Free Devil's Gold by Julie Korzenko

nodded and tossed a sealed eleven-by-seventeen envelope at her. “These are the specs for your new assignment. It’s in a place you’re quite familiar with.”
    She ripped open the edge of the envelope. “Oh yeah?”
    â€œYellowstone.”
    Cassidy’s heart skipped a beat. She gripped the edge of the envelope, no longer curious of its contents. “What’s going on in Yellowstone?”
    â€œWolves are disappearing.”
    This couldn’t be happening. She’d been yanked out of Africa for a bunch of wolves? It didn’t make sense. “What?”
    â€œRead the papers, Cassidy. Your team is already in place, gathering background information. You’re scheduled to fly out on Friday. In the meantime, take a few days off and decompress.”
    Although worded nicely, she knew he wasn’t suggesting vacation but ordering her to mentally regroup. She’d disappointed him. Cassidy smiled but knew the smile didn’t reach her eyes. “I’m sorry, Drew.”
    He rubbed a hand against the back of his neck. “Whatever for?”
    Sharpe spoke as if amused, but she knew better. He was shutting her out, diminishing her contribution. With a sick feeling sticking in her gut, Cassidy shrugged. “I’ll see you in Jackson for the briefing on the wolves?”
    â€œI’ll be there.”

    â€œDr. Lowell’s been reassigned to Yellowstone National Park.”
    Jake frowned and glanced at Colonel Price. He drummed his fingers against the cool metal of the makeshift conference table. The clanging of pipes and rushing water echoed within the tiny basement room in the deepest recesses of ZEBRA’s corporate headquarters that Black Stripe used as their central command.
    A paneled wall separated Jake from the inner sanctum of Black Stripe. He didn’t need to be behind those doors where advanced technology monitored the safety of the United States. He was field. The rules were clear. Sighing, Jake shook his head. “Have the grizzlies been warned?”
    Price tipped his chin downward in an attempt to hide his smile. “You’re going with her. Strip your fatigues and attitude, soldier. It’s time to put on your jeans and use that degree we paid for.”
    â€œShit.” Jake rubbed a hand through his hair, pushing it off his face. “I’m going as her biologist?”
    Price winked. “Smart man. Besides, I’m sure the grizzlies will appreciate your backup. She have a beam on you?”
    Shrugging, Jake considered lying, then decided it wouldn’t do him any good. “Nah. The light was funky, and I was in full camo. What’s going down at Yellowstone?”
    â€œWolves are disappearing.”
    Jake grinned. “Is this some kind of terrorist plot by the prairie dogs? Take out the wolves first and next the entire country?”
    Price snorted his soda through his nose. “Smartass.” Jake laughed, following the colonel with his eyes as he stood and grabbed a piece of paper from inside an old beaten file cabinet. Jake knew the second they left, the file cabinet would retreat behind the wall into the safety of central command. “Myrtle spit out these facts. Steve can’t trace the origin of the wire transfer.”
    Glancing at the sheet, Jake lifted an eyebrow in surprise. “Why would ZEBRA wire this amount of money to the Nigerian government?”
    â€œThey didn’t. They laundered it for NWP, who then sent it on to the Nigerians.”
    Whistling through his teeth, he set the paper on the table. “This amount is much larger than the usual bribe. What gives?”
    â€œFind the answer, and you win the game. Right now, Dr. Lowell is our only lead.”
    â€œBecause she worked over there for six months?”
    Price rested his palms on the table and leaned forward. “No. Because they want her dead.”
    Jake pushed back from the table, the bottom of his chair scratching