Loyal Wolf. Linda O. Johnston

just now.

      Next, she did as she had planned from the moment they had set out on this drive. She made a left turn at one of the traffic lights, then drove them onto the narrowing lane they had come from before.

      This time, though, she went beyond where the cabin motel lay, heading down the road even farther.

      There was a sparse number of homes along it, some tiny, others large, mostly in good condition, but a few were run-down cottages that had been there forever. All were set in the midst of large stands of trees, some with branches carved back to avoid blocking the road and others somewhat in the way.

      Eventually, she reached the turnoff she had been looking for, a very narrow, nondescript driveway. No one could tell from this better-traveled drag what lay beyond.

      She knew. She had visited it, several times. And had seen the huge chain-link fence that had been built in the middle of nowhere.

      Farther down the drive, the guard at the gate had not let her through, claiming that it was private property and everything was fine there. No need for law enforcement’s interference...er, help.

      “That’s the way to the enclave in question.” She slowed and pointed in that direction.

      “All the way out here?” Ralf leaned forward so his head was between the front seats. “Guess that could make someone suspicious in itself.”

      Was he questioning her thought processes? Kathlene would have expected that more from Jock—although she really didn’t know Ralf any better than she knew her supposed friend from the past.

      “But it looks innocent enough,” Jock observed.

      Okay. No surprise. He was questioning her, too.

      “From here, yes,” she acknowledged. “Farther along...well, I’m sure you’ll see for yourselves soon.” With me along, she thought, but didn’t voice it just then.

      Now, though, it was time to go back.

      She found the turnoff she was looking for a mile down the road, then maneuvered her SUV to return in the direction from which they’d come.

      Once again, they drove along the narrow road with conifers looming overhead—lodgepole pines, junipers, cedars, firs. Every once in a while the blue sky showed through, but the roadway was mostly shaded.

      Kathlene knew it would be unpleasant to come here at night, and she hadn’t done so...yet. But she suspected she would. Maybe with these Alpha Force men.

      Soon they again reached the area where the motel cabins lay. Kathlene smiled grimly to herself, wondering what awaited her here this time.

      Was she really going to fight Jock?

      Hell, yes, if that was the only way to get him to cooperate.

      She had done extremely well as a rookie, training to become a deputy sheriff. She had outfought all of the other would-be deputies, male and female.

      Sheriff Frawley had yet to acknowledge her skills—even though she still engaged in training exercises with other deputies more experienced than she was.

      Would surprising Jock, toppling him, be enough to convince him?

      Even if it didn’t, it would certainly improve her frustrated state of mind.

      Although, considering how sexy she found the muscular guy staring at the narrow, barely paved road in front of them, it was bound to cause her another kind of frustration.

      Jock hadn’t actually responded to her dare. But the moment they reached the large cabin at the front of the development that contained the offices, he jumped out.

      After one cold stare and shake of his head, he turned away from Kathlene.

      Fine with her. She waited until Ralf got out of the backseat. Would he try to talk her out of her challenge?

      She’d gathered, from the way the two men interacted, that Jock was probably the superior-ranking military officer, with Ralf perhaps reporting to him.

      That was something else she wanted to know, in addition to what Alpha Force was really about.

      How could these men, members of this particular unit, help to figure out what was going on here better than other cops or military members?

      Well, if she won their fight, Jock would owe her. He’d have to let her help in their investigation.

      And he’d also have to tell her more, including about Alpha Force.

      But would he?

      He damn well better.

      * * *

      They’d gone back to the cabin. All three of them.

      “So...thanks for showing us around, Kathlene,” Jock said, finally glancing at her. She’d been helpful, but now it was time for her to go. “We’ll get more of the lay of the land tomorrow morning on our own. What’s your schedule? Can we meet you for lunch? That’ll fit with our cover story.”

      “Yes,” she said curtly. “It will. And I’ll be glad to meet you then. But my next day off is Friday, the day after tomorrow. We’ll get together in between, too, when I can. You’ll keep me apprised in between by phone or meeting, let me know what you learn. I’ll join up with you as much as I can.”

      She looked so attractive as she snarled at him, her hair still pulled back from that gorgeous face.

      But she was still trying to take control of a situation that he controlled.

      Wasn’t going to happen.

      “We’ll keep you apprised,” he agreed mildly. “Let us know what time you can take off for lunch tomorrow. And we’ll let you know every step we’ve taken.” After we take it. But he didn’t say that aloud.

      She obviously figured it out, though. “No, like I said, I’m going to be part of this. You remember my challenge?”

      “Now look, Kathlene,” Ralf said. “We know you were joking, but—”

      “I wasn’t,” she responded curtly, still staring at Jock.

      “Of course I remember it,” he retorted. “But Ralf’s right. It was—”

      “Then let’s get started,” she interrupted. “You win and I’ll comply with what you’ve said. I win, and I’m dead center in the middle of the operation. Got it?”

      “Yes, but—”

      He was shocked. Amused. And taken by surprise as the lovely, slim woman removed her sheriff’s department jacket, belt with its holster and radio, and dropped them on the floor.

      And then she approached him fast, hands out, and grabbed him by the arms.

       Chapter 3

      Jock Larabey’s body felt just as muscular as it looked. Kathlene wasn’t surprised by that. In fact, she’d felt it before, when they’d hugged.

      She’d only hoped to take him by surprise, here in the middle of the cabin’s main room on its polished wood floor, between the beds and sitting area she had checked out previously. She had to get him to take her seriously, and defeating him like one of the guys should help.

      “Hey!” Ralf shouted, and out of the corner of her eye Kathlene saw him approaching, his hands out, too, as if he intended to pull her away.

      She wouldn’t let him. But fighting two muscular men at once?

      That could be a problem.

      She was gratified, therefore, to hear Jock snap out, “Stay back, Ralf. In fact, get out of here. I’ve got this covered.”

      He didn’t, of course, but fortunately Ralf backed off and stormed out of the cabin. Good.

      But why had Jock done