Free aHunter4Rescue (aHunter4Hire) by Cynthia Clement Page A

your voice?”
    Fiona
rolled her eyes. “It’s like a recorder. When you don’t pick up your phone people
can still talk into it. They must have called when we were with the soldiers.”
    Fiona
went back into the house. She had her orders and she wasn’t budging from this
place until someone from the group came to get her. She owed them too much to
just ignore their advice.
    “Why
would they send this message?” Ardal left the door open behind him.
    “I
asked them for advice.”
    “What
did you tell them?” Ardal turned her to face him.
    Fiona
shrugged off his hands. “I didn’t mention you or your men. I just said that the
military was looking around the area for someone.”
    “They
do not have all the facts. It is not possible for them to make an informed
decision.” Ardal shook his head. “You will only be protected with us. We leave
now.”
    “I
have to stay. I promised.” Fiona bit her lower lip. “You don’t understand. If
it wasn’t for these people I wouldn’t have survived this long. They know what
they’re doing. They’ve helped hundreds of other women.”
    “There
are more women who need protection?” Ardal threw his head back and sighed.
“What kind of world is this?”
    “Not
very good sometimes,” Fiona whispered.
    “Why
would these people want you to live here on your own?”
    “They
think it’s unlikely that David will hear about the possible crash. Even if he
does, he won’t connect it with me.”
    Ardal
looked out the window, his brow furrowed in thought. Fiona held her breath as
she waited for his decision. He was a man used to being obeyed. She had to be
safe, though. That meant staying here.
    Ardal
turned with a swift movement. “No. We leave now.”
    A
flicker of disappointment tugged at Fiona’s heart. “I understand. You must
leave the area before anyone discovers the truth.”
    “Yes,
but you come with us.”
    “Look
I panicked earlier. There’s no possible way people will learn about the crash.
If they do, it’s not headline news.”
    “What
about Marshall and Clyde? I do not trust those men. They looked at you with
lust in their eyes.”
    Fiona
gave a choked laugh. “They won’t harm me.”
    “They
will call other people to investigate.” Ardal motioned around the house. “Then
how secure will you be?”
    Horror
seeped through every nerve in her body. Television cameras and UFO fanatics
would be swarming the place. She hugged her arms to her chest. Even if she
refused to speak, they would be on the property. Nothing stopped fanatics. How
soon would it be before her face was plastered on a tabloid with some
outrageous comment below her name?
    “I
see you understand.” Ardal took her arm and led her to the door. “These
messages you send and receive, do they have to come from just one device?”
    Fiona’s
mind went blank for a second; barely registering that she was outside the
house. “Why do you want to know about telephones?”
    “Can
you leave a message from any telephone?” Ardal picked up her bag and started
leading her to the truck.
    “Of
course. It doesn’t matter where you call from, you’ll reach
the person you dialed.”
    “Then
you can message these underground friends of yours from another place and they
won’t know the difference?”
    Fiona
let herself be helped into the truck. “You could tell I was calling from a
different phone, but they’d get the message.”
    Ardal
motioned to Jehon to start the vehicle.  “So we can travel and still
contact them.”
    “But
will it be safe?”
    “We
have all vowed to protect you.” Ardal’s words were low.
    Fiona
shivered with the intensity of his look. The man wasn’t kidding when he said it
was a vow. She glanced at Jehon, who was driving, his hands tight on the wheel,
his focus unwavering. Behind was Firbin, sprawled out on the extra seat of the
extended cab. His arms were crossed but he looked at her with the same
intensity as Ardal.
    “Won’t
I hinder your escape?” Fiona wanted