To Catch a Thief Read Free

danger. She looked like a classic thrill seeker, which would also explain her involvement in a complicated, high-stakes robbery.
    Not greed. She didn’t drive a late-model Maserati or own a string of houses. Her apartment back in San Francisco was neat but small, and her only hobby appeared to be climbing. Yet appearances could be the most unreliable thing in the world, Dakota knew.
    Still, he wondered about that brief note of resignation he’d heard in Nell’s voice back at the pub. The confidence had faded, along with the high energy, and she had sounded tired and worried, as if she genuinely cared about the missing climbers.
    Forget about the target’s emotions, a voice warned flatly as Dakota pulled onto the road, following the Land Rover at a careful distance. He’d track her up the brooding slopes of Blaven and make certain she came down in one piece. But he’d break his cover to save the other climbers only if it was absolutely necessary, mindful of his orders to stay well under the radar until all Nell MacInnes’s shadowy contacts were bagged and tagged. The mission came first.
    Always.
    After parking down the slope from the small trailhead, Dakota pulled on an all-weather parka and a fully stocked backpack, then fingered his shortwave radio. His contact would be waiting for an update. “Teague, are you there?”
    â€œYo.” Izzy Teague’s voice was clear, despite an edge of static. “I’ve got the topo map on the screen in front of me. I checked with SAR and got the coordinates. You’ll have a straight ascent for an hour, followed by a fairly strenuous climb through shifting rock when you near the south face. A chopper is on its way over from the mainland, but the weather may prevent a landing until tomorrow.”
    â€œSo I’m on my own,” Dakota said calmly. “Fine with me. I don’t need anyone slowing me down or asking questions.”
    â€œWatch out for yetis up there,” Izzy said wryly. “I’ll keep a bottle of Glenlivet on ice for you.”
    â€œYou do that. Alpha out.”
    The dark face of Blaven was veiled in clouds as Nell set off up the rocky trail. The Land Rover headed down to the inn. The first wet flakes of gale-driven snow lashed at Dakota’s face as he started up toward Blaven’s brooding darkness, Nell already out of sight before him.

    F OR SOME REASON she couldn’t shake the sense that she was being followed. For the third time Nell stopped, peering through fingers of clouds, looking for other climbers behind her.
    Only rocky slopes met her sharp scrutiny.
    Of course you’re alone, idiot. Any climbers with good sense are inside huddled before a roaring fire right now.
    But a climber didn’t turn away in an emergency. Rules of the road.
    Rules of life, too.
    Turning back into the cutting wind, Nell nursed her aching right knee and chose each step, careful not to trigger a slide in the loose rock. Her face was cold, wet from the wind driving up from the sea. She estimated she’d reach the missing climbers’ last coordinates in another twenty minutes. If the weather didn’t shift, she could begin guiding them down off the peak immediately.
    But Nell was prepared for a dozen unknown variables from shattered morale to shattered ankles. Any one of them could hamper a fast descent.
    No point tilting at windmills, MacInnes. Every rescue was different, so she’d tackle each obstacle as it appeared. She eased her pack lower on her shoulders, trying to stay loose.
    Once again she was struck by the twitchy feeling that someone was down the slope in shadow.
    Watching her.
    Blaven face.
    One hour before sunset.
    W IND RAKED Dakota’s neck.
    Icy rain howled over the cliff overlooking the restless Sea of Hebrides.
    Visibility was down to zero and already the storm was driving intermittent gusts of nearly sixty miles per hour.
    Over the slope Nell MacInnes had made contact with the