Desert Secrets

by Lisa Harris

  “I was trying to stall them,” he said, catching her gaze. “I was counting on Issa to show up. Three against two didn’t seem like bad odds, but this…”

  “I know and I’m sorry,” she whispered.

  So was he. What was Becca going to do when they didn’t show up in Morocco? Or if she received another ransom call?

  I don’t know what to do, God. You called me here to protect and serve, but I’m out of options.

  He glanced at Lexi. There was something reassuring about her presence. But he also knew how scared she was. He needed to find a way to end this.

  “Do you still believe Issa’s in on this?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Have you seen him?”

  Lexi shook her head.

  “They had to have been out there somewhere.”

  “What do we do now?” she asked. “If I can’t find Trent, they won’t need me anymore. And even if I did know where he was, no matter what he’s done, I don’t know… I don’t know if I can betray him.”

  *

  Lexi watched Colton in the dimly lit space. Frustration over her brother’s behavior—and the subsequent consequences—had continued to trouble her. She had no idea where he was. No idea what exactly he’d done. All she knew for sure was that the nightmare had begun again. Another makeshift compound with nothing more than a few tents and a cooking hut all surrounded by the vast desert.

  Sweat beaded across her neck and ran down her back in the sweltering heat. But no matter how angry she might feel, her brother’s actions were the least of her worries right now. Colton needed medical attention, especially if he had a concussion. And on top of that, they had to find out what had happened to Bret and Issa.

  She had no way to contact Colton’s mission, and even if they did, what could they do? If the army had been unable to take out the insurgents, a group of aid workers certainly weren’t going to be able to.

  “We have to find a way out of here,” she said, keeping her voice at a whisper.

  “I agree,” he said, “but the last time I had the aid of the army and that didn’t exactly end the way I’d planned.”

  Colton shifted on the mat. She knew what he was thinking. Salif’s men had weapons capable of taking down his Cessna. How in the world were they supposed to fight against them?

  He turned onto his side and started to push himself up.

  “Colton?” She reached out to steady him. “You’re not fine.”

  “I’m just a little dizzy.”

  She frowned. “Lie back down, then. You need to rest.”

  He waived her off, then pressed his hands against the sides of the mat for balance. “I’m okay, and you’re right. We need an escape strategy to get out of here. Can you guess at how many men are in the camp?”

  She caught the determination in his eyes along with the bruise that was forming on his forehead. She couldn’t help wonder what plan they could come up with that would actually work. But if nothing else, this would help make her feel more in control.

  “They brought us straight from the Land Rover to here,” she said. “The camp is small, and I saw about a dozen men. Most of them were carrying AK-47s.”

  “What about vehicles and other weapons?”

  “I saw three vehicles including the one they brought us here in. And as for weapons? Like I said most of the men are armed, but there’s no way to know what might be inside in the other tents.”

  “Okay…” He pressed his hand against the back of his neck, clearly in pain. “I’m assuming they move around frequently, in order to avoid detection, so they would want to travel light when they do. Salif might have a permanent base somewhere, but if he knows the government is looking for him, lying low for a while would make sense.”

  “Somehow I don’t think they’re going to offer us a tour.”

  Colton let out a low chuckle. “Unfortunately I think you’re right.”

  She heard two men arguing outside, their voices getting louder as they approached the tent.

  “Someone’s coming,” she whispered, grasping Colton’s forearm.

  They hadn’t spoken to anyone since they’d arrived, but she knew that eventually Salif was going to want to talk to them and tell them exactly what he wanted. A shadow crossed in front of the flap of their tent. At the same time she heard someone call out. It must have been to the men who were approaching because their voices faded in the afternoon air and the shadow receded as they walked away.

  “So do you think our best way out of here is one of the vehicles?” she asked, letting out a breath of relief at the delay.

  “It’s risky, but it seems like that’s our only option. The only problem is even if we did manage to steal one of the vehicles, then what? We don’t have any idea where we are.”

  Lexi bit the edge of her lip. He was right. They had no maps, and barely any supplies. Even if they did make it out, where were they going to go? They were miles away from the nearest town.

  “You know what I want right now?” Colton asked.

  Her eyes narrowed as she caught his gaze. “What?”

  “Becca makes this s’mores cheesecake. It’s this amazing dessert with layers of chocolate and marshmallows and hot fudge sauce. It’s sickeningly sweet and absolutely delicious.”

  Lexi chuckled at his craving. “I’m hungry, but even that’s sounds way too sweet to me. Personally, I’d settle for some lemonade with ice and one of my dad’s burgers straight off the grill. I haven’t had a decent hamburger for months.”

  “I wouldn’t mind that with a side order of onion rings and a thick chocolate shake—”

  “Stop.” She scooted over a few inches in order to lean back against the wooden pole holding up the center of the tent. “What made you think of your sister’s dessert?”

  “Besides the fact that I’m hungry?” He shook his head. “I keep thinking about Becca and what she’s going to do when I don’t call her.”

  She could hear the frustration in his voice.

