Page 113 of Twilight Tactics

His girl. Yeah, he liked the sound of that, but would it ever happen? The thought of Elena alone in these woods, pursued by armed fanatics, twisted his gut into knots.

“Elena mentioned something about a convenience store when we were driving back from town.” He searched his memory. “She said her mother used to stop there sometimes when they lived with the preppers. And that she called for help from one when Elena was sick and they’d gone through the mine when they were trying to get to the hospital in Whitestone.”

“You think that’s where she’d head?” Donovan asked.

“I do. If she got out of the mine, she’d need to find help,transportation.” Sully pulled out his phone. “The cell signals are still down.” He hoped Lindy Grace was working on turning off the jammers.

Martinez handed him a satellite phone. “See if this will work.”

Sully dialed the command center they’d established at the ranch and got through.Thank you, God.The satellite jammers must truly be down. “This is Sullivan. I need all convenience stores within a ten-mile radius of the mine entrance mapped immediately.”

“Copy that,” came the response. “Stand by.” Less than a minute later, the voice came back. “Five possibilities, Agent Sullivan. There are two that are closed but three that are 24/7. Sending coordinates now.”

Sully studied the map that appeared on the screen. “Sheriff, I need your men to check the first location. It’s closest to the compound.”

“On it.” Donovan gestured to two deputies. “Johnson, Miller, with me.”

Sully pointed to the map and nodded to another team of agents. “Take down the guards and secure the entrance. If you go in, be careful. These old mines are death traps.” And Elena had gone in there. He shuddered. Sully stood, motioning to Cooper and Ramirez to join him. “You’re with me.” He turned to Martinez. “Can you take two men to the second store?”

Martinez nodded, then pointed to an agent nearby. “Brooks, take over Alpha and secure the mine entrance.”

“Let’s move,” Sully said.

They split up, each team carrying out their orders. Sully led his two agents through the forest. The convenience store he’d chosen was the farthest from the compound but closest to the main road. If Elena had escaped and was thinking clearly, she’d head for the most public location. He could only pray it was open.

God,please let her be okay. Please let us find her in time.

The moon cast silver light through the trees. Add that to their high-beam flashlights and they had a good view of the terrain. Sully checked his watch. Almost midnight. Elena had been missing for over six hours now. More if her father and Iris had been early to the meeting.

“Sullivan.” Cooper pointed ahead. “I think I see lights.”

Through the trees, Sully spotted the glow of what looked like a small store. “That’s it. Approach with caution. We don’t know if the preppers are already here.”

They moved forward in standard formation, weapons ready. The convenience store sat alone at a crossroads, its neon Open24 Hrssign buzzing in the night. A single pickup truck sat in the parking lot.

“Cooper, circle around back. Ramirez, with me.” Sully approached the front entrance, scanning for any sign of Elena or her pursuers.

Nothing.

They entered and the bell above the door jingled. An elderly man looked up from behind the counter, his eyes widening. “Whoa. What’s going on?”

“FBI.” Sully held up his badge. “Have you seen a woman come in tonight? Late twenties, dark hair, possibly injured? She would have asked to use the phone.”

The man shook his head. “Just Old Pete getting his usual cigarettes about an hour ago. Nobody else.”

“What about unusual vehicles? Anyone driving too fast, looking like they’re searching for someone?”

He took his glasses off and cleaned them on his shirt. “Well, now that you mention it, couple of trucks came through about twenty minutes ago. Driving like the devil himself was after them. Headed thataway.” He jerked a thumb in the opposite direction of the compound. That could be the preppers searching for Elena.

Sully’s satellite phone buzzed. “Sullivan.”

“Sheriff Donovan here. No sign of your girl at the first location. Place is closed up tight.”

His girl. If only. He snapped that thought off again. “Copy that.” Sully ended the call and turned to Ramirez. “Let’s see if Cooper found anything.”

They stepped outside, where Cooper rejoined them. “Nothing around back, sir. Just dumpsters.”

Sully stared down the road. If the preppers had gone that way, did it mean Elena had too? Or were they searching blindly?