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  She nodded, watching as Sam entered the office. He extended his hand and a sexy smile to the desk clerk. Even though she couldn’t hear what was being said, she recognized the flirty body language.

  When he returned, he handed her a card key. “The clerk tried to charge full rate but I convinced her to discount the price since it was so late.”

  “Charmed another unsuspecting cowgirl, eh?”

  His eyes flew wide with mock innocence. “Moi?”

  Did he even realize the effect he had on women? She glanced at the imprint on the key. “Cheyenne, Wyoming. Home of the Wild West.”

  “There could be a few towns around here who would contest that title.” Sam pulled into a parking slot in front of a door marked with brass numbers.

  “I’m tired of sitting,” Kate moaned, stretching her arms over her head after exiting the vehicle.

  “Get used to it. We have a lot of miles ahead of us.”

  Kate grimaced and followed Sam up a short sidewalk. He opened the door and stepped back for her to enter. The room appeared to be clean with typical budget motel furnishings.

  Two queen beds, a small side table with a single chair, TV on a swivel stand next to a double dresser. The bathroom was located immediately to the right of the door with a small vanity outside its entrance.

  Kate threw herself onto one of the beds, closing her eyes with a weary sigh. “It feels wonderful. Don’t wake me until morning.”

  “Not so fast, Sleeping Beauty. The desk clerk mentioned a Chinese restaurant a couple of blocks away. Sound good to you?”

  She immediately sat up, eyes bright with anticipation. Food. “I want Orange Chicken with steamed rice, and a side of Hot and Sour soup.”

  He grinned as she recited her meal choice. “Guess you won’t need the menu. I’ll phone it in. Anything to drink?”

  “Water, please.”

  He nodded, dialing the number printed at the bottom of a paper menu. After requesting their food selection, Sam replaced the handset and took a seat on the second bed. “It should be ready in a half hour. I need to check in with Greg Morris at the FBI. Hopefully he’ll have an update on Buckman.”

  She nodded, heading for the shower. “You can tell me all about it later.”

  Sam watched as Kate kicked off her boots and grabbed a towel from the overhead shelf. The sound of running water filtered past the closed door, conjuring unwanted visions of soapy foam running down her wet skin. His groin throbbed in response. What kind of spell has that woman cast over me? He turned to the phone, forcing himself to concentrate on dialing the numbers.

  A curt voice finally answered. “Morris here.”

  “It’s Sam Holden.”

  The voice on the other end sounded relieved. “I’m glad you called, buddy. You’re involved in some serious crap. Top secret stuff.”

  “Like what?”

  “I had to pull a few favors to get past security clearances but here’s what I found out. Buckman Laboratories has been under federal investigation for almost a year. There’s a lot more going on in that place than developing a cure for cancer. The feds picked up some chatter from a terrorist ring and his lab was mentioned. Sounds like he’s involved. This could go global, targeting several countries and millions of people.”

  Sam felt his blood run cold. “Damn, Kate’s dad was in the middle of it. He was working with Sharon Grant at the Center for Disease Control. I’ve examined the papers he asked her to deliver. There’s a formula for Pneumonic Plague vaccination, and a journal that links Buckman to the terrorists.”

  “Don’t be too quick to share that information with Grant. I learned something else. It seems Sharon Grant has been under suspicion, as well. You didn’t hear this from me, but our surveillance hacked into the lab’s phone records. A Georgia phone number kept appearing on the records. Guess who it belonged to?”

  “Grant?” Sam felt his stomach lurch.

  “Bingo. But here’s the strange part. They looked at Merrill’s phone records. She always contacted him at his home. He had a private line to his office but there were only two calls to that number. Looks like Grant was talking to someone else at the lab. We haven’t found out who but the consensus points to Buckman.”

  Sam heard the water shut off, and lowered his voice. “Check out a guy named Jeff Miller. He may be connected. Look, Greg, I’ve got to run. Thanks for your help on this.”

  “Wait a sec, bro. You need to talk to the CIA and file an official inquiry. Buckman’s involvement with terrorists makes this an international issue. Let me set something up for you.”

