Target on the Mountain

by Elizabeth Goddard

  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 would 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 ba
ck 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 running 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.

  Alex rounded another curve and the road stretched out in front of them. Even with the bum tire, they were able to put distance between themselves and the men.

  “I’m not sure how much farther we can make it in this thing. The engine’s overheating because of the stress of pushing it so hard.” He glanced behind them. “At least we appear to have lost them for now.” As if in answer to his words, the engine sputtered and coughed several times before dying.

  Alex took the knife from her and cut her free.

  “Let’s get out of here while we still can,” Rachel said.

  Alex shoved the knife and lighter into his pocket and grabbed the flashlight. Once he was by her side, they raced into the woods for their lives.

  * * *

  Alex grabbed her hand and they took cover in the nearby trees. “If we can stay out of sight, we might stand a chance.”

  “What should we do about Deacon?” Rachel asked. “He really needs help, Alex.”

  The men had taken their weapons and phones. They had no way to contact Jase or anyone else to get aid to Deacon. “We can’t go back and risk leading them to him again. Let’s just hope Jase was able to get airborne and will reach us soon.”

  Rachel grabbed his arm. He glanced at her and she pointed to the right. “I hear them,” she whispered.

  Alex froze where he stood. His arm circled her waist, tugging her close. He could hear McNamara yelling at his men.

  “They can’t be far. The SUV’s right there. Search the woods. Find them!”

  “Alex, we can’t get captured again. They’ll kill us.”

  “Let’s get out of here,” he said, and they headed deeper into the woods at a fast pace, while behind them, Alex heard the men enter the treed area.

  Rachel stopped suddenly and he turned back to her. “Do you remember the summer we discovered that one cave up here?” she asked. It took him a minute to recall what she was talking about.

  “I do. It’s not far from here, if I remember correctly.”

  She nodded. “It is. If we can make it there, we can get out of sight. We’ll disguise the entrance so that they won’t know where we’ve gone.”

  It was a good plan and it just might work. When they’d discovered the cave, they’d spent the day combing through its tunnels and had never reached the end. It would make the perfect hideout. Would they find Liam there?

  They were almost right against the mountainside now. Alex gathered his bearings. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out the direction of the cave.

  “Which way?” he asked, hoping she knew.

  She looked around. “Over there.” She pointed to the right and then glanced behind. He could hear the men coming. They’d be right on top of them soon.

  “They’re almost here.” He took her hand and they ran the rest of the way.

  Finding the entrance after so many years wasn’t easy. It took a few minutes but he finally located it.

  “Here, take the flashlight and go inside. I’ll do my best to cover the entrance before they get here.”

  She took the light from him. “You won’t have much time. Hurry, Alex.”

  Rachel went inside and he gathered armfuls of nearby brush and brought it over. He stepped inside the cave and piled the brush in behind him.

  Please let it be good enough.

  Rachel flashed the light down one of the corridors. “Let’s get as far away from the entrance as we can just in case they spot the opening and check inside.”

  They headed down the corridor together. “Do you remember where this one goes?” he asked, and watched her smile at the memory.

  “I do. There’s that underground pool a little ways from here. Remember, we spent that same summer coming up here to swim. Liam never did figure out where we disappeared to.”

  He remembered that summer as clear as if it were yesterday. It was when he and Rachel had first started dating and they’d wanted to spend time alone. Liam had grumbled, feeling neglected by his best friend and sister.

  “I remember Liam was so mad at us,” he said, and chuckled quietly. As he recalled, there was
no way out beyond the pool and he told her this. “We need to go another way. It wouldn’t do to get trapped in here.”

  They backtracked slightly and headed down another path.

  “I was close enough to hear the exchange between McNamara and one of his men. He said they hadn’t found it yet. They’re looking for something other than Liam.”

  It certainly made sense. “I’m guessing this has something to do with what Liam took from them. That’s why they need to find him.”

  “That’d be my guess, too.” She shook her head.

  They’d been walking for a while when Rachel stopped and listened. “Did you hear that?”

  He did. It sounded like wind rustling close by. “Maybe there’s another way out that we never found.” They hurried toward the noise.

  “I sure hope so. We need something to break our way.”

  Alex stopped in front of a small opening in the side of the mountain, barely large enough for them to squeeze through.

  “We should be okay.” Rachel looked up at him. “From what I can tell, we should be on the south side of the mountain. Some distance from where we last saw them.”

  He sure hoped so. Alex eased through the opening and looked around. Nothing stirred beyond the wind. “It’s safe.”

  Rachel followed him out. “Looks like we’ve lost them for now, but they could have other men searching the woods. Alex, this thing is way over our heads.”

  He understood her frustration. He wasn’t sure what the men were after, but he had a feeling it was deadly.

  “We need to get to a phone and try to reach my team. Let them know the woods are crawling with men. They could be flying straight into an ambush.”

  TEN

  Rachel’s unsettled thoughts were torn between making sense of what they’d been through so far and untangling her feelings for Alex.

  “Rachel?” She realized Alex had been trying to get her attention for a while.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  Something unreadable crossed his face. It made her wonder what he was thinking. “I said what if Liam actually is hiding at the lodge? We could be leading them straight to him. We need to reach the lodge before they do.”