Target on the Mountain

by Elizabeth Goddard

  They headed in that general direction, his thoughts keeping him quiet. Alex realized that he knew so little about her life now. Was she happy? Did she have regrets?

  “Do you still hike the mountain?” he asked, mostly because he wanted to know more about her and he didn’t want to bring up their touchy past.

  Her steps faltered a little at the question. “Sometimes. Not as often as I’d like.” She shrugged. “I feel so free up here. It’s as if all the world’s cares just melt away and it’s just me alone up here with God.”

  He looked at her in surprise. Growing up, none of them had really been religious. He recalled attending church only at the big holidays. He hadn’t paid much attention back then. He mostly just wanted the time he spent in church to be over. Yet everything had changed when he lost Rachel. He’d hit rock bottom for a while, doubting everything in his life. It was why he’d chosen to make a career change. He’d been searching for something different. Something more meaningful.

  Joining the Scorpions, he’d found a tight-knit family where he belonged. Each member openly discussed their faith in God. He’d fought against the tugging at his heart for a bit, but the moment he gave in and realized he needed God in his life more than ever, the peace he felt inside at that decision was amazing.

  He’d started attending a local church near their headquarters, and had grown closer to God ever since.

  “I know what you mean,” he told her quietly. “That’s kind of how I feel when I hike the mountain near our compound. It’s as if you can see God in everything.”

  She looked at him curiously. “Liam told me you’d joined a different branch of the CIA after I left. He said you seemed different. More at peace.”

  It surprised him to hear that Liam had noticed the change in him. “I guess I am.” He didn’t look at her. “Before, well, the job was everything to me. I couldn’t imagine life without it.” He shook his head and realized he had her full attention.

  “What happened to change that?” She seemed genuinely interested in his answer.

  “God happened,” he said, and grinned over at her. “This new team that I joined, well, everyone there is a Christian, and they believe the work we are doing is God’s work. When I joined, I was skeptical at first. You know I wasn’t raised as a Christian. Back when we were kids, attending church felt like a chore, so I did it as seldom as possible.”

  He chuckled. “But then I realized these people were sincere. Soon, I started attending the church close to town and then I knew what was missing from my life. Now, I can’t imagine where I’d be right now if I hadn’t found the team.”

  She smiled up at him. “I get that. I was pretty messed up when I came home. Then I met Tom and Jenny and started attending church with them.” She stopped for a second and he realized there was something more than she’d told him. “If it hadn’t been for God, I’m not sure where I’d be right now.”

  Guilt tugged at his heartstrings. He didn’t doubt for a moment that most of the reason why she’d been heading for trouble was because of him.

  That he’d hurt her was painful to accept. It was hard letting go of their burdened past, but he did. She had married someone who could give her the things she’d needed. Things he couldn’t. Best to leave that door closed.

  His thoughts went back to the two men he seemingly recognized. They both appeared to be highly skilled. He had no doubt they possessed military training of some sort. How were they connected to Liam’s disappearance and, more important, why did both men seem so familiar?

  He considered what Rachel had said about Liam believing the person he’d been chasing might be CIA. Was that how Alex knew them? Had he run into the men as part of his job?

  Alex pictured the two men in his head again. He focused on each one’s facial features. It was on the tip of his tongue, just out of reach...and then it finally hit him why they both seemed familiar. He stopped dead in his tracks, drawing Rachel’s worried attention back to him.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  Was it possible? He couldn’t even believe it. His mind didn’t want to go there.

  He took a deep breath and voiced his fears aloud. “I told you that I thought I recognized Peter and the other man, Victor McNamara, who attacked us?” She nodded, her gaze plastered on his face.

  “Well, I just remembered from where.” He blew out a breath and shook his head.

  Rachel saw how concerned he was. “How do you know them?” she prompted when he didn’t answer right away.

  “From CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.” He tried to get the realization to make sense to him. It was absurd, surely.

  “Langley?” She was clearly confused. “I don’t remember either of them being at Langley.”

  He shook his head. “That’s because we didn’t train with them.” He stopped and clasped her shoulders, needing a moment to fit it together in his head. “Rachel, those men are honored on the CIA’s memorial wall. They’re supposed to be dead. They were killed while on a mission a few years back. They aren’t supposed to be alive anymore.”

  FIVE

  Rachel stared up at him, trying to make sense of what Alex had just told her. “Why would they fake their deaths?” It was unimaginable.

  He shook his head and they continued walking. “I can’t imagine. I don’t remember much of the details, only that their entire six-man team was killed while on a mission in Iraq. Peter Mullins and Victor McNamara are not their real names, though.”

  “Do you think they faked their deaths as part of their cover? Maybe they’re still on a mission? They could be deep undercover with some really bad guys?” Even as she said the words aloud, the idea didn’t make sense.

  Alex shook his head. “No way. If they’re up here chasing some bad guys, why are they trying to kill us and Liam?”

