“Frankie.” He waited until she finally met his gaze. “I’d still like to offer you the job of manager, even knowing you’ll leave when the time comes. You’re doing most of the work already. I’d like to dump the rest on you.”

She exhaled slowly. “You’re crazy, Bull. You don’t know me.”

“But I’m trying to.” He laid his hand over hers. “Someday, I hope you’ll trust me enough to tell me what really brought you here.”

She blinked hard, dropping her gaze. “It’s not… I do trust you.”

There was that, at least.

As though unhappy with what she’d said, she rose hastily. “I’ll take the position. Show me what I need to know and what my duties are.”

Cheering would probably scare his little prey right out of the room.

She frowned. “I still want to put in time as a server in the bar. I won’t give that up.”

Interesting. Why so adamant? “You’ll be doing the scheduling. That will be in your control.”

“Oh. All right then.”

As he led the way to her office space, he felt his own determination rising inside him. Damned if he wasn’t going to figure out what was going on with her.

Chapter Sixteen

There are two ways to do something…the right way, and again ~ US Navy SEALS

In the city park woods, Frankie tripped over a root and used her staff to catch herself. Whew. Face-planting would really hurt, since she was wearing something that resembled a mini-telescope over her left eye. The head mount, which consisted of a bunch of straps around her head, held the night vision monocular device—the NVM—over her left eye. It felt like she was peering at a glowing green world through a toilet paper roll. No wonder she was still tripping now and then. Grrr.

It was totally amazing. She could actually see even in this thick forest where the light of the moon barely penetrated.

After a few days of practice, she’d gotten a lot better. Her lips firmed. She needed to be perfect if she was going to lead Kit and Aric out of the compound in a week. Even with the awkward bolt cutters and gear going to the compound and Aric in a child carrier on her back on the way out, she’d have to be fast and silent.

But things were coming together…and, to her surprise, she’d come to love the quiet of the deep forest, the tiny rustles of animals, the smell of evergreens, the patterns of light and shadow. There was a kind of peace here she’d never found anywhere else.

It would have been even better if her hikes had nothing to do with the fanatic cult members.