Page 115 of Deadly Target (Rocky Mountain Courage 2)

FORTY-SEVEN

Nathan ran through the woods, then slowed at the edge of the tree line on his approach to the copper mine. He’d communicated with Jack, Terra, and Alex, as well as Trevor. But there was no time to waste. If there was any chance of getting Erin and Celia away from these deadly men while they were at the copper mine—if they were at the mine—then that time was now.

Delmar kept pace with him. The science teacher had visited the mine before and discussed all the advantages and disadvantages of it with his students, and he’d given Nathan more information than he needed to go along with the more crucial fact—the mine wasn’t far from the abandoned train tunnel where Celia had left her duffel.

Piles of excavated dirt edged the perimeter where heavy equipment had been left.

Multiple flashlights shone near the entrance of the mine, which was just a big gaping hole in the earth, and several vehicles were parked nearby. Were they mine workers? If so, he would think the floodlights would be shining bright for their safety. His gut told him this group was up to no good. Nathan wasn’t able to get a handle on how many were there. Some were outside the entrance of the mine, but there could be others inside. He peered through binoculars, trying to find out more, and if, in fact, these were the same men who could have taken the women.

“No way.” His gut clenched.

“What it is?” Delmar asked. “Let me see?”

“Just a guy I ran into while in Boston.” Ginger Man was here too. That meant Erin and Celia were probably here.

“What are we going to do?”

“You’re going to do nothing. You shouldn’t even be here. As for me, I’m waiting until I see them bring the women out of the mine”—God, please let these mobster goons bring them out alive and well—“and then, I’m doing something.” He just wasn’t sure what yet. Any action he took could be risky. Erin and Celia could end up becoming hostages or getting shot and killed. He prayed they were not already dead.

“I can help.”

“By staying here. You’ve already helped a lot.” In fact, Nathan had more questions. “Why do you suppose they came to the mine?”

“I thought we already decided it was close enough. A good place to hide until they could make their escape.”

It just seemed like too many men sent to grab two women, but what did he know about the mob? From the looks of the house and the tunnel—Delmar had shared about digging it—Celia was a force to be reckoned with.

“Tell me more about mines. Copper mines. I don’t know—this mine.”

“What else do you want to know?”

“I’m trying to figure this out. I’m missing something. Humor me and just keep talking as if you’re in class, only keep it to a whisper.”

“Okay, well, copper is used in all kinds of things, and we’re even looking to copper as an alternative to rare earth minerals, especially in wind turbines and electric vehicles. But rare earth can occur as a byproduct of copper.”

“And how much money is generated from such an endeavor?”

“Money?” Delmar huffed. “Billions. Hundreds of billions.”

Nathan fell back on his haunches. Rare earth? His mother had said Dad kept repeating the word rare. Was there a connection between the copper mine and Celia or the mafia? Who were the investors?

Whop-whop-whop.

A helicopter’s approach drew his attention upward. Was it SWAT? One of the county helicopters responding to his call for help?

A commotion near the entrance of the mine pulled his gaze back down. The men shuffled three women between them. Erin, Celia—who appeared to be injured—and ... Holly Sandfield? Nathan’s pulse skyrocketed.

So the helicopter was their transportation out of the mine and escape from the grip of authorities.

Nathan couldn’t wait on help to arrive. He couldn’t wait on backup. He took in the heavy equipment—three times the size of his county SUV—parked along the perimeter. Could he somehow use that as a distraction? One was an excavator with a long arm.

He could use it to keep the helicopter from landing. Then he could delay their planned getaway until help arrived.

“Stay here.” He handed the binoculars over to Delmar and got to his feet.

“Wait! Where are you going?”

Nathan didn’t have time to explain a plan he wasn’t even sure would work. But, somehow, he had to save the day. The helicopter drew closer but still hovered above the mine, lights flashing down as the pilot searched for the right place to land. Nathan could see the spot easily enough, and if he could start that excavator, he could prevent the bird from landing.

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