Box Set: Rory Mack Steele Thrillers Books 1-12: A Rory Mack Steele Novel

By Eugene Lloyd MacRae

Now in a single box set - 855,000 words - the first twelve action-packed thrillers in the Rory Mack Steele series. Like fast-paced thrillers? Then you'll love to go along with Private Detective Rory Mack Steele and his sister Skye Steele in a set of adventures that will keep you turning the pages.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Eugene Lloyd MacRae
• Release date: Feb 22, 2017
• ISBN: 9781927767405

Eugene Lloyd MacRae

Eugene Lloyd MacRae lives on Canada's South Coast in Ontario. He is the author of the Rory Mack Steele series of novels and several family history books. He began writing novels after a near-fatal heart attack in March, 2012 left him lying in bed with little to do. He began pecking away on a Blackberry Playbook he had bought 2 months before and the characters that emerged kept him company.

Book preview

Rory Mack Steele Box Set

Books 1-12

Copyright © 2017 by Eugene Lloyd MacRae

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

ISBN: 978-1-927767-40-5 (epub Edition)

ISBN: 978-1-927767-41-2 (mobi Edition)

Contents

Betrayal

Storm

Hunted

Stealing a Country

Fire Plague

Jewel

The Echelon Mind

The Chinese President

Knights of the Golden Circle

Cruise

Mask

The Overstolz Code

BETRAYAL

A Rory Mack Steele Novel

Eugene Lloyd MacRae

What would you do if your government labeled you as a terrorist? And you didn't know why!

On the run from a massive manhunt, NSA employee Holly Rae Burnette finds herself living another nightmare - being hunted by men with machine guns who want only one thing - to kill her. Drawn into the chaos while working on another case, Private investigator Rory Mack Steele desperately battles to keep them both alive until they can solve the conspiracy or die in a hail of bullets.

Chapter 1

HOLLY RAE BURNETTE had been tall, blonde and beautiful. Right now she was tall, blonde and a wet mess. Pushing the fingers of both hands through her hair, she pushed it straight back off her face and spit out brackish water. In an earlier time, like yesterday, she would have vomited at the thought of just being in contact with a swamp, let alone swallowing a gallon of it. Well, that was an exaggeration. She knew that. But still....

Slogging her way out of the water, Holly wiped a hand under her nose. And promptly gagged. The smell of decaying vegetation and mud clung to her. Her shoes - brand new, black-suede Jimmy Choo pumps  - made a squishy sound with every step across the muddy bank. Her yellow dress clung to her shapely body like a shroud. And as she turned and sat hard on a fallen log, she felt like she was dead.

She knew she should move on. After all, she was being chased by the police. Well, make that the FBI. And probably Homeland Security. She glanced up into the sky, wondering if that would even include the United States Air Force. Shaking her head, Holly wondered what people did when they were 'on the run'. How did they survive? She was so used to using a credit card. Now she didn't have one. Then again, she knew from television shows and her job that the authorities could track her that way.

Tears of anguish burst forth and she put the heels of her hands on her eyes, trying to hold the tears back. Holly Rae Burnette wasn't cut out to be a fugitive from the law.

Chapter 2

Fox Hill, Maryland, USA

IT WAS LATE IN THE DAY, about an hour from sundown, when Rory Mack Steele steered the rental SUV along the narrow access road. Trees reached out and gently scraped the sides of the vehicle. Rory wondered how much he would have to pay to get the black vehicle repainted. Then again, Highlander Investigative Services, the family company would pay for it. A clearing appeared ahead and in a few minutes, he saw the cottage about one hundred yards away. The place was more a fancy, two-story log home than the type of simple, rustic family cottage he was more accustomed to seeing.

He was here on a case, hired by the family in Alexandria who owned the property. The youngest daughter had disappeared. The father, Zachary Stalder, was a high-powered attorney who was convinced his eighteen-year-old Kaelyn had run away with a young man by the name of Matthew Dupre. A young man he and his wife didn't approve of.

Two hundred feet away from the two-story log cottage, Rory came to a stop. His eagle eye had spotted a wet trail coming from the trees over on the left. It led right across the open space to the side of the house. Someone was here.

The double-car garage was over on the right side of the cottage. Through the small windows of the left garage door, he could see a large, dark vehicle. Stalder had told him they kept a Mercedes-Benz SUV up here to use on the property. That would be it. But Stalder had also told him his wife's car, an Audi sedan was missing and he assumed the daughter had taken it. So...if the daughter and her boyfriend were here, there would have to be a second vehicle parked in the other garage bay. Or somewhere nearby. But he couldn't see any evidence of another vehicle. So who was here?

Rory reached across to the glove box, dropped the door and took his Baby Eagle pistol from the shoulder holster inside. Slipping his 6-foot-two inch athletic frame out of the SUV, Rory knelt beside the vehicle, listening. The day was warm and birds chirped happily off in the trees. Moving low across the grass, he looked for some sign of a vehicle pushed into the trees somewhere around the property to hide it. But there was no sign of any tracks or bent or broken branches he could see. Reaching the left edge of the log cottage, Rory could see someone wet had moved to the side of the building and then headed towards the back. Staying low and below the window line, Rory moved cautiously towards the back, weapon up and ready. It was probably some vagrant looking for food and shelter but his old Canadian army training told him you always had to be ready for anything.

