"It's probably just a mouse," Lisa replied, tipping boxes forward to look behind them. Shari was relieved when Lisa wasn't able to find anything.

Lisa turned her attention to shining the light back in the crawl space that went under the breezeway. "Well, hello there."

She found a pair of thick tough work gloves and pulled herself partway up into the crawl space, reaching back. A moment later she wiggled back, holding something in her hands.

"Yuck," Kate said flatly.

Shari found herself looking at a mole. It was horrifyingly fascinating. "Hejust came inside to get out of the rain. His tunnels must be filling up with water," Lisa said, looking at the six-inch smooth furry animal, holding him firmly. "Did you know a cat would catch him but not eat him? He'S too bitter."

"I can see why," Kate replied.

"I've never had a mole before."

"You're going to keep him?" Kate asked, then shook her head. "Never mind, of course you are."

Shari found a shoebox being used to store candles and emptied it out. "Lisa, will this do?"

Marcus's sister looked at her, grateful, then carefully put the animal inside. "Thanks."

"He is kind of cute."

Lisa grinned. "I think I like you, Shari Hanford. I'm going to name him Charlie."

Thunder rumbled overhead. The humor disappeared. "I sure hope this cellar doesn't leak. That rain is pounding down."

"It's dry. Just look at the cobwebs."

Shari turned a crate over and tested it, then took a seat. "Kate, could I tell you a secret?" She had waited forjust the right moment.

"Sure. I love secrets."

"Did you know Marcus hates broccoli?"

Small rivers of water were cutting into the sun-baked land of yesterday. running across Marcus's boots as he moved through the darkness. The driving rain covered the sound of his movements...and those of his adversary.

He worked his way from the house east, slipping into the trees he had sketched that morning. The branches and leaves blocked some of the rain, transforming the storm into heavy raindrops and a deafening assault of sound. It was a dangerous place to be not only because of the lightning. Lucas would have to come this way in order to get line of sight on the living room and the one remaining light on in the house.

He reached the oldest of the oak trees and put his back against it, eliminating his silhouette, listening intently. Locating a man in this...

A shot rang out.

Kate surged from her seat, heading for the steps out of the cellar. "That was a gunshot, not lightning."

Lisa grabbed her from behind.

Kate tempered her instinct to throw an elbow since it was family, tried to break free, only to have Lisa literally try to lift her off her feet. "We wait," Lisa insisted.

"That was close to the house, now let me go."

Lisa just tightened her hold. "No. I can't keep Shari safe like you can. I'm not as good a shot. Dave is fine, Kate. Dave is fine."

"You don't know that," Kate whispered, breathing hard but stopping the struggle.

"He'S too stubborn to get killed."

Shari tentatively touched her arm. "Marcus and Quinn...with Dave they're practically the three musketeers. They'll cover each other's backs."

"They'll try." Kate said grimly. Lisa let her go, and she paced away from the stairs. "I hate waiting."

Lucas was picking off their perimeter guards. As a tactic, it was an effective one. Marcus's heart pounded as he ignored the radio traffic over his earpiece. Others were helping the injured man. Ie focused on putting himself between the shooter and the man that had gone down. The movement made him a target, but it couldn't be helped.

Lucas was close. Already south of the house. Marcus reached the edge of the trees. Lucas could pick them off; they could also pick him off. As a plan, it left much to be desired, but it would work. At this point, that was the only thing that mattered.

He needed a place to wait out Lucas. And this wasn't it. He wanted to be situated so Lucas would have to literally go over him to get to the house.

He stepped from the tree line. Lightning struck close, hitting and exploding a tree on the ridge. Marcus dove for the ground as another shot rang out.

That one had been meant for him.

At least he now knew with reasonable certainty that Lucas too had set aside using a nightscope because of the lightning. One man injured instead of killed, an actual miss...Lucas was using the lightning to establish his shots; he would have never missed otherwise. Marcus said a silent thanks for small favors as he spit mud out of his mouth. That had been too close for comfort.

He crawled toward cover. Lucas was directly south.

A single click over the earpiece alerted him to company. Ie cautiously turned his head, scanning, and a shadow behind him to the right lifted a hand. Dave had joined him.

Marcus pointed to the knoll ahead, his best guess. Lucas had moved to the high ground. Dave nodded.

Eighteen minutes. Marcus had counted every second. He knew where the man was; he'd actually seen the muzzle fire of the last shot. Patience. Lucas would move to change locations or he would try to shoot again.

Stretched out on the ground with his gun sighted on the knoll, Marcus waited. Water rushed in the front of his shirt, his body acting like a dam in the way of what was becoming a river. The wind was easing up, the intense storm cell drifting east, but the rain had intensified. It pounded on his back, his jacket now a heavy weight. There was not an inch of him that was d They had triangulated on Lucas, Quinn taking the left flank, Dave the right. It would be possible to flush him out if Marcus were willing to use the other agents, but it wasn't worth another injury and possibly the first death.

He'd wait.

Because he wasn't going to lose.

If he made a mistake, he was dead.

There was nothing like a foxhole to focus one heart and mind on what really mattered.

What was really true.

