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At one point your research station was almost on top of the bunkers. And I’m here against orders. They figured out that we knew each other in the past.”
    Wait a minute— “Go back to the bunkers part.”
    â€œThe Colonel said—”
    â€œThat’s what the readings were about,” she blurted, interrupting him.
    â€œWhat readings?”
    â€œWe were doing all kinds of experiments, taking dozens of readings on air, dirt and melted snow every day. We would settle into a spot, work for a week or two. When we were done with our work, we would move fifty miles to the next observation point and start over.” They drove the trailer on the tracks for the big moves, but for everyday stuff they used the sleds to get around. “Then all of a sudden, a couple of weeks ago an order came in to do a reading for radiation.”
    â€œDid you find anything?”
    â€œNothing out of the ordinary. Roger thought maybe they had some intel on nuclear testing in Russia and worried about the winds. We had very strong winds out of the west at the time. The strange thing was, we were told not to put the reading in the observation log, and that there was no need to repeat it again.”
    â€œSo whoever is selling the warheads is in a high enough position to ask a favor of the U.S.A.C.E. He wanted to make sure there was no radiation leak before he sent his men in there.”
    â€œSomebody in the army?”
    He shrugged.
    â€œAnd the CIA suspects us. It’s ridiculous. We can explain.”
    The expression on his face was hard, the thin set of his mouth making her uneasy. “We are not going to get a chance to make explanations, Tessa,” he said. “I know the guy in charge of the operation, Brady Marshall. He’s a cleanup expert if I’ve ever seen one. He’s heavily into leaving no witnesses.”
    His brown eyes burned into hers as he shook his head.
    â€œThere’s more,” she said instead of asking.
    He exhaled, his breath forming a small cloud in the frozen air. “We had some disagreements when Iwas working for the agency. He hates my guts. I came across information that implicated him in some serious stuff. I didn’t blow the whistle, but—”
    â€œBut if he takes you out, he can stop worrying that someday you will.”
    He nodded. “Sorry.”
    â€œSorry for what?”
    â€œYou might have been better off taking your chances with the smugglers and working your plan.” He sounded miserable.
    She took a deep breath.
    â€œOkay, I’m only going to say this once, and first I want to emphasize how much I don’t want you to try anything like this in the future.” She held his gaze. “I’m glad that you came and got me.”
    He blinked. “What? Have I gone mad from exposure already? Am I hallucinating?”
    She couldn’t help cracking a smile as she punched him in the shoulder.
    The sound of the chopper taking off reached them. It was coming closer. She stumbled and fell headfirst into snow when Mike shoved her under a large hemlock and dived after her.
    â€œA small warning would have been nice.” She cleaned the snow from her face as they lay side by side without moving.
    The chopper hovered for a minute or two thenbegan circling, and after a while they heard the noise of its motor fade into the distance.
    â€œIt might be better if we stay out of the open for now.” He crawled out first.
    She ignored the hand he extended to help her. “I’m not leaving the dogs,” she said, and as soon as she was on her feet, she started back the way they had come.
    â€œThat’s not what I meant.” He followed.
    She slowed when they were close enough to see the edge of the woods. An ambush could be waiting for them out there. She moved with care, expecting at any moment a hail of bullets. Mike was as vigilant as she, communicating with hand signals. They passed the last couple of