Anticipation rose within her. In a few more days, when the ferry docked in Whittier, she’d break out her final ID and change her appearance. After that, she’d take the train to Anchorage to buy a used car.

And then find the town where she wanted to live.

Chapter Four

Men, we are surrounded by the enemy. That means we have the greatest opportunity ever presented to an army. We can attack in any direction we choose. ~ General Tony McAuliffe

Rescue had two whole blocks of businesses, and most of them were empty. Gabe slowed his Jeep as he drove down Main Street. Like an old derelict living on the streets, the town looked gaunt and faded. Older than its age. Paint was chipping off the wooden storefronts; the sidewalk in front of the stores was cracked, and most of the streetlights were busted.

He didn’t see any massive wave of tourists wandering the streets. Only a few cars were diagonally parked in front of businesses. Then again, the middle of May was a bit early for fishing season.

If there was a tourist season here.

There were no stop signs. No Welcome to Rescue signs. If the townspeople wanted this place to be welcoming, they needed to up their game.

He drove to Grebe Avenue, made a left, and left again down the gravel alley.

Caz said the municipal building housed the town offices and records rooms, the police station, and the medical clinic. All the departments shared the reception area. As he parked in the huge parking lot at the rear, he spotted a tattered windsock. Apparently, the lot also served as a helicopter-landing pad.

Three back doors led to the different sections of the building. Rather clever, actually, to house tax-funded services together. Many Alaskan towns were census-designated areas, not incorporated, and the services came from the borough. Rescue, though, had been large enough at one time to have incorporated and gotten a home rule charter.

As Gabe got out of the Jeep, movement caught his eye. He froze, adrenaline flooding his system.

Seeing the furry black rump disappearing into a clump of bushes, Gabe relaxed. The black bear had probably been scoping out the garbage cans.

And Gabe’s heart rate was still elevated. He shook his head. The minute he hit town, he started looking for insurgents behind every building.

Because a village was where he and his mercenary squad had been ambushed.

The hypervigilance from being in town would diminish with time and familiarity. Although it sucked at the moment.

He breathed out, forcing his shoulders, his chest, and his gut to stand down, then walked to the police station’s back door. In his pocket were the station’s keys he’d found on the kitchen table after Caz and Bull had left.

It’d taken him two weeks to leave his refuge. Bull was right about him being barn sour.