Jase squinted at the face of the mountain. “Wait, I think I see something. It looks like a small opening in the mountain.” He pointed to it and Reyna tried not to get her hopes up. “It looks like a mining shaft, maybe. We can take shelter in there for a bit. Hang on a second and I’ll check it out.”
Jase went into the opening and she waited outside. He came back in a matter of minutes. “It’s not much, but it’s our only option right now. You need to rest your wrist and we both need to warm up.”
Reyna had only been in a couple of caves in the past exploring with Eddie. Being in an enclosed area normally gave her the creeps, and as she followed Jase inside, she tried not to freak out too much at the scurrying sounds around her.
“I’m going to do my best to conceal the opening. At least give us a fighting chance. I’ll be right back,” he assured her as if sensing her uneasiness.
With Jase gone, Reyna tried not to lose control. She counted off the seconds. One. Two. Three.
“That should keep them from spotting it. I’m hoping they’re not going to expect us to summit the mountain but find an easier way out,” Jase said as he came up behind her. He retrieved his flashlight and flipped it on. “Let’s see how big this thing is.” He headed deeper into the cave and Reyna clutched his hand and was practically glued to his back. Jase stopped abruptly when she let out a frightened yelp as something ran across her foot.
He reached up to steady her. “He’s probably more afraid of you than you are of him. Chances are they haven’t seen a human around these parts in years.”
She was behaving like a child and she knew it. They had been running for their lives for hours; they’d narrowly escaped death many times, and she was going to freak out about a few rats? Still, she gripped his hand tighter. He laced his fingers through hers and shone the light down a narrow passage. “Some of these old mines can go on forever. Maybe the people who operated it made another way out of here.”
The passage was so low that they had to bend over to walk. Reyna could feel the walls closing in.
They’d gone a short distance when the pathway dumped into a large open area. The ceiling above them had to be more than fifteen feet tall. She breathed a huge sigh of relief.
“This will do,” Jase said, shrugging off his backpack. “We should be safe here and no one from outside will spot a fire. I’m going to see if I can find some wood. You rest your hand.”
For once, she was happy to oblige. She sank down against the rock wall. “How are you holding up? Are there any residual effects from the explosion or your shoulder injury?”
“No, I’m fine. And I must say, both of you are looking pretty good, considering.”
She sat up straight and stared at him. If he were seeing double, then he could have a serious concussion and...
He laughed and she realized he was teasing her. Trying to lighten the moment.
“Sorry. Bad joke. Even worse timing. I’ll be back in a jiff.”
She smiled up at him, then relaxed against the wall. She couldn’t believe what had taken place over the past forty-eight hours. She thought she’d been so careful. Using a disposable phone, borrowing Sara’s car, and yet they’d known where she was all along using a simple device placed inside her key chain. It was terrifying how unrelenting these criminals were.
“I found some usable firewood.” Jase came back carrying an armful of it. “Who knows how long it’s been sitting here, so let’s hope it lights.” He stacked wood into a pile and then fetched some paper and matches from his backpack. It took only a few minutes for the fire to catch. Satisfied, he nodded. “The only problem is the wood is dry, so it’ll burn fast, but there’s lots of it. I’m thinking the miners spent the winter up here.”
Reyna inched closer to the fire. It was blissfully warm. “I can’t imagine living in such primitive conditions during the winter.”
“Yeah, those old-timers had to be tough to survive. We should be safe for a little while. Let me have a look at your wrist.”
He squatted next to her and gently unfastened the sling from around her neck.
“They know we’re still alive. They’re not going to stop until they kill us.” Reyna barely got the words out. She was beyond exhausted. She couldn’t imagine how Jase must feel.
Their eyes met and held. “They’re going to try. I’m not going to let that happen.”
Her head swam. “How can they simply explain away what happened here tonight? Won’t people question it? I mean it’s a virtual war zone back there.”
“They are good at making people and things disappear,” Jase said, clenching his jaw. “They’ve killed before many times and will sweep this under the rug. Make up some story—perhaps say it was a lightning strike that started the fire. Those things happen up here all the time. No one will be the wiser.”
“They’re going to try and blame this on Eddie, you...me.”
“Not on my watch. Eddie wasn’t a traitor and neither are you. We just have to find the missing piece that will help this make sense. Without that information, we can’t tie the documents to the Fox if he is the one behind this. We can’t even prove there’s a threat. We need a name.”
She hated the frustration she saw in his eyes. She wished there was something more she could do to help. “I know.”
“Did Eddie ever mention what his unit was doing prior to his death?”
“No, and I asked. As I said, he had changed. When he came home for his mother’s funeral...” She stopped, the memory still painful.
“I’m sorry,” Jase said, sympathy flickering in his eyes. “I didn’t know she had passed. Eddie told me about the cancer...”
Jase’s concern touched her profoundly. He was such a caring person. It amazed her how someone who had been through so much had managed to keep a gentle side.
