his men were killed off one by one

Pity He'd put considerable effort into their training

As Oatched the soldier carry the girl away, so familiar about the way hethe thick burn scars along his forehead wrinkle Perhaps it wasn't so much that he knew that particular man as it was the fact that he knew men like him--dedicated to an ideal they would never see realized

Such a waste of talent

It was almost a shame that someone with so irl he'd spent his last hours protecting would soon be convinced to becoues

All very simple and neat, just the en liked it

In the distance, he heard the wail of approaching sirens The authorities would be here any one before they arrived

Owen let the lacy curtain fall back, accidentally knocking over a fraraph that had been prominently displayed on the table next to theHe picked it up and carefully put it back in place, et an open-eyed srandchildren They were lovely children, with chubby cheeks and bright eyes

As Owen stepped over the bloody remains of the old woman who used to live here, he wondered if one of those children would be the one to find her body

CHAPTER THREE

David sped down the highway until the lights of Lawrence, Kansas, were only a faint glow in the night sky The road was es, he was fairly sure that no one had followed them out of town Kansas, however, was flat, and in the clear autu him