Reaching the back edge of the building, Rory knelt on one knee. There was still no evidence of a vehicle hidden in the tree line at the back on the far side of the huge swimming pool. There were a number of chairs and umbrella on this side of the pool as well as a BBQ island and outdoor fireplace. And on the angel stone surface were wet footprints heading to the back door. Slipping along the back, he stayed close to the wall of the building and soon saw someone had broken the glass in the back door. Checking the doorknob, he found the door was unlocked. Opening the door a crack, he listened. There were no sounds. Pulling the door open enough, he slipped through, closing it behind him quietly. Just above the smell of pine and redwood was the slight scent of rotting vegetation. Wet spots were faintly visible across the cork flooring. Moving low in the direction of the footprints, Rory checked behind furniture and inside a closet to clear any threat that might be hiding and waiting. Reaching the kitchen area off to the right, Rory heard a noise just down the hallway. It appeared to be coming from an open doorway up ahead on the right. Turning and taking a quick check in the kitchen, Rory felt safe enough to move ahead. Reaching the open doorway, he stood up and peered around the corner.

A woman was sitting on a chair in front of a desk and she was looking intently at something on a computer screen. In her hand was a can of beans and she dug into the can with a fork and shoveled a pile into her mouth. She was definitely hungry. And from the looks of her disheveled mess of blonde hair and yellow dress, she appeared homeless. But something told Rory she wasn't. The yellow dress and black shoes looked expensive and not that old. And from her profile, when she turned to take another forkful of beans, he could see she was beautiful and there was evidence of mascara streaks under her eyes. Not many homeless women dressed like that or put on expensive mascara when you woke up in your cardboard box bedroom.

Rory went on alert as the woman straightened in her chair. She put the back of her hand against her mouth, holding in a small cry of shock. With her full attention on the screen, it gave him his chance. Holding the pistol with the barrel up, Rory slipped into the room and moved towards her.

The woman must have seen his reflection on the computer screen because she whirled around in the swivel chair, tossing the can of beans backhanded, threw the fork and then kicked out with a yell.

Rory moved to the left, letting the can fly past. The fork bounced off his shoulder. Reaching down with his left, he caught her ankle in the air. He pulled hard and the woman flailed wildly, spreading her arms and her legs wide apart, fighting hard to maintain her balance and her spot on the chair.

But she couldn't and the woman was yanked off her perch. The chair tipped over on her as she landed hard on her back and hitting the back of her head on the floor. Her legs were high in the air and the yellow dress slipped high up her legs as she grunted in pain, her hands holding the back of her head.

Grabbing the bottom of the chair, Rory pulled it out of the way, reached down and flipped the woman over onto her stomach. Setting his handgun on the desk, he quickly pulled a set of plastic handcuffs he carried from a side pocket, forcefully pulled the still-stunned woman's hands together and zipped the white material tight around her wrists.

The woman swore at him and tried to free herself.

Pulling her dress down, Rory then grabbed an elbow and said, Sorry about that. Why don't we get you back on your feet?

Pulling a knee under her, the woman managed to stand with Rory's help, still spitting expletives at him.

Rory checked the yellow dress for pockets and then set the chair upright again and pulled it over, Sit.

The woman sat down hard, angry and sullen, No touching the merchandise.

I just touched your hips lightly. I can't chance you having a weapon you can use, Rory countered. Picking up the handgun from the desk, he looked at the computer screen. His eyebrows rose at what he saw. Looking at the woman he said, That looks like you on there.

The woman's demeanor changed. A worried look swept across her face and she said, I didn't do it. Honest, you have to believe me.

Chapter 3

RORY LOOKED BACK at the sensational headline on the computer screen. TERRORIST ON THE LOOSE. Kills Swat Team At Her Apartment. He shook his head. On the trip up here he had played music, preferring to relax, so he had missed whatever the sensational story was referring to. Underneath the woman's picture was the name: Holly Rae Burnette and Fugitive Sought. He scanned through the writings underneath.

I didn't do what they're saying I did, Holly said.

Rory continued scanning, using the mouse to scroll down the screen, Yeah. And there's an old saying: The jails are filled with people who didn't do it.

Holly's eyebrows knit together, "Well...I didn't...."

Glancing at her, Rory considered the disheveled appearance, You're with the NSA?

Holly shrugged, I just work in the commissary. I serve lunches and stuff. 

Uh-huh. It says here you're a computer network operator.

Looking over at the screen, Holly said, They said that? She shook her head, "They're not supposed to say anything like that. And I'm not supposed to...."

Straightening up, Rory rubbed his fingers against the dark stubble on his chin.  "So exactly how did you kill a Swat team?"

Holly's face screwed up in anguish and anger at the same time, I didn't do that. I didn't.

So why do they think you did?

Holly yelled, I - don't - know.

Nodding, Rory took a few seconds to think and then he pulled out his cell phone, Well, it's not my problem. He began punching in numbers, I'll just call 911 and get the FBI here. Then I can get on with what I'm here to do–

No. Please don't do that. They'll throw me in jail and I'll never get out–

Rory shrugged, So you go to trial and you prove your innocence–

No, Holly said as she shook her head, that won't happen. That's not how it works. I know. I know them. I know how the government works. Something is wrong here. Something is very, very, very wrong.

Okay, that's a lot of verys, Rory said as he placed the cell phone on the desk so why don't you tell me exactly what happened. And no lies this time.

Holly Rae Burnette looked conflicted. Her mind seemed to race through different options. Then she licked her lips and nodded, looking up earnestly into Rory' silver-blue eyes, Okay. I work for NSA headquarters at Fort Meade, Maryland. She glanced at the computer screen, I'm a...computer network operator. Although no one is supposed to know that. I'm not supposed to say that. Anyway... I was home at my apartment. It's my day off and...I got a call on my cell phone from my boyfriend, Nathan. He told me to leave my apartment and go across the street to the small coffee shop. That they had a report that some teenager was swatting me.

Swatting you?

Holly nodded, Yeah, yeah. Some stupid kids think it's smart to call 911 and trick them into sending a SWAT team to some innocent person's house.

Right. I've heard about it. A stupid Internet prank. Rory scratched the stubble on his chin again, How did your boyfriend know someone was swatting you?

Licking her lips, Holly said, He works at the NSA as well. He's...he's an intelligence analyst.