Jesus, please be my Savior again. You've waited a long time. I'm back, and I'm all Yours.

He relaxed, finally at peace.

Lightning spidered overhead between the clouds. The light illuminated a man lifting from the ground. Having sketched that face so many times it took only an instant for Marcus to confirm an identity Taking him alive wasn't even considered. Protecting a witness came first. Protecting those he loved. Marcus pulled the trigger.

The shot knocked Lucas back and down.

Shaking slightly that he'd actually caught Lucas moving, Marcus rose from the ground and tightened his grip on his weapon. He held it in both hands in a shooter's stance as he walked forward with care, expecting to have to react. He didn't trust that stillness.

Quinn joined him. Lucas had crumpled on his side. They stood in silence as rain beat down on them. Quinn knelt and closed the man's eyes.

"It's "

a shame he ever went bad, he said heavily "Had he worked on the right side of the law, he would have been one of the best."

"He just about got through." Marcus bolstered his Glock. He bent to retrieve the sniper rifle, carefully cleared the chamber. The hollow point would have been lethal had Lucas been able to draw a bead on Shari. Jesus, it was necessary. But I'm sorry.

Quinn accepted the rifle. "Ask Lisa to join me with her cameras. Dave and I will put together the case scene notes then get your statement. You can't help, and Shari doesn't need to see this."

Marcus knew he was right. "I'll get them. The men?"

"Brad hit in the shoulder, Gary in the arm. They'll recover."

And Lucas Saracelli was dead. Shari was safe for now. Marcus wasn't sure what to tell her. It had been necessary to kill, but it hurt. Would she understand?

Shari started at the thud from above. Kate shoved her back against the dirt wall and the cellar shelves, her pistol coming up, sighted. Four knocks, a pause, and two more came sharp against the wood, and then the large wooden doors swung open. "Don't shoot me, Kate," Dave protested. "You ladies okay down there?"

"Fine," Kate replied dryly, lowering her pistol from a direct bead on Dave's face. "But Lisa has found a new pet."

Shari shook slightly as the relief settled across her. The wait had been horrible. They stepped out of the back shadows into the light of the one bare bulb as Dave came down the six wooden stairs. Kate was now acting as if it hadn't bothered her, and Shari silently shook her head at that even as she understood it. Lisa opened the shoebox lid so Dave could glance inside. "That is not flying back on the plane with us." "I-Ie's just scared." "Sure."

"I think he's kind of cute," Kate commented, coming to her sister's defense.

"Cute," Dave replied, doubtful.

Lisa moved to the stairs. "What happened? Is Quinn okay? Marcus?" "Let's talk upstairs," Dave replied. He stepped back to let them precede him.

Shari was grateful to leave behind the claustrophobic reality of being underground. She found Marcus in the kitchen, wiping his face dry. His expression was grim. "What happened?" she whispered. "Where's Quinn?"

"I-Ie's fine." Marcus held out his arm, and she accepted the silent invitation, not caring that he was dripping wet. I-Ie wrapped both arms around her, hugged her close. "Lucas is dead."

She froze. "He was here?"

Marcus rubbed her back. "Quinn spotted him when he was making the rounds."

"Who killed him? Quinn?"

"I did."

Marcus had shot someone to keep her safe. She rubbed her cheek against his wet shirt, seeking to add warmth, seeking to comfort, knowing how awful that must be to deal with, and feeling ashamed at the relief she felt. "I'm sorry you'll have to carry that."

"I promised I wouldn't let anyone hurt you."

"I'm grateful. The others? We heard shots."

"Two injured, they are going to be fine." He eased back, saw her worry.

"It could have been much worse," he said softly. "Let it go."

Lisa had joined them. Marcus reached over and squeezed Lisa's shoulder. "Quinn needs your help."

"He actually asked for my help?"

"He did," Marcus confirmed, smiling slightly. "Go enjoy it."

"I will." She lifted the box in her hand. "Could you watch Charlie for me?"

"What did you find?"

"Another friend. Dave isn't so sure about letting him fly home with us though."

Marcus opened the lid to look inside, then raised one eyebrow. "Got your backpack?"

She nodded.

"Tuck the box inside. Quinn will smuggle him back for you."

"Think so?"

"Oh, I think so."

She sighed. "If he keeps this up, I mayjust have to change my mind about him. Then life will get boring."

Marcus took the shoebox. "Somehow I don't think that will happen."

"Let me go get to work." She kissed his cheek. "Shari, get him some coffee to warm him up. Unless you can think of a better way."

Shari blushed.

"GO Marcus laughed and swatted Lisa's arm. on. Quit embarrassing my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" Shari whispered as the kitchen door swung shut.

He carefully set the shoebox down on the table, his startled look confirming he hadn't meant to say it that way. "Got a problem with that?"

"Well-"

"Oh, now I'm getting that grin that spells danger. What are you thinking, minx?" He linked his hands behind her back, his hold light, his gaze frank and appreciative.

"Do cops have girlfriends who are politicians?"

"This one does."

"No, let's think about it."

"Honey. I have. And if you haven't, we've got to talk about your lack of thinking ahead. I hear it's a politician's greatest asset."