by Sharon Dunn
The gunshot caused Nadia to leap to her feet once more. Sarah grabbed at her shirttails. “Nadia, calm down. You have to be still.”
Nadia flailed her arms. She cried with loud jerking sobs. Sarah wrapped her arms completely around her. “It’s okay.”
Gradually, Nadia’s breathing slowed.
Bryan’s footsteps pounded behind her.
His hand touched Sarah’s back. “Let’s keep moving.”
“How? Where? We’re sitting ducks here.”
Bryan holstered his gun and pushed them toward a large tree that provided a degree of cover. He pointed downhill.
She could just make out the metal of the car beneath the camouflage of branches.
Bryan leaned close to her. “I say we make a run for it.”
FIFTEEN
Though he could not see the shooter above them, Bryan assumed the man was making his way downhill and looking for an opportunity to line up a clean shot. They’d have about a hundred yards with no trees for cover. It was a risk, but they had no other choice.
They darted from tree to tree. Sarah took Nadia’s hand and pulled her forward. At least Nadia wasn’t crying or screaming anymore. He could not imagine what sort of trauma and abuse Mason had put the young woman through. He didn’t want to imagine it.
In all his investigation, he’d never learned of Mason having a girlfriend, which meant that Nadia must have been a virtual prisoner. Would Bryan be able to set her free or would they all be captured?
They rushed toward the open grassy area. Bryan took up the rear. He faced uphill with his weapon drawn. A rifle shot rang out, stripping the bark off a tree not too far from him.
He glanced over his shoulder. Sarah and Nadia were feet away from the car. Now that he knew where the shooter was, he watched the trees and brush for movement. He saw a flash of white, fired off a shot and dashed behind a tree. He peered out, studying the forest. That should hold the shooter off and buy him the time he needed to get down the hill.
Down below, Sarah tore the last branch off the car. Bryan zigzagged down the hill, looking over his shoulder. When he no longer had tree cover, he bolted the remaining distance to the car.
Sarah left the driver’s-side door open as she directed Nadia to the backseat.
A rifle shot sounded behind him, and when Bryan looked back, he saw the shooter barreling down the hill. Bryan increased his stride, leg muscles pumping. His hand reached out for the car door. His gaze traveled to his shoulder where a tiny red dot rested.
He ducked. The window in the driver’s-side door shattered. Bryan crawled behind the steering wheel where Sarah had already put the key in the ignition.
Nadia screamed and cried from the backseat while Sarah sought to comfort her. Bryan turned the key in the ignition, shifted into Reverse and pressed the accelerator. He cranked the steering wheel and turned out onto the road. A Jeep appeared around a bend, heading straight toward them.
“Is it them?” Sarah asked from the backseat.
“We’ll assume,” said Bryan as he gritted his teeth.
The Jeep didn’t stop or pull over. Bryan accelerated to a dangerous speed. His bumper collided with the bumper of the Jeep as he nudged it down the hill. At first, the driver pushed against the force of Bryan’s car.
Bryan shifted into Reverse and backed up. The Jeep remained on the road, its engine rumbling.
They couldn’t get around it. Not on this narrow section of road.
Bryan shifted into First and zoomed toward the other car. He meant to crash into them. The other car reversed. The driver turned the wheel so the back end of the car slipped off the road.
Bryan squeezed past by directing his car partway up on the other side of the bank. It was working, but it was also a slow process, giving the shooter time to come after them from the woods. Several shots hit their back bumper.
Bryan increased his speed despite how hazardous the road was. The car shook and wobbled wildly.
“They must have shot out a tire.” He gripped the steering wheel, willing the car to go further.
The car slowed and bumped along even though he pressed hard on the accelerator. He checked the rearview mirror. A pair of armed men were chasing after them, and gaining ground.
