WAR: Intrusion (7 page)

So much for his hope that he’d find the missing weapons here.

Laughter from the classroom let him know Dr. Kirk was still teaching, so Lachlan wandered into the jungle. He didn’t go far, not wanting to tempt Dr. Kirk to leave without him. After completing an exploration of the immediate perimeter, he called Tony.

Lachlan reported the disappointment at the airfield, his discovery of the loan documents, his suspicions about Dr. Kirk having a hidden storage room, then explained that he’d found nothing suspicious here at the school. “Tell me you had better luck.”

“Sorry, mate. The only luck I had was in snapping a number of headshots of the pilot. Did anything about him seem familiar to you?”

“No. But I did notice that he kept his face averted. I doubt it’s because I’m that terrifying.”

“I don’t know, Commander, you can be pretty scary.”

Lachlan snorted. It still felt odd to be referred to as Commander, which he thought of as a bloke behind a desk, but WAR had attracted soldiers from such a variety of countries that it had developed a unique command structure. “What else do you have for me?”

“Nothing,” Tony said with disgust. “I followed that Kwesi fellow away from the airfield, but all he did was park that hideous lorry behind his house, then disappear inside. His children have been playing in the yard all morning, but their father hasn’t come out. I’m so bloody bored, I almost asked the kiddies if I could join their football game.”

“I have a better job for you. Why don’t you work some of your magic and search Dr. Kirk’s private quarters at the bungalow? Even if she finishes in the next few minutes I reckon we won’t be back at the clinic for another hour.”

“I thought you’d never ask. Anything else you need me to do?”

“No, just stay alert.” Lachlan explained about the vandalism.

Tony whistled. “Do you think it was a direct attack against the doctor?”

“Possibly. She hasn’t mentioned receiving any threats, and there’s been no attempt to interfere with her restocking the clinic, so it’s unlikely to be the start of a campaign to run her off. Still—”

“I know. Don’t rule anything out. No worries. I’ll look for any evidence that there’s more to the story.”

The idea of Tony going through Dr. Kirk’s things bothered Lachlan so much he almost rescinded his order and told Tony that he’d do the search himself. If he didn’t know better, he’d call the emotion jealousy. But he didn’t get jealous. Besides, even if he was starting to like the woman, he could never fully trust a doctor. So he had no right to feel jealous and possessive.

Once he’d ended the call with Tony and checked that Dr. Kirk was still busy, Lachlan grabbed his rucksack, then found a spot where no one in the classroom would be able to spot him. Pulling out his field laptop, he transferred the photos of the loan document to the computer, then uploaded them to WAR’s secure server. He sent an email to the research department, copy to Kris, requesting a background search on Sani Natchaba and his business, with particular emphasis on whether SN Investments had been linked to the rebels.

That done, he pulled out a map and marked off this area as having been searched. Where had the weapons gone after being delivered to the airfield? With their limited resources, WAR didn’t have access to any satellites with advanced imaging features and the local government had never bothered to create a detailed map of this region. What satellite images WAR had gained access to had failed to show any rebel camps or military installations nearby. He and Tony had found no evidence of large lorries moving equipment over the roads. Since most of the roads intersecting the jungle were dirt, any transport would also be at the mercy of the weather.

Without the photos as evidence, Lachlan would have dismissed the idea that weapons were coming into this remote spot. But Lars, his team’s tech guru, had agreed with the other techs at WAR’s headquarters that the photos had not been doctored. So the weapons must be some place within easy driving distance. He had pegged the clinic as the most likely location, yet he’d not found any weapons. Perhaps Dr. Kirk’s storage room was underground. Few buildings in Africa extended below ground level, but with Layla’s Foundation being so security conscious, an underground storage facility made sense. It would also make an excellent hiding spot for the weapons.

He or Tony would have to return to the clinic tonight and search for a hidden entrance.

After a few more minutes of fruitless speculation regarding the ultimate destination of the weapons, Lachlan put his map away. He settled underneath a shady tree within eyesight of the SUV and closed his eyes, listening with half an ear to the interaction between Dr. Kirk and the local women. The women treated Dr. Kirk with a combination of respect and sisterly teasing that led to frequent bouts of laughter. And Dr. Kirk teased them back with a familiarity that spoke of how well-integrated she was into the community.

