Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense March 2021--Box Set 2 of 2

by Dana Mentink

  His eyebrows pulled close. “Put the phone down, Nora.” His voice, while still smooth, held a stronger edge to it.

  She turned around and placed the phone on the counter, picking up the gun she’d set down with her other hand while her back was to him.

  “I suppose I would’ve been disappointed if you didn’t have your gun. I let him buy that gun at cost, you know. Set it back down and let’s talk. I really don’t want to have to hurt Henry.”

  Her spine went ramrod-straight. As she did so, she could see her reflection in the laptop’s dark screen. That’s how Frank had spotted the gun. She studied the counter in front of her. There was no way to get a message to anyone. The only things in front of her besides the laptop were the Closed sign on the counter, which faced the front door, and the How Can We Help? sign, which faced her.

  Nora placed the gun on the keyboard, the barrel facing the word Help on the counter. It was a long shot anyone would understand her attempt at a message, but the tiny streak of rebellion washed any remaining exhaustion away.

  She spun around, her back blocking the keyboard. “What about Henry?”

  “Step closer to me and keep your hands up.” The moment she did, Frank lowered his gun but still kept the barrel pointed at her legs. “Let’s play a little game. You tell me where you’re hiding Maya and the drugs, and I won’t kill Henry.”

  She fought to keep her face steeled. He thought she had Maya? So, Maya had gotten away. But either that meant she was abandoning the plan to turn herself in and had disappeared off the face of the earth again, or she might be headed this way.

  If Frank had Henry, then Maya would be walking into a trap. That left Nora with very few options. It was better to let Frank believe she was hiding Maya somewhere, though. Wasn’t it?

  “Tell you what… I’ll tell you where the drugs are, and you let Henry go. Only then will we discuss Maya—and the only way I’m doing that is if Bobby is safe.”

  Frank quirked one eyebrow and smiled, which did nothing to ease her anxiety. The back door burst open and a tall, wiry man with a ball cap pulled down low over his eyes appeared. “No sign of her.”

  “All the rooms?” Frank asked.

  “And under the beds. The ranger is in the backseat. Tied up and ready to go.”

  Go where? Nora tightened her lips together and sent up a silent plea for wisdom and help.

  “Good. Because it sounds like we have a trip to make. Time for you to take me to the drugs.”

  Nora’s quick glance out the window revealed the sun dipping precariously low to the horizon. “It’s almost twilight.”

  “Then you better utilize the fastest routes.” He glanced at the other man. “Get the raft ready.”

  “Maya said the leader of the drug ring was powerful.” Nora’s lip curled. “I never thought of county commissioner as a position of power.”

  “Now, see? Your aunt and Maya had vision, but not you. Never you.” He shook the gun barrel at her as if it was his finger wagging, shaming her. “Disappointing. County commissioner was just the first step. Your aunt would’ve made a good governor’s wife. But…depending on how you act tonight, maybe she still will. Couples often come back together after a crisis.”

  Nora recoiled as he smiled.

  “I wonder if a bullet shattering a leg is the same as a rock. Do you think Henry would know? Maybe it doesn’t hurt as much the second time,” Frank mused, waving his gun around. “Either you get moving, or I might want to find out.”

  * * *

  “You try to kick me and it’ll be the last thing you do with your legs,” the man grunted. He sliced a knife in between Henry’s feet, released the rope and then took one lengthy stride backward, raising a gun at Henry’s chest.

  With his head still throbbing, and his wrists still tied together, Henry wasn’t sure his balance would allow him to successfully kick the man’s weapon away anyway. He would keep an eye out for any opportunity to overtake him.

  “See? What’d I tell you?” Frank asked, almost cheerfully. The gun in Frank’s hand pointed lazily at the middle of Nora’s back. Henry’s heart ran into overdrive, his neck burning. How could he so much as point a gun her way—

  Beside him, Nora’s face paled and her eyes widened. “His head. He’s bleeding. What’d you do to him? You said you wouldn’t touch him if I cooperated.”

