Special Agent

* * *

Whipped from side to side on tight, fast corners, Katerina kept her lips pressed together despite the awareness that a good, loud scream would feel wonderful.

Freeing.

Speaking of freedom, Max seemed to be gaining on the old truck. “I think we’re catching them.”

His “Yeah” didn’t sound as upbeat as she’d expected.

“What’s the problem? We don’t want to lose sight of them, do we?”

“No. But I don’t want to corner them all by myself, either. This isn’t technically my jurisdiction and if the stop didn’t go as planned, a lot of bureaucrats could end up twisting in the wind, me included.”

“Is that what special agent in charge really means? You pay dearly for bad decisions?”

“In this case it may be. Hang on. They’re slowing more.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Without armed backup? If it were just me and Opal I’d order them out of their vehicle and hold them at gunpoint.”

Katerina arched her eyebrows and made a face. “Hey, it’s not my fault I’m still here. I told you to let me out and you refused.”

“It was the right decision. It simply complicates things at the moment.”

“Ya think?” She knew it was wrong to needle him but he’d been so convinced she was on the wrong side of the law that his current dilemma hit her as ironic. And amusing, provided the men in the big truck stayed away until reinforcements had time to arrive.

“Um, is it just my nerves or is the truck stopping?”

“Stopping. In the middle of the road, no less. The first car that takes that next corner too fast is liable to hit head-on.”

She noted the hard set to the agent’s jaw, the way his big, strong hands gripped the steering wheel. Clearly, he was having to make some crucial decisions and she hoped one of them included turning around and running for their lives.

Max eased his SUV to the far right of center and set the parking break. “You stay put. Lock yourself in. If anything happens to me, use the radio to call for help.” He handed her the mic. “Push this button, talk, then release it so you can hear replies.”

“Whoa. Where do you think you’re going?”

“To order them out of the traffic lanes before they cause an accident.”

“I thought we were waiting for backup.”

“You are.” Taking the mic momentarily he reported his position and plans to the county dispatcher, then stepped out and slammed the door.

“A fine mess this is,” Katerina muttered. An answering whine from the rear of the SUV reminded her that Opal was back there. Releasing her seat belt, Katerina flipped onto her knees and shinnied between the backs of the front seats until she was within reach of the portable kennel box. Opal was not only drooling she was wagging her whole rear end.

“If I let you out will you promise to behave?” she asked the dog. “Your partner might need you and I could sure use the company.”

Woof.

“That’s what I thought. Okay. Here’s your leash.” She opened the kennel grate and grabbed the dog’s harness. “Hold still, will you?”

The friendly canine’s antics were enough to take Katerina’s mind off the tenuous situation and bring a smile. “Yeah, Opal, I agree. He’s the kind of guy to try riding a wild mustang with no saddle or bridle and then wonder how he ended up in a heap on the ground. I’m glad he’s your partner, not mine.”

Together, they returned to the front seat. Opal took the passenger’s place so Katerina eased behind the wheel. The dash resembled an airplane cockpit with gauges she didn’t recognize and equipment that looked like multiple radios, not to mention the computer system she’d seen Max use briefly.

Parked to the right rear of the bigger truck, Katerina could no longer see him. Neither could Opal, which clearly disturbed them both. The dog began pawing at the inside of the door.

“No, Opal. Your boss said for us to stay right here and that’s what we’re going to do unless...” Unless I hear shots or something equally as bad, she thought. Her hands rested naturally on the steering wheel and she sighed. “Why didn’t I ask exactly what he meant when he told me to call for more help if he needed it. How am I supposed to know?”

Woof.

“My sentiments exactly.” Katerina had always talked to animals and was reassured to have Opal beside her. “You’re the one with the fancy training. So, what’s the standard protocol for this situation?”

Instead of the silly, drooling look the dog had been exhibiting, she began to focus out the windshield and stare at the large truck. Katerina’s focus followed Opal’s. It almost looked as if the thing was moving. Backward. Toward them. There was little room to spare to the right before the ground fell away into a steep canyon!

A few native live oaks rose above the edge, their canopies giving the false impression that there was solid earth below. Pines, however, clearly demonstrated that they were rooted far below with only their tops visible.

