Read Online Volcano by Gabby Grant - Free Book Online Page A

they know and love...” Her voice grew very quiet as she seemed to flounder.
    “I understand, Major,” Mark said, relieving her of the
responsibility. “I want you to send everything you’ve got to Colonel Roberts
post haste.”
    “Already on its way.”
    Mark hung up the phone, knowing time was getting tight. And,
not just for Ana. For all of them.
    At least, he thanked God , Isa was in capable hands . There was no one Mark trusted more
at the DIPAC than Major Carolyn Walker.

 
    ***

 
    Major Carolyn Walker delivered the baby back into Maria’s
arms with a smile. “She’s such a good girl.”
    “Very happy baby,” Maria agreed. “You?”
    Carolyn shook her head. “No time,” she partly lied. Partly,
because what she didn’t have time for was the baby’s father. A child, she could
make room for. At age thirty-four, Carolyn was sure of it. Then again, at age
thirty-four, her chances of becoming a mother were looking more and more slim.
Even if she were to try, if she were to somehow find that someone special and
settle down, after serving in Kuwait, she knew her chances were compromised.
Reproductive problems were only a part of the package for those who’d survived
the undeclared war fought with multiple chemicals and oil fires.
    Maria settled sleepy Isabel in her crib and began fanning
herself furiously with a nearby magazine. She was stressed and Carolyn could
see it. Then again, who wouldn’t be after being holed up in this basement for
almost three days?
    Carolyn laid a hand on Maria’s arm. “You okay?”
    “Me sufogo,” the woman answered. “I suffocate. It’s-”
    Carolyn turned toward the wall housing the thermostat.
“Here, I’ll just-”
    “No, no.”   Maria
interrupted her with a touch. “Eees just I’m not used to being so much inside,
you know?”
    “Of course, I understand,” Carolyn said, trying to reassure her. She too, had been commanded to stay here and look
after Isabel and Maria. But at least she had her work to keep her busy. She
could escape to her every-day world during business hours and forget for awhile she was caged like a zoo animal.
    “Maybe I could go to the store? Ten minutes ees all. Un refresco , nada mas . Just a cola?”
    Carolyn knew damn well Maria could get a cola just by
walking to the kitchen at the end of the hall. Maria knew it, too.
    Carolyn tried to pull away from Maria’s dark, pleading eyes,
but it was impossible.
    “Alright,” Carolyn said, striving her best to remain
professional. It was really Isabel she’d been instructed to protect, and as
long as the child remained with her at the DIPAC, she didn’t really see the harm
in letting the older woman get some air. “There’s a Lucky Seven right around
the corner. But ten minutes is all you get.”
    Maria nodded enthusiastically and pulled her purse from a
nearby berth.
    “Ten minutes,” Carolyn said, attempting to put a metal in
her voice she nowhere felt. “I’ll look after the baby.”

 
    ***

 
    Ana slipped the library card back into her pocket, then
locked and chained the door. Room twenty-six had been an easy mark, an obscure
second floor motel room, conveniently located in between a couple of occupied
others. New lights coming on in an unoccupied corner of the motel would have
raised suspicion. But, as it was, one more light on in her target room would
scarcely be noticed at all.
    Ana turned toward the room, and froze in her tracks.
    A black dragon surged- as the brawny Oriental snapped her
into his arms.
    Hay Long bared his yellowed teeth. “You, Ms. Kane, have more
lives than a cat!”
    Ana struggled, but again found his might impossible to
defeat.
    “Let me go, you-”
    She bent her teeth to his forearm and he whipped her
brutally over the back of the head with something solid and sharp.
    The room careened out of focus and Ana stumbled on her feet
then toppled over onto the bed.
    Hay Long let out a peel of laughter.
    “You Americans are so light on your feet,” he