Page 59 of Canyon of Deceit
“Count on it.”
Two men lifted me from the ground onto the stretcher. Despite their attempt to be gentle, my body protested every move. If the men balancing me tumbled downhill, I’d bounce like a burrito. Later I’d laugh about the idea, but not now.
“Hey, man, we’ve got you,” the agent said on my right. “I’d planned to take my father-in-law fly-fishing this morning. Another day... then I can tell him all about carrying you down off this mountain.”
“Listen up,” Dave said to the men. “Keep your eyes peeled for Chandler and Falin. We’re perfect targets out in the open. As soon as we load Blane into the helo and replenish our water, we’ll split up to find Alina Ivanov and Therese Palmer.”
The slow hike down brought good and dread at the same time. We men were so fickle, especially those of us who wanted to look like heroes when we’re crumbling on the inside. One minute I held my breath and in the next, I blew out the agony.
The fisherman on my right must have sensed my pain tolerance waning, and he started telling me his fishing stories. I listened hard. Nothing to do but swallow my moans and close my eyes.
I claimed I had my mental footing, then fell, battering and bruising my body. But in the struggle, I learned the value of trusting God. How strange I’d changed my way of viewing life in a matter of a fall that nearly killed me.
Someday I’d return here and paint the magnificence of these stone citadels.
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 togo 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 labeledammo. If you’re not willing forme 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.”