  Sam ran his free hand across his chin. “Okay, but keep it discreet. I don’t know who we can trust. Try to arrange the meeting closer to Atlanta. It’s not wise for us to stay in one place too long. We had unwanted company this morning and they might show up again.”

  “Give me 24 hours.”

  Sam replaced the handset as Kate emerged from the bathroom in a cloud of steam.

  “I feel much better,” she announced happily.

  His eyes roamed over her figure. She wore a loose t-shirt that clung to the still damp skin. Black panties peeked from the hem as she raised her arms to wrap a towel around her head.

  “I’m sure our dinner is ready by now. I’ll pick it up.” His voice sounded harsh as he abruptly turned away.

  “What did your friend say?”

  “Not much,” he lied. “It’s going to take a little longer to complete his research. He has to dodge some security issues.”

  There was no reason to alarm Kate with the new details. Right now she believed they could trust Sharon Grant, and she didn’t need to know any different until they got to Atlanta.

  “I’m starving. Hurry back with our dinner.” She hopped onto the bed and crossed her legs.

  “Try not to gnaw on the furniture while I’m gone.”

  Kate laughed out loud, a light effervescent sound that ignited his pulse. “I promise.”

  As the door closed quietly behind Sam, Kate bunched a pillow under her head, indecision evident in her repeated glances at the phone. It would only take a minute to call Jeff and tell him they were driving to Atlanta. No sense having him fret over her delayed arrival like last time.

  Kate dialed his number and waited. At last an answering machine picked up the call.

  “Hi. I’m either not home or battling demons on my Wii. Leave your number and I’ll return the call as soon as possible.”

  Kate smiled as she listened to the message. Jeff had been a gamer for as long as she’d known him. “It’s Kate. I’m safe. Sam and I are driving to Atlanta. The plane didn’t work out. We’re in Cheyenne, Wyoming so it might be a few days before we get there.”

  She wanted to tell him about the lockbox. Warn him about Buckman. He could be in danger, too.

  “Jeff, please listen closely. Don’t trust Conrad Buckman. I know this is going to sound dramatic, but he’s involved with terrorists. I read the papers in my father’s lockbox. Dad has evidence proving it.” She paused, her voice lowering to a whisper. “Someone’s been following me. I didn’t want to tell you earlier but the situation is getting worse. They shot down my plane and killed Pete.” She heard Sam approaching the door and rushed to finish. “I can’t say anymore right now. Please be careful. And don’t say anything to Conrad.”

  She replaced the handset just as Sam opened the door. “Dinner. You’re my hero.”

  He handed her a large paper bag, grinning as she tore into the cartons. “You act like you haven’t eaten in weeks,” he smirked. “I like seeing a woman with an appetite.”

  Kate offered him a Styrofoam carton and plastic utensils. “This must be yours. Looks like Szechwan Chicken.”

  “Right you are. I like a little spice in my life.”

  She giggled when he took a bite and immediately gasped. “Guess it’s been a while since you’ve had that much spice,” she taunted.

  He dabbed his eyes with a napkin. “It appears that way. How about handing me one of tho
se bottled waters?”

  Kate did as requested, clearly amused by his physical discomfort. It was hard to hold a grudge when he was acting so pleasant.

  By the time Sam headed toward the shower, Kate was already yawning. She turned on the television to watch the local news but found her vision rapidly blurring. Seconds later, she drifted into a deep sleep.

  Sam emerged from the shower, pausing beside Kate’s bed as his gaze roamed over her delicate features. One small hand curled beside her parted lips. His first inclination was to share her bed. The memory of how her body fit so perfectly with his sent liquid fire surging through his veins.

  He tucked the blanket around her shoulders before easing himself into the second bed. Sam turned on his side facing Kate, the gentle rise and fall of her rhythmic breathing lulling him into a dreamless slumber.

  He awoke with a start. Every muscle in his body tensed like a cat ready to leap. The room was dark except for a tiny sliver of light slicing through the edge of the curtains.

