Target on the Mountain by Elizabeth Goddard (the chimp paradox .txt) 📕

back at work. Right now, it was time to get her things ready for flying. Tori dumped her purse to clear it of anything that wouldn’t clear security, and she spotted a small round device. She lifted it to examine it.

A GPS tracker.

Tori groaned.

“Idiot! I’m such a stupid idiot.”

A knock came at the door. Panic swelled in her chest and she gripped her weapon. Tori didn’t ask who it was, she simply waited quietly in case it was the man who had shot Eddie Slattery—the perp who’d drive his Jeep into them and shot at them. She’d just found a GPS—was that his? Had he somehow gotten access to her things to plant the tracker and then followed her here where she was all alone?

Sweat beaded on her temple.

“It’s me.”

Ryan.

Tori released a slow breath.

Ryan’s tone wasn’t gruff like she would expect, but instead he sounded...desperate? Whatever. She was both relieved and perturbed. Him finding Tori here meant one thing. She marched to the door and opened it, leaving it wide for Ryan to enter. He shut it behind him.

She held the GPS tracker up for him to see. “Really?”

He shrugged. “That wasn’t me.”

“Katelyn.” Tori squeezed her temples. “How could I have been so stupid?”

Ryan’s sister had advised Tori against leaving, at least until she could talk it out with Ryan. Katelyn had known that Ryan would be furious with the both of them—Tori for leaving and Katelyn for allowing it. Tori had known that, too, but at the time she hadn’t cared. She was thinking about their safety. Tori had gotten into the back seat of the cab with her laptop and Katelyn had handed off her duffel and purse. She would have had the opportunity to place the tracker then. Katelyn had been thinking ahead. She was a smart cookie.

“She wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said. “That you got to the airport safely.”

“And that you could find me.”

Leaning against the wall, Ryan crossed his arms. “Right. She meant to help, that’s all. What if something happened to you, Tori? You’re in danger. Running off like this wasn’t a smart move.”

“And you think the tracker would help you to find me if I were abducted or left for dead? If the bad guys nabbed me, I don’t think they would let me bring my purse.” She sent him a wry grin.

“You might have found a way to convince the nabber you needed to keep it. That said, he might still look inside, so you’d need a backup tracker.” Ryan responded with his own grin.

“No...” Katelyn hadn’t! Tori shrugged out of her jacket and searched. She removed her shoes and looked inside and out.

“Relax. I don’t know if that’s the only tracker Katelyn planted, but we do know that someone has known where you’ve been. Like the bedroom in Sarah’s house.”

“And the first safe house—the dream house.”

“And like tonight. Eddie drove that Jeep right for you. He aimed at your side of the vehicle. I couldn’t stop the collision but I tried to swerve so he wouldn’t crush the passenger side.” He scraped a hand down his face as it paled.

The implication got to him as it did her. A chill crawled over her.

She palmed her weapon. “And you think they could have followed me here.”

“I think if you’re heading back home then you shouldn’t stay here tonight. You should get an earlier flight and wait in the airport beyond the security checkpoints. Take the red-eye, even. I’m happy to take you to the airport. But if you’re not going to stay with me, then go there and be safe. You know you’re not safe until whoever is behind this is caught.”

“Unfortunately, I do know that.” Tori sat on the edge of the bed. “Listen, I’m sorry I left without at least saying goodbye. I just didn’t want to endanger you or your sister, or anyone who is near me.”

He gave her a look, and then she suddenly remembered his words to her—he’d told her that she would go back. She was glad he didn’t say, “I told you so.”

“So yes, you were right about me, after all. I’m not staying here like I had been considering. I think I can do a better job finding answers for us if I’m back at work and can gain access to information we need. Special Agent Sanchez isn’t going to share with you, that much is clear. I don’t even know if I can get anyone to share with me even if I put pressure on them from within, but I’m going to work that angle. Katelyn will be safe because she won’t have to protect me. I don’t want you to be in danger, either.” Tori didn’t want to keep having to dodge bombs and bullets until this was over.

“She’s pretty miffed at you, you know. She would have helped me protect you for nothing, but she needed the work.” He frowned.

“You don’t need to lose your sister, too, especially because of me. Besides, it’s not just her I’m worried about. You could have died tonight, too. This way, you won’t be in danger, either—at least, not because of me.”

Her words surprised herself. She hadn’t realized how deeply she cared for Ryan’s safety. But her worry for him hadn’t only been about his safety. Her concern took her through forbidden territory. She and Ryan already had their chance at something special once before.

“You know that comes with the job, right? And if you’re worried about Katelyn, if that’s why you’re leaving, then we can do something about that. Because... I’m the one who’s supposed to protect you.” Now his tone had turned gruff.

Maybe he’d been right in the first place—about leaving. She’d go to the airport and hang out there. See about getting an earlier flight. She began stuffing everything back into her bag.

“You’re confusing me, Ryan. You’ve continued to insist that I leave. Insist that I go home where I’ll be safer. Now you sound like you want