Killing Game (Veritas Book 2) by Chandler Steele Read Free Book Online

she called out. He turned toward her and for a moment, she swore she saw him in desert camo, an M4 rifle in hand. Cait blinked her eyes to clear the vision. “Help me load our canoe?”
    “Sure.”
    The packing went faster than Cait had anticipated. He handed down the backpacks and other supplies as she pointed to each one, never second-guessing her placement inside the canoe.
    “Why are we carrying so much of the gear?” he asked, sounding only curious, not annoyed.
    “The first couple of days, we’ll have some of the others’ gear just in case someone decides they should flip their canoe. Mike warns them about ensuring their stuff is waterproof, but some don’t listen. Once I know they’ve got a handle on things, everyone will have their own gear in their own canoe.”
    “Makes sense.”
    Cait checked out the other canoes and found them ready to go. “Load up, we’re outta here,” she called out. She hesitated. “You’ve been around boats, right?” Brannon nodded. “You up for steering, so I can focus on the group?”
    “Sure.” He nodded again, taking his place in the stern. “I was raised in Florida. Spent almost every waking hour on the water.”
    “That explains it.” But it doesn’t explain why you’re here, mister .
    It didn’t matter. After six days she’d never see this guy again. As long as she could keep her personal demons in check, this trip would just be a quick detour.
    *~*~*
    The first hour or so was filled with the nearly silent rhythm of oars cutting through the water, with the occasional motorized boat passing them, leaving eddies in its wake. As Brannon and Cait’s canoe led the others single-file along the broad canal that led into the swamp, she set a slow pace, apparently wanting to break in the newbies as easily as possible.
    The water acted as a dark mirror, reflecting the trees and the brilliant blue sky above, dotted with a few airy clouds. The farther they went, hardwoods gradually gave way to cypress trees, their broad bases narrowing to tall trunks as they reached high above the canal. Cypress knobs clustered around the base of those trees, like wooden stalagmites. Birds were in motion, sometimes quickly, sometimes in a leisurely glide over the water. Brannon had already spotted a pair of ibis, an anhinga, and what might have been a sandhill crane.
    He savored the silence, and he found himself relaxing more than was prudent. The same could not be said about the woman sharing his canoe. Cait’s tension bled through every move. Why had she, in particular, agreed to take Montgomery’s place? Why hadn’t the assistant taken lead? Knowing the answers would come eventually, he turned his attention to a pair of Florida cooters resting on a log as they paddled by. One of the turtles raised its head to study them. He caught a quick glimpse of an alligator tail sliding into the underbrush.
    “Did you see it?” Cait called out.
    “Yeah. Smaller one. Probably a couple years old,” he replied. Growing up in the Sunshine State had taught him a lot about gators, especially that they ended up in his family’s swimming pool.
    As the afternoon passed and the day grew warmer, he kept working the oar, switching sides effortlessly when Cait signaled a change. Behind him, he heard quiet conversations and the occasional faint click of a camera shutter. No doubt Keith, who was right behind them, sharing a canoe with Susan. She wasn’t as deeply tanned as Cait, which made sense as she worked in an office. Behind them was the younger couple, then Bill and Preston carrying up the rear.
    His attention returned to Cait as they paddled along the canal. She didn’t chatter, but kept focused on the water, constantly assessing the situation around them. Definitely military, and most likely someone who had seen action.
    As if she’d known he was thinking about her, she ceased paddling and turned around. “Let’s wait here a moment, give the others a chance to rest for a bit. I’ve been