“We’re going to have to run for it.” He pulled toward the shoulder of the road. Down below was a grassy hill that led to the river. “Maybe it’s better this way. I think they must have slapped a tracking device on your car. How else could they have found us? They must have been close enough to spot us hiking. Get out now. Head toward the river.”
Sarah pushed open the door and grabbed Nadia’s sleeve. Bryan took cover behind the driver’s-side door and glanced up the hill. He searched the grassy hill for the two armed men. He looked on the other side of the road. A steep bank met with forest. One of the shooters darted stealthily through the forest. He saw a flash of blue, probably part of the pursuer’s shirt, but even as he watched, the man lost his footing and tumbled downhill. A groan of pain came from the trees. Bryan turned his attention to the grassy hill below. Nadia bobbed in and out of sight between the low-growing junipers as she headed toward the river. He couldn’t see Sarah.
He tensed. The second shooter headed down the hill toward Nadia. Nadia disappeared behind some brush, as did the shooter. An agonized scream filled the forest.
Bryan raced down the hill, his muscles straining. He searched the cluster of junipers where he had last seen Nadia. Where was Sarah? Fear enveloped him. Had he missed the sound of the shot? Did she lie bleeding in the grass?
The juniper trees shook.
Bryan lifted his gun, aiming at the tree. “You don’t want to do this!” he called out.
The shooter stepped out from behind the gnarled trees. His arm was wrapped around Nadia’s neck and he held the gun to her head with his free hand. “Yes, I want to do this.”
From all the men who had come at them over the last few days, he didn’t recognize this man.
“All I want is this woman,” the thug said next. “So back off and I won’t hurt you.”
Bryan shook his head. He didn’t believe that, not after all the times his cohorts had tried to kill him and Sarah for days. He lifted his gun and the man reacted by pressing his own gun harder against Nadia’s temple.
Nadia made tiny gasping noises filled with intense distress. Her face was red. Her eyes filled with terror.
He needed to buy time, weaken the man’s resolve. “What are you, the new hired muscle? Do you have any idea what your boss does?”
A flicker of emotion passed over the man’s face. He opened his mouth to say something, but he didn’t get a chance.
From behind the shooter, a large log rose up and slammed down on his head. Sarah appeared as the man crumpled to the ground.
“I hid when I saw him coming,” Sarah explained. “Nadia wouldn’t listen to me. She kept running.”
On the hill above them, the man Bryan had watched fall paced the road, searching down below. He walked with a limp. The man on the ground in front of them moaned.
“We don’t have much time.” Bryan grabbed one of Nadia’s hands and Sarah took the other one. They ran toward the cover of the cottonwoods that grew along the river. Nadia kept pace with them as they sprinted along the river.
Though it would be the fastest way back to civilization, following the river was too obvious. “Back into the trees,” Bryan commanded.
The two women scrambled after him up the hillside. They jogged for some time until they came to a camp with a tent, a raft and fisherman’s gear, but no person in sight.
Bryan searched the camp. “Hello?”
“I don’t think anyone is here,” said Sarah. She glanced nervously in the direction they had just run.
They both looked at the raft at the same time.
“We can get in touch with the owner via the forest service.” He sprinted toward the raft. “Pay him back.”
“Nadia, we need your help.” Sarah grabbed a section of the rope that ran around the top of the raft. “Grab the paddles.”
They ran for the river at a diagonal, putting more distance between them and their pursuers. The trees thinned and they crossed the rocky shore to the river. The water gushed and murmured as it slipped over the rocks.
Bryan glanced up the shoreline, but didn’t see the gunmen. The sky transitioned from light gray to charcoal.
“I’ll help you push out.” Sarah stepped into the water. “Nadia, get in. Hold on to the oars.”
Cool river water whirled around his legs as they pushed the raft toward the center of the river. The water was up to his waist by the time the raft gained momentum. Sarah placed her foot on the edge of the raft and Nadia helped her in. She scooted to the back of the raft and lifted Bryan in. The raft picked up speed as the river pulled them forward.
