“I have a woman with me,” Edge said to reassure her. “She’ll be here any minute. You don’t have to be afraid.”

Some of the stiffness went out of her spine.

“If you promise not to scream, I’ll take my hand away.”

She nodded, and Edge moved his hand a few inches from her mouth. He noticed her bottom lip was puffy. “What are you doing out here?” he asked softly, easing his hold on her a little. “Are you meeting someone?”

She shook her head.

“Are you trying to escape? If you are, I can help you.”

Tears spilled onto her cheeks. “If they catch us, they’ll kill us.”

Edge’s jaw hardened. “They can try.”

Just then Skye appeared. “What’s going on?”

The woman’s knees went weak as she realized he had been telling her the truth.

His hold tightened to keep her upright. “Everything’s okay,” he said softly, setting her back on her feet. “This is Skye.”

“Hello. What’s your name?” Skye asked.

“Molly.” She fiercely clutched her satchel.

“It’s about time for the guards to make their rounds,” Edge warned. “As soon as they’re gone, we’ll leave.” He looked at Skye. “Molly’s going with us.”

Skye took one look at Molly’s battered face and immediately understood. She grabbed the woman’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Just do what Edge tells you and you’ll be okay.”

Edge pulled his Beretta, and they eased back behind the metal sheds to wait. The guards moved along the fences, meeting at the corner, talking for what seemed hours but was less than five minutes, then started back the way they had come.

“Let’s go.” Edge motioned for Skye to lead the way. Molly fell in behind her, and Edge followed, weapon in hand. As they made their way silently back toward the hole in the chain-link fence, he wondered how Molly had planned to get out of the compound.

They reached the opening behind the bush, and in minutes, they were on the other side, the fence back in place behind them. Skye dropped down into the ravine, and Molly followed. As Edge fell in behind them, he noticed the uneven rhythm of Skye’s footsteps as she made her way over the rough ground toward the car.

He knew she had been wounded in Afghanistan, knew her left leg had been injured badly enough to end her military service and send her home, but he had rarely noticed any physical impairment.

As soon as they got back to the motel, he’d take a look, make sure she was all right.

It didn’t take long to reach the car. With no back seat, Skye and Molly both crammed into the passenger seat for the ride back to the motel. Not for the first time, he vowed to buy a second vehicle, one more practical for his job.

“You all right?” he asked Skye as the car bumped over the dirt road. “I noticed you favoring your leg.”

“I stepped wrong, is all. No big deal.”