he told Dave as he checked the rest of their electronics.
“The signal comes and goes,” Dave said. “It’ll be back. Just keep an eye on it.”
Communication technology was one of Dave’s specialties. He was always a reliable and useful team member to have around, but right now Rio was extra-glad he was part of this particular mission.
“When you see it pop,” Dave continued, “even at low strength, even just a hint, give a shout. I’ll pull over and with a little luck we can bring in those images.”
“I’m on it,” Rio said.
“The admiral must be really worried.” Dave cleared his throat. “And I know you are, too.”
“The fact that these unidentifieds were out stomping around the mountainside in the middle of a very cold night, checking out the burned out SUV,” Rio said, “is a good sign. They’re actively looking for something—or more accurately someone.”
“It could also be a bad sign,” Dave pointed out, “since images didn’t reveal two living human bodies, hiding from the others. If the lieutenant and Tasha aren’t with one of the groups of un-IDs, and they’re not by themselves...”
“There are plenty of options besides they’re dead.” Rio ticked them off on his fingers. “They found a car and escaped down the mountain and are currently hiding in a Motel 6; they never actually left the airfield and are currently hiding somewhere back in town, probably in a Motel 6; they hiked out of targeted range and are currently heading—”
Dave said it with him, “For a Motel 6. I’m sensing a theme.”
“It’s the only motel in the town near the airfield, so I’m pretty sure Thomas would avoid it, if someone’s really looking for them. But he’s not a big fan of camping,” Rio said. “You know, maybe the infrared images were taken right when he was coming up behind one of the groups of unidentifieds, right before he took them all out, grabbed their vehicle, and headed to safety.”
He heard how crazy that sounded as the words came out of his mouth, but Dave was respectful.
“You seriously think Lieutenant King would’ve just let Tasha help?” he asked. “Just let her charge with him, into danger? Wouldn’t he have—more realistically—tucked her away someplace safe? And if so, why didn’t the infrareds pick that up?”
Good point.
“You know, the fact that all those heat signals were out by the burned out SUV,” Dave continued, still a tad slowly and carefully, “actually means that if there were bodies, either nearby or in the vehicle, they’ll probably be moved before we get there.”
Rio shook his head. He didn’t want to hear that, thanks. “Caves,” he said. “Maybe they found a cave. Mountains have caves.”
Dave sighed. Just a little.
“Or maybe they found a mine,” Rio persisted. “The ski lodge isn’t that far from New Hampshire—the Granite State.”
“Granite is quarried,” Dave said.
“Still,” Rio said. “Big holes in the ground.”
“Big open holes in the ground.”
“Okay, so maybe not so much with a mine or quarry then, but mountains still have caves, or Jesus, rocky cliff-like overhangs. Infrared imaging’s awesome, but it won’t pick up heat signals if Thomas and Tasha are underground.”
“Okay, you’re right. You win.” Dave laughed a little as he glanced at Rio. But his eyes were sad, and Rio heard the words his teammate didn’t say: But really, what are the odds of that?
Thomas used the knock they’d agreed upon before he left—the rhythm of the Lizzo lyrics Just walk your fine ass out the door. Tash had chosen it because she claimed that the men who’d grabbed her would have no clue who Lizzo was. But Thomas suspected she also got some kind of special glee from having him tap that specific line.
He’d expected to have to knock more than once, but he’d barely finished before the lock on the heavy door was released. He pushed while Tash pulled.
“Fun fact,” she said. “The lights down here go out for five seconds when the hatch door is opened. First time it happened, I got a little nervous, but it did it again when you came back, so it’s clearly some kind of royal-sex-pod-user warning system. Like, Quick, put your clothes back on, your highness, someone’s coming!”
Hope was bright in her eyes as she looked out at him, then peered behind him toward the stairs, as if she’d expected him to bring the rescue team down here with him.
“Nothing yet,” he told her, emphasis hard on the yet.
Now her eyes were filled with uh-oh as he came inside and shut and