Bryan handed Sarah a paddle. “Now.” In unison their paddles sliced through the waves as the boat undulated over the top of the water.
“Let’s work toward the opposite shore.”
The water in this part of the river might be ten feet deep. Sarah touched Nadia’s tangled blond hair. “Can you swim?”
Nadia shook her head.
They entered rougher water. The raft swayed more from the power of the rapids swirling around them. There was no sign of a gunman near them.
“We’re losing air.” Sarah’s voice filled with panic.
They must have scraped against something sharp when they pushed it in the water.
Nadia let out a tiny gasp.
“Get to the shallow water,” Bryan commanded as he paddled hard.
Water spilled over the collapsing side of the raft. It filled quickly. Sarah unzipped a pouch in her backpack and put something in her jacket pocket. She let go of the pack. Bryan had lost his when they’d abandoned the car.
Sarah grabbed Nadia’s hand and wrapped it around the rope that bordered the rim of the collapsing raft.
“Hang on as long as you can. The shallow water isn’t that far.” She clutched both of Nadia’s cheeks between her hands. “Can you do that for me?”
Nadia nodded.
“We’ll stay as close as we can,” Bryan said as he slipped into the water but held on to the raft rope. Sarah’s backpack floated away. The rapids chugged and swirled them around.
The force of the undertow suctioned around Bryan’s legs. He had to let go of the raft so he could stay above water. He stroked toward the shore and watched as Sarah and Nadia floated farther downstream. They drifted around a bend out of sight. He felt solid earth beneath his feet. He stood up, splashing through the shallow water.
He ran along the shore hoping to see the two women in the fading light. He prayed he could get to them in time.
* * *
Nadia thrashed and grabbed at Sarah, pulled her under. Sarah gulped for air.
She’s going to drown us both.
Only part of the raft was visible as it bobbed away from them. Nadia grabbed Sarah’s arm. Sarah spoke between plunging underwater and rising to the surface. “Let go.”
Nadia was like an anchor around her arm.
“Float, Nadia.”
The weight lifted, but not because Nadia was floating. No, it was because she had let go. Nadia disappeared beneath the current. Sarah swam hard toward her. Her head bobbed to the surface and then she was sucked under again.
Oh, dear God, please no. Save her.
Sarah swam downstream, her muscles growing heavy and tired. Then in the light of the setting sun, Nadia’s head surfaced.
She was too far away. She’d never get to her. Sarah dragged her arms through the water as hope sank. She had to at least try.
Water splashed downriver and off to the side. Bryan dove into the water and swam toward Nadia. She watched as he caught her and dragged her to shore.
Sarah swam to the bank and trudged toward the sound of the coughing and sputtering. She found Bryan kneeling next to Nadia, who lay on her side gasping for air and spitting up water.
“We made it.” Sarah shivered. Aware now that the dropping temperature and being soaked to the bone was making her cold. “We have to build a fire.”
“With what?” Bryan sat back, crossing his arms over his chest, probably trying to keep warm.
Sarah unzipped her coat pocket. “I grabbed the waterproof matches out of the pack before I let it float away.”
Nadia sat up as well, her voice a little strained. “I’m cold.”
Bryan craned his neck at his surroundings. “They might be searching the shoreline. A fire would make us an easy target.”
“Let’s hike back away from the river, see if we can locate a place that shelters us from view where we can make camp.” Her voice vibrated from being chilled.
Bryan shook his head. “No camp. We have to find a way out of here before they catch up with us.” He placed his hands on his hips, studying the darkening landscape.
“We can’t move very fast if we don’t get warmed up,” Sarah countered.
Brian spoke slowly as though he were mulling over their choices. “Mason wants her back under his control...or worse. They’ve already shown that they’re not going to give up easily.”
Nadia’s voice trembled. “Can’t feel end of fingers.”
Her comments brought home the gravity of what they were up against. “Twenty minutes by a fire sheltered from view and we’ll be able to get out of here faster,” Sarah pleaded.
