Page 20 of The Lazarus Protocol

“Something like that.”

Marina wandered down a long hall that descended below ground level, and the air grew colder as Noah followed her. Far enough that his ears popped.

She twisted around. “Now you know where to go when the governments go head-to-head, civilization falls, and we all get caught in the crossfire.”

“I’d say that sounds cynical, but I may take you up on the offer.” They stepped through a doorway into a double-wide shipping container.

“It’s cold.”

“The dogs like it cooler.” She pulled a rolling office chair back and sat at a desk. The computer setup had four monitors, one of which was vertical.

He peered at the screen, which was a satellite image of a vehicle traveling down a barren road. “That’s the boys?”

“They’re almost to the airfield.”

“Good.” Noah looked around.

He spotted a small kitchenette that hopefully vented to the surface, though most of the countertop was behind a curtain that hung from the ceiling. At the far end was a bed with rumpled covers, and a closed door beyond it to the side that would lead into neighboring container, which had been bolted to this one. There was plenty down here that he couldn’t see. What he did leaned heavily toward bookshelves stacked with worn paperbacks and a recliner. He wondered how she’d managed to bring that down here.

“Surprise, I’m secretly a hermit.”

“Don’t get me wrong,” Noah said. “I like the trailer in Key West. But this is…” He turned to find her watching him, a look on her face that seemed to be curiosity mixed with nerves. Marina was hard to read over the phone, or the comms channel, but in person it was only fractionally easier. Being expressive wasn’t one of her skills. But she more than made up for that with what she could do.

He had to remember that and not jeopardize it—all because he had a crush on her and he’d made a dumb bargain with the CIA.

“Do you Air BnB?” he joked. “I need a vacation, and this place…” He lifted his fingers, making an OK gesture. “Top-notch.”

He caught a smile on her face before she turned away.

Noah peeked into the second container and spotted the dogs. Side by side on cushy beds, one sat alert with his ears up, watching with an intensity that told him there would be trouble if Noah misstepped. The other lay on his back with his legs in the air, fully asleep up against the wall and already snoring.

He wandered back to Marina, sliding his backpack off his shoulders and changing his mind at the last minute, going to the recliner instead. “Can I check my email from here?”

She leaned back in her chair and nodded. “I can make coffee.”

“That sounds great.”

“Did you swing by and see your family on the way?”

Noah shook his head. “I’m going to try and do that before I go back East.”

“I could fly you. Tomorrow, if you want.” She slid back the curtain, revealing that kitchenette. Not more than a couple of cupboards and a countertop. She poured water from a gallon container into a kettle. Instant coffee. Two mugs. He spotted a small refrigerator under the counter. A compact-sized air fryer beside an Instant Pot on the counter.

“Do you have running water in the bathroom?”

Marina flipped down the button below the handle and glanced over her shoulder. “Composting toilet.”

He lifted his brows. “And if I want to take a shower?”

“There’s a river about half a mile northwest. There usually aren’t many bears, and the temperature of the water is best described as bracing.”

Noah stared at her while she made the coffee, trying to figure out if that was a joke or not.

“So do you want me to fly you to your brother’s ranch tomorrow?” A twinge of nerves had entered her tone.

“That would be great. Thanks, Marina.” He accepted the black coffee she handed him. “And thanks for letting me bunk here on the way to see Caleb, because fitting it all into one day would’ve been difficult.” She’d sounded serious enough he’d asked if she had a spot where he could lay out his bedroll and she’d agreed.

Marina turned back to her computer. “You’re the boss.”