  Holding his breath, Sam listened intently but heard nothing unusual. Damn Szechwan Chicken. He shouldn’t have ordered a spicy meal. He rolled over, attempting to return to sleep but couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. It wasn’t just indigestion that had jarred him awake. Perhaps it was the traffic. He was used to the silence of his mountain. The intermittent road noise made it seem like he was in the middle of the Indianapolis 500.

  Sam closed his eyes, ready to dismiss the entire incident. A faint crunch outside the door brought him to an upright position.

  What the hell?

  He watched a shadow pass by the window. The door knob slowly turned and stopped. Someone was trying to break in.

  Sam lowered his bare feet to the floor, his movements light and soundless. He nudged Kate’s shoulder, waiting for her dilated eyes to register awareness. As she opened her mouth to speak, he placed a finger over his lips, urgently demanding her silence. He nodded toward the door, using hand signals to communicate.

  Alarm etched across her features as she watched the door knob slowly turn. Sam tugged at her arm, motioning her to follow his example. He quickly threw his pillows under the blankets to create the image of a sleeping body, helping Kate as she did the same.

  The intruders were slow to break the door code much to his relief. Sam rushed Kate to the bathroom.

  “Don’t make any noise,” he warned in a hoarse whisper. She nodded, watching as he flattened himself against the wall adjacent to the door. He melted into the shadows, making it difficult to distinguish his form in the darkness.

  The door inched open. Sam held his breath as two men in dark clothing crept stealthily toward the beds. He waited until they passed before making his move.

  With lightning speed, he pulled a pistol from his waist and hit one of the men in the head with its metal grip. The body crumpled to the floor with a thud. The second man whirled around, surprise and shock etched across his face. Sam threw himself at the assailant, knocking the weapon from the man’s hand.

  Kate peeked from the safety of the darkened bathroom, watching in horror as they exchanged blows. Sam was crouched over the intruder, his fist pummeling the man’s face. Seconds later, a knotted hand crashed into Sam’s side. As he fell backwards grabbing his ribs, the man quickly sprang to his feet. He found his weapon and pointed it at Sam’s head before wiping a small trickle of blood from his mouth with the back of his hand.

  “Don’t move!” he growled menacingly. The two men eyed each other like wild animals, each braced for a quick retaliation.

  Kate eased into the room, quietly retrieving her knapsack beside the door. She tiptoed behind the assailant, raising the bag above her head.

  Sam’s eyes flickered as he realized her intentions. The intruder’s sharp gaze caught the reaction. He tensed, as if sensing her presence and attempted to whirl around. It was too late. Kate’s knapsack came crashing against his head, the concealed metal box connecting with the side of his skull.

  Sam lunged forward, grabbing the gun from the man’s hand as he lay stunned on the floor. Sam glanced at Kate, a mixture of gratitude and surprise evident on his face.

  “Well done,” he praised in clipped tones. “Turn on the lamp so we can shed some light on this situation.”

  She responded by flicking a switch on the wall. The first man was still unconscious at the foot of her bed. The second man sat up, both hands holding his head.

  “Geez, lady, were you tryin’ to kill me?”

  “The thought did occur to me,” she muttered. “Especially since you were the one pointing the gun.”

  “Who are you?” Sam’s foot nudged the man’s leg to get his attention. “Who sent you?”

  The intruder glanced at his unconscious partner before warily meeting Sam’s gaze. “We weren’t going to harm anyone. Our orders were to get the girl.”

  Kate took a step back. She saw Sam’s face turned thunderous.

  “Who gave those orders, cowboy?”

  “I can’t say.”

  Sam leaned down and grabbed the man’s hair, yanking his head back as he pointed the barrel of the gun at his temple. “Then you’ll die.”

  Kate kept backing up until she hit the wall. Surely he wasn’t serious. Sam wouldn’t just shoot the man in cold blood. Would he? She tried to speak but the words froze in the back of her throat.

  “You kill me and you’ll never find out.” The man tried to sound boisterous but fear danced in his dark eyes.