Okay. So a SWAT team showed up?

Tears of anguish filled Holly's eyes as she focused internally, Yeah. They did. I watched them from across the street. I figured, once it was all over and they didn't find anybody inside my apartment, we would all go back to normal. But... there... there was an explosion. It blew out several windows on the third floor. My apartment is towards the back of the building so... it must've been a powerful explosion.

Rory's narrowed his eyes as he listened, wondering about what kind of explosives have been used.

Holly continued, I heard after, on the radio, they said I had booby-trapped my apartment. That I had killed a number of them. Her voice trailed off in choking tears and she shook her head, No. I didn't do that. She looked up at Rory, My place wasn't booby-trapped. I swear.

How do you explain it, then?

I don't know. Maybe...the gas lines?  I have no idea. I didn't do it. I swear.

Rory watched her, wondering if what she was saying was true. Or was she trying to manipulate him? He ran a hand through his black hair, So how did you end up here?

Holly licked her lips, "I...I wandered out into the street after. I couldn't believe what had happened. Everything was chaos. That's when I got another call from Nathan. Before I could tell him what had happened, he told me to get in my car and drive away. That they were putting out an all points bulletin for me as a terrorist. A terrorist? Me? I told him no, that I was going to stay and talk to the police. In fact, I started walking over to the members of the SWAT team that was still outside. But he told me not to. My apartment is...was in the old neighborhood in the New Carrollton area, right near the Baltimore-Washington Parkway. Nathan told me to head to the Beltway Plaza Mall and he would meet me there. That we would get a lawyer before I turned myself in, to clear my name."

Okay.

But...when I got near the junction to take the Capital Beltway, the police were already blocking off the westbound route. So I took the ramp to the right and ended up going south. I was just in a panic. When I got near the junction of 495 and 4, there were police cars up ahead, watching. So I took Route 4 east and I just kept driving. I turned the radio on and listened to the news, hoping they would say it was a mistake–

Did your boyfriend call you again?

No. I turned the cell off. I knew they could track me that way. I figured I'd find a place and call him. Holly shrugged, But I just kept driving because I was afraid to stop. Then late in the day, I heard them say on the radio that someone had spotted me in Calvert Beach. I didn't even know where that was and then I saw a sign that said it was a place up ahead on the road.

Rory cocked his head.

"So I took a road off the highway and then I was on some back roads and then I saw a police cruiser parked alongside the road. After I passed, I saw his lights go on and he started chasing me. I drove as fast as I could but I realized he would eventually catch me. I saw a chance and I veered off the road at a curve, figuring I could hide in the trees. But as soon as the trees closed behind me, I went right into a swamp. I barely made it out of my car before it sank. Lucky the window was down and I could swim...."

The Battle Creek Swamp is all along the roads down here.

Yeah, well I didn't know it was there and I was trying to get away. I guess I just panicked.

Rory considered the woman's story.

Holly's eyes fluttered as she glanced up at him and then her voice was faint, You don't believe me, do you? She shook her head softly and looked down, I'm not sure I would believe me either.

He looked down at the shoes. They were ruined but there was no doubt they were an expensive purchase at one time. The dress looked expensive as well. Maybe she was desperate for money or trying to keep up a lifestyle she couldn't afford and she got caught up in something? Letting out a long, slow breath, Rory looked out the window, thinking. And then everything changed in the blink of an eye.

Chapter 4

OUTSIDE THE TWO-STORY LOG COTTAGE, several men were emerging from the trees. They were dressed in black and there was no mistaking the Heckler & Koch MPK5 submachine gun each man carried. The MP5K is the ultimate close-quarters weapon, capable of firing 900 rounds per minute. The fact they could be carried concealed without limiting your freedom of movement told Rory these men were not a police Swat team moving in to capture Holly Rae Burnette. Not one of them wore the typical body armor, helmet or ballistic shield you would expect with a true SWAT team. Couple that with the fact Rory couldn't see a single badge hanging from around anyone's neck, and there was no Swat or uniform logo in sight, these were not Maryland police, the FBI, Homeland Security or any other body of authority.

One of the men on the left gestured toward Rory's vehicle parked in the roadway. Another man nodded in confirmation, gesturing for the man near the vehicle to move towards the front of the cottage. Then he said something to the man on his left and the message was passed along to the rest of the men along the tree line.

Rory counted seven in total. No...more men emerged from the trees. Make that eight...nine...ten. There was a gesture, a signal towards the back of the cottage and Rory knew there was no more sense counting. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a pocket-sized Swiss Army knife and nudged the woman to bend forward in the chair.

What...what are you doing?

Rory snipped the plastic handcuffs, freeing her wrists.

Holly brought her arms back around in front of her, rubbing her wrists, So, you believe me then?

I wouldn't say that. It's more a case of expediency. He gestured with his head towards the window as he slipped the pocketknife back in his jeans.

Standing up partway from the chair, Holly glanced out the window. A hand flew to her mouth, Oh, my God, the police found me.

Not so much the police as... someone.

Holly looked at Rory, confusion written across her face, What do you mean someone–?

Reaching out quickly, Rory grabbed her elbow and pulled her to the floor with him.

The men outside had spotted them both through the window. The roar of the MPK5 submachine guns rent the air as the 9×19mm Parabellum bullets smashed through the window glass, sending shards of glass across the room and on top of Rory and Holly on the floor.

Burnette screamed and put her hands on top of her head.

But Rory wasn't stopping to cover up. He was on the move in a heartbeat, grabbing her elbow again and urging her to move over the roar of the submachine guns, Move low. Do it now or we're dead.

Resisting at first out of fear, Holly looked into Rory's determined eyes and finally nodded. Rising to a crouch, she allowed herself to be hustled out of the room and off to the right into a hallway as bullets tore at the walls.

