Read Online Deep Freeze: Protocol One, Book 2 (Protocol One Saga) by Jacqueline Druga - Free Book Online Page B

… they lost the Humvee. But shh, don’t tell anyone.”
    Joie shifted left to right looking around.
    “What?” I asked.
    “Gwen is gonna be so mad.”
    “I know.”
    Joie giggled.
    “There you go. And don’t worry. They’ll be back soon. If not you’re stuck with me.” I ran my hand over her head.
    We talked for a little bit more, but I didn’t want to stay too long, not just in case she asked one more question, but also because I didn’t want anyone to see me with that juice box. I got hell every time someone saw me drinking one.
    After my sandwich, I told Joie to find me any time she needed to talk, and I left for the safe room.
    As soon as I stepped outside, I stuck the straw in my juice and sipped en route. Tom wouldn’t say anything to me, of that I was sure. However, as soon as I approached the door, I heard voices.
    Not one to back off of eavesdropping, I listened.
    “Come on.” Duke said. “It’s the only way.”
    Tom’s voice was next. “Guys, really, it doesn’t make sense.”
    “No,” Spencer said. “It makes perfect sense. If you go do the rescue, Gil will know you left. If Duke and I go, no one will notice at first.”
    “Plus,” Duke added. “Both Spence and I are good at driving in the snow. We’ll take the heavy truck. The base of it is higher than our accumulation. Or we’ll take the plow.”
    Was I hearing right? Was two thirds of our over sixty population wanting to pull a Delta Force and sneak out to get Tony and Anna?
    That was cool.
    Pretending I didn’t hear, I stepped inside. “Oh, hey guys. What’s up?”
    The safe room wasn’t very big and Spencer and Duke stood off to the side not to be seen by anyone passing by.
    Tom looked over his shoulder at me. “Really, Pete? I heard you slurping outside. You heard.”
    “Only a little.” I sat at my desk. “Snow just started. If they take supplies in case they get stuck, they should be good.”
    “Exactly,” Duke said. “I have some sawdust. And we can do this. We have the fuel. We just made that run. Spencer and I have it planned out. We know how to go, what to do. We have everything ready. We want to do this. We need to do this.”
    Tom groaned. “You guys are killing me. You know I have the keys. I’m not authorized to give them out.”
    Spencer waved out his hand. “Say we decked you. Knocked you out and took them. We are the best rescue team to go in there.”
    “What about him?” Tom pointed.
    “They hit me, too.” I sipped my drink.
    “No. No.” Tom shook his head. “I can’t with a good conscience let you guys go without a really good reason.”
    Duke waved out his hand. “Tony missing and Anna being alone isn’t good enough?”
    “It is, but not enough to risk your lives as well.”
    At that moment, the radio hissed and Anna called out, shocking me so much, I choked on my drink.
    “Protocol One come in. Protocol One, this is Anna. You read?”
    I was the closest and I grabbed the radio. “Anna, we’re here. I thought your radio died. Over.”
    “It did. I found the Humvee. Over.”
    “And Tony?” I asked.
    “Oh my God, Pete, he’s hurt. He’s hurt bad,” she said. I heard the desperation in her voice. “I don’t know if he’ll make it if we don’t get him help.”
    Before responding, I turned my chair and looked at Tom. “Good enough reason yet?”
    A beat and breath later, Tom unlocked the second to bottom drawer, reached in and pulled out a set of keys. He tossed them to Duke. “Take the plow. And get a med kit from Craig.”
    Duke gushed a, “Thank you” Before he and Spencer rushed out.
    I clenched my fist with an excited, ‘yes’ and grabbed the radio. “Hold tight, Anna. Help is on the way.”

TWELVE – FALLEN
     
    My grateful reunion with Tony was overshadowed by the fact that I just wanted to scream and cry. The usually strong and unwavering man was weakened by injuries. So many, that I didn’t know where to start. I couldn’t leave him. I had to get him off of