Page 112 of Counter Attack

58

Phame set up the chessboard with the White king surrounded by his bishops, knights, queen, and pawns. The king thought he was safe.

Except ... the Black knight was closing in, leaving the White king in check. With nowhere to run, the White king was in checkmate.

Phame snapped several photos of the board and printed them out, then using a Sharpie, carefully wrote “I WON! You lose.”

Time to end this game even though it meant another trip to the cave.

59

First thing Friday morning, Alex had her CSI deputies sweep her office for bugs, and they found one in the lamp by her desk. Then she’d made it through the morning briefing where she learned Mark was meeting Nathan in an hour at the cave to look for evidence.

As soon as the deputies dispersed, she had Nathan on the phone. “Why didn’t you tell me you were going back to the cave today? And taking my deputy.”

“Good morning to you too.” When she didn’t respond, he sighed. “It’s Mark’s day off and he volunteered to go. And I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to argue with you about going with us.”

“There wouldn’t have been an argument.”

“Really?”

“Nope. Because I’m going.” Not that shewantedto go back into that dark hole. She had to do it or Phame would win. It was no more than getting back on a horse after being thrown.

“Mark and I can handle this. You have no business—”

“I know you can, and I know you won’t miss anything. But I was the one who could’ve died there. I want to see where I was held.”

“How do you plan to get there? Have you forgotten your wrist?”

“I’m sure the deputy who picked me up this morning will drive me. Besides, the pain is much better this morning.” And it was as long as she held her wrist above her heart. Surely she could block the pain long enough to get in and out of the cave. “Come on, Nathan.” She wasn’t above begging.

“All right,” he said with a sigh. “I don’t suppose you have a helmet with a headlamp?”

Rats. She’d forgotten she would need a helmet. “Do you have an extra? Until last night it’s been years since I was in a cave.”

“Yes,” he said reluctantly. “You may want to go home and change into old clothes and shoes.”

She agreed, remembering her pajamas from yesterday. “Why don’t you pick me up at the house?”

“Sounds good. See you in an hour.”

True to his word, Nathan was at the house in sixty minutes, dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt. He stepped inside the kitchen. “I’m parked here at the back door.”

“Good.” After last night, Alex had no problem taking every precaution for her safety.

“Where are your grandparents?”

“Gramps had a doctor’s appointment.” Alex set the alarm and turned to him. “I’m ready.”

Nathan was quiet on the drive to Eagle Ridge. They passed virgin forests of hardwoods turning vibrant fall colors without a comment from him. She turned to him. “You okay?”

“Just remembering yesterday’s drive. I kept thinking about Phame’s victims. I was afraid the search and rescue would turn into a recovery mission.”

“I’m sorry.” Alex had been so focused on her own feelings, she hadn’t considered how her kidnapping might’ve affected Nathan.

They topped a ridge with a pullout, and he pulled over and killed his motor. Below them a carpet of red maples and golden hickories stretched as far as the eye could see.

Nathan turned to her. “You have to promise me you’ll be more careful.”

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