Standoff at Midnight Mountain

by Mary Alford

  “Get them back to the cabin,” said the man who had ordered his men to search them. She and Alex were forced into the bed of the truck, along with several armed men, and driven back to the cabin where they’d left Deacon. What they’d tried to prevent was happening.

  Don’t let them find Deacon.

  The man holding Rachel’s arm in a viselike grip shoved her hard, and she flew into the cabin, almost losing her balance.

  Alex freed himself from his restrainer and hurried to her side. “Are you okay?” he asked while glaring at the man who’d shoved her.

  “I’m fine.” She touched his arm and forced his gaze to her. “I’m okay, Alex.”

  The anger slowly evaporated from him. They both needed to keep their wits about them if they stood any chance of surviving.

  The leader stepped forward, inches from Rachel’s face. With his arms crossed, he stared her down. “Well, we finally caught you two. I’ll admit you gave us a good run. Just not good enough.” His smile held no humor in it. Right away, Rachel recognized him. It was the former CIA agent Victor McNamara.

  “Why were you trying to kill us?” Rachel demanded.

  McNamara smirked. “If we were trying to kill you two, you’d be dead by now.” McNamara’s words seemed to confirm what Alex said earlier. These men had no idea where Liam was.

  One of the men handed McNamara Alex’s driver’s license. He stared at it and then Alex while Rachel held on to her breath. If he recognized Alex as a CIA agent, no matter what he’d claimed earlier, he’d kill him.

  “How do you fit into this?” McNamara demanded, but Alex kept silent. McNamara motioned to one of his thugs, who grabbed Alex and slugged him hard once more.

  “Stop,” Rachel cried out as Alex doubled over in pain. She tried to come to his aid, but someone grabbed her arms, holding her in place.

  “I’ll ask you again. How do you fit into Agent Carlson’s crimes?”

  Agent Carlson’s crimes... The words settled over her.

  “What are you talking about?” Rachel demanded. She wasn’t about to let them sully Liam’s name. “My brother hasn’t committed any crimes.”

  McNamara turned his full attention on her. “Ah, the sister,” he sneered. “You clearly have no idea who your brother really is.” She had to struggle not to take the bait. “Your brother, along with Deacon Broderick, has stolen some very deadly weapons. My team and I have been searching for them for quite some time. We had them surrounded up on the mountain, but they both managed to give us the slip. Not without being wounded first, I might add. They won’t get far on their own. I believe you know where your brother might be hiding. Why else would you be up here? For his own well-being, I suggest you tell me where, so that we can find him alive.”

  McNamara was talking as if he were still an agent. He had no idea they knew the truth.

  “Tie them both up.” He barked the order to one of his men, who grabbed Alex. Forcing his arms together, he wrapped the rope tight around his wrists. Another man did the same to Rachel, and she winced in pain.

  “Who are you? Why should I tell you anything?” Rachel tried to hold on to her composure when McNamara stepped to within inches of her face.

  “I’m the only person who can keep your brother from facing the death sentence for treason.”

  Treason. “How can you charge Liam with treason?” she exclaimed, astonished. She had to hear him say who he was.

  “Because I’m working for the CIA and I’ve been trying to bring down a terrorist known as the Chemist for a long time. Turns out, your brother knew him all along. They’ve been smuggling large amounts of sarin gas into the States together. Who knows to what deadly purpose?”

  She couldn’t afford to give anything away. “That’s a lie. My brother did nothing of the sort.”

  McNamara’s smile sent a shiver down her back. “You really don’t know how deeply involved in this thing your brother really is.” She raised her chin, refusing to give in to his bluff.

  With a shake of his head, McNamara went back over to his men. He said something to them that she couldn’t discern. She had the impression that they were waiting on something...or someone.

