by Kelly Wood
“He was wet. Sopping wet.”
“Who?” Liam asked.
I smacked Ben on the arm to get his attention. “Back at Guy’s. In the closet. They came in and the one man was wet. Like he’d taken a plunge in the river.” I pointed to my right like they were unaware of the river flowing nearby. The rush of the waterfall created a backdrop of white noise.
“So?”
“There are caves behind the falls. Gray and I toured them. Maybe he was wet because he was trying to follow Gray. They said ‘the man is missing.’ It makes sense that’s where Gray would go.” In my excitement, my voice grew in volume. Ben slapped his hand over my mouth. I clamped my lips together, hoping he’d get the message that I would stay quiet and he could remove his hand.
“That’s a leap, Regan,” Liam said. “Gray would be trapped. It wouldn’t make sense for him to go there. He’d go away from the danger, not cage himself like an animal.”
“Maybe he didn’t have a choice,” I countered. “That man was wet. Really wet. Gray knows about the caves. It makes sense to me.”
“How would we get down there? They’re blocking the observation deck and stairs,” Ben said, gesturing to the group of men still holding guns on each other.
“From here. The tree line extends to the cliffs. We leave our clothes and shoes here, hidden. Climb down and walk along the edge of the river. The cliff goes straight down. We’d be out of sight and safe from gunfire.”
Liam and Ben looked at each other over my shoulders. They were having an unspoken conversation over me. I kept my head down and my mouth closed. Sometimes you have to know when to be quiet and let your argument win. Liam spoke, a decision having been made.
“One of us should stay behind,” Liam said.
“No.” Ben offered up no room for debate, but Liam made some.
“We can’t leave our clothes, our guns, behind unprotected. Someone needs to stay.”
“It can’t be me,” I whispered. “I’m the only one who knows how to get in.”
“Don’t you just walk through the waterfall?” Ben asked.
“It’s not that easy. Trust me.”
“I don’t think we should split up. We can hide the clothes and two weapons,” Ben said. “One gun goes with us.”
“Why?” I asked.
“We’re not going completely unarmed. We’ll leave two behind as backup in case the water clogs the gun.”
Liam wavered. “How long will it take us?”
I debated the answer in my head. Last time, we’d taken our time entering the falls. We jumped off rocks into natural wading pools and took our time exploring the caves. This time, it would be a speed trek in, check the caves, and back out.
“Twenty, maybe twenty-five minutes,” I said. “They’ll be fine for twenty minutes.” I knew his true worry was Jax.
Liam gave in.
“Alright. Lead the way,” Liam said.
I stood up and headed for the cliff. I stayed behind trees and tried to move as quietly as possible. We couldn’t see the group of men any longer or hear what they were saying to one another. I honestly didn’t care what happened to them. I just wanted Gray and to get back home.
At the last tree, I kicked off my shoes, stuffing my socks inside them. I quickly shimmied out of my pants and stripped my shirt over my head. I stood in a sports bra and boy-cut underwear, Liam and Ben in boxer briefs. Both men had chiseled chests. Liam’s was covered in tattoos that ran down his arms. He made an imposing figure when not covered by his regular clothes. Ben looked like an Adonis.
“How deep is the river?” Ben asked as he peeked over the edge.
“About chest-high on me. Stay behind me. Use your toes to grip the rocks under the water. They’ll be slimy and slippery. As we near the falls, keep your head down and breathe through your mouth. You’ll feel like you are drowning. The water will hit you from every direction. Just keep moving forward.”
It was the only advice I could give them. Words couldn’t be found to describe the feeling once you were actually walking though the waterfall. The water would soak us all to the bone. We would feel waterlogged and heavy afterwards.
I inched my way down the cliff. Natural handholds and footholds were easy to find. We made it to the water quicker than I expected. Walking along the edge of the river, I used my left hand to steady me against the cliff wall. The water was waist-deep and rising. The current grew more forceful as we neared the waterfall. I reached back with my right hand and gripped Liam’s hand. Liam held Ben’s hand with his other one. Ben’s free hand held our only gun.
