“Did they see where you hid it?”
“No, that much I’m positive about.”
“What were you planning on doing with the evidence?”
“I hadn’t had time to figure it out. I wanted to wait until I could call you or Maggie for advice.”
If Bainbridge discovered that Amelia not only had possession of his journal, but witnessed an exchange with a local drug cartel, he’d do anything to silence her. “That was most likely the reason for the ambush at the hospital. He needed to find the evidence that proves him guilty but when he came back, you’re not there.”
“I’ve been thinking about that. I heard the plane leave, so I assumed he was on it. I left soon after to deliver the baby with Marin. With her disappearing from the village and there only being two bodies instead of three, it makes me think she might be the one who tipped him off.”
“You think she’s working with Bainbridge?”
“It makes sense.”
“Another thing that makes sense is that Bainbridge did leave on the plane. It would explain why you were abducted and tossed in a cell. He hired someone to grab you until he could come back.”
They both froze at the sound of rocks raining down outside.
“Stay here,” he whispered. He jumped to his feet, barely managing to stifle a moan when his muscles protested the movement. They were trapped inside the alcove without an escape route, and he was naked. Not smart. They’d be safer keeping their clothes and shoes on. But he had the element of surprise on his side. If someone tried to move the branches, Wyatt would take them out.
As he neared the opening, he heard leaves crunching, but the sound was moving away. He parted the branches and stuck his head out until he could see the path and a tawny yellow spotted jungle cat slinking away. Though the worldwide jaguar population was rapidly declining, they still roamed the rainforest of Santigo. Thankfully the skittish beasts tended to run away when they scented a human. Good thing since this one looked to be around two hundred pounds.
He eased the branches back in place and made his way to Amelia. She was putting her clothes on and he couldn’t help but run the flashlight beam over her naked flesh.
“Wyatt, stop.”
“Can’t help it. You’re beautiful, luv.”
#
Amelia could feel a blush heating her cheeks. She wasn’t usually shy about nudity, hers or others. She was a doctor. She was used to working on naked people all the time, men and women. But when the words came from Wyatt, all deep and growly, she couldn’t stop her body’s reaction. She cleared her throat. “What was out there?”
“Just a jaguar,” he informed her. “He fled.”
“Good. I’m going to check on Ryan.”
“Who’s Ryan?”
“The man you carried for miles yesterday.”
“Oh, right. Him. The other pack we grabbed was his?”
“I don’t know for sure.” She tugged her shirt over her head and used the other flashlight to inspect the patient. “His vitals are stronger and he’s regaining some color. Rest is good for him. I know you’re itching to leave, but I’d like to give him more time to recover. Even a few more hours will make a difference.”
After replacing Ryan’s empty saline bag, she dug into a pack for a bottle of water and two protein bars, handing one to Wyatt. “There was no identification inside the bag, but the luggage tag read Ryan Marx of St. John, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. It was packed with camping supplies.”
After they finished the bars, they settled back on the blanket, her head automatically snuggling into the cradle of his arm. The intimacy was unexpected, but it felt natural to be this close to him. “Wyatt?”
“Hum?”
“In the morning, I want you to stay with Ryan while I go for help.”
It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Wyatt was still recovering from major injuries, not to mention another concussion and a gunshot wound. And a round of the most spectacular sex she’d ever encountered. There was no way his body could keep functioning if he had to carry Ryan through the forest again. There was no telling how far they were from a village or help of any kind.
His chest rumbled with laughter.
She lifted her head. “What’s so funny?”
“Oh, wait, you’re serious?”
“Yes.”
He ran his thumb along her cheek. “Babe, there is no way on this earth I’m letting you trudge through the forest by yourself. What if you encounter a cougar or an anaconda or a bushmaster? Or worse, the men who kidnapped us?”
She gulped. Stumbling upon a poisonous reptile was bad enough, but the thought of running into their captors again was sobering. Still, she wasn’t a coward. “I came here by myself, Wyatt. I know how to use a gun.”
“I know you do. I’ve seen you pepper holes in a target like a maestro. Still not letting you go alone.”
“We can’t leave Ryan here and there is no way you’re carrying him again. Your body can’t take the abuse. You’re still recovering.”
“I thought about that. There were other downed trees where I found the one to cover the opening. I’m going to construct a makeshift stretcher with branches. We can use the sleeping bag and tie him to it. Then I can pull it behind me. It’ll be a bumpy ride, but it should do the job.”
“That’s brilliant. We must be close to a village. Maybe we’ll get lucky and they’ll have a phone or a mode of transportation to take us back to the hospital.”
“We have to be careful, Amelia. The kidnappers might have ties to the village. We need to be careful of who we trust.”
Chapter Eleven
Amelia was duly impressed with the transport Wyatt concocted for Ryan. He’d worked all evening on it and he’d even rigged a support for the IV. She had two more bags left. Ryan had woken up briefly, which was a relief. She told him that she was a doctor and he was safe now and that seemed to give him the security he needed to lapse back into unconsciousness. She doubted he’d even remember the fleeting conversation. She planned on giving him another dose of sedative before they started on their journey. The trek was bound to be a rocky one and he’d be doing a lot of bouncing and bumping that would be painful to his battered body.
