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“We’re refueled,” Kyle said.
“Good. We’re leaving in ten. Becca, go get some warm gear. Genie, trace those glass things,” he said, pointing to the cabinet of figurines. “I want to know where they came from.” He turned to Jayne and Chet. “Debi must have left prints in this house. Search the office, check her glass, the remote, everywhere they found those bugs. I want to know who she is, where she was born, anything and everything about her life.”
“Got it, boss,” Jayne said as Chet nodded.
“No more playing it safe. We’re going after Emerich and we’re bringing Marcie home.”
“That’s what I needed to hear,” Becca said as she tore up the stairs once more.
Cameron went to the spare room on the first floor and grabbed his gear. As he came back into the room, Genie was waiting for him. “Are you sure about this?” Concern lay heavy in his eyes.
“I’m not sure about anything,” he admitted. “But what specifically do you mean?”
“About splitting us up?”
“You’re worried about Becca?”
“She thinks we have a mole. If she’s right…”
“Then the fewer people who know our plans, the better. From now on, I’m only touching base with you. You are the point man here at the house. Only share what you feel is necessary. We’re going dark.”
“Good.” She took a step toward him and took his hand. “One more thing. Becca’s the real prize here. Emerich still wants her back. Don’t let him get her.”
Her words twisted inside him. “I won’t. I promise. Do you guys have any MREs?”
Genie led him toward the pantry and opened the door. “In the blue bugout bin.”
Becca hurried into the room carrying a thick jacket and a duffel. “I lost the signal.”
His stomach dropped. “Where?”
“Alaska.”
Chapter11
Becca took several deep breaths, trying to still her racing heart as Kyle flew her and Cam to the Seattle-Tacoma airport where the three boarded a plane for Anchorage. She sat in the middle seat between them and tried to settle in.
What she wanted to do was grasp Cameron’s hand and squeeze it tight, to hear him assure her that Marcie would be all right. That they would find her. But she couldn’t do that. Right now, more than ever, she had to keep him at arm’s length. She couldn’t get distracted and lose focus, but more than that, she couldn’t let herself lean on him. She had to stay strong. She couldn’t count on anyone but herself.
Kyle buckled his seatbelt. “Try and get some sleep. Once we get there, I’ll rent us a helicopter and fly you to the last place you saw Marcie’s ping.”
“Thanks, Kyle,” Becca said, buckling her seat belt. As they lifted into the sky, she closed her eyes during the flight attendant's announcement and quickly fell asleep.
They were landing when she woke next. It was still dark as they made their way to where the small planes and helicopters were kept. Kyle rented one and soon they were airborne and flying into the sunrise.
She looked down below them at the sea of trees and wondered where Marcie was and if she was okay. Emerich wouldn’t hurt her, she reminded herself. She was too important to him. Not only that, but at some point, he would try and convince Becca to rejoin him. He knew it would make his job a lot harder if he’d hurt her best friend. She had to keep telling herself that or she’d fall into despair, and that wouldn’t help anyone.
“We can’t see anything down there but trees,” she said, looking for some kind of landmark. A river or a mountain, anything. “Do you think there are bears?”
Cameron chuckled. “I’m sure there are bears.”
Becca shivered. “I hate bears.”
“Why? Bears are cute. They eat berries and roots and bugs. Just stay away from them and you’ll be fine.” He winked and patted her leg. She looked down at her leg, her body more aware than ever of this closeness. He had no idea how much she wanted to lean on him, to have him tell her they were going to find Marcie, and everything would be okay.
She turned to face him. “Can you spot the difference between a black bear and a grizzly?”
His smile melted her heart. “Yeah. Grizzlies are freaking huge and their claws are twelve inches long and can rip your head off.”