Similar to how Lachlan was hoping to be received by his new team. Aye, Tony and the others had begun to tease and joke with him on occasion, but there was a certain hesitancy behind it. As if they weren’t yet certain how Lachlan would respond. Or if they really wanted to accept him as one of their own. After all, the Americans on the team had all previously served under Kris as members of the U.S. government’s black ops group Unit 3. Since Kris and the others had joined WAR roughly eighteen months ago, they’d mostly been working on ad hoc missions and training new recruits. These past six months had been the first time Kris had attempted to create discrete military units out of WAR’s volunteers.

While Lachlan was flattered that Kris had chosen him, the newest recruit, to lead one of the primary teams, he wondered what it would take to fully earn the loyalty of his teammates.

“Sleeping on the job?” Dr. Kirk asked, her voice tinged with amusement.

“Nay, doctor, I heard you coming. But I recognized your walk and know you’re no threat.” He opened his eyes to find her glaring at him.

“Really? What makes you think that after you’ve barged into my life and unearthed my secrets that I wouldn’t take an opportunity to rid myself of you?”

Normally Lachlan wouldn’t allow himself to be vulnerable by remaining seated when faced with an opponent. But he found that he enjoyed having Dr. Kirk look down her nose at him while her green eyes sparked with temper. “You won’t hurt me, lass.” He pushed to his feet just for the pleasure of getting inside her personal space and was rewarded by her soft gasp and a glimpse of her tongue as it darted out to wet her lips.

She stepped back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that so?”

“Aye. I haven’t once seen you raise your hand in anger. Even when I’ve made you furious.” He gave her a smile. “I think you’re starting to like me, doctor.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”

He laughed, which only seemed to annoy her further. But before he could follow up, one of the women called out to Dr. Kirk.

“Come on, MacKay, it’s time to make yourself useful.” Dr. Kirk indicated that he should follow her over to the classroom where her student’s easels waited to be returned to the bus along with several hand-painted banners in both English and the local language.

“They’re for the festival tomorrow,” Dr. Kirk explained. “The women have rented a table and will be passing out health brochures we’ve had printed up, along with free condoms.”

“Perhaps I should grab a few,” he teased with a wink. Then immediately regretted his words as pictures of the two of them hot and sweaty, using condom after condom, filled his mind, causing his whole body to tighten with need.

Dr. Kirk gaped at him, then shoved one of the displays into his arms. The poster board luckily hid the lower half of his body, giving him the few meters until the bus to get his body under control. Taken aback by how quickly his attitude toward Dr. Kirk had shifted into dangerously sensual territory, Lachlan refrained from further teasing while they packed up the rest of the equipment.

Helen hugged her students good-bye, then they hit the road.

“We’re not going back to the clinic?” Lachlan asked forty-five minutes later as they passed the clinic’s driveway.

“Not yet. I want to drop off these displays at my bungalow and grab a quick bite to eat.”

Lachlan glanced at the clock on the dash. He hoped Tony had finished with his search, because he had no way of warning his teammate they were coming. Given the security bars over the bungalow’s windows, the only avenue of escape was the main door.

When they arrived, Dr. Kirk backed the SUV up to the courtyard’s gate, then Lachlan helped her carry the first load into her bungalow. As he followed her into the first room on the left, which had been turned into an exam room, he caught a glimpse of Tony’s boot tip sticking out from the bedroom doorway.

Shite. Tony would have to walk past the open door to this room to reach the front door, then pass by the windows on his way out of the courtyard.

Dr. Kirk had her back to Lachlan as she set her box on the table against the bedroom wall. When she turned around, Lachlan did the only thing he could think of in order to make certain Tony could make his escape.

He grabbed her and kissed her.

The instant his lips met hers he felt an electric jolt all the way to his toes. He forgot that he’d simply meant the kiss as a distraction. He gentled his hold, cupping her head with one hand and pressing on her lower back with the other as he coaxed her lips to open for him.