  The wiry man gave a shrug to Frank. “Had to get him here first.”

  “That was before our deal, Nora.”

  The wiry man shoved Henry, clearly trying to force him to the raft waiting at the dock. The black SUV and another vehicle Henry didn’t recognize blocked any would-be passerby from seeing the dock and their predicament.

  Nora’s pleading eyes met his. For all his time guessing at her thoughts, now the message seemed crystal clear. Please cooperate. He took a deep breath and almost asked if Frank had Maya as well, but something told him he’d likely get a sarcastic or threatening remark, so he remained silent.

  “You want me to take you there this close to dark, then I need your word,” Nora said. “If I take you to the drugs, you leave Henry and Maya alone.”

  “Fine,” Frank said, too easily. “Time is ticking to sundown, though. Lou and I were both river guides, so we’ll know if you try to flip the boat. We know all the tricks. One wrong move and the deal is off. Are the drugs still at the site?”

  “Yes,” Nora said weakly.

  Frank ordered Nora to the back of the raft and sat at her side. He instructed the man he’d referred to as Lou and Henry to be placed at the front half of the raft. Within moments, they hit the water. Nora shouted instructions with a fierceness Henry’d never heard from her before. Even Lou had a paddle while Henry sat in the front of the raft, helpless, with his hands tied. At least his feet were free enough to hook his toes in for additional support.

  “Henry, grab on to the side handle.”

  He had to twist his torso as far as he could go, but managed a two-fisted grip as a large wave slapped at his chest. He sputtered but Nora kept shouting, taking the hardest currents, the ones that would catapult them down the river at top-notch speed. If not for the danger, he would marvel at her abilities, the kind of praise he should’ve been giving her all the while. His stupid pride seemed to only be able to handle giving compliments when he was on top of the world. Now, completely and utterly helpless, he finally understood what Nora had been trying to tell him. He set up walls for all the people closest to him, even his parents and brother. If he could finally set his ego aside, he could love with vulnerability. Not that he’d ever have a chance to test his theory. Too little, too late.

  The river truly was wild, constantly changing. It didn’t matter the training or equipment or planning, he had no control over the currents. So how was he supposed to help Nora get out of this alive? Especially while bound at the wrists. The river channel straightened, and the sun hovered at the horizon, sending blinding sunlight directly in their path.

  He glanced over his shoulder. Nora seemed unfazed. Even in the calmer portions of the water, she pushed the gunmen to paddle harder, faster. They both had holstered their guns, and were squinting and sweating, but they never argued with or questioned her commands.

  If Nora was trying to wear them out on purpose, she was doing a fine job. He’d have an easier time taking them down if they were tired. Except, exhaustion seemed to have seeped into his own bones after the day they’d had. Rapid after rapid, stroke after stroke. With each inch the sun dipped, Nora’s voice grew weaker in authority.

  Before he knew it, the sun had disappeared, leaving behind a mixture of oranges, pinks and blues. Nora’s sharp inhale directed him to follow her gaze to the site where they’d tried to look for evidence about Tommy’s murder just earlier that day.

  “You murdered Tommy,” Henry said, only half realizing he’d said the words aloud. He whipped his head around to look
at the man in question.

  Frank’s good-natured-politician smile disappeared. The sunset’s golden light reflected off the sheen on the top of his lip. “Mistakes were made in the early years.”

  “So, you admit it.”

  “That was before I realized I needed to manage my own rafting company, my own guides.” Frank shrugged, confirming Henry’s suspicions. The man would not talk so freely about murdering someone if he intended to let Nora and Henry walk away. “Using guides was a good idea with just a few problems. Tommy taught me I could only use guides that were local, from poor families they wanted to protect. In many ways, Tommy helped me become a success. Those in my business knew what his death meant.”

  Nora stopped paddling, her face slack. “Why? Why kill him?”

