Harlequin Intrigue June 2017--Box Set 1 of 2 by Elle James

Author:Elle James
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488016073
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

This could not be happening. Sophia hunched over the phone and spoke to her captain, Larry Burton.

“But I should be there,” she said, working hard to keep her voice level.

Burton’s tone was rushed, as if he was on the move as he spoke. The man did not have time to chat.

“You’re still on administrative leave.”

“But—”

He cut her off. “I asked. It’s a no. You are not to report.”

“That can’t be right.”

“You need to be requested back.” He spoke slowly now, as if to be certain she heard and complied. “That’s an order. Now I have to go.”

She gave up on the voice-modulation thing. “I’m an explosives expert!”

“And you are not the only one in the Bureau, Rivas. We can manage without you. Okay?”

“What am I supposed to do? Sit up here twiddling my thumbs?”

“I’m sorry, Soph. Gotta go. I’ll call when I can.”

“Wait. Is it BEAR?”

There was silence. “I can’t talk about an active investigation.”

“There’s a shaman here. He told me yesterday that the pipeline was a target.”

“And why didn’t you call that in?”

She wanted to say because she was on administrative leave.

“I did call it in. I left a message with your administrative assistant and I phoned Luke Forrest and told him. He said the Phoenix field office was aware that the pipeline system was a potential target.”

“Next time speak to me directly.”

“Yes, sir.”

She thought she’d gotten through to the right people. Had she made another mistake?

She saw her position eroding like a tree undercut by floodwaters.

“Maybe I should just drive down there.”

“No. I gave you an order. And, Rivas? Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Okay?”

She closed her mouth but then opened it again. Sophia regretted her words even as she spoke but she could not remain mute.

“The tribal council up here on Turquoise Canyon believes that BEAR will strike the reservoir system. Anytime now, since the first cell has hit their target.”

“We don’t know it’s BEAR.”

She did. She felt certain and until she had credible evidence to the contrary, she was sticking with that theory.

“Can you at least send up the National Guard?”

“Sophia, they’re deploying the National Guard and every available law enforcement agency to Phoenix.”

“Highway patrol?” she asked, her voice a croak.

She was met with silence.

“Larry?”

“Yes. Highway patrol, too. Listen. I got to go. Stay out of trouble up there.” The line went dead.

Sophia stood there with the phone pressed to her ear, the line buzzing with her mind. They blew up the pipeline, just as Kenshaw Little Falcon had told her they would. And they would hit the reservoir, too. And if the larger Alchesay Dam was as poorly secured as Skeleton Cliff, it would make an easy target. Easier now if they also pulled the highway patrol.

She lowered the phone to its cradle and met Jack’s gaze. He was waiting for her. Waiting for the awesome weight of responsibility to settle over her. She could choose to do nothing, wait and see. If she did that, she might still be reinstated, but this place and his people might be washed away.

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