Page 49 of Canyon of Deceit

FORTY-EIGHT

THERESE

Blane and I left Rurik’s home the same way we entered—through the garage. I backed out the rental through pouring rain, splashing against the windshield faster than the wipers swished it away. The weather matched my mood. The more we learned, the more it rained disillusion.

I pulled into a Starbucks drive-through. “I need coffee and truth.”

“Yes, to both. I have the location in Baytown where Rangers found Alina’s necklace. An FBI team swept the place and found nothing.”

“But you want to see for yourself. No coincidence Alina’s necklace was found in the vicinity of the next scheduled crime.” I ordered our coffees, and we drove to the east side of Houston to Baytown... and the ship channel.

Blane sent the interview recording with Rurik to Major Montoya. We talked about the conversations and our analysis. Mostly I listened since Blane had the expertise.

Blane finished and I jumped in with my opinion. “I don’t trust him. Neither do you.”

“Good call. Sergio said Rurik’s key words were ‘I don’t regret anything I’ve done to keep her alive.

’ Rurik has either done or plans to follow through on more of Falin’s demands.

We need to be one step ahead of both men.

” Blane held up a finger. “I’m asking Sergio for confirmation of the things Rurik claims he’s done. ”

A suspicion climbed into my brain and perched itself front and center. I drove while my reasoning spun like the ballerina on Alina’s necklace. Blane texted Major Montoya, and I braved forward. “What if Rurik has more burner phones? What if he and Falin made provision if this very thing happened?”

Blane lifted his chin. “One of the agents assigned to Rurik’s protective detail raised the same question. He went a step further and questioned if the one burner we found was a setup.”

“Ouch. I assume the FBI plans to sweep the house?”

“They already have and found no other phones or anything incriminating. I trust Rurik about as far as I can throw him with my broken arm. If he has burner phones stashed away, he’s stored them where they can’t be found, as though we’ve wasted our time since we agreed to help find Alina.”

I allowed the possibility to settle a little more. “Just like we left the safe house, can Rurik do the same?”

“As long as he’s not under arrest, he’s free to go anywhere. His refusing protection doesn’t stop anyone from tailing him, no matter who they are.”

I shivered. “All those concerned seem to operate much the same way.” Reality jumped onto my mental perch. “The game goes on until Alina is found, and Edik Baranov and his family are safe.”

“Or they are all dead.”

I grimaced, but he spoke the truth. How did I get in the middle of a kidnapping and murder case?

I taught others how to survive in the wilderness and lead others to rescue those who’d met an adversary in the wilderness.

My wheelhouse didn’t include killers and terrorists.

Although Rurik had lied from the beginning, I’d given my word to find an innocent child.

Alina’s sweet face refused to leave me. None of this was her fault. Like Kate’s struggle with leukemia.

“Do you get the impression Rurik has an answer prepared for every question?” I said.

“Many times. He’s a highly intelligent man with the perfect answers to every question. He reads us like I read him, which tells me he’s been trained in every area of espionage.”

“The question is, whose side claims his loyalty?”

Blane studied the passenger-side rear mirror. “We’re being followed. I suspected it at Starbucks. A dark-green Toyota pickup. Driver and one passenger.”

“The roads are flooding in this rain, and we’re being shadowed. What’s next?”

“I texted Sergio. In the meantime, increase your speed.”

I glanced in the rearview mirror and held my breath.

The truck raced toward us. I pressed my foot on the gas.

Wove in and out of a line of traffic, then glanced again in the mirror.

The truck stayed on us. “Plan B?” I attempted to stay calm, but my fingers gripped the steering wheel. “Race car driving isn’t in my blood.”

“You’re doing fine, Therese. A prayer sounds good right about now.”

“You stole my line.” God, we need help.

“Someone was either watching the safe house or one of us has a tracking device.”

“On a rental car?” I said. “Impossible.”

Blane tapped his finger on his jean-clad thigh. “Think back to the cave. Do you recall a pinch or a sting?”

What was he talking about? His question irritated me. “I’m trying to stay ahead of a truck that might have armed shooters in it. Concentrating on what Falin might have done in the cave will need to come later.”

“Thanks for putting me in my place. I’d like nothing better than to be driving, but I do have a good shooting arm.”

Despite the circumstances, I grinned. “And that shooting arm saved my life.”

The truck rode my bumper.

Panic seared through my veins. As often as I told God I was ready to die and be with Him... facing the unknown path frightened me.

The road cleared, giving me room to accelerate. The truck did the same behind me in obvious pursuit. I focused on the road. God has this. God has this.

Blane pressed the auto-window button on his side and raised his SIG. “The guy on the passenger side has a handgun.”

The roar of the truck’s engine burst in my ears. I shoved the urge to scream back down my throat. The truck jammed into my bumper. Then harder.

I jerked and fought to keep the car on the road. A bullet whizzed by my left shoulder. I pressed the gas pedal to the floorboard. Chaos surrounded me.

Blane whirled and fired. I heard two shots. Had the shooter in the truck fired again?

The truck bumped me again. I had no idea how fast we were going, when I couldn’t take my eyes off the road. Didn’t matter. I intended for us to survive.

A loud crack like a massive vibration rocked the car and pulled it sharply to the right. A bullet had hit the right rear tire, causing it to thud against the pavement.

“Ease off the gas. Don’t brake.” Blane’s loud voice still had the calm tone I’d come to respect. “Hold on tight. You can do this.”

But that’s where his calm voice fell flat against the truck slamming into the rear of the car again. The world outside the car blurred.

Bullets whistled past my head into the windshield. The car veered more to the right, skidding on the wet pavement, then hitting loose stones on the shoulder. Jolting. Bouncing. An unseen enemy picked up the car and flipped it three times.

My screams echoed around me as the car danced on the verge of devastation.