Rory heard someone kicking in the back door and there were shouts everywhere around the house. There was no doubt they were surrounded.

The roar of submachine guns from the back joined the deadly symphony from the right. Then gunfire from the left side joined with more from the front and bullets now tore at them from every angle

Holly dove for the floor, covering her head with her hands and jamming her body against the wall of the hallway.

Rory dropped to his stomach but reached out to Holly, No, no, no. They'll move in as they fire. He pulled on her arm, urging her to follow him.

Bullets ripped lines of holes in the walls. The glass in picture frames exploded and showered the two on the floor. There were the sounds of lamps and glassware shattering and exploding on all sides.

Just trust me.

I don't know you, Holly yelled. She began to panic.

Rory had to get her to focus and work with him or they would both be dead before long. He yelled at her, Just act like a lady and pull your dress down.

Holly blinked at the comment, her panic broken as she turned sideways to look down. Her dress was up over her hips, revealing every bit of her legs and yellow panties. She swore under her breath, pushing her dress down with both hands.

Rory nodded, Good. Now follow me, Burnette. Rory turned on his stomach and snaked his way through a doorway on the left.

Swearing again, Holly yelled, I still don't know you, as she turned her body and began to crawl after him. A moment later, she grimaced and pulled her right hand back. She had sliced the side of her thumb open on a piece of broken glass. Clenching her teeth, Holly did her best to ignore the pain as she crawled through the doorway, lifting her legs to avoid other pieces of glass.

Rory was already on the other side of the small room, reaching up to a doorknob. He ducked as splinters of wood and glass exploded over top of him. Through the roar of the submachine guns, he heard, Now what? He looked back to see Holly right behind him. Her hand was bloody and she had left a trail of blood across the floor, Are you okay? Were you hit by a bullet?

No, I cut it on some glass. Now what do we do?

Rory felt relief, turned back, waited for a line of bullets to pass overhead and then quickly reached up, turned the doorknob and pushed the door open. C'mon, he said. He crawled forward into the garage area, sliding down three steps to the concrete floor. As he reached the driver side door of Mercedes-Benz SUV, he glanced back.

Holly was right there behind him, her eyes wild with fear as bullets ripped apart the doorway right behind her. I'll go around the other side–

No. Climb across, Rory said as he rose to his knees and pulled the driver's door open a crack.

Moving low around to his right, Holly slipped up into the SUV.

Rory placed a hand on her butt and pushed her to move faster.

Hey! Holly protested as she crawled over the center console to the passenger seat, pulling her dress down.

Ignoring her protest, Rory reached up to the sun visor and pulled it down, hoping he remembered his conversation with Zachary Stalder correctly. Keys dropped and he caught them, inserting the key in the ignition in one swift motion. The SUV's 329-hp engine roared to life.

A moment later, bullets ripped through the garage door.

Holly screamed as the back window of the SUV was blown out and she dropped to the floor.

Rory ducked low to the right, put the SUV in reverse and jammed his foot down on the gas. The tires of the SUV smoked and squealed in agony and then the six thousand pound vehicle smashed its way backward through the wooden garage door. He kept the pedal down as bullets ripped over the top of the seats, blowing out the front windshield. A moment later, there was a heavy bump at the back, a bang on the roof and then a body somersaulted down onto the hood of the SUV and disappeared off the front end.

Holly screamed as bullets from another shooter blew in the driver's side window and the glass showered them both.

Driving blind, Rory cut the vehicle to the left, kept the gas pedal down and headed for the roadway out. He realized a moment later it was the wrong move. The Mercedes-Benz SUV banged with a jolt to a stop.

Holly screamed and grunted in pain as her head was driven against the passenger side door.

Rory realized he had run into his own rental SUV, blocking the exit from the property. Cursing his own stupidity, Rory reached underneath his body, slammed the vehicle into drive and tromped down on the gas pedal again, driving the vehicle forward. Then he cranked the steering wheel hard to the right. A hail of bullets ripped apart the side of the SUV as the tires squealed and left two lines of black on the pavement. Then the tires were ripping up grass and dirt as Rory did his best to drive the vehicle between the side of the rental and the trees. He heard the scrape of paint and metal on the right side as tree limbs scratched along the left side. When the scraping ended on the right, he took the chance to peek over the dash and through the open front window to see where he was going. Cutting the vehicle hard to the right, he lost control and the SUV shot across the road. Steering hard back to the left, he only managed to get the vehicle turned enough that only the right front fender bounced off a tree.

The shock of the blow knocked the SUV back onto the narrow roadway where it spun in a half-circle, coming to a stop. The engine quit.

The roar of gunfire continued, most of the damage now taken by the rental SUV as the men aimed for the Mercedes.

Rory turned the key in the ignition. The car refused to start. He did it again. The engine started with a rumble. He floored the gas, fighting to straighten the vehicle as he tried to stay low. The engine roared, the tires squealed and smoked a moment before they caught and then they rocketed away from the two-story log cottage. But as the engine growled, carrying them down the road, Rory looked to the right and cursed hard.

Chapter 5

The National Security Agency Headquarters (NSA)

Security and Counterintelligence Unit

Fort Meade, Maryland

PROJECT DIRECTOR FLYN BEACHER sat in his office on the third floor of the 9th building of the 1,300 buildings spread across the 350 acres that housed the NSA. All those stupid little figures ran through his mind. He was just a small speck in the entire workings of an organization charged with the protection of the United States government communications and information systems against penetration and network warfare. And yet he felt the weight of the world on his shoulders. Something was wrong. But the problem was, he didn't really know what exactly was wrong. He leaned his bald head back and blew out a stream of bluish smoke. He was supposed to give up cigarettes, that was what his doctor had said. But in the last day he had gone through an entire pack and was working on his second.