  “My stepfather’s expecting me to come home and now…I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

  Or when he was going to hear from her.

  A stab of pain shot through her. Her stepfather had already lost her mother. Which was why her decision to leave the US and work in Africa had already come at a cost to her family. They’d understood, or at least had tried to understand, but she knew they worried about her living in an unstable region no matter how many precautions she’d promised them she was taking.

  Colton reached out and brushed his fingers against the back of her hand. “I’m so sorry you’re having to go through all of this again.”

  His touch sent shivers through her. In another place and time, she could see herself falling for someone like him. She’d seen firsthand his integrity. His willingness to risk his life for others. His strength. She pushed away any thoughts of romance. All she needed to be thinking about right now was surviving. And finding a way out of here.

  “Lexi?”

  “I’m okay. It’s just hard not to wonder if we’re ever going to see our families. Or if we’re going to have the chance to do something…normal. I’d do anything for a boring trip to the grocery store. But what about your head?” she said, changing the subject. “Any better yet?”

  “The pain’s a bit less.”

  The shadow of a man appeared in the open flap of the tent again, blocking their only source of light. Hamid, one of the men who’d grabbed them earlier, stepped inside, then ordered her to come with him.

  Colton reached for her hand and squeezed her fingers. “Lexi—”

  “I’ll be fine.”

  She swallowed hard, hoping her words sounded more confident than she felt. But Colton was right—they needed her alive.

  Outside the tent, she walked across the hot sand ahead of the insurgent who held his AK-57 pointed at her back. Not that he needed it…she wasn’t going anywhere. The heat of the late morning sun beat across her head and shoulders. Forget
an ice-cold lemonade. She’d be happy with anything wet to drink at this point.

  Wiping the sweat off back of her neck, Lexi drew in a deep breath and took in as many details around her as she could. Four men lounged in the shade of one of the tents. Another four stood around the perimeter guarding the camp against any threat that might arise behind the waves of sand in the distance. To her right there was a narrow row of solar panels—an attempt to modernize the compound—and beyond them, she noted that one of the vehicles was gone from where it had been parked when they’d arrived. She’d heard an engine running before Colton had woken up, and couldn’t help but wonder where it had gone. There was still no sign of Issa or Bret. Would they have taken the men to another camp?

  They stopped in front of a bearded man sitting on a wooden chair and eating an almost-empty plate of stew and bread.

  “You and your friend have caused me a lot of grief,” he said, not stopping to look at her as he sopped up the last bite of stew with the bread. “But I learned a long time ago that things don’t always go as planned.”

  “You must be Salif,” she said, trying not to sound as if she was about to pass out.

  “I believe the last time you were in my custody, my men asked you where your brother was. I’m asking you again.” He dropped the empty plate onto the ground next to him and looked up at her. “And this time I want an answer.”

  Help me know what I should say, God. Please…

  Lexi drew in a slow breath as she fought the panic threatening to overwhelm her. “And I told them what I knew. He came to visit me and then he left. He didn’t tell me where he was going, and I haven’t heard from him since.”

  “So I’ve been told. But surely you have some idea where he might be, because helping me is by far your better option.”

  She reached up unconsciously and felt the place where Amar had slapped her face. They believed she was hiding something, that she knew where her brother was. It was probably the only reason she was alive. But what would happen when they realized she was telling the truth and had no idea where Trent was or where to find him? Then what?

  “What do you want me to do?” she asked.

  “We’re going to send him a video. He won’t reply to me or my messages, but perhaps he will respond to his sister if he knows her life is on the line.”

  She caught the man’s gaze and saw the spite in his eyes. He was telling the truth. She had to get through to Trent. Because as soon as she lost her value to them, they would kill her.

  TEN

  Lexi tried to swallow the fear, not wanting Salif to know how terrified she really was. She knew enough about the man to understand that he had little to lose and everything to gain. But that didn’t mean he was going to win. Not this time. There had to be a way to find Bret, get them out of here and put an end to this.

  Salif spoke to Hamid, who immediately went running to a nearby tent. “He’ll be back in a minute with a video camera. And while he’s gone, you can think about what you’re going to say. All you have to do is convince your brother this isn’t a game.”

  Lexi frowned at the implications, still trying to win the battle against her growing nerves.

  “Tell me exactly what Trent did,” she said, turning back to Salif while they waited for the other man to return. She was going to need answers if she ever expected to wrap her mind around the situation.

  “I assumed you knew.”

  “I don’t think he wanted me to know. He told me he was coming to visit me. That it was a long-overdue vacation. He never told me he was in trouble.”

  “Then let’s just say he’s made a few people very angry.”

  “Including yourself?”

  “I’m more of a middleman. I do the occasional work-for-hire. Your brother has been embezzling money from a business partner who I happen to know quite well.

  Salif wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. “I’m here to ensure my friend gets his money back.”

  “And he doesn’t care who is hurt in the meantime?” Her voice broke, but she wasn’t finished. “Or if someone dies in the process?”

  “Your brother made a number of foolish decisions, which means he is the one who will have to live with any consequences.”