  Rachel eased closer to where Alex was restrained. Just being close to him helped to steady her frayed nerves. She turned slightly and he did the same. As she glanced at him, so many raw emotions surged through her. She’d spent so long trying to deny what she felt for Alex. The anger and bitterness in her heart didn’t cover up the truth. Alex was important to her. Her entire past was mingled with his. How could she just write him out of her life simply because things hadn’t worked out between them? She smiled up at him and for a second, it was just the two of them. And she was sure that she saw the same feelings she felt for him reflected on his face.

  * * *

  The look in her eyes warmed his heart. So many feelings had been left unsaid by them. He believed she still cared for him, no matter how ugly he had let things end between them. Was there still a chance? He was going to do everything in his power to find out. He wasn’t about to let these men take that chance away, or lay the blame for their crimes on Liam. He’d die first.

  So far, McNamara had no idea Alex was CIA, and he planned to keep it that way. He glanced briefly at the bed covering Deacon. So far, Deacon hadn’t made a sound. Alex wasn’t sure if that was good news or bad.

  Hurry, Jase.

  He wondered where Peter—aka Blake Temple—and the woman called Michelle were. McNamara was acting as if he was the boss, yet Alex didn’t believe Temple would allow that to go on for long. From what Jase had told him about Temple, he wasn’t the type to let someone steal his glory.

  “We ran into two of your people in the woods earlier. Peter and Michelle. They were easy to capture.” Alex hoped to get some reaction out of McNamara.

  Something slipped briefly on McNamara’s face, assuring Alex he knew Peter and the woman.

  “I don’t know who you are talking about. We don’t know anyone by those names. Maybe they’re working for Carlson.”

  McNamara motioned to several of his men and they went outside, leaving two more to stand guard. What were they doing?

  He noticed Rachel’s attention kept going to the bed where Deacon was hiding. “We have to help him,” she mouthed.

  So far, the two men guarding them didn’t appear interested in what they were doing. As Alex’s thoughts churned in a dozen different directions, he struggled to recall how many men there were in total.

  If he was remembering correctly, it had to be more than twelve all together, which meant they were grossly outnumbered. With their hands restrained in front of him, there was no way they could take them all on, yet they desperately needed to draw the men’s attention away from the cabin and Deacon.

  The door opened once more and McNamara and the other men returned. “Just go along with them for now,” he mouthed to Rachel. They needed to see what McNamara had up his sleeve. He prayed they weren’t making a huge mistake by not making one final stand.

  McNamara didn’t waste time. He strode up to Rachel, his anger evident in each step. “Time’s up. Where is he?”

  She squared her shoulders and didn’t answer, fueling McNamara’s rage.

  “If you don’t want to go to prison yourself, I suggest you start talking. Where is your brother?” he demanded, his face flushed with anger.

  As a trained agent, Rachel knew not to react to his anger. “I don’t know where Liam is. He didn’t tell me where he was going.”

  McNamara clearly didn’t believe her. “Don’t give me that. You’re lying. I know Carlson visited you. He told you something. What was it?”

  Alex could see Rachel struggling to come up with a believable answer. He had to help her. “I’m Liam’s friend. He never mentioned anything to me about where he was going, either. What you’re accusing him of is preposterous. Liam wo
uld never betray his country.”

  McNamara gave him the once-over. For a moment, it was almost as if he recognized Alex, yet Alex was positive they’d never met before.

  Still, McNamara’s interest was now on him. “Then why are you here, if your friend did nothing wrong?”

  “I’m here to help Rachel look for her brother,” he told the man. “She hasn’t spoken to Liam in over a week. She was worried.”

  McNamara’s gaze narrowed as he continued to stare at Alex. “You’re from here then?”

  Alex hesitated before answering. “Yes, originally.”

  “Then perhaps I should be asking you where your friend is hiding. It would be better for him if he comes in peacefully. If we have to hunt him down it could turn...deadly.”

  The threat was clear. Before Alex could answer, a noise from where Deacon was hidden took McNamara’s attention from him.

  He stared at the bed. “What was that noise?”

  Alex had to think fast. He couldn’t let them examine the bed. “Wait, I think I may know where he is.” He turned to Rachel. “You remember that one place where we used to hunt up here as kids?”