The door to his office opened without a knock and a dark haired man with heavy black glasses entered, closing the door behind him and headed across the carpet to Beacher's desk. This was Oral Butkus, a Program Manager working under Beacher. State troopers report seeing Burnette in Fox Hill.

Where the hell is that?

Butkus leaned on the back of one of the two swivel chairs on this side of the desk, It's out south of the Chesapeake Beach area. I had to look it up on a map.

Beacher cursed, How the hell did she get all the way out there?

I have no idea. A state trooper spotted her and gave chase. He lost her on some back road and backtracked looking for signs of her hiding. Apparently, her car went into a part of the Battle Creek Swamp and he spotted the roof just below the water.

Is she...?

Butkus shook his head, No, they don't think she's dead. There was no sign of her in the car or nearby in the swamp. Course, they're gonna send divers in to make sure. Waters murky, of course.

Beacher's jaw clenched and he shook his head, his voice low as if someone would hear him, What the hell is going on Oral? This isn't like Burnette. She can't be a damn terrorist.

Pulling the swivel chair out, Butkus sat down, smoothing his tie down over his shirt, I have no idea. I was wondering the same thing myself. None of it makes any sense. But...we did get that tip-off. And whatever evidence the FBI is going on from that point on. We just have to trust–

"I don't necessarily trust the FBI, Beacher said, or many other government agencies, for that matter. We're in a position to know a lot of the crap those guys can pull."

Butkus shook his head softly, You can't really believe the FBI would do something like that. Why would–?

Beacher thumped a heavy finger on his desk, I'm not saying they did. But something is wrong. I can feel it.

Clearing his throat, Butkus ran his fingers down his tie, smoothing it again, So...what do you want to do?

Sitting back and letting his frustration and anger out on a sharp breath, Beacher shook his head, I guess there's not much we can do right now. He picked up a pen and began clicking it as he rocked in his swivel chair for a moment, looking down. Then he looked across at Butkus, We need to get someone on her station.

Butkus nodded, I know. I can get Willetts started right away so there's no gap in our security.

Is she up to it? The pen clicked away.

Yeah. She's been working hard to get up to speed. Burnette worked closely with her–

She seemed pretty antsy this morning, Beacher as he clicked the pen. "Are you sure she's okay?"

Butkus shrugged, Yeah. I noticed that too, but I think it's just because she liked Burnette–

What about getting into the system? Beacher asked

We have the protocols set up. Burnette set it in place and added Crista Willetts–

Get going, then, Beacher said firmly. "We can't afford to wait in the hopes...." He threw the pen down on the desk.

Oral Butkus nodded, a slight smile on his face, smoothing his tie as he got up, I'll get it put in place right away.

Chapter 6

HOLLY WAS IN A FETAL POSITION on the floor of the passenger side of the SUV. She glanced up at Rory, What's wrong? I don't hear any more bullets.

Rory didn't say anything as he clenched his teeth, considering his next move.

In the trees off to the right and slightly behind was a black SUV. It bounced a couple of times on the rough terrain but it headed relentlessly towards the crossroad that would be one hundred yards up ahead. Off to the left was the sound of another SUV barreling through the trees.

There was no way Rory could reach the end of this entrance road to the cottage and take either a left or right turn onto the main road without being cut off. Escape wasn't going to happen. In a few minutes they would be in the deadly crossfire of those submachine guns again.

Holly scrambled to her feet and sat in the passenger seat, the wind through the open front window blowing her hair straight back. She grabbed a dry cleaning wipe that had been stuck by someone in one of the cup holders and wrapped it around her bleeding thumb. Narrowing her eyes against the impact of the wind, she looked to the right and saw the black SUV. Cursing, Holly knew what was going to happen as well. She shouted against the roar of the wind and the engine, I knew getting away was too good to be true. He's going to cut us off at the road ahead, isn't he?

Rory didn't answer as alternatives swirled through his mind.

Holly shifted in her seat, looking off to the left, pulling the blonde hair away from her face as the wind pushed it hard against her skin. Is there someone over there?

Yeah. Rory looked into the rearview mirror.

What do we do?

Panic.

I already did that back there. It didn't work.

Rory nodded, thinking. Buckle up.

What?

Grabbing his own seat belt and slipping it over his head, he repeated, Buckle up and hold on.

Holly cursed and grabbed for her seat belt, slipping it over her head.

Yeah. You can say that again.

Holly was barely buckled in when the SUV turned hard right and she screamed as they tore their way between the trees.

Rory slowed just a bit, turned right and then slammed the gas pedal down again, ripping up the forest floor. Moments later, he jammed the brakes on and then swung the vehicle to the left, barely missing a second SUV coming this way in chase. In the rearview mirror he saw the first SUV try to come to a stop. It slid sideways over grass, pine needles and soft earth, collided with a tree and came to a stop.

Holly looked over the seat, fear and worry on her face.

Snaking his way through the trees, Rory tried to put as much distance as he could between themselves and the men.

Pushing the blonde hair from her face, Holly shook her head, yelling over the noise of the engine and the wind, Why would the police just start shooting? That doesn't make sense.

Those weren't police. Or the FBI or any other government agency. At least...not one that's in the open.

Holly's eyes were filled with fear, Are you sure?

Rory shrugged, As sure as I can be. The weapons were wrong. The outfits were wrong. The tactics were wrong. And I didn't see any badges on display. Normally they wear their credentials on a chain around their neck or–

Holly shouted, You're not going to tell me some black-ops team is trying to kill me, are you?

He didn't reply as he stared through the open window, steering the SUV on a slalom course through the forest.

Banging her fists against her knees, Holly grit her teeth and shook her head, What the hell is happening?

AS THEY BARRELED THROUGH the trees, the terrain became rougher and damp, Rory had to keep his speed to forty, dropping to twenty as he skirted a few boggy areas. Coming over a slight rise, he saw a road far off to the right. He turned in that direction and pulled to a stop.

