Free Dark Justice by William Bernhardt Page A

next. Although any educated guesser could anticipate that a strike against Green Rage was imminent.
    Rick was obviously unconvinced. “Lots of people have heard about the Cabal. That doesn’t prove you have any inside information. How do I know this isn’t all some fantasy you’ve cooked up?”
    “They’ve already hit you, haven’t they? Twice, from what I heard.”
    “How do you know that?”
    “Because I know what I’m talking about. Don’t I?”
    Rick hesitated before speaking. “There have been two raids on our camp out in the forest. Minor property damage. No one was hurt.”
    “Those were just warnings—warnings you didn’t heed. The next attack will hurt.”
    Rick batted a finger against his lips. “When will they strike?”
    “I can’t say exactly. But I know it will be soon.”
    “And how do you know all this?”
    Tess lowered her head. If ever in her life she was going to give an Oscar-quality performance, it had better be now. “I—I’m having a relationship with a man in Slade’s organization. One of his most trusted advisers.”
    “A relationship?”
    “An … intimate relationship.”
    “You’re sleeping with someone in the Cabal? And you’re talking to me?”
    “Please try to understand. I’m not a bad person. At least I don’t think I am. I want to do the right thing. And I’m sympathetic to your cause.”
    “I’m supposed to believe that some Cabal piece of ass is a secret environmentalist?”
    “It’s true! I mean—” She paused, trying to create the right effect. “I suppose I wasn’t at first. I’d never really thought about it—forests, trees, nature. Truth is, I never spent much time outdoors. But then when I got involved with John and started seeing what those loggers are doing, I was horrified! They’re just destroying everything. At the rate they’re going, soon there won’t be anything left. And they know that! But they don’t care.”
    Rick’s jaw was set, but if Tess wasn’t mistaken, his hard exterior had softened just the tiniest bit. “I still don’t understand what it is you want.”
    “I want to join you. I want to be part of your work.” She sat up straight. “I want to join Green Rage.”
    “Have you broken it off with this—what’s his name? John?”
    “No, I haven’t.”
    Rick rolled his eyes. “I don’t believe this.” He nudged his companion. “Let’s get out of here.”
    “Wait. Please!” She grabbed his shirt sleeve and literally held him down on his stool. “Don’t you see? This could be perfect.”
    “What could be?”
    “Me.” She leaned closer to him and lowered her voice. “Don’t think of me as a Cabal insider. Think of me as Mata Hari.”
    You re saying—
    “That’s right. I’ll stay with John, much as he disgusts me. I’ll learn whatever I can. And I’ll report back to you.”
    Rick chewed his lip for a moment. “And in return?”
    “Nothing. All I want is to be part of Green Rage. To spend time with you. To help you with your work. I want to run with people whose hearts and minds are in the right place. I want to be a part of something that matters.”
    Rick continued to ponder. “I’ll have to talk to Maureen. Some of the others. They’ll want to meet you.”
    “I understand.”
    “I don’t know what they’ll say. We haven’t been receptive to new members, other than those we recruited ourselves. We’re too worried about being infiltrated by loggers or the Cabal.”
    “I understand. I’ll do whatever you want me to do.”
    Rick shook his head. “An inside line on the Cabal. Damn. It’s almost too good to believe.” He stared at her another long moment. “You’ll have to give me an address or phone number.”
    “No problem.” Tess smiled, and for once, her expression without reflected her feelings within. She had him hooked now. It was just a matter of time—and she was betting it would be a short time—before she’d be in like Flynn with Green Rage. Once she had their