AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I was wrong.
7
Justin
Sophia’s shift ended at seven o’clock. By then, it had been dark for over two hours.
Leo had failed to remind me of Alaska’s short days and long nights. That, combined with the endless cloud cover, made for a pitch-black evening, the kind so dark you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.
I started the engine as Sophia waved good-bye to the staff. After cranking up the heat, I waited until a flood of headlights pooled from behind the diner.
Pulling down my beanie, I slid a little lower in the seat and began reversing out of the parking spot as the headlights curved around the building. A beat-up red Ford F150 emerged from the side of the diner. At least two inches of snow covered the top of the cab, as well as the hood.
My brow cocked. As if I needed another reason to be attracted to this woman.
I waited until Sophia’s taillights were barely visible through the snow before pulling out behind her. After glancing in my rearview mirror to ensure we were alone on the road, I clicked off my headlights and then accelerated to close the distance between us. Not only because I didn’t want to lose her, but also because her taillights were my only source of illumination.
Luckily, Sophia drove like a ninety-year-old blind woman, so following her was easy.
Eventually, she clicked on her turn signal—despite the fact that we hadn’t passed a single person since leaving the diner—and turned onto a dirt road barely wide enough for two vehicles.
I slowly braked, hanging back for a minute before turning onto the road.
Five minutes passed, then ten. The farther we drove, the narrower the road became. There was nothing around. No houses, no other roads, no other vehicles. I kept my gaze glued to the red truck, its headlights reflecting off the wintry landscape, creating a circle of light that faded into pitch black.
Soon, the dirt road seemed to close in on itself, creating a tunnel-like effect. The trees sagged overhead, their branches threatening to snap at any moment and tumble down on her vehicle. She’d slowed drastically, going no more than about fifteen miles an hour. I could run faster than this.
Finally, she took another left (that turn signal again) onto what appeared to be a driveway.
Relief washed over me. I didn’t know what I would have done if she’d gotten stuck or needed help. It wasn’t time for us to meet.
Not yet.
Tonight was all about reconnaissance. The goal was to observe my target and gather information, so that I knew the best way to interrogate her.
I came to a full stop in the middle of the road and watched her headlights bounce off the trees as her truck climbed the drive. A minute later, the lights cut off.
After edging my SUV as far into the ditch as possible, I cut the engine and pocketed my keys. The bitter air whipped around me as I stepped out, burning my exposed skin. I put on my provided parka, then gently latched the vehicle door closed.
The snow falling against the trees created a loud white noise, hampering my ability to hear much else.
I flipped up my hood, dipped my face against the wind, and slipped into the darkness of the trees. My boots sank into the powdery snow, and my breath came out in heavy puffs. It had been a while since I’d done an op in the snow.
In the distance, a light turned on, then another, and another.
A few more yards, and I was able to make out the shape of her home, a small A-frame log cabin with a red metal roof and a chimney on the side. The tree line was a mere fifteen feet from her house. Sophia had almost no backyard, which posed several security threats that I’d probably never tell her about. A porch stretched across the length of the front, but there were no chairs, no welcome mat, no outdoor decor of any kind. No garage.
No security lights.
The first thing I did was confirm that there were no other vehicles, then I slipped behind a withering oak tree and watched as my target moved through the interior of the home, turning on lamps as she passed. She was alone, no man, no woman, no dog or cat. Just her, in the middle of freaking nowhere.
The home was one large room, as best I could tell. A loft bedroom sat under the A-frame roof, and below it, a living room. A log ladder led up to the bedroom. The kitchen was separated from the living room by a three-stool bar, and next to that was a door to what I assumed was the only bathroom.
Sophia gathered three logs from a large metal crate and strategically stacked them into the fireplace. Then, using kindling and a starter pack, she ignited the fire.
Efficient woman.
As the fire began to pick up in intensity, Sophia sat back on her haunches and stared blindly at the growing flames. Once satisfied with her work, she stood up and pulled the band from her ponytail. Long, honey-blond hair cascaded around her shoulders. After running her fingers through the strands, she tossed the tie on the couch and began stripping out of her clothing. First the shoes, then the apron, then the black dress.