Holly went on alert and she sat straighter in her seat, What's wrong? Do you see them again?

Rory didn't say anything for a moment. Then he asked her, Do you have a cell phone on you? They could be tracking it.

Her head went back and she gave him a sharp look, You patted me down back there, remember?

"I didn't pat you down. I checked for pockets." He glanced at her, looking her over from head to toe.

Holly crossed her arms, And where exactly do you think I have this cell phone hidden? She gave him a sarcastic smirk, The way I was crawling around on the floor back there, I think you've seen just about everything there is to see–

Not everything. Rory seriously eyed her bust line.

Her eyebrows rose along with her voice, Excuse me? I'm not about to strip off my panties or my bra so you can look–

Rory shook his head as he looked back at their surroundings, There's no evidence you have anything hidden in your bra.

And what exactly does that mean, Mr.–? She blinked her eyes, I...I don't remember what your name was.

That's because I never said it. A moment later, he said, My name is Rory Mack Steele.

That was your house I was in back there–?

No. He put the car in gear and turned to the left, changing the subject back to his concern, You're with the NSA. Are you sure you don't have some tiny cell phone or–

Holly shook her head, No. That's only in the movies. Why?

Because I can see two black SUVs driving slowly along that road down there.

Holly stretched her neck to look through the trees and down the slope. Sure enough, she could see two black vehicles a couple of hundred yards ahead on the section of gray road that was visible to them.

It's almost as if they know where we're headed, Rory said as he accelerated and turned southeast, to run parallel to the road. He looked in the rearview mirror, To get ahead of us like that, they would have had to take a main road to keep their speed up high. He looked off to the left and spotted another set of black SUVs running parallel through the trees in the distance. He cursed. Something wasn't right. He looked at the vehicles GPS unit, wondering if they were using that. He glanced at Holly, You didn't know about that cottage before, did you? Do you know the Stalders?

Holly shook her head, Who? No. I've never been there before. I've never been anywhere up her before. I just– She was pressed back into her seat as Rory accelerated. The wind made them both blink from the force.

Veering to the left through an open field, Rory kept the gas pedal down, doing his best to stay away from the two sets of pursuing vehicles and getting caught in a pinch. Minutes later, he banged his fist on the steering wheel. Dead ahead was a body of water - Battle Creek. He saw only one way out and cut hard to the right, pushing the big vehicle over the rough terrain as they dropped towards the edge of the river. He yelled above the roar of the vehicle and the wind pushing against them through the broken front window, When I stop, I want you to run for that dock. Do you see it up ahead?

Holly strained to lean forward, looking, Yeah. Yeah. What are you going to do?

I'm going to keep them off us for– He cursed and felt around his waist.

What's wrong?

Rory shook his head, I lost my gun somewhere along the way.

Holly cursed as she tried to turn and see where the pursuing vehicles were.

Slamming the brakes on, Rory slid the vehicle sideways to shield them somewhat from the two SUVs coming down the slope behind them, Run for the dock and the boat at the end.

Holly unbuckled and was out the door before the Mercedes even came to a stop.

Rory was across the seat and out the door behind her.

Holly's feet hit the old wooden dock with a thump and she ran hard for the end of it, sitting thirty feet out into Battle Creek. Without hesitation, she jumped off the wooden dock into the 24-foot motorboat.

Rory was right behind her and the motorboat rocked as he jumped in. Keep down, he yelled to Holly.

She immediately sunk to the floor of the boat.

Rory fired it up and applied the throttle. There was a bang and Rory was thrown against the steering wheel as the boat stopped dead. They had forgotten to untie the boat and a pair of cleats snapped off the fiberglass hull and went flying. Applying power again, Rory stayed as low as possible as he drove to the right, following the current.

Machine gun fire opened up behind them.

Bullets ripped along the right side of the motorboat.

Holly screamed, putting her hands over her head.

Machine gun fire sounded again.

Pieces of the fiberglass gunwale exploded as bullets ripped in a line upward from the waterline, shattered the windshield and then tore ugly holes across the bow.

Rory applied full power, crouching down and trying to steer in a zig-zag pattern without tipping over.

Another line of bullets tore at the hull on the right side and advanced across the remnants of the windshield.

Rory winced and closed his eyes as fragments of the acrylic windshield exploded in his face. Wiping his arm over his face to remove tiny pieces of acrylic, Rory steered hard back towards the shore, just beyond another wooden dock. Then he kept close to the muddy shoreline, using the dock as a shield.

A moment later the only sound was the outboard engines driving them towards the mouth of Battle Creek and the Patuxent River.

Chapter 7

DARKNESS FELL AS RORY DROVE the motorboat north. The damp earthy smell of the river bottom mingled with the smell of wood fires burning here and there from homes along the shore. The sounds of bullfrogs and peepers became apparent as he throttled back on the engine near shore and stood up.

Holly stirred in the seat beside him. She had nodded off, the stress and adrenalin rush had no doubt sapped her energy. What's wrong? Why–?

Rory put a hand out as the sound of the outboard engine died, Shhh.

Licking her lips and wrapping her arms over her chest, Holly looked into the darkness around them. They were still fifteen feet off the shoreline. A number of soft lights twinkled from houses off to the right. The trickle of river water around half-submerged logs near shore blended with the bullfrog and peeper songs. She whispered, What are you doing?

Rory just stared ahead for a moment and then pointed to the bridge running across the river fifty yards ahead.

Holly looked at where he was pointing and then shook her head. I don't– She lowered her voice to a whisper again, I don't see anything.

You don't see the vehicles parked on the bridge?

Looking back at the bridge, Holly shook her head at first and then she put a hand to her mouth.

Yeah. Four dark vehicles parked on the bridge, waiting and watching the river at this time of night isn't right.