One of them should have led the way since they were stronger. If the current swept the feet out from under one of them, I wouldn’t have the strength to pull him back up. Both were physically fit and athletic so I hoped it proved enough for them to stay upright.
The falls pounded on our heads and shoulders. I pushed down the fear it created inside of me and kept moving forward. Water ran down every part of my body. I used my free hand to hitch my underwear back up from the water sagging them down.
Just as my body screamed for a real breath, I broke through to the other side. I gulped in mouthfuls of air. Euphoria filled me at having made it to the other side. Liam and Ben emerged right behind me and looked around. Ben held his gun pressed to his chest. It was really an amazing experience to go behind a waterfall. Not one many people got to do.
“Nice,” Liam said. He wiped the water off his forehead and pushed his hair back.
“That was the scariest thing I’ve ever done,” Ben said, causing me to laugh. The tension and stress inside of me eased a bit.
Light filtered through the water, lighting the caves and alcove. We wouldn’t be able to see any details, but there was enough to see if anyone was in them. We looked around. The first two caves were clearly empty. I led the way as we explored the others. My heart started to sag with each empty cave. Maybe I was wrong?
“It was worth a shot, Regan,” Liam tried to boost my spirits.
“There’s one more.” I held out hope. I called Gray’s name as I neared it. I didn’t enter this cave the last time I’d been here. The small space and the feeling of drowning had caused me to become claustrophobic. I’d stayed behind in a larger cave while Gray and the guide kept exploring.
“Where?” Ben asked, looking around.
“It’s there. Trust me.”
I steeled myself for a letdown if it was empty, too. I poked my head in and was shocked at how small the opening was. I turned sideways and shimmied inside. I turned to face the entrance when I realized it, too, was empty. My disappointment setting in. The narrow opening scratched against Ben and Liam’s backs and chests as they entered. We stood shoulder to shoulder.
“Look!” Excitement tinged Liam’s voice, his Irish lilt coming out stronger making the one word sound musical. He pointed over my shoulder.
White fabric stood out against the dark rock. I picked it up without thinking and then immediately threw it back down on the rock when I felt something gooey touch my skin. I washed my hands clean under the water and shivered.
Ben used the tips of his fingers to pull it apart. Tape still clung to the edge of the gauze although the exposed part had lost its stickiness. Blood and pus soaked the bandage.
“It seems fresh,” Ben said. “Regan, I think you may have been right about Gray coming here.” A smile lit up his face.
“Yes!” I pumped my fist in the air.
“Don’t get too excited. He’s clearly suffering, and we still don’t know where he is now,” Ben said.
“But we’re close. I can feel it.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Gray Thomas
Forest around Pulhapanzak Falls,
Honduras
GRAY JOLTED FROM SLEEP. Bugs buzzed around his face, drawn to him by the sweat covering his skin. He shivered and drew his arms toward his chest. Pain wracked him, growing worse with each breath. The climb out of the waterfall and up the side of cliff drained every
ounce of his energy. He’d barely made it over the top and into the woods before succumbing to exhaustion.
Gray forced himself to sip some water from his bottle. He poured the rest over his head. It was a waste, but the momentary relief was worth it.
Gray knew his fever was worse. He shivered even though the temperature was quite warm. Sweat poured off him, mixing with the river water drenching his clothes. He needed a hospital. At the very least, he needed antibiotics and quickly, but the thought of walking to town now was more than he could handle.
Tree branches moved near him, sending fear and adrenaline through his system. It fueled him enough to move.
They’re coming for me!
Gray grabbed his bag and crawled to a nearby tree, hiding in the underbrush. The small effort wiped from him what little energy he had. His body fell to the side as his eyes closed and dizziness set in. The world around him spun like a top.
