Page 19 of Canyon of Deceit

EIGHTEEN

Alina and her two captors had vanished from our eyes.

But not from my vow to free a little girl.

I failed to understand myself. Me, the negotiator.

Me, with all my education in behavior. Me, who’d risked my life countless times in the line of duty.

Me, who hadn’t figured out if I’d agreed to this mission to save an innocent child or convince a woman I was worth the effort of a relationship.

Or both. The part of me who believed man was born good, and evil came from experiencing the world now questioned if Therese had discovered what I lacked. Faith in God.

We all searched for something, and at times a sadness escaped her eyes. I stumbled over those brief moments when something attacked her, as though she wrestled with God. Then she’d blink and the sadness vanished. I’d keep listening and observing—the only way I’d ever understand her.

Demons stalked us all, burying their claws deep into our emotions until we unlocked our chains and escaped, banishing them from our lives. One day I’d discover the source of my real search, then I’d not only escape but chain the demon to what held me.

My mental wanderings worked as a diversion until danger of the mission grabbed a strangling hold. Time slipped like the loose scree beneath my feet. One priority remained.

We hiked our way east, and like Therese had said, the trail—what there was of it—gave me fresh appreciation for the definition of perilous.

Sliding rock and unexpected drop-offs caused me to think facing a shooter might be easier.

At least I had the skills to balance the odds with my fists or with a gun in my hand.

The good part of the trek was watching Therese’s lithe body scale rocks while her honey-colored ponytail swung with each step.

She made climbing true beauty and art. My ability to paint people often missed the details of showing character and personality, but I’d be willing to spend time capturing hers on canvas.

We set up camp like the previous night under the shelter of a hanging rock.

Hunger curled in my belly, growled, and spurted like a voice of desperation.

I never imagined a can of tuna, crackers, and an apple had so much flavor.

And it rivaled Thanksgiving dinner after existing on government-issued rations.

We ate without conversation, each of us undoubtedly engrossed in our own solutions and figuring out what lay ahead.

Plus, I was too tired to make the effort to speak.

“If we were nocturnal, we’d travel at night,” Therese finally said. “Catch Chandler and whoever is with him off guard and be finished with this.”

I swallowed a gulp of water. “Plan B is a little more to my liking. We’re hiking beyond where we saw them. Is there a trail to approach their rear in the least unsuspecting way?”

She pondered my question. “Yes. It’s a hard climb.”

I leaned in closer and let the fire warm my face. “We can do it. If we found them tomorrow and waited until dusk, is it possible to snatch Alina at night?”

“Nothing is off-limits. Just takes more ingenuity to accomplish.”

“We’d need to stay hidden until backup arrived.

A place where visibility is zero percent.

My concern is once Chandler learns he’s been duped, he’ll be on our tails.

No way the team would arrive in time.” I held up a finger.

“We have a helo full of Rangers waiting at the Dog Canyon Visitor’s Center.

They can be ready at a moment’s notice.”

She eyed me like I’d lost my brains at the trailhead. “Have you been watching too many movies?”

I purposely widened my eyes. “Aren’t we the type that movies are made from? We agreed this was Mission Impossible .”

“You’re not Tom Cruise.”

I startled. “Are you kidding? We have danger, adventure, and you’re the hot heroine who has all the skills.”

“Ah, most of his women get killed.”

“We’ll be successful ’cause I wrote this script.”

She gave me a high five. “Best news I’ve heard all day. Tomorrow will be the day of reckoning.”

“Ready to move?”

“What?”

“Let’s build a bigger fire, then move to where we can watch our campsite. Take turns sleeping. If Chandler chooses to attack, we’ll see him.”

“All right. Good call. Cat and mouse, right?” she said.

Grabbing our backpacks and gear, we made our way to a secluded area several feet from the fire where we were protected from the cold wind. I took the first watch.

“I’m ready to hear your life story,” I said.

She shook her head. “Not tonight. Maybe tomorrow.”

Therese’s silence told me she’d dipped to the worst possible scenario. Mine too. Neither humor nor logic covered how our mission impossible would stretch our skills... and possibly, Therese’s faith.

I wished I was armed with the ammo of faith instead of the sliver of doubt inching through me.

—

I woke in the stillness of early morning, but in the east varying shades of yellow, orange, and purple streaked across the sky. The desire to paint this magnificence filled me. Another time.

I recalled our time in Dog Canyon, and I explored past missions, some with devastating results.

I’d call Sergio this morning and request the FBI team behind us to pick up their pace.

The argument to stay ahead of the Feds for Alina’s sake made sense.

But we were running out of time, and the kidnappers might lose patience.

They had their money, why not release her?

Or dispose of her? I was ready to negotiate that child’s release, so why the holdup?

Would Rurik lie to Sergio and the Feds? Was he aware the FBI had placed a tracer on his phone?

Unless Rurik had another phone he used to call the kidnappers, like the burner he purchased to contact Therese.

The grieving husband and father possibly played a devious role between the kidnappers, the ROC, and those on the side of the law.

His tells were convincing, and those emotions always yanked me back to where Rurik had fallen prey to ruthless men.

I’d pursue the obscurity of Rurik’s role once Therese and I freed Alina.

How much did he know about Edik Baranov’s escape plans? How close were they as cousins?

Therese tossed off her covering. She had the early morning watch, and sleep crusted her eyes. That meant she’d fallen asleep during her watch, but we were both alive.

“Good morning,” I said.

“Maybe. My instincts tell me today will challenge us like nothing we’ve ever experienced.”

“We’ve faced problems in our line of work and succeeded. We will again.”

“Some worse than others,” she said.

“You sound pessimistic. When you taught the survival course, you claimed the problems of life make us stronger, better people. Have you changed your position?”

“No. My priority is Alina’s rescue. Nothing else matters. And while I’d gladly give my life for her or you, fear rises like the sun and binds me to take precautions.” She held up a gloved hand. “I’m sorry. Let me drink my coffee, and I’ll get my bearings.”

I reached into my backpack, pulled out two granola bars, and tossed one her way. “Should you check in with Rurik? I’ll do the same with Sergio.”

“Good idea.” She pulled her backpack into her lap and unzipped where she kept her satellite phone.

She lifted it out as though the device was gold and patted in and around her as though missing something.

“Where’s my gun?” She lifted her blanket and searched all around. “Where is it?” Her voice rose.

“How can I help?”

She rummaged through her camp gear. “Do you see my gun? It’s missing.”

I startled. She had organization down to a miniature tack box. “Where did you have it during your watch?”

“Beside me or in my hand. I... I did doze off.”

I lifted my blanket where I kept my SIG close. I expected my lifeline to be there. I searched around me, certain I’d unconsciously moved it.

Where was my firearm?

An alarm sounded in my brain and jolted every nerve on high alert. Were we surrounded? A bullet away from death? How could I be so stupid not to detect someone stealing my gun?

“Blane.” Therese’s whisper held an eerie chill. “I’m so sorry. This is my fault.”

She held a peregrine falcon feather.