Page 34 of Canyon of Deceit

THIRTY-THREE

THERESE

Leaning back against the cave wall, I’d slept little.

Weariness fought my goal of gathering strength to escape Chandler and Falin.

From a glimpse of light coming from the cave’s entrance, I imagined sunrise creeping over the canyon in an array of pastels that I’d grown to love.

God had this, and He’d see Alina and me through the danger.

The sweet little girl lay in my lap. She’d softly sobbed during the night, dampening my hiking pants with her tears.

I must devise a plan to escape. Although she had a tiny body, carrying her up and down steep inclines would challenge our speed to get away.

I banked on her agility from gymnastics as an asset.

I stared at the gold chain on her neck. The ballerina necklace containing the tracking device. A lot of good it did off-grid.

At the sound of Chandler and Falin arguing outside the cave in muffled voices, I memorized my surroundings.

I’d heard rumors of Chandler hiding in the Guadalupe Mountains for weeks at a time, and this hidden warehouse provided the perfect undetected compound.

How had he hauled food, water, clothing, an assortment of guns, ammo, and a few explosives stacked against a stone wall?

Chandler had his own arsenal in a firefight—probably planned to go down in history with other criminals who’d lost their lives and gained infamy.

The park used security cams and scrutinized those who entered and exited the park.

Had Chandler paid rangers to keep quiet?

As much as the revulsion raged in me, the ranger Blane and I spoke to at the park entrance had an impeccable reputation.

I trusted the woman and kicked the thought into the next state.

The supplies must have been transported in by helicopter at night.

What did Chandler have of interest here to the ROC? Why else would Jurg Falin be here?

I prayed God showed me a way to free Alina from this madman—and get word to those who’d stop Chandler and Falin. Good would triumph... I refused to lose faith.

My attention rested on Alina. She didn’t smell of urine or feces, which meant she’d been given bathroom privileges. Or wasn’t dehydrated. I doubted Chandler stooped to render the little girl relief, which meant Falin had the job. I had the skills to take him out but not Chandler.

Alina stirred through the gag. Adrenaline flowed through me in a cool rush.

She slowly sat, and I smiled at her. “I need you to obey me,” I whispered. “If I tell you to run. Go. If I tell you to fall flat on the ground. Do it. I need you to obey so we can survive.”

She nodded.

Falin raised his voice outside the cave, and I turned to listen. “A helicopter is en route. Scheduled to arrive in a few hours.”

“The money’s not in my account.”

“You have three million and the cash in the backpack,” Falin said. “You’ll get the other eight when we have the chips.”

“Not my problem. Our deal was eight mil in my account before your helo landed.”

“You’re dealing with the Russian government, and they insist upon seeing the goods first. You haven’t shown me the activation chips for the matchup to our laser weaponry.

The locked box you claim contains those pieces is labeled ammo .

If you’re not willing for me to check the serial numbers, that implies a double cross. And my people will cut you to pieces.”

Chandler grabbed a box from a shelf. He inserted a key, flipped it open, and pulled out a piece of paper. “Check them now.”

Falin scrolled through his satellite phone and compared the paper with whatever was listed on his screen. The man looked defenseless, like he was checking his banking statement. “These numbers work. Where are the chips?”

Chandler swore. “Locked up.” He pointed to a small metal lockbox.

“No money means your laser weapons are useless. I made a deal, and I plan to keep my end. If the money’s not in my account in the next thirty minutes, the deal’s off.

I’ll blow up your helo and everyone in it. Then the kid and the woman are mine.”

“You don’t need either of them.”

“You have my terms. Take it or leave it.”

Falin eyed him. “I’ll find out about the holdup.”

“I’m going to scout the area. You’d better have good news when I get back.” Chandler stomped off.

Falin yanked his phone from his pocket. He shouted at someone in Russian.

Laser technology was foreign to me, but I understood advanced weaponry.

Doubtful Chandler kept Falin alive unless the ROC or Russian government had conducted business with him in the past, and it proved lucrative.

Then again, someone else could easily replace Falin. I had no answers, only speculation.

A helicopter was en route into the canyon to pick up pieces for laser weaponry.

How could the pilot conceal its arrival?

Could the aircraft’s rotor blades be equipped with stealth technology?

With Feds and park rangers on alert, any sound would draw their attention.

Hope rippled through me like sunshine. Always hope.

Falin stepped into the cave. He picked up a bottle of water and uncapped it. He removed Alina’s gag, tilted the bottle, and she drank eagerly.

“Need to go?” he said, his voice softening.

“Yes, please.”

“Please, me too,” I said.

He frowned. “One at a time.” He sneered at me. “You can wait until Chandler returns.”

“Why?”

“As Chandler said, you’re a worthy opponent. You’d try to escape.”

“You’re holding the gun. Are you afraid if you shoot me and deny Chandler the privilege that he’d kill you?”

“Maybe.”

“You don’t look like a coward.”

Falin swore. “One of you at a time.”

We had a chance to escape.

Falin released the ropes binding Alina and led her outside. In a few minutes they returned. He secured the ropes around the little girl’s wrists and ankles, then untied only my ankles. He stepped back, his gun aimed at me.

“Stand up and walk to the entrance. Any move or word that bothers me, and I shoot. Trust me, I won’t kill you, but you’ll wish I had.”

As I stepped outside and around the wall of rock into the blinding sunlight, I blinked. “Which way?”

“To your right is a boulder. Behind it.”

I obeyed, hoping he’d give me privacy. Through my peripheral vision, I scanned the area for the best escape route across the canyon floor to the safety of rocks in the distance. We’d have to make good time, and I had no idea the moment Chandler might return. Or where he’d gone.

One way in and one way out. Think, Therese.

Falin untied my wrists. “Make it fast.”

I swung back to him, and he raised his gun. “I’ll hurry.”

“I have no patience, and time’s running out.”

I tended to business and joined him. “What did you mean that time’s running out?”

“We’re leaving this hole as soon as our transport arrives. Turn around so I can tie your hands.”

He planned to take me and Alina? Chandler wouldn’t allow it unless the ROC agreed to pay more money. I whirled and kicked Falin in the groin, sending him flat on his back. Grabbing his gun, I shoved the barrel into his face.

“Your turn.” I yanked the rope from his hands. He nailed me with his fist to my shoulder and used his right leg to send me sprawling. Pain ignited in my shoulder, but I kept my hold on the gun. If I fired, Chandler wouldn’t waste any time getting here.

I shoved control into my body and aimed at his face again. “What’s it going to be?”

He slowly nodded.

“On your belly.” He complied with a few Russian words whose meaning I guessed. I kneed him in the back while I bound his hands. His pocket held a knife, one I’d need. I yanked it from him. “Get up and back to the cave. Not one word.”

Inside the cave. I tied his ankles and freed Alina. She said nothing. Grabbing water bottles and my backpack, minus five hundred thousand dollars, I stuffed in energy bars from a shelf and grabbed my own gun.

“We must hurry,” I said. “Remember what I told you.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I held her hand, and we rushed out to freedom. I scrambled down the sharp incline first. Alina started her descent and slid into my arms. I bent low and we ran together.

I heard the crack of a rifle, and a bullet zinged past my shoulder.

“Stop.”

Chandler.

“One more step, and the kid’s dead.”

We stopped. His low voice grated against my ears. I turned slowly and stared at the monster.

“Toss the gun and the backpack in front of you.”

I obeyed. Alina whimpered, and I squeezed her hand.

He nodded back in the direction of the cave, our prison.