Cosky maneuvered the Zodiac until it was facing the mouth of the bay too.
“Try to keep this distance with the ship,” Capland said, laser-focused on his laptop. “We don’t want to lose the signal.”
Wolf frowned. It was a bit terrifying how easily Cap had taken control of that ship. If any of the terrorist organizations or pirate enclaves got their hands on Cap’s technology, the world would be in danger.
“It’s not so bad now,” Cosky shouted over the scream of the engine. “But once we hit the open ocean, its gonna get miserable fast.”
“When we’re out of range ofWoohantaeyes, we can shift to the Chinook.” Wolf shouted back. “It won’t matter if we are fired on. We can take evasive measures.
If being the operative word.
So far, nobody on board appeared to notice their presence, or the fact their ship was moving away from shore. Shadow only knew how long that would last. Or what those on board would do if the Zodiac or Chinook were discovered.
Still, the farther they guided the boat from shore, the better off everyone would be.
Once the ship was safely out to sea, they’d have to decide what to do with it.
Chapter twenty-four
Day 32
Shadow Mountain Base, Alaska
With her right elbow resting on the gleaming, platinum surface of the cafeteria table, and her left hand braced against the side of her head, Muriel huddled over her lunch. She pushed the pasta salad around, her enthusiasm for the meal almost microscopic. At some point between ordering and sitting down, her appetite had disappeared.
The cafeteria sat silent and empty around her. She’d deliberately picked a slow time to eat. Smack dab between breakfast and lunch, when the Shadow Mountain warriors wereoff training, and the base employees were fulfilling their shift duties.
That was the benefit of not having a schedule to follow, or a place to be. She was free to go where she wanted, when she wanted, with who she wanted. Too bad she wasn’t wanted in the clinic with Samuel, or on the obstacle course with Gracie. Even Olivia—who was caught in her own misery—avoided her these days.
Back when she’d learned of Daniel’s death, she’d felt even more lost and alone. Abandoned, even. Her world had been ripped apart and Daniel’s missing piece made it impossible to fit back together again.
Her throat tightened beneath an upsurge of grief. She dropped her fork, the last of her appetite crumbling. She’d been alone back then too, after Daniel’s death. Alone with her grief and rage. People had tried to help, but their voices and faces were a blur in her mind. Nothing had penetrated the agonizing shriek of grief…or the icy, internal blizzard that accompanied it.
She focused on a scratch in the table’s silver surface, traced it with her index finger. Had Daniel sat here? Traced the same scratch while eating his breakfast, dinner, or lunch? Was his spirit lingering in this space even now? She could sense him, but only faintly, like the warmth of summer asHokalitaheaded into fall. She didn’t scan the room, didn’t seek him out. Was she afraid she might see his spirit, or afraid she would not?
Perhaps it was time to head back home...to return to a job—that was more like a calling. Work at the animal refuge would occupy her hands and mind. There were always intake requests to process, terrified animals to soothe, injured animals to care for. Besides, it wasn’t fair to leave Joyce, her shelter assistant, with all the work, even though Muriel had hired a temporary worker before leaving for Alaska.
Yet, how could she leave without Gracie? Her daughter was determined to stay now. To remain close to her newly discovered father, and the possibility of answers. The answers to herHo'ceeclaiming were here, along with access to the warrior ways. Everything her daughter wanted was here. Gracie would not leave.
And Muriel couldn’t leave without her.
Thewhooshof the cafeteria doors opening sounded behind her. Muriel didn’t turn around. It was probably a Shadow Mountain warrior. There were still plenty around—even with Wolf and his elite warriors winging their way to an undisclosed location.
O’Neill was one of the warriors Wolf had tapped for this mission. It still stunned her to find the two men working together, their high school rivalry clearly in the past. Had Samuel turned that page as well? Had he accepted O’Neill as an equal? As a trusted member of his team?
Too bad she couldn’t ask him.
“Muriel?” a voice called from behind her.
The voice was familiar and unexpected. Wolf’sanistaa.
Rachel Eaglesbreath, Wolf’sanistaa,had often told her that she disliked Shadow Mountain base and the Alaskan chill. As far as Muriel knew, Rachel had only visited the base once, years ago—while her brother Jude wasBetanee.She hadn’t returned, even though her son now led the warrior class.
Muriel shifted on the silver bench and looked over her shoulder. Sure enough, Rachel was crossing the room in loose hipped strides, a gait that reminded Muriel of the way Wolf moved. There were other similarities between mother and son too. The thick, black luster of their hair, although Rachel’s was now streaked with gray. The length of their arms and legs. Even the expression in their dark eyes—half watchful, half cautious.
“Rachel!” Muriel swung her legs over the bench and rose to her feet. “What are you doing here? I thought you hated the base.”
For the first time, she realized that Rachel wasn’t alone. Jillian, Wolf’sle'ven'a,drifted along behind her, her brown eyes empty, her face hollow.