Reality and hallucinations combined. Gray heard Regan’s voice, soft and sweet. Almost like she was whispering. A man’s deeper voice overlapped with hers. It must be Guy, Gray thought. Guy coming for me. But the voice sounded funny in Gray’s head. Almost musical.
Gray envisioned guns and shots fired. Memories from his earlier escape fluttered through his head. He knew his time was limited. His screamed in his head for Regan to run but remembered she wasn’t with him. It wasn’t Regan coming for him. It was Guy. He would be dead soon. Part of him looked forward to it with relief. The pain and fever would end then.
Leaves moved above him. Gray opened his eyes and looked up. He wanted to look his killer in the face. He wouldn’t die cowering with his eyes squeezed shut.
Ben’s face floated before him. Two images converged into one and then split again. This time, Gray knew he really was hallucinating. What would Ben be doing here? Ben didn’t know Guy. Gray closed his eyes and let the dream continue.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Gracie Williams
Road alongside Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras
Gracie looked down at her nails, picking away at the chipped nail polish while she waited. It was a nervous habit from childhood that she’d broken years ago. She closed her hands into fists to stop herself. Liam, Regan and Ben had only been gone for twenty minutes and already the time was dragging on. But she was handling it better than Jax.
Jax paced back and forth along the length of the car Gracie leaned against. The constant movement, while comforting to Jax, was making Gracie more anxious.
“Will you please stop moving? They’ll be fine.” Gracie didn’t really believe it herself, her own nerves were frayed with the waiting, but she had to tell Jax something to calm her.
“How can you stand still? I’m going crazy.” Jax kicked the front tire before turning to walk back. She fell against the car next to Gracie and groaned in frustration.
“I’ve had thirty years of practice waiting.”
“But we’re so close. You know Guy is just down the road, how do you stop yourself from running to him? I can’t even stand waiting for Liam now. What if they don’t come back? What if they’re hurt?” Jax asked.
“I’ll answer your questions one at a time. First, I promised Regan if she brought me, I’d listen and do what was asked of me. That means waiting for them right now. Second, I can barely stand it myself but pacing and worrying will only make it worse. Third, they will come back. I have faith in that. Fourth, they may be hurt when they return. But,” Gracie held up a finger at Jax’s shocked expression, “they will return.”
Jax opened her mouth to reply when a truck driving down the road got her attention. Gracie turned at the sound. Jax reached into her pocket for the pepper spray, wrapping her hand around the canister. Just in case. A beat-up truck, older than Jax, slowed as it neared them. The front seat held three men, hip to hip, while the rear cargo area was empty.
“Señoritas, are you in need of assistance?” the passenger asked in Spanish, his arm hanging out of the rolled-down window.
“No, thank you.” Gracie smiled and answered him in Spanish. “Just taking a break from a long drive and getting some air.”
It wasn’t the lie that Ben wanted them to use but Gracie had a feeling it would work.
“I see. Yes, it will be a beautiful day here. Very well.” The man waved as the truck started to roll forward. It stopped after only a few feet. “Señoritas, don’t take too much time. Someone is setting up a road block back there and there will probably be another one farther up this way, too.”
“Do you know why? Or what’s going on?” Gracie asked. Jax’s impatience at not knowing what was being said was starting to show. She’d already stood up and started shifting her feet under her to pace again.
“No. But it’s never a good sign. You should move on.”
“Thank you, gentlemen.” Gracie tipped her head in their direction. With one final wave, the truck moved away and kept going.
Gracie filled Jax in.
“What should we do?” Jax asked.
“Nothing. We need to stay here.”
“Should we warn them? We could honk just once.”
Gracie contemplated Jax’s suggestion. One honk could be interpreted as a warning. But it could also be taken the wrong way. They were only supposed to honk three times if they were in danger. One honk could send them running back before they were ready.
“I don’t know, Jax. Let’s just stick with the plan. Maybe the roadblock will work to our advantage.”
