Deep Deception by Cathy Pegau

Author:Cathy Pegau
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twelve

Natalia felt Gennie at her back, heard the increase of her breathing as they hid in the shadows of a loader at Tunnel Two. There weren’t many places to hide in the brightly lit site, but at nearly twenty-six hundred, no one was around. The crew was in the void, and the shift boss was in the office, not likely to stir unless there was a problem in the tunnels. Natalia was hoping to avoid any such thing. All they had to do was get to shaft A242 four klicks inside and get back out without being caught.

Gennie swallowed hard.

“You don’t have to go in,” Natalia whispered. “In fact, it may be better if you stay out here, in case something goes wrong.”

“No.”

Natalia turned around. There was enough light to see that Gennie had gone pale, to see the glitter of fear in her eyes. “Gennie...”

Her eyes narrowed and she straightened her shoulders. Fear was pushed aside by determination. “We’ve discussed this.”

Natalia wanted to argue, but there wasn’t time. Gennie had said she’d follow her in, and Natalia believed her. She had to give the woman credit, though whether for bravery or sheer stubbornness would be decided later.

Whatever her motivation, Natalia had to accept her decision. It would be helpful to have her in the tunnel, to have an extra pair of eyes and ears, but what if she panicked?

They kept to the shadows as she led Gennie toward the mouth of the tunnel. Once they reached the ramp, there would be no way to avoid being bathed in bright light. Speed would have to suffice. At the last refuge of darkness, she kept her voice low. “No sense in trying to hide. Just run as fast as you can to get into the tunnel.”

She took another look around the site and held up three fingers. Two. One.

Natalia burst out of the shadow of the bin, her boots thumping loud, her heart louder as adrenaline kicked in. Behind her, Gennie ran hard. She passed Natalia on the ramp and disappeared into the darkness. Natalia followed a second later. The ambient light from the outside showed Gennie leaning against the rough wall, controlling her breathing to reduce the sound. They stood close enough that she felt Gennie’s body heat.

“Damn, you’re fast,” Natalia whispered.

“Go fast or go home,” Gennie replied, a smile barely visible in the dim light.

Natalia smiled back. “Let’s get this done then we can both go home.”

She slid her pulser out of the holster at the small of her back. Most pirqs didn’t carry energy weapons due to the risk of a spark. If they carried anything at all it was a standard projectile weapon or a needler or a knife. She hoped she wouldn’t have to use her pulser, for safety’s sake, but felt better having it in hand.

A glance confirmed Gennie thought the same thing. Her pulser was smaller, compact but undoubtedly deadly. If they ended up shooting anyone, there would be some explaining to do.

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