Page 36 of Trapped

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When Cash saw a tough-looking man in a blue uniform waiting on the other side of the door, he reared back. “Who the hell are you?”

“Philip Martin. Better known as the cavalry.”

He reached around Cash, slammed the door, and pulled down an iron bar, sealing off the opening. Then he gestured down a tunnel that looked like it had been hewn out of solid rock.

In the dim light, Cash stared at the guy who’d obviously been waiting for Sophia. Last night she had come to his bedroom with a story about his being held captive. Now he knew she wasn’t working alone.

So, who was this guy, really? Could he trust him? Could he trust Sophia, for that matter? Were they part of the security team? Or were they wearing these uniforms so they’d blend in?

Was Montgomery the one trying to help him? And Sophia and her friend were the bad guys? It didn’t seem likely, but he had no way of knowing what was truth and what was reality.

“I want some answers,” he said in a gritty voice.

“Later,” the man named Phil Martin answered.

He grabbed the guy’s shoulder. “Don’t tell me later! I want answers now. What’s your motivation for getting me out of there?”

Phil gave him a hard look. “Special assignment for the DOD.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“We don’t have time for a discussion now.”

When Cash failed to get an answer, he turned to Sophia. “And how did you get involved?”

Before she could speak, loud pounding sounded against the door.

“I think you’re going to have to wait for an in-depth discussion,” Phil said. “Come on.” He turned and hurried down the tunnel.

Sophia cupped her hand over Cash’s shoulder. “We’ll talk later.”

He still didn’t know for sure that they were the good guys. Still, his gut told him to trust them. With a grimace, he turned and followed Phil.

As they hurried toward a light glowing in the darkness, an enormous blast sounded behind them, the pressure wave throwing them backwards down the tunnel.

Cash grabbed Sophia and curved his body over hers as the floor shook and small stones rattled down from the ceiling.

His mind flashed on some of the mine disasters he’d read about in the newspapers. Lord, was the whole tunnel going to come down around them?

He held his breath, praying that the structure was solid. After a few moments, the shaking stopped, leaving them coughing as dust settled around them.

Phil stood and brushed himself off, looking back the way they’d come.

“It looks like they’re through the door.”

Cash still didn’t know what was going on. But he knew that armed men would be in the tunnel before the dust cleared.

They’d started shooting before. They would do it again.

He gripped Sophia’s hand. “Which way?”

Phil pointed toward the light. “There’s a room to the left. Stop there and arm yourself. Then keep going—into a maze of natural caves down there.”

Turning, Cash followed Sophia down the tunnel, toward the lighted area. Beyond his vision was what appeared to be a vast area of blackness.

They stepped into what looked like a campsite. How long had Sophia and Phil been there?

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