Before they left, she and Wyatt went through both packs and discarded any unnecessary items to lighten the load. Wyatt changed into a clean t-shirt and tactical pants. She had to make do with her pants, but he gave her a clean shirt to wear. The second bag that may or may not belong to the man sleeping was packed with camping gear that would come in handy if they needed to spend the night in the jungle again. She’d found a collapsible bucket hat inside and arranged it over Ryan’s head and face to protect him from the sun and insects.
She was able to fit the dwindling contents of her medical bag in Wyatt’s pack, so she’d leave the satchel with the discarded items inside the cave for someone to stumble upon one day. Wyatt insisted on carrying the heavier pack filled with camping supplies.
The sun hadn’t fully risen when they started out. Wyatt kicked the tree away from the opening and it tumbled over the edge. She spotted the pile of rocks he’d rigged as a warning and shoved them aside so he could drag the stretcher down the path that was barely wide enough. Once they were back on the ground, she led the way, praying they were headed in the right direction.
Monkeys swished overhead and birds squawked melodies as they traipsed through understory plants, large-leaf shrubs and saplings. She tried to find paths to follow but it looked like no one had ever been this way before. Panic threatened to consume her, but she forced it away. They had enough supplies to last a few days. Eventually they would come to civilization. And she had Wyatt beside her. Somehow, that made everything seem less daunting.
“Over here,” Wyatt called out.
She followed his directions to see what looked like a cleared path.
“It’s a road.” He indicated indentations in the mud that were made by tires.
She looked up at him. “That’s a good
sign, right?”
“It means people have been this way before,” he agreed. “It’ll make it easier to pull the gurney, too.”
The hope that flared when they discovered the road faltered hours later when they hadn’t come across any vehicles or villages. It crashed when they encountered a ginormous tree that had fallen across the path. The felled kapok, one of the largest trees in the rainforest, stretched several feet in both directions. The trunk itself was approximately eight or nine feet in diameter, making it impossible for any vehicle to pass. It made it challenging for them, too. They were back to foraging through the underbrush. The road had been so much easier.
“This looks like a good place for a break,” Wyatt said when they came to a small creek.
He lowered Ryan’s conveyance to the ground and shook out his arms. Amelia checked Ryan’s vitals, pleased to note they were strong. Removing a bottle of water from her pack, she dabbed some on a cloth and lifted the hat to pat his face, careful of the swelling around his eye and cheek. The IV was still flowing into his veins, so he was getting the hydration he needed.
Satisfied that he was doing as good as could be expected, she joined Wyatt on a rock and drank from the bottle of water before handing it to him. He took a healthy swig and then returned it to her.
The creek in front of them was shallow, full of rocks and no telling what else. Disgusting green snakes came to mind. Still, she considered jumping in to wash off. What she wouldn’t give for a hot shower right now. She removed her hat and finger combed her hair. She had to look like a train wreck. She was surprised the monkeys and birds weren’t stumbling over themselves to get away from her. Her feet were sore, the blisters a constant ache. She’d applied salve and bandaged them last night. The rest had helped. She took one last drink and handed the bottle to Wyatt to finish.
“I’m beginning to think there are no other people in the entire country.”
He chuckled. “Where’s a hiker or backpacker when you needed one? Preferably one with a cell phone or—” He stopped abruptly, his head tilting to the side.
“Wyatt?”
“I hear vehicles.”
He had to have supersonic hearing. Then the sound reached her, faint at first, but definitely two vehicles approaching. She jumped to her feet. “Let’s go flag them down.”
Wyatt grabbed her arm. “Wait. We can’t go running to them. It might be the kidnappers.”
Her euphoric bubble popped like an overinflated balloon. It could very well be their captors. The vehicles were travelling from the same direction she and Wyatt had traversed earlier.
“Stay here. I’ll check it out. They’ll have to stop at the downed tree. If they look harmless, I’ll approach.”
Amelia watched Wyatt slink through the underbrush. Stay here? She wasn’t a dog to be ordered around, yet she wasn’t some too-stupid-to-live horror flick chick who ran into the basement knowing the killer was inside the house, either. She was smarter than that. She could take care of herself. Besides, she spent more time in the prison. She might recognize someone he didn’t.
After making sure Ryan was completely covered with the camouflage blanket, she added large leaves to cover his face so he could breathe and took off after Wyatt.
#
Wyatt heard her approach before she appeared through the trees. She wasn’t very stealthy, and she didn’t take orders well. He should’ve known she wouldn’t listen to him. As an emergency room doctor, she was usually the one giving commands. It should’ve annoyed him, but stubbornness was just one of the many traits he loved about her.
She settled in beside him as the vibrations of motors grew louder.
“What happened to your hat?”
She patted her head. “Oh. I left it on the rock.”
He took his off and placed it on her head. “Try to get your hair in there. The color will stand out like a beacon.”
She actually followed his direction this time, using her fingers to tuck the long strands beneath the brim. “What about yours?”
