Page 60 of Trapped

The doctor kept his face impassive. “They didn’t report back?”

“Patterson got shot by the guy who covered Baker and the woman’s exit. Scottinger and Marks were on the search team. We found Scottinger’s body. No sign of Marks.”

“He could be lost in the cave.”

“He doesn’t answer his comm unit. And some of the men saw Templeton go over the edge of a cliff in a landslide inside the cave.”

“Do you have any good news?”

“The cave is huge, but we know how the woman and the other man found their way through it. They laid a trail, using infrared markers.”

“And?”

“We’re following the trail. When we get to the end, we’ll know where they entered the cave. And when we know that, we’ll know where to search.”

The information gave him a glimmer of hope, but he kept his voice hard. “What makes you think they’re still in the area?”

“Baker’s leg was injured. He can’t walk all that far. As soon as we find the exit to the cave, we’ll start a search pattern.

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Cash stared at Sophia for long moments, and she kept her gaze steady. He needed to know what had wiped out his memory of the past few months, and he needed to know whatever facts were now hidden from him.

So, what were his options? He could trust her. Or he could go it alone. Too bad he felt like he was trying to play poker when he knew the deck was rigged.

He sighed. “All right.”

“You’re sure?”

“No.”

“Thanks for being honest. But it won’t work unless you trust me enough to let me put you under.”

“Yeah.”

He watched her climb off the bed and walk to the fireplace, where she grabbed the rocking chair and carried it over.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Make yourself comfortable. You can prop yourself up with both pillows. I’ll sit over here and give you suggestions.”

“Okay.” He stacked the pillows, then lay down with his arms rigidly at his sides.

“Relax.”

“Easier said than done.”

“Hypnosis is a way to go back and visit a threatening experience. But you won’t really be there.”

“So, what good does it do me?”

“You’ll be observing. You can watch it happening on a big television screen. And you can change the date to this time and place any time you want to.”

“How?”

“You just have to tell me—I need to leave this place.”

“Okay.”