Station Alpha: (Soldiering On #1) Read Online Free PDF

groaning. A second later, panic flashed through her at the thought that she must be late for work and she sat up before conscious thought permeated her sleep-fogged brain.
    It wasn’t until she opened her bleary eyes that memory of the night before assaulted her. It crashed into her, reminding her that she wasn’t safe. There were people after her. She didn’t know why, and had no idea how to stop them. But her mind also reminded her that she had a guardian angel. One with a deep, rough voice.
    She lay back in bed and speculated about Paul to avoid thinking about her current situation. From the sound of his voice, she’d guess his age would be somewhere in his thirties, give or take. She had no idea what he looked like, but if it matched his voice, he must be one attractive man. Regardless of his looks, she did know that he was intelligent, logical, and quick-thinking. He was also protective.
    She wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him.
    Christine sighed and reached over to grab her phone to check the time, only to remember that she’d crushed it into smithereens the night before. The sad, broken pieces still lay on the floor next to her bed. A testament to the current state of her life.
    She reached over to the landline, but paused halfway there, her hand hovering uselessly in the air.
    She’d been about to call in sick to work; maybe even explain to nice Mr. Disik what had happened. However, her years of training via TV and books kicked in, reminding her that whoever was after her was probably tracing the incoming calls of the people closest to her. She couldn’t risk it, at least not until she had Paul’s permission.
    Instead, she threw back the covers and padded over to the bathroom. On her way there, she remembered what he’d said last night about having cameras in the room. She paused, looking around. It didn’t take her long to spot the one on the ceiling in the corner. It looked like a smoke alarm, but was positioned to give the best vantage of the room. There was another in the range hood in the kitchenette, giving a different angle to the main room.
    She only found one more, in a decorative lamp on the desk. The bathroom appeared to be clear, but she wanted to be sure.
    “Paul?” she said to the smoke alarm. She waited, expecting the phone to ring. Instead, there was an echoing silence. “If you’re there, can you call me? I don’t have your number.” She’d have to rectify that as soon as possible.
    Still no answer. Christine figured he must have gone to sleep. Most likely he’d been up all night to have seen those guys at her house at 2am, so she couldn’t really blame him. Still, a shiver ran down her spine.
    Feeling suddenly cold, she decided to chance the fact that he might see her naked and take a shower. She stepped in, keeping the water just shy of scalding. The water rinsed away the remnant of her fear and panic from the night before, and determination set in. She wouldn’t let these assholes—whoever they were—ruin her life. She wouldn’t let them win.
    Christine thought about sweet old Mr. Disik and wondered what, if anything, he had to do with her current predicament. He seemed so harmless. In fact, she’d occasionally wondered if he was becoming a little senile, and had thought about suggesting it gently to his son, Jimmy, when she next saw him. He seemed to care about his father, his interest in his welfare acute. But Jimmy hadn’t been around since he’d interviewed her for the position.
    All she did for Mr. Disik was transcribe his dictations, organise and digitise all his old work files, and other small office tasks. Nothing that she could imagine would justify armed men kidnapping or shooting at her.
    She had to find out more about this company he was apparently still CEO of. It seemed like that could be the key. Jimmy might know more, but there was no guarantee she could trust him. She’d only met him the once.
    Sighing, Christine finished her ablutions and shut