  What Tom had told them earlier about Liam doing something bad chased through her thoughts, wholly unwelcomed. There was no way she would ever accept that her brother had gone rogue. Yet she couldn’t dismiss what Alex had said about the men supposedly dying while on a mission in Iraq. That was the last place Liam had gone overseas. It couldn’t simply be a coincidence.

  Try as she might, Rachel couldn’t seem to fit the pieces together. Exhaustion wasn’t helping. She hadn’t slept properly in days; she’d been too worried about her brother. She glanced around the wooded area. The first logging camp was still a good distance away. What would they do if those men had been there? Maybe they’d found Liam already? Would they be wasting precious time by searching the logging camps instead of going straight to Liam’s last known location? If her brother were up there injured, he could be dead by the time they reached him. Her thoughts swam.

  “Alex, what if he’s still up there on the mountain somewhere, hurt and alone? Maybe we should keep heading up?”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think he’s still up there, Rachel. Think about it. It’s been over a week since we believe he went missing. These people have been searching up there all this time and I don’t doubt for a minute that they knew about the meet location. If Liam were still up there, they would have found him by now.”

  Unless he were dead... She couldn’t voice her deepest fear aloud. It didn’t matter. Alex saw what she was thinking.

  “Don’t go there. If Liam were truly dead, they wouldn’t still be up here. They’d have what they wanted and they’d be long gone. He’s still alive and he has the advantage. Liam knows this place like the back of his hand. All of the mountain’s secret hiding places. These men do not. Liam would know where to go to disappear until it was safe to leave.”

  Rachel hung on to that promise with everything inside of her. Alex was right. Liam could find every cave up on the mountainside in the dark. If her brother were injured, it would slow him down. Depending on how serious his injuries might be, it was possible he couldn’t leave by his own strength.

>   “How much farther to the first camp?” Alex asked while keeping a careful eye behind them. “Those men must have reached Peter and Michelle by now. They can’t let us go because they believe Liam may have told you something critical that they don’t want made public.”

  The implication was frightening. These men were willing to kill to keep their secret.

  Exhausted and barely hanging on, she and Alex didn’t have the luxury of taking a break.

  “It’s still a little ways from here.” She hated telling him the next part, but he needed to know. “Alex, there’s some pretty rough terrain standing between us and the camp. The loggers used to reach the camp by coming up from the opposite side of the mountain where it’s more accessible.”

  “What’s standing between us and the camp?” he asked, as if dreading her answer.

  It had been a while since Rachel visited the area, but if she remembered correctly, there was a creek that ran through here. It fed off the spring thaws and it would be raging at this time of the year.

  “Water,” she answered. “There’s a creek a couple of miles before we reach the camp. We had a lot of snow this year. It’s going to be running pretty swiftly.”

  She could see this wasn’t exactly the best news. “Let’s hope it’s still pretty frozen up here. Otherwise, we’re going to get wet, and with the temperature close to freezing, we could be in serious danger of hypothermia.”

  * * *

  Alex felt the exhaustion of the day seep into his limbs. He was working on next to no sleep. He couldn’t imagine what Rachel was going through.

  “The creek is just past this next ridge.” He glanced at her. She was shivering from the cold.

  They wouldn’t be any good to Liam or anyone else if they died up here from the elements.

  Rachel stopped suddenly and listened. “I hear it.” She turned to him. “We’re almost there, Alex. It sounds like it’s running pretty strong.”

  Crossing a fast-moving creek would be next to impossible under the best of conditions. In the dark and ill prepared for the crossing, it might cost them both their lives.

  They reached the top of the summit. Alex could see the white water rushing below them. It appeared as if the creek had overflown its banks. The worst possible scenario. His heart sank. “Maybe there’s an easier way to cross. We have to try.”

  He and Rachel made their way slowly to the edge. At one time the water had been much higher. There was evidence of flooding all around them. Alex’s feet slogged through thick mud as they neared the edge of the water.

  He stopped once they got as close as the rushing water would allow. There were charred trees all around. Not too long ago, there had been a fire up here, no doubt from a lightning strike. It happened frequently in the mountains. The fire had taken out most of the trees in a wide swatch on either side of the creek bank. Only a couple of trees still stood and they were as charred ghosts tottering on the edge of the bank.

  As he surveyed the opposite bank, Alex had an idea. “There’s still some rope in one of the backpacks. If we can lasso that tree across the creek then tie onto this one here, I think we can make it across the water.”

  It was a long shot, but it was their only option. They couldn’t stay here until morning, and to try to find another way around the creek would cost them precious time.

  “How are your lassoing skills?” Rachel asked with a weary smile. Even though she was exhausted and travel worn, looking at her still had the power to make his pulse race. He’d do just about anything in his power, lay down his life if need be, to protect her.

  “Rusty, but I think I can manage. I’ll need some light, though.”

  She shone the flashlight his way in response.

  “Thanks. I know it’s risky, but otherwise we could be here for a while.”

  She followed him over to the edge of the creek. Rachel shone the light across the creek to where a single tree had survived the fire.

  It was a long shot at best. Lord, I need Your help, Alex prayed.

