Her Christmas Protector. Geri Krotow

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СКАЧАТЬ strapped around their necks and resting on their waists, stood near the entrance to the field. They were all dressed for the chilly weather and all had the same box—white with the school logo on it. All wore matching school-themed knit ski caps with huge pom-poms on top.

      Except for one.

      “May we play honestly and win graciously...”

      Male, average height and build, baseball cap. To her far right at the edge of the bleachers. With sunglasses—totally disguised.

      “Thank you for our school...”

      He reached over his shoulders and behind his head. With both hands.

      Zora reached behind and under her jacket, her SIG Sauer’s handle firmly in her grasp.

      “Thank you also for our teachers...” She had to draw out the prayer, to keep the crowd in its place, so that the undercover and regular LEAs could protect everyone.

      The Hawk County sheriff’s snipers would’ve had this guy in their sights by then. If they didn’t, she’d take him out.

      The “vendor” pulled his hands up from behind his back, holding a long dark object. If it was a rifle, she had seconds to neutralize him.

      “Amen.” Total silence surrounded her and Zora waited for the crowd’s response.

      “Amen. Go Hawks!” At least the roar of the crowd would drown out the sound of gunfire.

      The vendor held the long item in his arms, his face on Zora. He flashed a wide grin that Zora knew was meant for her.

      The first strains of the national anthem began to a crowd that soon began to sing along to the school’s marching band.

      He was waiting for her to tip off that she wasn’t a chaplain.

      She could outwait with the best of them. But not when other lives were at stake.

      If he planned to try to kill her here in front of all of these civilians, including many children, it was out of pattern for him. He had no decent escape route.

      Her hand steadied as she pressed against her back, her weapon ready to fire. She watched as he pulled his weapon. The minute he revealed it, she or a county sheriff’s sniper were in the clear to take him out.

      The vendor shot first.

      He opened a golf umbrella.

      Relief flooded through Zora, followed by red-hot anger. That was no vendor. She was sure he’d meant to make her believe he had a weapon.

      “Thank you, Chaplain.” Principal Essis stood in front of her, blocking the vendor from her sight. She reached out her hand.

      Zora blinked. She released her weapon and grasped the principal’s hand.

      “You’re welcome.”

      She walked off the field as the band started an upbeat number, revving the crowd for the kickoff. As she headed straight for the spot where the man with the golf umbrella had stood only seconds before she knew what she’d find.

      He was gone.

      She searched the crowd for SVPD and her gaze landed on Bryce. He was walking toward her, his mouth in a grim line.

      “Did you see him?”

      “Who?”

      “The man with the umbrella.” She filled him in on what she’d witnessed, frustrated that he hadn’t seen it, too. To her surprise Bryce called in her description to SVPD on his cell phone as soon as she finished speaking.

      “Thanks for taking me seriously.”

      “Why wouldn’t I?”

      She couldn’t tell him she’d been in the navy and had, as a woman, had to fight for credibility with each new command, each new tour. Apparently SVPD took it for granted that if you were assigned to work with them, you’d earned it.

      “No reason. Just...thanks.” She walked toward the waiting SVPD vehicle, aware of Bryce’s silent presence next to her. One thing hadn’t changed in fifteen years—she still had a sixth sense where Bryce was concerned.

       Chapter 2

      “He wasn’t just a vendor with an umbrella, I’m certain.” Zora spoke in the privacy of her car as she drove home, her mission to draw out the killer over. For today.

      “I’m not doubting what you saw, Zora, but it doesn’t fit this criminal’s profile.” Claudia Michaels, retired US Marine Corps general and CEO of the Trail Hikers, sighed audibly over the secure cellular connection. “This is supposed to be one of our easier missions. I wouldn’t have risked you blowing your cover otherwise. Not this close to where you live.”

      “We’ll get him. It’s not over.” The same foreboding that had struck her on the football field made her grip the steering wheel tighter. “But I may have blown my cover all by myself.”

      “Go ahead.” Claudia’s voice remained level but Zora knew her boss was gritting her teeth—the secrecy of the Trail Hikers was paramount to its success.

      “The detective assigned to the case—Bryce Campbell—was my neighbor growing up. He may have recognized me. If he didn’t, he’ll figure it out. He’s a smart man.”

      “That’s not a problem. Detective Campbell has a stellar reputation and he’ll follow Superintendent Todd’s orders. I’ll double-check to make sure.”

      Bryce must be one hell of a detective if Claudia was aware of him—he was SVPD, not fed or ex-military, as far as Zora knew.

      “Are you going to tell me he’s a Trail Hiker, too?”

      Claudia sighed.

      “You know I can’t tell you who’s on our team until you need to work with them.”

      “I do.” The Trail Hikers worked on a strict need-to-know basis. Zora had come to recognize familiar faces at the agency’s headquarters in Silver Valley but never pursued finding out who they were. There’d been no need to.

      She’d know if she’d seen Bryce, however.

      “I’m sorry I wasn’t more careful with my disguise.”

      “Go back to your civilian job, Zora, and we’ll be in touch soon.”

      “Roger.”

      Claudia ended the connection and Zora shut off her Bluetooth. The ugly brunette wig itched and she wanted a hot shower, a chilled glass of chardonnay and a couple hours with her favorite author’s latest novel before bed. Maybe she’d spend the whole weekend reading. She had a full day of clients on Monday in what she considered her real job—family counseling. Claudia referred to it as her “civilian job” because it allowed Zora to live a normal life while taking on missions as needed for the Trail Hikers.

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