Prey

"Supposed to be smooth sailing the entire way in. We're in a window right now. Weather station out of Tierra del Fuego says a big storm's coming in the next twenty-four hours. We get you down and take off again. You guys are on your own down there."

Julia smiled. "You guys just going to drop the back ramp and shove us off?"

"We might slow down."

"Thanks for the effort. Keep trying the station. I'd like to have some sort of welcome wagon waiting for us when we get there."

"Will do. We're about thirty minutes out."

Julia ducked back into the cabin. She'd never get used to riding in military transports. The C-130 Hercules was as stripped down as they came. A hollow and noisy interior that consisted of a few cots strung up and a curtained off pseudo-lavatory that she'd tried to avoid using on the way down.

Over Argentina, she'd had to finally give in. She still thought she smelled the harsh chemical residue clinging to her extreme cold weather parka. But she couldn't let it bother her. Not now. Not here.

She'd waited too long for this.

And she'd worked too damned hard.

Thirty-seven years old and the leader of an exploration team heading down to examine the geological make-up of the Baker Mountain range. Not bad for a gal from Duluth.

But even if she was the official head of the team that consisted of seven other men, she knew there was some strong resentment already rampant in their ranks.

Most of it came from Kendall.

Julia frowned at the thought of his smug self-righteous smile creasing his thin lips and oily skin. At forty he was deep in the throes of a mid-life crisis. The last thing he wants is to take orders from a girl, thought Julia.

Tough shit.

She grinned. There was that side of her peeking out again. She felt as thankful for its presence as she was concerned about it. It had never gotten her into trouble, but it had positioned her in some very interesting situations. It was because of that side of her that she was here — in charge.

She glanced around the interior of the plane again. The other members of her team, including Kendall were wide-awake and bouncing from the turbulence. They looked haggard and travel-weary.

Everyone that is, except for Mick.

He was asleep.

Julia almost grinned. She'd never known anyone who could sleep through the kind of noise the interior of a C-130 made. But it was as if the noise didn't even matter to Mick. His eyes looked heavy and his face perfectly relaxed.

Despite his being asleep, though, Julia could still see the hard lines etched into his skin. Deep chasms scored his forehead above a heavy brow line. Hard bones framed his face at his cheekbones and jawline. He had the sort of rugged looks that seemed to simultaneously attract and scare most women. He was handsome, Julia had decided a week ago when he'd first joined the team, but there was something else to him. Some sort of veil that surrounded his otherwise open and calm demeanor.

The fact that he'd only joined the team last week seemed odd enough. But he'd been the only suitable replacement after Wilson's sudden bout with appendicitis had disqualified him.

Mick.

His eyes opened then. A flash of bright blue that seemed to hit her like a laser shot from across the fuselage. She jerked, aware she'd been staring at him a little too long and averted her eyes.

When she risked a look back a moment later, Mick's eyes were closed again.

Asleep.

Or was he?

"So, Boss, what's the good word?"

Kendall. And the way he'd placed the emphasis on the word "boss" annoyed the hell out of her. But there was nothing he could do to disrupt this mission. Julia had already vowed to herself twenty times she wouldn't let that happen.

"Pilot can't contact the base."

"Why — is our radio down?"

"Says our radio is working just fine. Might be a problem at the base."

"But they know we're coming, right? We're not flying into someone's party without being invited are we?"

"Of course they know we're coming. We confirmed it last week during the normal communication window."

Kendall nodded. "Well, as long as you're on top of things. I suppose I can rest easy."

"I'm relieved, really I am, Kendall. It warms my heart to have all your confidence invested in me."

"Just so long as you realize this isn't some shopping excursion we're on. You screw up down here and people will die."

Julia sighed. "Kendall. Don't presume to tell me how to run this operation. I am well aware of where we are and what my responsibilities are. I'd hope you're as familiar with your own duties on this jaunt as you seem to be with mine."

"I'm versed in everyone's." Kendall smiled but there was no friendliness in it. "Just in case anyone gets hurt and I need to step in to fill the gap."

"There won't be any gaps to fill. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to check on our progress."