  “He wanted out,” Henry ventured. That would explain why Tommy had turned jumpy and nervous. He’d wanted out of drug running and was scared but not scared enough to admit what he’d been part of. Henry’s gut churned with understanding.

  “Except he tried to stiff me. Said he’d already sold my drugs to someone else and there was nothing I could do about it.” Frank sighed. “Being a business owner can be tough. You have to know when to cut your losses.”

  “Is that how you viewed Dexter?” Nora asked, horror lining her features. “A cut to your losses?”

  “Dexter should’ve never been on your rafting crew. I don’t know how that happened.” Frank practically spat the words.

  The last colors on the horizon disappeared, leaving behind a dark blue. The canyon walls added shadows, making any light harder to see within. Nora slipped her paddle into the water and shifted the raft toward land. They were almost to her hiding place. Once the men had the drugs, they’d be out of time.

  “Carl’s dead,” Henry said, fighting to stall.

  “Figured as much. And if you would like to join him, just keep opening your mouth.” Frank’s sneer took on a new edge, as if the darkness brought out the monster within.

  “We had a deal.” Nora jumped out of the raft and pulled it farther onto shore with Frank and the gunman already standing.

  “No more sudden moves like that, Nora, sweetie.” Frank’s saccharine voice snapped the last shred of Henry’s patience.

  “Let’s cut the false pretenses, Frank.” Henry turned to Nora. “Don’t give him what he wants. We all know he has no intention of letting us go.”

  “Sure I do. I always keep my promises.” Frank winked, as if on the campaign trail. “You drop us off at the final take-out and you can go on your merry way.”

  “The take-out?” Nora crossed her arms over her chest. “We go our separate ways there?”

  “You drop us off and continue on the river.”

  “That’s Garnet Rapids, you know—”

  “Yes, you get past that, and you’re free to go. So, do you want to take your chances on us shooting you both or with the rapids?”

  Garnet Rapids would mean certain death, especially at night in high water. Even with someone as skilled as Nora, she wouldn’t be able to manage the deluge.

  “I thought we were using the tunnels,” Lou said in a hushed tone.

  “Until I talk to Maya, the tunnels are off-limits. She’s a little too skilled at booby traps, thanks to your training.” Frank flashed a clenched smile at Lou, his bleached teeth the most visible feature in the dimming light. He turned back to Nora. “Unless you’re ready to renegotiate and let me know where you’re hiding her?” Frank asked. “Everyone could be happy.”

  “We’ll take our chances with the rapids,” Nora said quickly. Henry paused for a second, confused at the interchange. Had Maya already showed up at the lodge and Nora had hidden her?

  “Then enough chitchat. The drugs…?”

  Nora walked ahead, leading them right to the tight space in between the cliffs and shrubs where Carl had been chasing them earlier. A dark figure stepped out of the boulders. “Freeze!” a male voice yelled.

  A gunshot went off, but Henry couldn’t see where it came from. Frank and Lou launched themselves at the other man. Henry ducked low. Now was the time to attack. He poised his back leg to launch him into the chaotic jumble of men to attack. Hands free or not, he would tell Nora to run.

  She jumped in front of him, blocking his path. “No, don’t. Please.”

  The newcomer to their group bellowed behind them. Henry knew that voice. Perry was involved? He struggled against his gut instinct to fight. He forced himself to still at Nora’s quiet request. “Can I hope you have a better idea?” he whispered.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Nora had never been so glad she carried a pocketknife at all times. It was a necessary tool in guide work. The moonlight reflected off the blade as she slipped the knife handle between his hands. “Let’s get you free, then wait for my signal.”

  “I think that man who yelled is Perry. He needs our help.”

  Sawing against the rope was proving harder than she thought. “You’re no help to anyone tied up. Listen. Remember what Perry said about the snowmelt that first day? The—”

  “Enough!” Frank yelled, spinning with his phone’s flashlight beam shining into Nora’s and Henry’s faces before she could finish telling him her new idea. “I want the package, and I want it now, Nora.”