What was the penalty for driving an FBI vehicle without permission? Katerina wondered. There was no time to ask and even less time left to decide. If they stayed where they were, that lumbering old truck could shove them off the road as if they were a child’s toy. Either she took matters into her own hands and saved herself and Opal, or Max would be scraping them up at the bottom of the canyon. Looking at the problem that way made it easy to act.

Katerina dropped the idling SUV into reverse and wheeled it out of imminent danger by cutting the back bumper to her left. She was now back in the traffic lanes and could see oncoming cars slowing long before they got close to her. So far, so good. Now where was Max?

The heavy truck kept backing until one set of dual axels was balanced on the edge of the berm. Then it began to jockey sideways in the roadway, clearly intent on reversing directions despite the cramped space.

Katerina muttered a panicky prayer and gripped the wheel. She’d driven trucks pulling horse trailers and handled big vans at the ranch so she was pretty sure she could drive Max’s SUV without wrecking it. Steering it down a winding mountain road backward fast enough to stay ahead of an oncoming truck, however, was another story.

Eyeing their surroundings, she looked for a way to slip past their adversary and escape uphill. It was impossible. The truck would soon be pointed straight at them and she’d have nowhere to go. A wall of rock rose to her left at the edge of the pavement. A dropoff into a steep canyon lay to the right. She had lost her chance to mimic the huge truck and make a successful three-point turn before it took up the center of the road.

There was no room left for evasion. They were trapped.

FIVE

Max jumped back, gun in both hands, feet apart in a shooter’s stance. “Stop!”

The dump truck kept inching along.

He raced to Katerina before the other vehicle could complete the last of its tight maneuvers, shoved her aside, slid behind the wheel and tromped on the gas. He was just in time.

With the SUV slewing backward he whipped the wheel hard then slammed on the brakes. They skidded in a circle that left blackened swirls of rubber on the road.

Katerina screamed.

Max straightened their trajectory and sped downhill. Ascending traffic was already backed up for quite a distance. All he could hope for at present was that the thugs in the disguised truck would continue to pursue him and ignore innocent civilians.

“Call this in,” he ordered Katerina. “Tell them what’s happened and give the dispatcher our updated position.”

Although her hand was shaking as she reached for the radio, he could tell she had control of herself. Except for that one piercing scream she was actually responding to the crisis so well he couldn't help but be impressed.

“Can’t you go faster?” Katerina asked as soon as she’d finished using the radio.

“Yes, but I don’t want to lose him.”

“Why not?”

“Because it doesn’t matter who is doing the chasing. We still need to know where these guys are and being ahead of them is almost as good as following.”

“Says who?” She strained to see past Opal to check their outside mirrors.

“Opal. Backseat. Go. Down,” Max ordered. The K-9 obeyed instantly.

Katerina took advantage of the space. “Thanks. I wasn’t sure if she’d let me move over.”

“You shouldn’t have opened her kennel.”

“Sorry. I was afraid for Opal. If we’d been pushed off the road she might have been trapped inside the car. I wanted her to have the best chance of survival.”

He had to give credit where it was due. “That was quick thinking when you backed up. Otherwise I might have had to shoot the truck driver.”

“Would you have?”

“Not if there was any other option,” Max said solemnly. “I don't suppose you'd like to tell me who you think is in the truck.”

“How should I know?”

“Just asking.” He continued to monitor the behemoth behind them and was satisfied it was still on their trail.

Ahead, as the road straightened and the countryside opened into valleys and pasture, cars were lined up behind a farmer’s tractor and hay bailer in their lane. Max was not pleased. “Uh-oh.” He flipped on his red lights and hit the siren, hoping to clear the way. Most of the passenger cars pulled over but the farmer seemed oblivious.

Max saw Katerina’s feet brace against the floorboard. Her hands pushed forward to the edge of the dash. “Look out!”

He did the only thing he could since there was no room to pass; he slowed to a crawl. And braced to be hit from behind. “Hang on.”

* * *

As far as Katerina was concerned, he couldn’t have convinced her to let go if he’d tried. Every muscle in her body was taut, every nerve firing. This was scarier than her toughest dressage competition. At least when she was in the show ring she was in charge. Putting her life in this agent’s hands was proving to be a poor decision despite his valiant efforts to protect her. Assuming they lived through the next few minutes she intended to thank him, despite the fact he kept giving the impression he thought this predicament was all her fault.

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