  “Oh yes, I will,” Sam assured him. “When your friend over there wakes up and sees your corpse, I think he’ll be motivated to tell me what I want to know.” His voice crackled like breaking ice. “You have a choice. You can tell me who sent you, or I can use your dead body to convince your buddy over there to spill his guts. What’s it gonna be?”

  The man licked his lips, a small pulse beating erratically at the base of his throat. “Okay! Put the gun down.” He expelled a relieved sigh as Sam released his grip and stepped back. “Conrad Buckman sent us. He just wants the girl. He didn’t mention anything about you.”

  Kate felt an icy chill spread over her body. “Conrad sent you? Why?”

  He noted her confusion with a taunting gleam. “He didn’t tell us. But I think it has something to do with the information you’re transporting. Papers in a metal box, he said.”

  “How did you find us?” Sam narrowed his gaze, his eyes glinting like newly forged steel.

  Jeff. Conrad must have traced the call when she phoned him. Kate swallowed her panic. She couldn’t let Sam find out her call had put them in danger.

  She tugged at his sleeve. “Let’s get out of here.”

  He hesitated before nodding. “There’s duct tape in the back of the Lexus. Go get it. We’ll need to tie up our guests.”

  Kate ran out the door, shivering as the night air chilled her arms. It wasn’t nearly as bad as the cold realization Conrad had found her.

  Could Jeff have told him about her message? What if he had confronted Buckman with the truth?

  Kate rested her forehead against the car door as fear rippled through her. She should have listened to Sam. He had been right all along. She returned to the motel room, handing Sam the tape before gathering up her belongings. She was surprised when he thrust a pistol in her hand, instructing her to hold the gun on the intruder.

  “Shoot him if he moves an inch.”

  She nodded, wondering if she could actually pull the trigger. Shooting someone at close range where she could see the panic in his eyes was not the same as aiming at a helicopter.

  Sam rolled the unconscious man onto his stomach, pulling his arms behind his back. He wrapped the duct tape tightly around both wrists before returning him to his side. Stuffing a washcloth over his mouth, he secured it with the tape.

  “You’re next,” he announced harshly. The second man squirmed uncomfortably. Sam quickly bound his wrists before reaching for a second washcloth.

  “I need a drink of water.”
<
br />   “Too bad, mister. You should have thought of that before you came barging into our room without an invitation.”

  “There’s no reason to be unkind,” Kate murmured. “I’ll give him a drink.”

  He shot her a look of reproach as she took a glass from the sink and filled it from the faucet. Sam retrieved his pistol and pointed it at the intruder as Kate dropped to her knees and tilted the glass to the man’s lips. “Conrad Buckman is a terrible man,” she admonished sternly. “He’s involved in terrorist activities.”

  The man took a long sip, his eyes never leaving her face. When he pulled back, his mouth took on an unpleasant twist. “Thank you.”

  Sam approached with the gag and taped it over his mouth. “Let’s get out of here. They could have backup waiting for them.”

  She nodded, sneaking one last peek at the bound and gagged men before shutting the door behind her. It was her fault the motel had been compromised. She had been foolish once but it wouldn’t happen again.

  Kate slid into the passenger’s seat as Sam inserted the key into the ignition. He eased the SUV into the street and pointed it toward the highway.

  “I still can’t figure out how those guys found us,” he mused quietly.

  “Who knows? They must have been searching for us ever since we lost them this morning.” She tried to change the subject. “I suppose they’ll be alright until housekeeping finds them.”

  “Why are you concerned? They could have killed both of us as we slept.”

  “But he said he wasn’t supposed to harm anyone.”

  “And you believe that? You’re too naïve, Kate. How did you manage to keep your innocence working as a process server?”

  “I’ve always tried to find good in everyone,” she said defensively. “I suppose someone like you thinks I’m a throwback to the fifties.”

  “Someone like me?”

  She heard the challenge in his voice and shifted uncomfortably. “I mean someone who has been in law enforcement. People who deal with criminals on a daily basis must become jaded.”