Smart thinking, and Aquarius saw where Aries was going with this.To build new nanobots, alien dude is gonna need more than cast-off junk and stuff bought at Best Buy.A comment made because recovered energy weapons used by the four-armed aliens showed them created from parts made on Earth.This chick might be able to direct us to a company with the ability and equipment capable of replicating the design.
Exactly.
Got some coordinates? I can head out asap.
Unfortunately, no. But Lance, the guy who hired her, will know how to reach her. I’m sending over his address now.
Wouldn’t it be simpler and quicker to call him?
I have. He refused to give me even her name.
Meaning Aquarius would have to play tough.
Or get the guy drunk.
The latter proved easy, too easy. The fellow passed out before Aquarius could question, but luckily, it didn’t take long to hack his home computer and find what he needed.
Whoever this Ishtar was, she would never see him coming.
CHAPTER 3
Ishtar frownedas the perimeter alarm sounded, something that hadn’t happened since she’d adjusted her motion detectors to ignore anything smaller than a person after getting tired of stray birds setting it off, usually the only other living thing that ever strayed into this area. Using her feet, she propelled her wheeled chair over to her security monitor and pulled up the cameras for the zone with the intruder warning. The video loaded, and she stared.
Stared long and hard at the man hiking through the valley, head swinging left and right, looking as if he were out for a casual stroll. Except…no one ever went for a stroll this deep in Antarctica. He didn’t belong, and his outfit only further proved it. He sported a parka meant for a mild winter, not the deep freeze of the southern pole and what seemed to be hiking boots, but wore no hat, nor gloves. He also didn’t carry a backpack or any gear for that matter, unless the gun holstered at his hip counted.
Did he come alone? Despite showing no other warnings, she quickly flipped between her cameras, checking the entire valley for movement. No one else and yet he remained one person toomany, and being aware of recent events in the world, a cold lick of fear went through her.
It found me.
Rising from her chair, Ishtar headed for the rack on the wall with its array of weapons. This would be first time she resorted to grabbing anything because she’d chosen her location, deep in the Antarctic, specifically because no one ever casually wandered by—until now. Problem being, none of her firepower might be enough.
Should she confront the intruder? Not if she could help it. Better to leave him wander and see nothing than realize someone actually lived here. Just in case, though, she headed for her aerie, a fancy name for an icy cave above her lair that allowed her to overlook the valley—and provided an excellent spot for sniping.
Before reaching the slit in the ice and rock that overlooked the valley, she dropped to her hands and knees, crawling to get into position. She lay flat on her belly and propped her rifle on a tripod before putting her eye to scope. It took but seconds to zero in on the intruder and decipher more details, such as the fact he appeared tall and lanky. His hair a shade of brown. His skin pale, as if he didn’t often see the sun, so not a habitual trekker of ice plains. Snow glare usually left skin burnt or tanned.
For some reason, he strutted straight for her, or at least the mountain ringing this side of the valley. How had he entered? The open area he strode couldn’t be easily accessed, the enclosed valley requiring a steep hike up a mountain then down a sheer and slippery, rocky face. Not a tourist; they weren’t allowed to visit this deep. A scientist? Didn’t seem likely, given they tended to stick close to their base stations, not to mention this area of the Antarctic sheet was considered too dangerous due to extreme sub-temperatures that could literally kill those exposed to it within minutes. The cold also hampered vehicle operationsuch as snowmobiles, helicopters, and planes. His presence made no sense. The valley, a barren, lifeless bowl, offered nothing of interest—except for me.
Tell that to the interloper who’d paused and spun in a circle as if seeking something.
He swiveled until he faced Ishtar’s hiding spot again and took a few more determined strides before bellowing, “Ishtar? I know you’re around here somewhere. I need to speak with you.”
Her brow lifted. Unexpected. One, he knew her name, and two, few people knew where to find her and those who did would never betray her location. The fact he sought her specifically made her more determined than ever to remain hidden. Let him wander aimlessly until he got bored and left or died. Assuming he could die. Ifithad found her, then nothing she did would matter.
Her satellite phone vibrated from the pocket tucked inside her jacket. She rolled to her back and pulled it free and recognized Lance’s number.
“What is it?” she murmured, her voice low enough it shouldn’t carry past the cave.
“Your location might have been compromised,” Lance said without preamble. “Sorry.”
Her lips pursed. “Explain.”
“I was at the bar when this dude by the name of Reece started chatting me up and buying me drinks.”
“Chatting about what?”
“Computers. He claimed to be some kind of hacker in town for a conference.”
“And?”