Bryan didn’t answer right away. His gaze fell on Nadia, who crossed her arms over her body and rocked back and forth. “Nadia, you stay here.” He spoke to Sarah. “Move a hundred paces up the hill. I’ll do the same downriver. If we don’t find any place that would work to build a fire, we keep moving.”
Sarah bolted up the hill. She and Bryan might be okay without stopping to sit by a fire, but Nadia wouldn’t be. She’d been in rough shape physically and emotionally when they’d found her. She couldn’t handle much more. She needed a break, and a few minutes to pull herself together. Unfortunately, Sarah wasn’t doing very well finding a place suitable for that. The hillside was mostly brush and grass, nothing that could hide a fire from view.
She wondered, too, what the extent of Mason’s manpower was. Once he’d been alerted to their location would he send more men besides the three they’d encountered?
A single word drifted across the night air. “Here.”
She ran toward the sound of Bryan’s voice. He emerged from the darkness. “Over there, rocks and a small cave. You start the fire. I’ll get Nadia.”
Sarah jogged up the hillside. An outcropping of boulders came into view. The flat rock jutted out from the side of the hill providing an overhang. The boulder in front of it blocked the view to the shoreline.
Sarah gathered kindling and a few larger logs from fallen trees and started the fire. Minutes later, she heard footsteps. Bryan slipped around the boulder, ushering Nadia forward. She gravitated to the fire.
“I kept it small,” said Sarah. “Nadia, get as close as you can.”
The tight space between the boulder and the overhang provided little room to move around as all three of them huddled close to the fire.
Nadia held her hand out toward the heat. Firelight flickered across her face. “Is it worth it?” she whispered.
“What do you mean?” Bryan squeezed in close beside Sarah, their shoulders touching.
“Maybe I go back to him. Give up.” Despair colored her every word. “He will never stop.” She let out a small cry. “And he hurt Crew.”
“Nadia, don’t say that. I know this is hard and hiding in that cabin wa
s scary, but we’ll get you out of here, and after that, the police will help you. They’ll keep you safe,” Sarah said.
Bryan shifted. “Nadia, you are the only one who can put him behind bars. And after he goes to jail, you won’t have to be scared anymore.”
In the flickering firelight, a tear drifted down Nadia’s cheek. “I wanted my baby to be safe. He threaten hurt her if I do not do what he says.”
Sarah cupped a hand on Nadia’s shoulder. “And he doesn’t have that power over you anymore. April is safe and happy.”
Despite the tears, Nadia’s voice held a lilt of joy. “I did a good thing for her.”
“Yes, you did. He can’t find her and he can’t hurt her. All those records are sealed.” Sarah stamped down a rising anxiety. She hoped that what she said was true. The reach of Mason’s power surprised even her.
Bryan tugged on his T-shirt. “I’m starting to dry out.”
“I warmer now,” said Nadia.
Sarah stood up, looking for some way to douse the fire. She froze. Twenty yards away a flashlight beam bobbed in the darkness. Sarah’s heartbeat quickened. The light came straight toward them.
SIXTEEN
Bryan jerked to his feet. Kicking dirt on the fire, he grabbed Nadia’s shirtsleeve at the shoulder. “Come on, let’s go. Run.”
“Hold it right there,” a voice boomed out of the darkness.
The nighttime had grown so quiet, Bryan heard the hammer on the pursuer’s revolver click back.
“Put your hands up and step out, please, where I can see you.”
Bryan couldn’t quite process what was going on. The guy with the flashlight wasn’t acting like one of Mason’s henchmen. He sounded too...polite.
Both Nadia and Sarah stepped out away from the rocks.
“Is that all of you?” asked the voice in the darkness.
Bryan stepped out as well, squinting as the intense light shone on them. He could make out only the outline of a man behind the light.
“Are the three of you aware that campfires are illegal because of the high fire danger this time of year?”