“Thanks. Like I mentioned before, when Eddie came home for her funeral, he was like a shell of the person he’d once been. He was so afraid, jumping at shadows. He kept calling someone. When I asked him who he was trying to reach, he wouldn’t tell me. He just kept repeating that if anything happened to him, I needed to come find you.” Hitching in a breath, she leaned closer to him. “He told me that at least a dozen times or more. When it came time for him to return to duty, I could tell he didn’t want to go.”
“Do you think Eddie might have been trying to reach Kyle?” Jase asked, and she could see the thought troubled him.
“He never said. He just shut me out.” Reyna shook her head. “Jase, do you think those men back there are CIA?” There had to be a reason for Eddie’s cryptic warning. “Did Eddie’s own people end up taking his life?”
“I don’t want to believe it, but whoever’s behind this has to have a contact within the CIA. How else would they have gotten the names of agents and the locations of the safe houses?” Exhaling roughly, he scrubbed a hand over his face. “We have to figure out who’s behind this, Reyna, and we don’t have much time.”
He grew silent for a moment, then reached out and gently examined her wrist. “It doesn’t look too bad. If we had something to wrap it with, that would help.”
“It won’t stand up to another day of hiking. We need to find another way off this mountain.” She voiced what they both knew.
Jase nodded solemnly. “You’re right.” He removed his jacket again and tore off more strips of cloth. “Let me know if this is too tight.” Taking one of the strips, he wound it carefully around Reyna’s wrist. “How’s that feel?”
She flexed her hand. “Good.”
He tied the sling around her arm once more. She was exhausted and discouraged, and, try as she might, she couldn’t keep those things from showing. She hated revealing any weakness. In the operating room, she was fearless. But here, she was way out of her league.
“We can’t keep fighting them, Jase. I can’t keep fighting.” Tears sprang to her eyes. She did
n’t have the energy to stop them.
“Hey...” He cupped her face and brushed away her tears with his thumb. “Don’t give up, Reyna. We’re not finished yet. I’m not going to let them get away with what they’ve done. I just need you to keep fighting.”
As she looked into his piercing blue eyes, she believed him. Jase was a true patriot. If he was willing to lay down his life to save hers, she owed him the same determination. “I’ll do my best.”
He smiled and her heart did a crazy little flip. It had been so long since she’d felt this way. This breathless new feeling of falling... She caught herself before she could think about love. She wasn’t ready yet.
Her friends at church told her that when it was the right time, she would know. But she hadn’t expected the moment to come with Eddie’s best friend. The timing was terrible. They didn’t even know if they would make it out alive.
As she continued to look into his eyes, she wondered if he experienced the same undeniable attraction for her that she felt for him. She believed so. It was there in the way he looked at her. If only she felt this way at a different time.
He glanced away and she could breathe again.
“What I don’t understand is why it took them so long to come after me. The laptop’s been out of their control for six months. Obviously, the files are important to them. Why wait so long?”
Jase thought about it for a second. “I’m guessing they have been searching for it. Maybe they believed the laptop never made it out of Afghanistan. It was a bold move on Eddie’s part to smuggle it out of the country when he went on leave. Once they realized the laptop wasn’t in the country anymore, they were just desperate enough to come after you.”
It made sense. Reyna shivered as she remembered the threats they’d made. The accusations about Eddie.
Jase changed the subject. “This mine goes on forever, but it’s traveling at a downward angle, so that’s something. I’m thinking the miners who worked it made another way out of here. I can’t see them climbing down the way we came. In the meantime, we need to get our energy levels up.” He dug into his bag and pulled out a couple of energy bars and some bottles of water. “We have to try and conserve the water as long as we can, so take small sips.”
Reyna opened one of the bottles and drank. She took a bite from the bar and couldn’t remember the last time anything tasted so amazing.
Jase patted the ground. “I realize the rock floor is kind of hard, but you can use the backpack as a pillow. Get some rest. I’m going to explore the cave. See how far the trail goes back.” He picked up the flashlight. “If you hear anything strange, grab the laptop and come find me.”
* * *
The light from the flashlight bounced off the stone walls, creating exaggerated shadows all around.
Jase struggled to combat the paranoia, the fatigue. He needed something to keep him focused. He went back over the file information in his head. As much as he didn’t want to believe it, the facts were clear and staring him in the face. Someone with high-level clearance within the CIA was dirty. He thought about the lack of warning from Kyle. Was it possible...? He dismissed the idea completely. He knew his former handler the same as he had known Eddie. They were both honorable men without compromise. He needed to stay focused on getting them off the mountain and to the Warren ranch. Then he’d take another pass at the files. Maybe he’d missed something the first time and there was still one file left to examine.
Jase heard a noise up ahead. It sounded like rushing water. He stopped to listen and realized it was coming from a smaller shaft that veered to the right. It barely looked wide enough to move down comfortably. He stooped low and headed toward the sound, then stopped short when he saw what looked like a boarded-up section of the mountain.
An unsafe mine shaft? Maybe that portion had collapsed and the miners had simply boarded it up for protection?
Jase grabbed the first board and pulled hard. It came free easy enough, but the force of the movement sent rocks and dirt crashing down on top of him. The place was definitely unsteady.