“Or maybe it will just get us all locked in,” Jax said.
“What would be the purpose? To trap us? We haven’t done anything wrong.”
Jax didn’t answer. She went back to pacing. The short time standing still was doing her in. Gracie gave in and started to pick at her polish again. The roadblocks added another layer to an already unknown position.
Engines roared around them. It wasn’t the casual sound of the truck from earlier. These sounded almost angry. If engines could have feelings. Gracie looked in the direction the truck had gone. Multiple vehicles were barreling down on them.
“Get in the car.” Urgency laced Gracie’s voice. Jax froze in place. “Now!”
Gracie reached for the driver’s side door when Jax started to move. The vehicles flew past, sending Gracie’s hair flying around her face. Gracie opened the door as tires screeched on the pavement. She looked up in fear. One man got out of the car before it sped away.
A gunshot rang out in the distance. The man turned his head to follow the sound and then quickly picked up his pace to reach them.
As Gracie watched him near, almost frozen in fear. She did the only thing she could. She reached inside the car and laid on the horn.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Regan Harris
Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras
I placed my hands along the rocks on the cliff wall and heaved myself out of the water. I used my legs to push myself up. My foot screamed in protest. The last few hours were taking its toll on the injury I sustained in Chicago, though it had been mostly healed. Liam and Ben climbed along either side of me. The trek to exit the caves was much easier than going in, just as I’d promised. The force of the waterfall and the river pushed us back to our climbing point much more quickly than when we were working against it.
The pus on the bandage worried me, but I didn’t let it overpower the excitement I was feeling at finding it. I just knew it was Gray’s. The video at the Magari showed him with his emergency pack. He’d have access to first aid supplies to clean the wound and rebandage it.
We were halfway up the cliff when we heard the gunshot. I paused in my climbing even as my heart raced with fear. The sound of a car horn blaring out fueled me back into action. The sound was distant and muted through the trees, but all of us panicked a little on the inside listening for another two honks.
They never came.
We scrambled up and over the remaining climb and hurried to our clothes. The clothes stuck to ou
r wet skin as we tried to pull them on, slowing us down. My hands shook. The more I panicked the slower I seemed to move.
“It was only one honk. What do you think that means?” I asked as I sat down on the ground to put my tennis shoes back on.
“That they are in danger,” Liam said as he wedged his feet into his shoes, not bothering with his socks.
“Maybe it was a warning?” Ben suggested.
“Do you want to chance it?” Liam asked. It was a rhetorical question. All of us knew we wouldn’t risk their lives. Well, at least Liam and I wouldn’t. Ben, I couldn’t be sure.
“Let’s go,” I said as I stood up and headed back toward the road. I longed to know what was going on with Guy, Frank and Michael, but we were too far into the trees to see anything. No sound traveled to us from that direction as far as we knew, they were all gone or dead. Any gunshots fired while we were in the caves would’ve been blocked out by the roaring sound of the waterfall.
I jogged around the trees and ducked under low-hanging branches. We tried to be quiet, but we also tried to hurry. Worry for Gracie and Jax sped me along. I prayed one of them slipped and accidentally hit the steering wheel causing the honk. It would explain why we only heard one.
The three of us froze as the sound of rustling on our left. Ben split off from our group to check out the sound nearby.
“It’s probably an animal,” Ben whispered. “Slow down and keep low.”
“What about you? Should we split up?” I asked.
“He’ll be fine, Regan,” Liam said, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the road. I understood Liam’s choice. He wanted to get to Jax as quickly as he could.
Ben nodded and moved away from us as the sound of another gunshot roared through the trees.
Chapter Thirty
Ben Jackson
Woods around Pulhapanzak Falls
Honduras
Ben urged Liam and Regan on after the shots stopped them all cold in their tracks again. Ben almost corrected Regan when she assumed it was only one shot fired. He could see the mistake since the two came so closely together. Probably two people shooting simultaneously, Ben thought.