Read Online Targeted (FBI Heat) by Marissa Garner - Free Book Online Page A

stopped to buy a knife. When we came in the front door, we heard noises. We snuck through the house and found four Mexicans rummaging through the electronic parts.” She swept her hand toward the mess she’d made around the boxes, and four pairs of eyes followed. “We hollered, and Samir threatened them with his new knife. They ran out the back door, which is where they had broken in. Samir and Omar chased them down the alley. There was much yelling. Then it grew fainter. Since Samir had previously given me the combination to the gun cabinet, I grabbed these two guns and prepared to protect the bomb components. After several minutes, I heard gunshots.” She paused for a fake sob. “Our two brothers never returned. I have been so afraid the Mexicans would come back and attack me.”
    The terrorists fidgeted, and their heads swiveled back and forth, looking at each other, alarm spreading across their faces. Behind the veil, Marissa sneered. Minions, lost without their leader .
    “Praise Allah, you are safe,” Masoud said. “We were surprised when we got up this morning and found that the three of you never came home last night. When neither Samir nor Omar answered their cell phones, we decided to come see what was wrong.”
    “If Samir had allowed me to have a cell phone, I could have called you. But as you know, he decided I did not need one.”
    His expression anxious, Fateen scanned the room, searching for something. “Where is Samir’s satellite phone?”
    “Gone with him.”
    “How will we—”
    All five heads whipped around at the sound of the front door opening. Marissa grabbed the AK-47 from the floor.
    “Samir,” called a voice from the entrance.
    Before any of the men reacted, Marissa ran to the archway. She greeted the two new arrivals with the assault rifle raised and aimed. Headscarves covered all but their eyes, and those dark eyes widened with shock. The large cardboard box they were carrying dropped to the floor when their arms shot up over their heads.
    “Do not shoot!” one man hollered in Arabic.
    “Who are you?” Marissa demanded.
    Fateen and Masoud peeked through the opening beside her. Obviously recognizing them, the new men chuckled and lowered their arms.
    One of them snorted and said, “You must be Baheera.”
    “I asked who you are.”
    “We are your friends from Abdul-Jaleel Electronics,” the same man, the taller of the two, answered.
    She scrutinized them. Why didn’t they remove the scarves now that they were inside the hideout? Are the mysterious delivery elves afraid of us?
    “Where’s Samir?” Tall Elf asked, an angry edge in his tone.
    Marissa cocked her head at his voice. Paused. “Samir is gone.”
    Tall Elf leaned to the side, trying to see through the archway. “Gone?” he echoed.
    She let the assault rifle slide down to her side as she watched Short Elf pick up the box.
    “Yes. I fear Samir and Omar are dead. Come, I will tell you.” She turned, walked wearily back to the chair in the other room.
    When the delivery elves saw the electronic parts scattered across the floor, they swore and rushed out toward the bedroom. They returned a few minutes later, their eyes filled with relief. Marissa watched and listened as they examined the electronic pieces on the floor before carefully putting them back in the boxes. She waited, studying Tall Elf.
    Once finished, they pulled folding chairs nearer while the others sat on the floor in front of her. Marissa laid the assault rifle across her lap and repeated the fabricated story of the night’s events.
    The entire time, Tall Elf glowered at her with menacing eyes. He was the first to speak when she finished. “How did you get the guns? In…your story, Samir did not open the cabinet before he disappeared. Only we and Samir know the combination.”
    The veil proved an unexpected benefit. From behind it, she analyzed his eyes, his body language, his voice. “You are wrong. Samir shared much with me.”
    The others