  And Trent had to have known about those consequences. He realized he was about to get caught and knew if he didn’t run, he’d end up in prison or more likely, dead. So he’d decided to disappear to Africa. And in the process, he’d managed to drag her into the situation.

  “And what do you get for tracking him down?” Lexi asked.

  “A nice paycheck. And a sign of goodwill.”

  “And Trent? What happens to him if you find him?”

  “Why would you care?” Salif said. “Sounds to me as if he betrayed you.”

  “He’s family,” she said, wondering if there was anything she could say that would change his mind. “My mother died a few months ago, and my father—”

  “Forget the sob story. It won’t work.” Salif let out a deep chuckle.

  Apparently she’d been wrong to think she might find a layer of humanity beneath his gruff exterior.

  “Once he is found, he will be dealt with appropriately. But he chose the wrong place to run. He apparently had no idea that the man he swindled has contacts all across North Africa.” His smile quickly faded. “And here’s another problem. This entire situation has become personal. Besides the two-million-dollar ransom, I also lost some of my best men in that raid by the army. I can’t simply just pretend that didn’t happen.”

  “I had nothing to do with any of that.”

  “That doesn’t really matter. I have a feeling Colton’s family will be a bit more forthcoming with the money this time when they realize this isn’t a game.”

  “Then what do you want me to do?”

  “We’re going to make sure your brother realizes that he will need to come forward and replace the money he stole…or you will die.”

  Or you will die.

  Lexi replayed the words in her mind as Hamid returned with the video camera and handed it to Salif.

  “You might be surprised how high-tech we manage to be out here in the middle of nowhere. I can create a video with a sat phone and on the internet I can send it anywhere in the world I want.”

  Hamid secured Lexi’s hands behind her back, then shoved her onto the chair where Salif had been eating minutes ago. She winced as her arm scraped against the rough wood. This was not idle conversation. He didn’t care what happened to her. Because for him, this was nothing more than a business deal, and she had become a disposable commodity.

  Thirty seconds later, Hamid was running the video while Salif stood next to her, making his demands into the camera, and then turned to Lexi.

  “Tell your brother what I said.”

  Lexi swallowed hard. “Trent…listen to him. You have forty-eight hours. And if you don’t show up…they will kill me.”

  Salif motioned for Hamid to turn off the video. Speaking the words again out loud spread a wave of nausea through her.

  “Take her back to her tent,” Salif said, “Then we’ll send this to a place Trent will be sure and see it.”

  But Lexi knew the truth. Just because Trent saw the video didn’t mean he’d respond, or that she was going to be enough motivation to return the money he’d embezzled. Not that he’d ever want her dead, but he’d chosen to run and more than likely didn’t have access to pay back what he’d stolen. Which meant they had less than forty-eight hours to find a way out of here.

  Hamid unbound her, but kept a firm grip on her arm. Lexi winced at the irony. He might be setting her free, but they knew, as well as she did, that there was no way out of here.

  “What about Issa and Bret?” she said to Salif before turning away. “Do you have them, too?”

  “They told me you were trying to stall when my men picked you up. I’m going to assume you were waiting for Issa to come to your rescue again.” Salif rested his hands against his hips. “Bu
t he’s not coming. Not this time. I can promise you that.”

  “Then where is he?”

  Salif nodded at Hamid without answering her question.

  Hamid tightened the grip on her arm and forced her back to the tent. Colton was pacing inside the small space. She waited a few seconds for her eyes to adjust to the dimness.

  “Lexi?”

  “I’m okay. I just… I need to sit down.” Her legs felt as if they were about to give out on her. The surge of adrenaline had started to wear off, leaving her feeling as if she were about to crash. In all the training she gone through before she came, none of it had prepared her for this. She was tired and overwhelmed. She sat down on the mat and took in a deep breath.

  I don’t know how much more of this I can handle, God. I feel as if I’ve been pushed to my limits…

  “They didn’t hurt you—”

  “No. But it’s like this is all a game to him, and I’m simply a stepping-stone to getting what he wants.”

  She’d looked into Salif’s eyes and had left wondering if there was any sense of humanity in him. Instead she saw a cycle of greed. Her brother’s greed. Salif’s greed…

  Colton sat down across from her. A ray of light coming in from the flap of the tent cast a shadow across Colton’s face. His face was pale and the spot where they’d struck him on his temple was now turning a deep shade of purple. But he hadn’t lost that fierce determination in his eyes. Part of her wanted to curl up in a ball in his arms and sleep until this was over. But that kind of escape wasn’t going to help them find a way out.

  “What did they want?” he asked.

  “They made a video with their demands to Trent.”

  “And their demands?”

  She picked at a hole in the mat, not wanting to tell him everything. There was nothing he could do to change things. Plans of escape might keep them busy, but the reality was that their options were limited.

  Colton frowned when she didn’t answer. “What else did they say?”

  She flicked at a broken nail. Funny how six months ago, she never missed a manicure. Somehow all of that didn’t matter anymore.

  “My brother embezzled a large amount of money from a man he was working for,” she said.