But how would they know?

Rory shook his head as he sat down, I have no idea. They may have just guessed right. He looked to the dark river behind them.

What are we going to do?

We wait. The current is taking us back downriver. He shifted the steering wheel, There are a few docks not far back. We'll land on one and slip away.

Then what?

Rory didn't reply. He was watching for a dock to use while thinking over what was happening. Five minutes later he maneuvered the boat close to a dock sticking three hundred feet out into the river and they both jumped off, letting the boat drift away. Reaching the end of the dock, they found themselves in a small subdivision and gravel crunched softly under their boots. Rory headed for the first car in a driveway, checking to see if it was unlocked.

Holly moved up behind Rory, running low as he checked the next car. We can't steal a car, she protested.

Why not? Rory moved to the next car in a driveway along the street.

Catching up, Holly hissed, Because it's not right.

Rory turned to her in a crouch, Do you think it's right those guys are trying to kill us with machine guns? He didn't wait for an answer and moved to a car parked in the street on the left.

Holly opened her mouth and then closed it. She was surprised when Rory pulled the car driver-side door open and gestured to hurry up. By the time she was seated, Rory had already used the small screwdriver on his pocket knife to remove the cover on the steering column. He cut a couple of wires and in a moment the engine roared to life.

Pulling a tight U-turn in the road, Rory drove to the end of the street. The bridge was off to the left. Taking a right, he drove slowly. There was no sense attracting attention. Twenty minutes later he turned left on Route 4, heading north. There was no indication of anyone following them. A half hour later, he pulled off the road into an all-night truck stop. He drove across the lot, heading to the left of a large general store and then drove slowly along a line of five cars parked towards the back. Pulling in next to the last one, Rory took his Swiss Army knife and stepped out of the car. Making sure there was no one nearby, he quickly exchanged the plates on the stolen car with the ones on the car next to them. Then he backed out and drove around to the front, parking just to the left of the front doors. He glanced at Holly, Wait here–

No way. I'm not waiting in a stolen car, which now has a set of stolen plates as well thanks to you. Holly was out the door and around to the front in a heartbeat.

Rory felt a sense of frustration as he got out and met her at the door leading into the general store, You do realize you're a wanted fugitive?

I told you, I didn't do it.

That's not the point, Rory said as he shook his head, "if someone recognizes you.... He looked at her. Stringy hair, a bit of dirt on her face and a rumpled yellow dress. On second thought...." He turned and pulled the door open, stepping inside.

Hey! What's that supposed to mean? Holly asked as she moved into the store behind him. She self-consciously touched her hair, grimacing a bit at the ugly feel.

Rory gestured for her to follow him over to an area of blue jeans, T-shirts, cowboy hats, shoes and boots. He started looking through the rack of jeans, Let's find you something to change into."

Holly looked at Rory's denim shirt and blue jeans, I take it this is your idea of high fashion?

Just do it, Burnette.

Flapping her hands, Holly said, Okay boss, and moved to his left, where she began looking through the pairs of blue jeans for her size. She made a face, This is gonna be like being back on the farm in Iowa.

Yeah, well. Rory grabbed a woman's cowboy hat and set it on her head, That just means you'll play the part to a T.

Grumbling, Holly lay a pair of jeans across her arm as she headed for a rack of denim blouses, picking out a light blue one to coordinate with the blue jeans. Once she had a pair of boots picked out, Rory added a jean jacket for both of them and then took her over to the counter, pulled out a wad of bills from his pocket and paid cash for the outfit.

Holly kept her face down, making sure the hat made it difficult for anybody to identify her. She went into the washroom at the back to change while Rory waited for her outside. In fifteen minutes she stepped back out of the washroom.

Rory was looking at a newspaper and he looked up at her, his eyebrows rising in pleasant surprise. She had obviously taken the time to wash up, piling the hair up under her cowboy hat, and she looked beautiful.

Holly showed surprise at the way he looked at her, Well...I guess you can say I clean up well.

That you do. Now, let's go get something to eat before we move on. He folded the newspaper under his arm, turned and led her across the general store and out the other side that was attached to a fast food restaurant. The smell of pizza, fries and burgers wafted across the air and greeted the famished pair as they stepped inside. There were only a dozen or so people, sitting at tables on the far side of the restaurant, eating and talking quietly.

Rory bought both of them hamburgers, fries and large coffees and they sat quietly eating as far away from the others as possible. He finished before Holly and sat quietly sipping his coffee and thinking. When she was done and sat back, Rory took the newspaper from the seat beside him where he had set it. He unfolded it and passed it across to Holly.

Her eyes registered surprise as soon as she took the paper from his hands. She was front page news. 'Terrorist Sought' yelled the headline. Her eyebrows knit together and she shook her head as she quickly scanned through the story. Her mouth dropped for a moment and then she looked up at Rory, her voice just a whisper, They're saying I have 500 pounds of Semtex explosive that I'm going to use to blow something up? She glanced at the others across the restaurant. She shook her head, This isn't right. She chewed on her lip, thinking and then she glanced across at Rory, You believe me, right? I mean, you wouldn't be helping me–

I'm helping you because things don't add up. Yet. And the fact those men tried to kill both of us, tells me there's something else at play here. He shook his head, I just don't know what it is yet. He tapped the newspaper, Why would they think you have 500 pounds of plastic explosive?

Holly looked frustrated as she shook her head, "I have no idea. I don't even really know what that stuff is. I mean, I've heard about, obviously. But...."

Rory drummed his fingers on the tabletop, thinking. And then things took a different direction.

Chapter 8

RORY SLIPPED HIS FINGERS into the left pocket of his blue jeans and pulled out a small photograph. Examining it for a moment, he then looked back across the fast food restaurant to a table next to the windows.