  He watched her struggle to grasp the meaning of what he was trying to tell her. They’d hunted deer since they were kids, but only a couple of times up this way. Alex remembered the one time when they’d tracked some deer up to a particular spot.

  It wasn’t much to run with, but if they could talk McNamara and his men into going there, they’d get them away from Deacon. Possibly find a way to overpower the men left behind.

  “Oh, right,” Rachel said, as if it had finally dawned on her. “Liam loved that place. It would be the perfect place to hide, too. I can’t believe I didn’t think of it.”

  McNamara’s interest riveted back to them. He’d forgotten all about the noise.

  The man looked first at Rachel and then Alex as if smelling a trap. “You’d better not be trying anything or I’m telling you both, you won’t like the outcome.” The warning played uneasily through Alex’s thoughts.

  “We’re not trying anything.” Rachel pulled off the story completely. “But you have to promise you won’t hurt my brother.”

  McNamara snorted. “I can’t make that promise. Your brother will get what he deserves.”

  “Then I’m not telling you the location.” She looked him straight in the eye.

  McNamara stepped closer, once more trying to intimidate. “You are in no position to make demands as I see it.”

  Rachel didn’t waver and eventually McNamara gave in. “All right, we’ll do our best to keep him safe. Now, tell me where he is.” Unfortunately, it was a hollow promise, given by a thug. Alex had little doubt that they’d kill them all once they had what they wanted.

  “There’s an old lodge up here that used to be popular when we were kids. It’s been vacant for years now. It’s warm and there are plenty of places to hide out. I think he would go there.”

  McNamara still wasn’t convinced she was telling the truth. “Then you’ll show us where it is.” He yanked her toward the door.

  Without thinking, Alex went after him. “She told you what you wanted to know. Let her go.”

  McNamara shoved him away. “You think I’m that naive? You two are planning to escape the minute we’re gone. She’s coming with me. That way I know you’ll be here when I get back. You’d better not be lying,” he barked at Rachel.

  The man started for the door once more. Alex wasn’t about to let him leave with Rachel. He didn’t trust McNamara not to kill her. “Then I’m coming with you.”

  McNamara turned, looking at Alex as if he’d lost his mind. “If you’re taking Rachel, you’re taking me, too.” Alex stood his ground. There was no way he was leaving Rachel at the mercy of these thugs.

  NINE

  “No, Alex.” Rachel’s gaze locked on Alex. She was terrified McNamara would shoot him right where he stood.

  McNamara continued to glower at Alex while Rachel’s heartbeat hammered against her chest.

  Please don’t kill him... A disjointed prayer sped through her mind. She wasn’t even sure what she was praying, only that she was certain God knew their needs and would protect them.

  “Fine, you’ll come with us,” McNamara said in a deadly low tone. “But you’d best remember that you’re expendable. I wouldn’t suggest you try anything funny.” Rachel’s gaze clung to Alex. She would give anything to be able to understand the unspoken emotions simmering in his eyes right now. Would there ever be a right time for them?

  Please, God.

  McNamara nodded to one of his men, who grabbed Alex by the arm. They were both forced outside.

  When the final man left the cabin, Rachel found comfort in the fact that McNamara and his thugs hadn’t discovered Deacon. At least he was safe for the moment.

  Outside, the predawn had finally arrived and bits of filtered light pierced through the trees.

  Two black SUVs slowly made their way to the camp. One of the drivers got out and hurried over to McNamara.

  “We haven’t found either of them yet.” Rachel just managed to catch the man’s words. Were they still looking for Liam and Deacon? If so, then at least there was hope that Liam was still alive.

  McNamara was clearly irritated by the news. “Have your men keep looking. They can’t have disappeared into thin air. Find them.”

  The man appeared scared of McNamara. He nodded and hurried back to the SUV.