He withdrew a camo bandanna he’d found in the other pack and tied it around his head just as two Jeeps appeared through the trees. The first driver slammed on the brakes to avoid the obstacle in the road. The second driver followed suit, fishtailing before coming to a sideways stop, sending a cloud of dust skyward. Several men jumped out, gesturing wildly and speaking in rapid-fire Spanish.
Amelia clutched his arm. “That’s them. I recognize two—no, three—of the men.”
Damn. That meant that not only was there no chance of rescue, but the kidnappers hadn’t given up the chase. He didn’t believe they would, but one could hope.
He stilled when one of the men started walking in their direction. Had he heard them whispering and come to investigate? The man stopped a few feet away to take a leak.
Amelia made a choking sound and the man’s head darted around. Thankfully his gaze passed over them. After he finished his business, he tucked himself back inside, zipped up and headed back to the group.
“Sorry,” she mouthed.
“Be thankful he stopped when he did,” Wyatt muttered. He was pretty sure he wouldn’t have been able to keep quiet if the man whipped out his Johnson and peed on him.
A commotion behind the vehicles had their heads jerking up. Four of the men were laughing as another man taunted something on the ground and poked at it with a thick staff. Suddenly the man dropped the stick and screamed as an anaconda wound around him, wrapping him up tight. His eyes bugged as he yelled for the others to help him, but they looked unsure of what to do. Two men hurried over and tried prying the snake off to no avail. The man caught in the snake’s deadly grip struggled to breathe, his face turning blue from lack of oxygen.
“Wyatt, we have to do something,” Amelia fretted. “He’s going to die.”
Yeah, he was, but there was nothing they could do for him. If they tried to help, they’d be recaptured or worse: killed. The snake probably would’ve left the man alone if he hadn’t provoked it, so he wasn’t innocent.
“I can’t stand by while the man dies.”
Amelia started to rise but he yanked her back down. Thankfully all attention was on the snake, so no one saw them. He wrapped his arm around her body, now vibrating with tension. She had such a good heart. She would risk her life to save a man who captured her for who knows what reason. Wyatt wouldn’t let her risk her safety. They watched helplessly as he fell to the ground and life drained out of him while his stunned friends looked on. Once he was gone and they didn’t have to fear hitting him, they shot the snake and pried it off. Someone took out a machete and hacked it into pieces while another rolled the dead body to the underbrush. Apparently, they weren’t going to take him back for a proper burial. Nice way to treat a colleague.
The men loaded back into the vehicles and turned around, heading back in the direction from which they came.
#
Amelia’s whole body shook with impotent fury. She knew Wyatt was right—it’d be a suicide mission to try to help the struggling man. But there had to be something his associates could to do save him. Instead, they stood around doing nothing while the snake squeezed the life from their friend. Permanent brain damage occurred around the four-minute mark without oxygen. Death would soon follow at five to six minutes. He’d been struggling for at least three minutes, but the snake was winning the battle. When he plummeted to the ground, she knew he was dead.
Now the others took action, shooting the snake and hacking it to death. Too little, too late. Her mouth dropped open in horror when they ruthlessly kicked the body to the side of the road.
Then they were loading back into the vehicles and motoring away. As soon as they were out of sight, she shrugged off Wyatt’s arm and dashed across the road to the victim, avoiding disgusting chunks of snake. He was definitely dead, his open eyes displaying petechial hemorrhaging, the obvious sign of asphyxia. Blood had leaked from tiny capillaries that ruptured due to the crushing pressure from the snake.
“Do you recognize him?”
She shook her head. “Not him, but several others.”
He gently took her hand. “We should get going. They might’ve gone back for chain saws or something.”
She indicated the body on the ground. “We can’t leave him here. He has a family somewhere. Parents.”
“Amelia, babe, normally I’d agree with you, but we’re on the run for our lives. We need to put as much distance between us and them as possible, especially now that we know they haven’t given up the chase. Maybe they’ll do the right thing and come back for him.”
As usual, he was right. He was thinking with his head while she was thinking with her heart. They made their way back to Ryan. He was exactly where they left him. After a quick check to make sure his vitals were still good, they slid on the backpacks and Wyatt lifted the handles, arranging them under his arms.
“Is it safe to use the road?”
She knew what his answer would be before he voiced it. “No. We’ll stick close, and follow the trajectory, but we need to be able to hide in a hurry if they come back. We want to see them before they spot us.”
She wasn’t thrilled with traipsing through the unknown when there was a cleared path a few feet away. It would be a long time, if ever, for the image of the snake squeezing the man to death to leave her mind. There were more like him out here, and other dangerous varieties including pit vipers, bushmasters, pythons and boa constrictors.
Using an oak shillelagh Wyatt found for her, she probed the ground in front of her to clear out any unwelcome critters in their path. She did her best to ignore the ones that scurried or slithered away.
She kept her gun handy in case she needed to shoot anything that became aggressive or hostile, whether it be reptile, animal or human. It was distressing to realize they were still being hunted. She’d hoped that once they escaped and the initial search came up empty, the kidnappers would chalk them up as a lost cause and move on to their next crime.
Without a Trace (COBRA Securities Book 18) Page 12