  She spun around, leaving the knife in between Henry’s palms. “I want to see that Perry is okay.” She had no idea why the man was there, but she finally believed he was innocent.

  The beam of light hit Perry and his bloody shoulder. Lou held the extra gun that he no doubt had wrestled from Perry after shooting him. “He goes with us,” she said.

  “Fine. If you all make it through the Garnet Rapids, I wish you a happy life.” Frank chuckled, with the knowledge that survival at that point would be impossible. She knew the only reason he wanted them to die in the rapids would be that their deaths would look like an accident of extreme thrill seekers rather than murder. The rapids would be at a Class VI or VII even by now. Impossible to navigate even in the best circumstances, especially in the dark. “The drugs, ” Frank said as an order.

  Nora’s insides practically vibrated. They had one shot and it all relied on the fact she knew something her ex-uncle didn’t. She got down on all fours, hoping Henry would have his hands free by now. If Frank went back on his word, she knew Henry would attack, gun or not. Whether he felt the same way or not, she couldn’t deny she still loved the man. Her mouth went dry at the thought, but there was nothing she could do about it. She lifted up a silent prayer for survival as she reached into the darkness of the log and her fingers gripped the nylon bag full of drugs.

  The moment she stood, Lou grabbed the bag and peeked inside with his own light. “It’s all there.”

  “Good. Let’s go.” Frank waved the gun at them all, including Perry. She didn’t need the light to confirm Perry wasn’t well. She stepped to his side and acted as if she wanted to help him walk, while Henry trudged in front of them, his hands in front, pretending to still be tied up. At least, she hoped he was pretending. Her plan wouldn’t work if his hands were still bound.

  “Do you know if Bobby is okay?” she whispered out of the side of her mouth.

  “No,” Perry replied. “When I didn’t hear from any of you, I went out looking. Had just found a mine entrance when—”

  “He can walk by himself or die here,” Frank muttered, grabbing Nora’s elbow and giving her a push toward the raft.

  Once they were all seated, she tried to steel her nerves. She didn’t have time to share her plan with Perry or Henry. Ironically, this would be the only time when they would actually make it to the designated take-out all week, but she had no intention of delivering Frank there without a fight. And if Henry and Nora were both gone, no one would be left to warn Maya and Aunt Linda. She had to try.

  The clouds shifted, blocking out even more of the moonlight. Bouncing o
ver the waters, she was guiding blind yet could feel the current beneath the raft. She knew the river like the back of her hand but had never been tested in this way, especially with an upcoming new boulder and a set of hydraulics. Lord, give me courage.

  “Only one more set of rapids to go through before the take-out, Nora. No funny business. I know the route, and I’ll know if you deviate. Even in the dark.”

  “Fine, but I’m going to need your gunman to move to the opposite side of the boat to compensate. Perry and Henry can’t paddle.”

  “I think we’ll be fine,” Frank countered with a warning sneer.

  If ever there was a time to hold her ground, it was now. “When’s the last time you’ve gone through these rapids with only two people paddling in the back? I venture you haven’t. A kayak is very different than five people squished into a four-person raft.”

  Before Frank could argue any more, Lou shrugged and crawled on his knees across the raft to take the suggested place. “Move,” he barked at Perry and Henry, and they slid across the thwart to her side of the boat.

  She could feel Frank’s eyes on her and fought to keep a nonchalant expression as she sliced the water with the paddle. Her shoulders and arms had never before burned with such intensity. If she ever sat in a rowing machine for a fun workout again, it’d be too soon.

  She stared hard at the back of Henry’s head as he tried to adjust his balance, sandwiched between the wounded Perry and the wiry Lou. It had to be hard to pretend his wrists were bound that close to the gunman.

  “I know you can’t help much, Perry, but you’re going to have to keep your balance there,” she called out. “You know the river, and you heard Frank. He expects us to go the same route we’ve always gone.” She prayed Perry would get the meaning of her emphasized words.