  McNamara turned his annoyance to Rachel. “Your brother has caused us enough trouble. You’d better know where he’s hiding, otherwise it won’t be good for you.” Whatever it was that Liam had taken, McNamara was consumed with getting it back.

  He opened the back door of the remaining SUV, flipped the seat down, and shoved her inside to the third-row seating. Seconds later, Alex was thrust in next to her. There was barely room for both of them to sit. Two men climbed into the back seat, keeping a careful eye on them.

  With McNamara in the passenger seat, he pinned his gaze on Rachel once more. “Now, tell us where this lodge is and don’t try to pull anything.”

  Rachel inched closer to Alex. She wasn’t alone. No matter what happened, what they faced from here on out, she wasn’t alone. “It’s down the road we were on, halfway back to the town of Hendersonville. This road hasn’t been maintained in years, though. We may not be able to make it the entire way by vehicle.”

  McNamara didn’t answer. He motioned to the driver, who put the SUV in gear and slowly eased it down the slippery road.

  Alex touched her hand and she looked at him. “We have to create a distraction to get away,” he mouthed. She understood. Once they reached the lodge and discovered Liam wasn’t there, McNamara would know it was a ruse.

  Rachel struggled to recall the layout of the land, looking for something that would give them an edge over their captors. This side of the mountain usually got a lot more snow and ice accumulation. The patches she and Alex had run into earlier while fleeing would make traveling difficult.

  Still, they needed help. God’s help. She desperately prayed for divine intervention.

  The driver didn’t appear familiar with driving in the icy mountain terrain. His nervous reaction each time he hit a slippery spot on the road made it clear he wasn’t comfortable with the conditions.

  As he rounded one of the tight curves in the road, the vehicle began to slide. The man quickly overcorrected, heading them straight toward a sheer drop-off. He struggled to regain control of the ride while McNamara was screaming at him. The driver finally managed to rein in the vehicle, but not before blowing a tire after he drove the SUV over several jagged tree stumps.

  When the vehicle finally came to a jarring stop, McNamara commenced verbally berating the driver for his failings.

  “Well, what are you waiting for? Someone get that tire changed. Time is runni
ng out. We need to find him and get the...stuff.” McNamara caught himself before giving more away.

  The two men in the back seat hopped out along with McNamara and the driver, momentarily leaving Alex and Rachel alone.

  Alex turned to her. “This is our chance. We have to get out of here now. It won’t be easy with these.” He held up his hands.

  Rachel glanced behind them, where one of the men had unloaded the spare tire and jack from underneath the SUV.

  “I think they left keys in the ignition. If I can get up there without them seeing me, I’ll try to drive us out of here. It’ll be slow going, but they’re on foot. We have a chance.”

  It was a long shot, but one they had to take. “I’ll keep watch for you.”

  Alex slowly eased to the front seat undetected. He got into the driver’s seat. “The keys are here. Hold on, this is going to be a rough ride.”

  Alex locked the doors, grabbed the keys, which proved difficult enough with his hands tied together, and then fired the ignition. He shoved the vehicle into Drive.

  “They’re getting away. Stop them!” McNamara yelled.

  Rachel watched as all four men charged after them. “Hurry, Alex. They’re coming.”

  Alex floored the gas pedal. The SUV lurched forward, the blown tire and his restraints making the ride ten times worse.

  “Can you make it up to the front seat? We need to find a way to get these ropes off.”

  “I’ll try.” Rachel struggled to ease over the seat with her hands tied. She landed halfway between the seat and floor and righted herself. After fumbling with the glove box, it finally opened. “There’s a knife, a flashlight and a lighter inside.”

  Alex somehow managed to keep the vehicle moving forward in spite of the tire.

  Rachel peeked behind them. The men were still coming after them. With the SUV’s slower speed, they’d never get away from them like this.

  She couldn’t get the knife into a position to loosen her ropes. “Let me try to get yours free.” With the blown tire and the rough road, the knife almost flew from her hand several times. Finally, she was able to cut through the rope and free his hands.