  “I think I can hook it around that branch up there. It’s tall enough to keep us out of the water, at least.”

  Rachel took out the rope and handed it to Alex.

  As a kid, Alex had loved to rope just about anything in sight. He’d given up on becoming a professional bull roper when his interests turned to other things as a teen...mostly Rachel.

  Holding the greater portion of the rope in his left hand, Alex swung the lariat above his head. It took five tries, three more than it should have in the old days, to lasso the branch in question.

  “You haven’t lost your touch.” Rachel smiled brightly. “And I’m sure glad you haven’t.”

  He jerked the rope tight and tested the branch for stability. Having survived the fire, it could be compromised, but they were all out of choices. It was this or turn around and head back the way they’d come and risk running into those men.

  “It looks like it should hold our weight. We just need to tie it off on this end.” The remaining tree on their side of the bank wasn’t nearly as sturdy looking.

  “Let’s hope it holds up,” she said and shone the light on the charred tree. She was right. If the tree fell, they could be in serious trouble. If they landed in that water, they’d be swept downstream before they had a chance to save themselves.

  Alex looped the rope around the tree and started tying it off. Before he’d finished, he heard voices coming from just over the ridge.

  Rachel glanced behind them. “Alex, they’re almost here. We have to hurry.” He took her hand and they headed to the edge of the creek.

  “You should go ahead of me. I’m positive it will hold your weight. I’m not sure about mine. If they reach me before I can cross, cut the rope and get out of here. Find Liam.”

  He didn’t get to finish before she shook her head. “I’m not leaving you behind. We’re in this together.”

  His gaze clung to hers. So many unspoken feelings weighed on his mind. He had to protect her.

  “Rachel, I...” He wasn’t sure what he wanted to tell her, only that he needed her to understand that he still cared about her.

  She placed her finger over his lips. “No, you’re going to make it and I’m not leaving this area without you. We’re going to find Liam and this is all going to be a bad memory someday.”

  He knew it would be pointless to argue. Time was precious. While the voices still sounded a little ways away, it wouldn’t take them long to reach the creek. Crossing the water by rope was going to be time-consuming.

  She tucked her weapon behind her back. Alex gave her a boost up to the rope. Rachel put one hand in front of the other, slowly pulling her way across past the bank and over the raging water. The process was excruciatingly slow. The creek wouldn’t normally be as wide to cross, but with the additional water running, it had doubled in capacity.

  Behind him, multiple voices grew nearer. Rachel was barely midway across the creek. He didn’t dare start across until she was safely on the opposite bank. With his weight, it could snap one of the tree branches and they’d both land in the freezing water.

  Keeping a careful eye on Rachel’s progress, Alex glanced behind him. He could see several flashlight beams bouncing across the night sky.

  Hurry, Rachel...

  She was almost to the other bank. Like it or not, he had to start making his way across.

  With his gloves on, Alex jumped as high as he could and managed to grasp the rope. Working as quickly as he could, he placed one hand in front of the other until he was over the water. He heard the tree make a cracking, groaning noise. Was it about to snap?

  On the ground now, Rachel watched him make his way over the water. “Hurry, Alex. They’re coming down the ridge now.” She took out her Glock and fired on the advancing men while Alex did his best to double his speed. He was still a little ways from the bank when th
e men returned Rachel’s shots. He was caught in the cross fire. One stray bullet and he was dead.

  With a couple of feet still left between him and the bank, Alex took out his knife. While balancing with one hand, he cut the rope behind him. Immediately, he plunged toward the creek. Alex jumped with all his strength toward the bank’s edge, barely hitting it. Then he tucked and rolled.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said the second he was on his feet again. Together they kept low to the ground as bullets continued to whiz past their heads.

  “Get some rope,” one of the men behind them yelled. “If they can cross that way, we can, too.”

  “We can’t let them get across,” Rachel said as she continued firing at the enemy.

  With his thoughts struggling to find a solution, only one came to mind. He’d need to find a way to pull the tree over. He remembered there was a small ax among the camping supplies.

  “This is the only tree for them to tie to on this side of the bank. If I can get it down, they won’t be able to cross.” Like it or not, it was their only chance to stay alive.

  SIX

  Rachel glanced back at the tree. “You’ll be exposed. They have nothing to lose. And I hate to point this out, but even with using the weapons we took from Peter and Michelle, we don’t have an unlimited amount of ammo.”

  They had both brought extra clips of bullets and had the confiscated weapons, but if they had to continue to defend themselves like this, their supply wouldn’t hold out long.

  His gaze held hers. “It’s our only choice. I’ll be okay.”

  She slowly nodded. “Okay, I’ve got your back. Do what you have to do.”

  Alex grabbed the small ax from the backpack and slowly edged his way over to the tree in question. He had barely left the area where they were hiding before the men spotted the movement and began firing right away.

  From her vantage point, Rachel engaged the men. She glanced back over her shoulder. Alex had reached the tree and was on the backside, as out of sight as possible. Because the ax was so small, she knew it would take longer to bring the tree down.