Surrender in Silk Read Online Free PDF

double-check. Havers was along to make sure she and Rick didn’t get into trouble. His instructions were to observe, but not interfere. Whichmeant she and Rick could make fools of themselves and have a witness.
    “Don’t screw this up,” she muttered under her breath. She pulled out her compass and then glanced east, searching for the sun.
    “I’ll lead,” Rick said, moving in front of her and heading northeast.
    “Why?”
    He tossed her a grin over his shoulder. “Because I’ve got the real directional equipment. It’s a guy thing.”
    She rolled her eyes and glanced at Havers, who was waiting for them to pick a route. “I thought that only helped you find women.”
    “It has other uses.”
    “I’ll be sure to mention that in my report,” Jamie told him, and fell into step. If Rick felt walking in front of her made him a man, let him. She was more interested in surviving this assignment. Havers walked behind her.
    Last night had been a total failure in the sleep department. She’d barely managed to relax, then it was her turn for night duty. She’d paced around the camp, trying not to think about which creepy crawlies were trying to attach themselves to her. When Benton had relieved her, she still hadn’t been able to sleep. The skin on the back of her neck prickled. Not from the heat or the bugs, but from a feeling that wouldn’t go away. A feeling that something bad was going to happen.
    After a few minutes, she glanced at her compass. “You’re straying too far east. We’re supposed to go due north for a mile or so, then head east. On this course, we’ll miss the whole northwest end of the valley.”
    She glanced at Havers. He grinned but was silent.
    Rick ignored her and kept walking. “Men,” she muttered, and continued to check her compass. She noted their position and the movement of the sun. They were coming out of the densest part of the jungle, and she could actually see patchesof blue sky overhead. Sweat poured down her face and back. It had to be nearly a hundred degrees with close to ninety percent humidity.
    Two hours later, Rick stopped and took a drink from his canteen. Jamie pulled out a small piece of paper. She’d made a hand-drawn copy of the map on the table.
    “We should have reached the river by now,” she said.
    “I’m taking a different route.” Rick didn’t meet her gaze.
    “You’re lost,” she said flatly, then sighed. She should have taken charge the first second he’d stepped off course. “At least it’s not a big valley.”
    She glanced at Havers. The tall man sipped from his canteen. “How long were you going to let us wander around lost?” she asked.
    Havers shrugged. “Another couple of hours.”
    “Do you know where we are?”
    “Of course.”
    “Great.” She exhaled sharply, then glanced up at the sun. If she didn’t want to be completely humiliated, she was going to have to figure this out herself. At least they weren’t in any real danger.
    “We’ve been heading too far east,” she said. “If we go due north, we should find the river.”
    Rick glanced at her. “I make the decisions, Jamie.”
    She felt as if she’d been slapped. “What’s going on with you? We just spent six months training together, and all of a sudden you’re going to act like a guy?”
    “I—” He paused, then smiled sheepishly. “Dumb, huh? Sorry. You’re right. I guess being out here in the open has—”
    Suddenly Havers motioned for silence. Jamie stared at him. She’d heard it, too. A whisper of conversation. A crackling of movement. Who else was out there?
    Havers motioned for them to get in line behind him, then pointed back the way they’d come. That feeling at the back of her neck returned.
    The blast of a single gunshot cut through the jungle. Birds took flight, unseen creatures screamed and Nick Havers crumpled to the ground.
    Instantly Jamie was at his side. She rolled him over and saw the single hole in the center of his forehead. She didn’t