After a startled exclamation, Dr. Kirk softened and parted her lips, accepting his tongue. Male triumph flared inside him. Barely able to hold on to the thought that he was trying to help Tony, Lachlan backed Helen up until she was pressed against the wall beside the door, unable to see out. Rearranging his position, Lachlan stuck his arm into the main room and gestured frantically for Tony to exit.

Once Lachlan saw the dark shadow of Tony walking past the window, he let go of the reins holding back his desire. He placed his hand where he truly wanted it, on Helen’s breast. She murmured in approval and arched into his touch. Her fingers laced behind his neck and pulled him closer.

Christ. She was so soft. So willing. He focused on drawing out more greedy sounds of encouragement from Helen, each sound shooting fire through his veins. Her mouth was pure ambrosia, more potent than the finest Scotch. He never wanted to stop kissing her. And why should he? This might be the only opportunity he’d get to explore the passion between them. He—

“Dr. Kirk? Dr. Kirk?!” The panicked female voice sounded as if the woman were right here in the room with them.

Helen gasped, then put her hands on Lachlan’s chest and pushed him away.

For a long moment they stared at one another. He loved the way her breath came in shallow pants and her lips were swollen and slick from his kisses.

“Dr. Kirk, please. Are you there?”

Helen turned her head toward the corner to her right. “That’s the shortwave. I need to go.”

Lachlan reluctantly stepped back, instantly mourning the loss of her body heat.

She hurried over to the tiny desk at the other end of the room and picked up the microphone of the shortwave radio. “Yes, Leticia, I’m here.”

“Thank heavens.” The woman switched to the local language. After a quick exchange, Helen signed off.

“What’s happened?”

She strode past him. “One of the workers sliced open his hand while trimming a piece of metal support. Leticia is having trouble stopping the bleeding and thinks Abeeku will need stitches.” She made quick work of locking up the bungalow, then they were both in the SUV and racing toward the clinic.

Regret warred with relief over the interruption. He was leaving tomorrow night. Despite the fierce attraction between them, he had no wish for a one-night stand.

Aye, it was much better that he remember she was a doctor and he a trained killer. Even without his distrust, they’d never fit.

CHAPTER FIVE

THE
NEXT MORNING, Helen arrived at the clinic a little before dawn. She stifled a yawn as she unlocked the front door. Between stitching up Abeeku’s hand, supervising the cleanup of the clinic—including the blood from Abeeku’s accident—and putting the final touches on the signage for the festival, the remainder of yesterday had flown by. She’d finally fallen into bed, exhausted, a bit after midnight. But thanks to mingled nervousness and excitement over the grand opening, and her inability to stop replaying that earth-stopping kiss, she’d tossed and turned for hours. Wishing she’d had time to make a second cup of coffee, she walked through the clinic, her footsteps echoing in the empty corridor. She’d asked Lachlan to wait outside, explaining that she needed a private moment to review the work that had been done.

In the lab, she ran her finger over the sparkling counter. They’d actually done it. Not only restored the clinic to its pre-break-in condition, but taken it one more level. Pride blossomed into a huge smile of relief. Whether or not Lachlan’s boss and the other potential donors decided to invest, she and her staff had worked a small miracle in the past two months. They deserved today’s celebration.

Unfortunately, Mr. Natchaba had informed her that business would keep him away from the festival. Still, Helen wished he’d change his plans and show up. None of this would have been possible without his assistance and she wanted to thank him again in person.

Helen checked her watch. Seeing that she was out of time, she took one last look around the lab. For expediency’s sake, they’d left the files and most pieces of equipment in place when they’d closed the clinic last night. Helen and her staff would return from the festival an hour ahead of the dignitaries in order to set up the food and bring the most expensive equipment out of storage. Gloria and Mrs. N’Dorah, the head of Layla’s Foundation, would arrive shortly after that, to be in place to welcome the VIPs.

Still smiling, Helen headed outside. She nodded to the two local men who’d been hired, at Lachlan’s suggestion, to provide extra protection for the clinic overnight. Lachlan had pointed out that the newly restocked clinic would provide a tempting target for thieves, and that with almost all of the villagers planning to attend the festival, the chances of a crime being noticed, even during daylight, were slim. So two other men were scheduled to arrive in a few minutes to relieve the overnight guards.