A young woman with chestnut colored hair and burgundy, orange and golden blonde streaks through the front, sat drinking a large soft drink, the straw between her burgundy lips. She wore a black, sleeveless tank top and ripped blue jeans. There was no doubt it was Kaelyn Stalder, Zachary Stalder's daughter. She was making eyes at the young man across the table from her.

Rory didn't have a photograph of the young man she was supposed to be with, but the description fit perfectly. Black, buzzed hair at the sides with a platinum blonde pompadour on the top. He had on a sleeveless, black hoodie, the hood wasn't up, and gray baggy pants. The shoes were bright orange. No doubt this was the notorious Matthew Dupre. The thing was, compared to all the young men he had seen in the last few years, he didn't look anything out the ordinary.

You like them that young, do you?

Rory looked across at Holly. Seeing the smile on her face, he shook his head, No. She's actually the reason I was up at the cottage. Her father hired me to find her.

Holly glanced back across at the young woman and then asked, Hired you? You mean, like you're a private detective?

Nodding as he stroked the dark stubble on his chin, he looked back across the table, Yeah. Something like that. Highlander Investigative Services. We take on a variety of jobs. And right now she's my job. He shrugged, The parents aren't happy she's with that young man.

Holly glanced over again, She doesn't look like she's in any danger. She shrugged as well, My dad was never really happy with any of the guys I dated either. I think it's a father thing.

Rory took a deep breath and let it out slowly, considering what he should do. Right now, Holly and the gunmen were a much bigger problem. And more of a priority–

Would you mind if I borrow a couple of dollars? Holly asked. There's a pay phone over there and I'd like to call Nathan. He'll be worried about me and...maybe he has an idea on how we can fix this whole thing. Glancing at the newspaper, Holly fought back tears.

Reaching into his pocket, Rory pulled out the change he had been given in the store, That's a good idea. I wouldn't tell him where we are, though.

But he could come and bring us things that we need.

Rory shrugged as she took the change from his hand, Maybe. But you're with the NSA. You would know better than me on how the authorities could follow his cell phone right to us.

Holly nodded, You're right. I never really thought of that. Then again, she said as she slid out from her seat, I've never been on this side of the law before.

As she walked away across the floor, Rory's attention turned back to the young man and the young woman. A few minutes later, Matthew Dupre said something and rose from his seat. He headed across the tile floor for the washrooms. Halfway across the floor, Dupre glanced back over his shoulder at Kaelyn Stalder.

The young woman was sipping on her soft drink and looking out the window.

A sly smile crossed Dupre's lips as he pulled something from the baggy pants.

Rory went on alert. This wasn't good. He waited for the young man to disappear into the washroom. Then Rory got up and headed for the door. Glancing back over his shoulder as well, Rory made sure no one else was heading across for the washroom. Then he slowly pushed the door in. There was a short hallway and then another door. Rory let the first close behind him as he slowly pushed the second one open. Sure enough, Matthew Dupre had a small glass tube in his hand, along with steel wool. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a large ball of tin foil as he disappeared into one of the stalls. Rory backed out and returned to his seat, where he sat, waiting.

Five minutes later, Holly came back, sitting down with a disappointed look on her face. She shook her head, He's not answering. Not sure why. That doesn't make sense.

Did you try to leave a message?

I thought about it. But I'd rather talk to him directly. If I leave a message that I'll call later, he'll just worry. Then again, he's already worried I guess.

Rory nodded, only half listening.

Now what do we do?

Just wait for a few minutes.

Okay. Holly picked up her coffee and took a sip. Yuck, it's cold. Do you want another one? I'm going to get another one.

Rory nodded, pulling some money from his pocket and passing it across to her. Then he sat and waited, mulling over what he saw in the washroom until Holly came back and sat down, passing a coffee to him. He made a decision and then just sat waiting, sipping on the coffee.

Matthew Dupre came back out of the washroom, running his fingers through the blonde pompadour as he walked back across the floor. He said something to Kaelyn Stalder and she reached over and picked up a small, black purse from the seat beside her and then stood up.

Rory began buttoning the front of his jean jacket as he watched them get ready to leave, Holly, we're going to follow those two out. I want you to stay behind me.

Holly straightened in her seat and looked over, What are you going to do?

"First of all... not look at them."

Oh, right. Holly put her elbows on the table, trying to look inconspicuous.

Rory waited another moment before he stood up. Stay behind me, he repeated as he headed across the floor.

Matthew Dupre led Kaelyn Stalder out the side door and headed to a blue Audi A6 sedan.

Moving lightly but quick, Rory stepped outside the fast food restaurant and got as close as possible behind the pair as they walked across the parking lot. As they reached the side of the sedan, he put his hand under his jacket, making a gun-like bulge with his hand, Put your hands up.

The young couple whirled around, eyes wide open in fright.

Rory heard Holly make her own squeak of surprise right behind him. He ignored it as he tried to emphasize the bulge of a gun, I said hands up.

Both of them shot their arms into the air over their head.

Kaelyn's small, black purse hit the pavement and she was shaking in her shoes, trying to say something.

Matthew Dupre was scared as well but tried to be a bit macho, Hey, dude. We didn't do anything to you. Why you treating us this way–?

Shut up, Dupre.

That sent a shock through the young man.

Kaelyn's mouth was working overtime, "We...we...only...have a little...money...you...you...."

Rory shook his head, I don't want your money. I want what your boyfriend has in his pocket. The one on your side.

Glancing down at her boyfriend's baggy pants, Kaelyn looked at Matthew and then at Rory, not understanding.

Dupre's brows went together, trying to figure out how someone knew what he had.

Gesturing to the pocket, Rory said to Kaelyn, I want you to take it out for me. When Dupre started to protest, Rory took a step and emphasized the 'gun' under his jacket, "Don't test me, dude."

Kaelyn ran her