Read Online Hybrid Zone Recognition by C.E. Glines - Free Book Online Page A

that in the movies. Staring at its black length stretched across the road, I knew there was no getting around it. I was also pretty sure driving really fast in reverse was a bad idea.
    “Why haven’t they got out yet?” Miranda asked.
    I glanced at her. Her face revealed the various scenarios she was playing out. It didn’t look like they were pleasant ones. That was probably why they hadn’t gotten out yet.
    “Intimidation,” I said confidently, turning my gaze back to the SUV.
    “Intimidation?”
    “Yeah, they think we’re scared poopless right now.”
    “They got that right,” she said, nodding vigorously.
    “Yep, I’d say they nailed it.” She wasn’t the only one with an imagination.
    I drummed my fingernails on the steering wheel. This was a situation I never thought I would find myself in. I didn’t know why, especially considering what I had been through lately. Sure, it was always a possibility, in some obscure, remote, most likely never way. One I’d never really entertained. All of my attackers had been unidentifiable somebodies somewhere off in the distance, but now, they were right here in front of me.
    “Here they come,” Miranda singsonged.
    For goodness sakes, I was a researcher. Now I was being cornered by tall, dark and packing? In the beam of my headlights, I was able to see a shoulder holster peeking out of his unbuttoned jacket that swung as he walked. Great. He was probably trained in all sorts of ways to kill me.
    My weapons training consisted of hit the beer bottle on the fence when I was ten. I didn’t have any training in survival or what to do if hemmed in by a SUV sporting baddies. All that stuff that, right now, seemed like a really good idea. Where were all my spy gadgets? They were new line items in my budget that was where they were.
    As focused as I was on my internal debate, I hadn’t realized he had reached the truck. The tap on the window clued me in.
    With my first close up look at him, I could not keep the smile off my face. As my eyes swept his form, I came to the conclusion that I was being stalked by Men in Black. He had the suit, the glasses, the chiseled jaw...
    I rolled my window down and, with what I hoped was a totally used to dealing with this kind of thing voice, asked, “Do you need directions?”
    He didn’t even crack a smile. But he did look me in the eye…maybe. Hard to tell with the sunglasses on…at two in the morning.
    “We need you to come with us, Dr. Greer,” he spoke in a rich, even voice.
    That was me. For better or worse, they knew who I was. Leaning across the open window, I propped my chin in my hand, partially concealing my smile. I didn’t expect him to fill in the blank, but I asked anyway. “Why would I come with you, Mr. …?”
    “Please get out of the vehicle, Ma’am.”
    Just as I suspected, we weren’t exchanging names.
    I took a breath and righted myself. Putting both hands back on the wheel, I stared out the front window. “Well, Mir, it looks like I’m getting out of the vehicle.”
    When she didn’t respond in her usual rapid fire mode, I turned to look at her. She was sort of sunk down in her seat as far away from my side as she could get. Her eyes were darting back and forth between the Goon at my window and the black SUV. Maybe she was in shock.
    “Miranda, you ok?” My query was met with silence. “Miranda,” I said sharply.
    It seemed like her eyes were in slow motion as they slid to me. “Where is my tall, dark, and delicious?”
    Really? She was thinking about possible mates at a time like this? Unbelievable. My concern was replaced by anger at the accusation in her voice.
    “Are you accusing me of hogging the Goons?” I asked coldly.
    She straightened in her chair, seeming to puff up at the same time—like a chicken or something.
    “I know how this goes. The leading lady is always the one who ends up with the hot guy.”
    Yep, she was thinking about it.
    “Miranda, need I remind you of all the