He pried a couple more boards free until he had a small opening then he kicked the rest outward until he was able to see. Fresh mountain air poured in. Jase eased through the opening. It took a second to try to regain his bearings. They were at the base of the mountain range. They’d managed to find a quicker route across the mountain.
“Thank You, Lord.” It never ceased to amaze how God watched out for them.
He retraced his path back to Reyna. She’d fallen asleep. He felt even guiltier at having to wake her. Staring down at her for a moment, he reveled in her beauty. He could almost imagine what it might be like, if circumstances were different, to have someone like her to rouse with a gentle kiss each morning.
But those sweet thoughts had no place in the here and now. If God was willing, perhaps someday.
He shook her gingerly.
She woke the second he touched her arm. “Is someone here?”
He could see the panic in her eyes and he was quick to reassure her. “No, we’re safe. I found a way out.”
She quickly scrambled to her feet and dusted off her jeans. “You did? That’s great. Let’s get out of here.”
He chuckled at her enthusiasm. “Hang on a second, darlin’. I want to see how close the men following are getting.” He slipped outside. A thick fog had the entire mountain encased and he couldn’t hear the chopper anymore. The fog had grounded it. He peered through the soupy mess and saw lights off in the distance heading in the opposite direction. Without the tracking device, the thugs were going on instinct alone. The obvious path for Jase and Reyna to take on foot would be to head toward the small town of Sandy Creek.
He blew out a relieved sigh. Another blessing.
Jase went back inside and told her where he thought the men were heading. “It will take them most of the night to reach Sandy Creek and hours to search the entire town. We have some breathing room.” He grabbed the map from his backpack and did a quick assessment. “From what I can tell, we’re only a couple of miles away from the Warren ranch. As much as I hate involving them in this ordeal, we’re both half-frozen, not to mention exhausted, and we’re going to need some means of transportation out of here.”
Reyna followed him down the narrow shaft and he stepped outside. “Give me your hand,” he said. She linked her fingers through his, then stepped out beside him. “The fog is definitely working in our favor,” Jase said, glancing up at the night sky. “With the mountain’s size, the chopper will be grounded until it lifts and it’s stopped sleeting for now. That’s something. And at least we’re heading downhill and the trail seems pretty tame compared to the route we were on.”
She smiled bravely. “I’m good with tame.”
Jase liked her ability to find the humor in what had otherwise been a terrifying ordeal. They had both been through so much and she’d kept up with him all the way.
“To tell you the truth, me, too. This has been a wild couple of days. Unfortunately, I think what’s ahead of us will make the last few days look like child’s play.” He could see the notion terrified her. “You shouldn’t have to go through this, Reyna. You’re an innocent. You don’t deserve what’s happening to you.”
Compassion filled her eyes and she stepped toward him and stroked his tense jaw. “Jase, you don’t, either. Eddie told me many times the work you did in those war-torn areas saved lives for both the citizens living in the region as well as Americans. You, Eddie and the rest of the Scorpions were doing good. Preventing future disasters. These people’s agenda is just the opposite. They’re out for themselves and their own glory.”
Jase covered her hand with his and watched as her eyes grew dark with emotion. She edged nearer and suddenly the danger and the past were the last things on his mind. She was so close. He could read all of her doubts because he shared them. Felt all that pain and uncertaint
y with every fiber of his being. And if he moved just a smidgen, he could kiss her lips...and, oh man, how he wanted to kiss her.
He’d thought about it since their last embrace. It was undeniable that he found her beautiful. Fact was, he hadn’t let himself connect with another human in such a way in a long time. Even his relationships at church were distant ones. But Reyna was strong and sweet, the type of woman a man could fall in love with, and he knew he was on the precipice.
She’s Eddie’s widow. She came to you for help. “I’m sorry,” she said, and he frowned.
“For what?”
“For dragging you back into this mess,” she whispered. “I—I wish there had been another way.”
“No, Reyna. Don’t be.” His face contorted with pain as he fixed his gaze on hers. “I’ve always known this ordeal wasn’t over for me, but none of this is your fault. I care about you and I don’t want anything to happen to you...”
She stared into his eyes. “I care about you, too,” she said simply. The promise of those simple words scared the daylights out of him.
He cleared his throat, his voice still a bit rusty. He pointed down into the valley. “I see house lights. That has to be the Warren place. We’re almost there. The sooner we’re out of the open the better.”
TEN
They reached the valley floor and Jase spotted the house. He stopped a little ways from it, his heart thundering in his ears. His greatest fear was that they might be walking into a trap. After what they’d just been through, he’d learned anything was possible.
He found a group of spruce trees and stopped. “Why don’t you wait here just to be safe and let me scope it out?”
She grabbed his arm. “Jase...be careful.”
The worry on her face touched him to the core. “Hey...” He brushed a thumb across her cheek. “I’ll be okay. We’re going to get through this, Reyna. I’m not going to let them get away with what they’ve done. They need to pay.” He smiled tenderly and added, “I’ll be right back, okay?”
Rocky Mountain Secrets: Rocky Mountain Sabotage ; Rocky Mountain Pursuit Page 29